Lilac and Daniel

She was sobbing, tearing through the forest. Her blue gown flowing behind her. Her dark curls whipped in the wind as she plunged through the trees. Gasping, crying, terrified and in pain, she pressed on. The chaos behind her shrunk in the distance, yet she knew she couldn’t have stayed to help. Daniel, her love, is dying.

And Lilac must get to him.

The stinging on her bare feet from the splinters, glass, and rocks made her want to quit. To go to sleep and dream away the horrors happening around her. But she chose to use that pain to fuel her tired body. She couldn’t stop now.

She wouldn’t.

“He won’t die. He won’t die.”

She chanted under her ragged breath over, and over, and over. Pleading to God to spare him, wishing it were her instead, willing for this nightmare to end!

Her arms propelling her body and fear propelling her thoughts, she finally reached the clearing.

And there was Daniel. She stopped, nearly falling in the process. Brave, beautiful Daniel was bound, disheveled, and wearing a horrid look she had never seen on him before.

Lilac squinted, studied, and her face dropped.

Defeat.

Fresh tears of fear brimmed her eyes, a wave of emotion filled her chest. Daniel, the brave leader, the rebel, looked so defeated. Broken. With her voice shaking she addressed the two men she hadn’t at first noticed.

“Can I...make this stop?” She whispered, despite her effort to sound confident.

“Not really,” said a coarse throated man Lilac didn’t recognize, “unless the big guy has something to say about it.” He looked to the other man.

For the first time Lilac tore her eyes from Daniel so she could see who was responsible.

“Tristan?” Lilac barely whispered. Yet, not in shock, but defeat. She knew from first-hand experience he was stubborn, merciless and cruel. Her skin crawled from the memories.

And he had Daniel.

Tristan sneered, the full moon illuminating his icy eyes that matched his soul and gleamed off his machete.

“Daniel could’ve stopped this long ago, darling Lila. But he didn’t.” He said, toying with the blade of his weapon.

“Is your point not already made?” Lilac yelled with hopeless fear. She wanted to end this. “You’ve destroyed the palace, killed all our allies and taken the kingdom. You’ve reached your goal. Please, please leave us alone!”

Silence filled the air as her desperate begging faded from the air around them. A pause. Then Tristan walked over. Lilac, although terrified, did not budge. She met his eyes, not daring to look away. Not wanting to either. Once he reached her, he remained silent. Looming over her for a moment. Then, only an inch from her face, he placed his blade beneath her chin. Lilac’s jaw clenched, Daniel yelled something, but she didn’t hear it. All her concentration was on the evil standing before her. All sound was drowned out.

Then, Tristan said this.

“You are the point of all this.” Seething with rage, he continued. “People like you who think they can beat people like me. You were born thinking the world was kind. That people can all work together and make it a nice place. That no matter who you are, you can win if the fight is ‘just’.” His voice was quiet, and boiling with rage. Tristan grabbed Lilac’s arm and began dragging her towards Daniel. “You need to be taught this lesson.”

Now he was yelling.

“You are going to learn this lesson now!” Tristan threw Lilac to her knees, face to face with Daniel. Her face met his, returning the same defeated gaze. Daniel just shook his head and looked down.

“The world isn’t fair, darling Lila.” Sarcasm left his voice, and he was now completely sincere.

“Leave him alone, I’m begging you. I’ll listen to you. I’ll leave you alone. I’ve learned, I promise.” Her voice weak, and quiet. Knowing there was no point but that she must try. She lifted her tired head and met Daniel’s eyes. Tristan raised his weapon,

“This is the only way you’ll learn.” His voice became even, his eyes became focused. “Weeks of torture only wounded you, but now I understand.” He looked at her. “Your spirit lies in those you love.”

Lilac began to stand, but the coarse throated man held her back as she lunged at Tristan.

Then, Daniel said something. In the midst of the yelling and screaming, somehow Lilac turned her attention to hear his words. His voice calm. As if none of this was happening. He looked directly at Lilac, with tears in his eyes, and defeat on his face that betrayed his calm tone.

“I’ve always loved you. Now, lead.”

“No!” Time slowed, and Lilac screamed as Tristan brought down his machete, cutting cleanly through Daniel’s neck. Kicking, screaming, were all things she wanted to do. But it was too late. Tears streamed, and pain struck her soul. Still held back by the man, she collapsed. She watched Daniel’s detached head roll in the grass. The same look of defeat still plastered on his face. Brave, daring, rebellious, beautiful Daniel.

The man who held her whole heart, was dead.

Tristan strolled over, smug in his victory. He crouched down and held her tear soaked face in his hand. He looked her in the eyes and with a smirk said,

“Now, you are broken.”