The battlefield still smoked, ashes swirling through the air like grey snow. Silence hung heavy after Desdemona's death, broken only by the distant crackle of fading flames.
Jeremy blinked hard, as if waking from a nightmare, and found himself kneeling in a circle of blood.
And there beside him—Asher.
"Asher…?" His voice trembled, small and terrified.
Asher lay slumped, blood soaking his chest where the sword had gone through. His breaths came out shallow and wet, each one a desperate gasp. His eyes, those bright eyes Jeremy adored, were clouded and fading, struggling to stay open.
Jeremy's heart shattered.
"No… no, no, no!" he cried out, scooping Asher into his arms. His fingers pressed over the wound, trying to stop the blood, but it kept pouring, warm and slick and endless.
"Asher… please… talk to me… Look at me!" Jeremy sobbed, shaking him gently.
Asher's gaze fluttered up to him, unfocused. A faint smile ghosted his lips. "Hey… Jer…" he whispered, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. "It's… okay…"
"No, it's not okay!" Jeremy wailed. "It's not! You… you promised me we'd live! We were supposed to go back for Zeke… we were supposed to—"
Asher coughed violently, his body jerking, crimson spilling over his chin. "You… will. You'll… live… for us…"
Tears spilled from Jeremy's eyes, blinding him. He pressed his forehead to Asher's. "Don't say that. Don't leave me. I can't—I can't do this without you."
Asher gave a weak, painful chuckle. "Always… so stubborn…"
His head rolled back slightly, eyes staring at the burning sky above. Jeremy felt his whole body go cold.
"Asher…? Asher!"
Jeremy grabbed his face, shaking him, desperate. "Look at me! Please… please… I'm begging you—"
But Asher didn't respond. His chest barely moved anymore. His eyes glassed over, distant and unfocused. Jeremy felt the warmth fading from his skin, inch by inch, until it was like holding ice.
A raw scream ripped from Jeremy's throat. He held Asher closer, rocking him back and forth, sobs tearing through his chest.
"First it was Zeke… and now you… No… No… I can't… I can't lose you too…" he cried, his voice breaking again and again.
His tears fell into Asher's blood, streaking his pale cheeks red.
"I'd rather die… I'd rather die than live without you both… Please, Asher… please wake up…"
The wind howled through the battlefield, carrying away his cries. Around them, the fires burned lower. Bodies lay silent. The war was ending, but Jeremy's world was falling apart.
He clung to Asher's lifeless body, pressing kisses to his cold forehead, sobbing until his voice was nothing but a hoarse whisper.
"Don't leave me alone… Please… don't…"
But Asher was already gone.
And Jeremy's wails echoed into the empty night.