As if it were traveling at the speed of light, the lead Horseman’s massive, imposing, stony form appeared before Fallen within the blink of an eye. Fallen felt his blood run cold and his eyes widen as they stared at each other for the split second the Horseman allowed. Beyond its glossy, dark, hollow eyes, beyond its horrifying glare and cracked face of pure rage, he could see… his own hollow, frightened reflection.

He didn’t even have time to register anything before the Horseman landed a brutal punch to his gut that knocked all the air out of him. It felt as though he had been hit with a massive, cold hammer made of prickly, tough stone.

His eyes bulged from their sockets, whatever colour remained draining from his skin, and his mouth gaped open, blood violently spewing as the Horseman sent him reeling into the swirling wind.

“Ah!!” He coughed up blood, the force of the wind prickling his scarred back and slamming him back toward the lead Horseman, who met him with a savage kick to the ribs. Fallen could feel the solid edges of the Horseman’s hooves against the cracking bones of his ribs as more blood seeped from his nose.

“Arh!!!” The impact sent him crashing to the ground, the wind’s relentless assault adding to his agony. The smaller Horsemen let out raspy, throaty cheers for their leader, their voices a cacophony of jeers and taunts.

The lead Horseman didn’t pay any heed to its subordinates and instead focused relentlessly on Fallen, delivering a multitude of punishing blows that left Fallen gasping for air. Each solid punch and kick was accompanied by the sound of bones cracking and Fallen’s pained cries. The surrounding area bore the marks of the brutal beatdown, with debris scattered and the ground scarred by the lead Horseman’s relentless attacks.

Fallen’s body was beyond battered and bruised, his strength waning as he struggled to withstand the onslaught, regretting all his choices.

‘Why… did I come here?’

 With a powerful strike, the Horseman sent him hurling through the air once more. His body flew so far that it crashed into the ruby on the altar, the impact reverberating through the crystalline structure as he let out a haunting screech in agony.

Inside the ruby, the slender man remained frozen in time, his pale, elegant form untouched by the chaos outside. Fallen’s blood-smeared body slumped against the ruby, his breath ragged and laboured.

‘Make it… stop… please…’

He couldn’t move a single muscle; it took him all he had just to keep breathing and keep his eyes open. Tears of pain and regret gently trickled down his battered cheeks.

The dust slowly began to settle, though the air was thick with tension, and the sound of the Horseman’s hooves echoed ominously, each step sending a shiver down Fallen’s spine. The smaller Horsemen’s cheers faded into an eerie silence as their leader approached. Fallen’s heart raced, desperation clawing at his chest. He struggled to move, every muscle screaming in protest, but the Horseman’s rage-filled presence was paralysing.

Fallen’s eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but the altar’s cold, dark surface offered no solace. The Horseman ascended the black stairs with slow, echoing, deliberate steps. Fallen’s breath came in ragged, heavy gasps, his mind racing with panic and helplessness as tears welled in his eyes.

 ‘Why… why… why did I come here?’

 ‘...what did I think I could do?!’

Regret ate at him.

 ‘What did I think I could change?!’

The ruby’s facets caught the dim light, casting haunting reflections that danced across the scene. The Horseman finally loomed over his crumpled form, casting a long, menacing shadow. The air felt thick, and the eerie silence was only broken by the sound of the Horseman’s hooves echoing against the ground. Fallen’s body lay motionless, battered and bruised.

With a slow, deliberate motion, the Horseman reached down and grabbed Fallen by the throat. The grip was ironclad, lifting Fallen effortlessly into the air. His eyes widened in terror, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he dangled helplessly before the ruby. The Horseman’s gaze was cold and unyielding, staring deep into Fallen’s eyes with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine. The smaller Horsemen watched in eerie silence; their leader’s dominance unquestioned.

The ruby stood as a silent witness to the harrowing encounter. The man inside the stone, whose face seemed to express sombre peace, smiled faintly… before the ruby cracked as a grin suddenly lined his lips.

“You were never going to make it… Seeker of Light.”