The Taker's End

The beast stood tall unmoved by my burning hatred. I waited patiently for it to make a move a twitch, something. All it did was stand amongst it's dying garden completely emotionless. I was armed with nearly 19 years' worth of experience in magic, trained by some of the greatest enchanters my country had to offer. Fueled by my hatred at what this abomination had taken from me, from my people. Nothing was standing in my way from taking vengeance and delivering my people from these dark times. The opportunity was golden. A lifetime's worth of preparation was finally going to mean something.

Yet I found the courage and determination that had gotten me to this point wavering. After all, I wasn't the chosen one even if I trained to be. Even if I wanted to be. I still remember the day it was revealed that my training was for naught and that the security I once had in knowing that fate was on my side was all a part of an elaborate lie.

My people, the of Zeal placed their faith in me. I felt it even in my self-imposed imprisonment. I remember that cold cell, those cold chains that seemed to get tighter every night. My mother visited me every day and told me the stories of what the beast took from our people. The livestock it murdered, the crops it destroyed, and misdeeds against humans that were even worse than death.

I remember her telling me I was the only one capable of destroying the beast. Even I wasn't chosen by fate I was chosen by the people. I believed this deep in my heart and yet for some reason I hesitated. Why?

"This silence is deafening, yet oh so comforting" whispered the beast.

I didn't respond. To me, there was no silence the swaying of the trees and the various sounds of wildlife scurrying about unaffected by the conflict about to ensue combined to create a melody that occupied my mind. I knew the game this monster was playing my mother told me of how the beast pulled the voices from singers. If I spoke it might do the same to me. And so I stood and stared. I watched as it's statuesque figure stood tall and I bothered fur swaying along with trees obscuring its ghastly frame.

"Are you a child of Zeal? Tell me have they learned their lesson?" the beast reached down and gently plucked one of the last flowers from the ground.

When I did not answer their question they simply answered them for me.

"I suppose they have not, otherwise I would have died by now. Then again I have only persisted because you wish it so." The beast lurches forward. The sound of it's bones crackling flooded my ears and caused me to wince.

"You wanted a foe just as much as your people wanted salvation. And the longing prevents me from dying in any way other than by your hand." The Beast's tone up until that point had been low and unassuming hardly that of a creature known as 'The Taker'. But something changed. Its voice now reeked of pain.

I knew it was a risk but in a moment of poor judgment, I replied "How do I know what you say is true? How can such a terrifying and cruel creature be bound to me and my people?"

The Taker only laughed in response. A cold and dry laugh. His laughter sent chills down my spine. Another shift in character. Was the once terrifying force of nature that turned entire fields of crops into dust losing its mind?

"Answer me beast!" I shouted

"You are the beast boy! Your questions are your own to answer. Deep down you've known ever since you learned the truth I am not the villain of this story you are." The Taker's voice ripped through the trees. The flower once gently held was now crushed in the beast's palms. The birds trying to flee on the wind begin to fall to the ground as if they were stones.

I was enraged and insulted by the Taker's accusations. The hesitance I once felt was long gone I lunged with the intent to kill. The Taker made no effort to avoid my attack instead embracing me.

"We are alike I take the life from those who mistreat it and you take the hope from those who need it. We are both takers and as such we shall both meet our end right here and now!" The maddening laugh flooded my ears once more.

My magic began to crackle like lightning in the palm of my hands and began to spiral in all directions shattering the limbs of The Taker. No matter how hard I tried or how many limbs I destroyed The Taker only grew more and held me tighter. I screamed in utter anguish. I'll never forget that laugh, loud and manic devoid of the dryness it once held. In place of dryness, there was nothing but pure jubilation.

I could feel myself growing weaker as my magic faded. Dust cascaded down my body like water rushing down a waterfall. The taste of blood lingered on my tongue and then I heard it, the deafening silence The Taker spoke of.

Lying there in silence I found a peace I had not known. For the first time in my life I felt accomplished my struggle against The Taker left me with more questions than answers. It's words lingered in my mind, it's laugh in it's final moments haunted me, The moment of silence The Taker's death offered me time to think. And my last thought was that if The Taker and I were truly alike then I would welcome death but, would I welcome it with he same maniacal and joyus laughter? Or would go quietly in the night like a dove on the wind.

"The silence truly is comforting" As the words leave my lips I took what I believed to be my final breath and closed my eyes.