"Hit harder!"

I panted as I gripped at my right shoulder. Nyx had slashed her spear at me in an unexpected way. I glared at her through my sweat and tears. She continued to stand there before me. Tall, regal and imposing. Her eyes were still milky white but there was a distinct hardness to it. I hissed when she took one step forward. I could almost feel Erebus pushing me to fight back.

"What did I say?"

"I fucking heard you," I growled out and straightened myself a bit.

"Really? Because it seems like it went through your other ear the other five times I've repeated it." Nyx scowled down at me.

"I know!" I burst out. "But I'm- I'm not physically fit. I never was. You can't really expect me to be fit overnight."

I had choked on some of my words and I could see the floor fast approaching. It wasn't long before I was laying on the cold floor. I tried to catch my breath but everything was swimming around me and I felt dizzy. It was as if I had turned around in circles a hundred times and then some.

"Ambrose..."

"No..." I muttered as I could feel the blood flow down. Slow and steady. "I don't want to go."

"Ambrose, listen-"

"I don't want to die!" I screamed as I gripped my wound harder. The feeling of blood in my hands felt foreign, sickening. It reminded me of that time. Of the flash of black. Of the pain of betrayal and the stab wound. My throat felt dry, too dry. "I don't- not again."

I felt cold hands grab my face and forced me to meet the milky expanse of Nyx's eyes, "Ambrose. You will not die."

"I- I don't-"

Nyx sighed and tapped my forehead. It wasn't long before everything cleared and my vision blacked out. Everything was calm and silent. But then a bright light shone into my eyes and I groaned.

I reached out until I felt another hand intertwined with mine. I gasped and opened my eyes. I was surrounded by a white expanse and in front of me was