Life's Door

There was only one rule: don’t open the door.

He remembered everything as he stood at the threshold of the cabin, remembered Alex’s face. His pleas for his lover to help him, to not leave him behind, haunted him. He'd hesitated approaching the door of the cabin they’d bought just after their wedding, and as the flames danced against the night sky — the beastly howl, Alex’s screams…

…silence.

As soon as he snapped out of it, he tore back into the house. He knew the flames would not hurt him.

‘You knew they would hurt Alex. You left him.’

He had been busy with appointment after appointment, but Alex understood. “You have an important job. I’ll see you tonight.”

Alex always understood.

Atma had arrived to an inferno and, knowing it was far too late, ran in regardless, only to be met with his sister and her beast.

“I’m so sorry, Atma.”

“Don’t–” he choked. “You couldn’t have taken him peacefully?”

“You know how the Hounds operate, brother. Your boy resisted. He is doing his job, as am I.”

The door stood wide before him, and his sister appeared behind him, beast in tow.

“What on Earth have you done?!”

Atma reached into the pocket of his coat, launching the blade straight into her heart. Once it landed, a burst of green exploded forward, and Nirav’s screams echoed off the walls. The core of dark energy that sustained her burned up like a supernova. The beast vanished, and Nirav slumped back onto the floor, the last of her energy fizzling out.

“Now.” He felt Alex’s hand on his shoulder, called forth by the same force that had held him hostage there, had tortured Atma with his death over and over, “there is only one rule: the door stays open.”