HE

HE didn't know how HE got to this place. Nothing but dust, ashes and debris as far as HE could see. A dead landscape lay before him, buildings turned into ruins reaching up to the skies. They were nothing more than skeletons which seemed like they were about to collapse at any second. There was silence, and yet it was louder than any sound of the world could be. There were no voices speaking, no noise from busy streets, not even the sounds of nature reached here.

And yet, HE felt like HE was being watched, though HE did not know by who or what. It felt as though a piercing stare was fixated on HIM and it caused a shiver to run down HIS spine. Like a presence approaching HIM in the dark.

A weakness crept from HIS feet up to HIS knees, and HE felt as if he was being pulled away from the landscape surrounding HIM. Darkness wrapped around HIM like a thin veil, pulling tighter around HIS body until HE felt like HE was falling incessantly, and all of HIS senses began slipping away.

HE jolted awake and was promptly brought back into consciousness. HIS eyes were now wide open. This world - it was identical to the one in HIS dream. But now HE wasn't by HIMSELF anymore.

Circled around HIM was a group of deformed bodies, broken looks in their eyes - The Disfigured. They were what was left of humanity, and still, one could barely tell what they once were. Their movements were heavy, as if carrying the weight of their lost lives on their shoulders, and their voices were quiet as they resounded off the crumbling walls of the buildings all around, and yet so sharp that it felt as if they could cut right through the chest, should one ever hear them speak.

A figure arose from amongst them, The Sent One. He lifted up his finger and pointed right at HIM, as he began to speak.

"It was you. You are the one who brought the end for us!"

HE startled.

"What...? I don't remember anything!"

The Sent One stepped closer. Anger and rage bursting from his gaze, he repeated, raising his voice a little higher,

"You are the one who brought chaos and destruction upon us. You are the bearer of catastrophy!"

And again, HE was confused by his words.

"I don't understand..."

However, The Sent One carried on,

"Find us a place that has not been tainted by your fault."

They demanded HE find them a place where they could live, where the breath of nature had not been taken away. A place, where they could find a new hope.

And so HE ventured out into a broken world of burnt grounds and fading memories. And yet HE felt as though he was able to see traces of a former life. It was as if HE heard the gentle voice of a mother and the laughter of kids on the playground. And there were the screams, fire, HIS hands drenched in crimson red.

The memories caught up with HIM, and just as HE thought they might break him down, he caught sight of a figure in the distance. She reached out to touch HIS face, and HE felt as though it filled HIM with a spark of hope.

"What you are looking for is more than just a place," The Seeress spoke, and her voice lulled HIM into a sense of safety and protection. "You are looking for forgiveness in a world that does not forgive."

When HE looked at her, her words still echoing in HIS mind, HE could suddenly see the past so clearly before HIM.

"It was me," HE spoke dryly, his tone full of resignation. "I'm the one who did it."

"But you can save them."

The Seeress showed him a way, and soon enough he found a place before HIM, where lush greenery reached as far as HE could see. HE knew they would be able to live here, in this untouched place. In that HE found courage and a new hope, and yet the salvation HE was wishing for so dearly seemed nowhere within reach.

HE watched on, as they began building themselves a new life, while the emptiness in HIS heart only grew. How would HE ever be able to live with what HE had done?

The Sent One was forced to realize that his plan did not succeed. The cause HE should've fulfilled was a different one. However, now HE was not a hero nor a saviour. All that was left for HIM was HIS own guilt, that threatened to swallow HIM whole.

And yet, this should not be the end for HIM.