Men

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The air was thick and dead as he walked slowly toward the bridge

But he didn’t notice

The battles of a lifetime had scarred his nerves

His soul dying the death of a thousand cuts

Disconnected scenes, edited by the madman

Flickered in his mind

A little boy, walking on the playground, alone

That same boy on the bench, watching the others play

His father’s angry face

His mother’s sigh of disappointment

The cruel laughter of the girl in the back seat

The jagged words from the mother of his children

Scraped against the inside of his skull

The ring on his left hand began to burn

What was left of his armour hung rusted and torn from his chest

His eyes burned as the madman’s video played on

The tears like acid seared scars in his face

The sulfurous rivulets vaporized the last of his armour

Then the madman settled the crosshairs on his chest

He pulled the ring from his finger and let it fall into the river

As he watched it enter the water and slowly disappear

The madman pulled the trigger

The onyx bullet slammed into his chest, piercing his heart

His heart blackened as the warmth and the promise left him

A raw, gnawing cold left in their wake

He stepped back from the railing and turned

The young couple holding hands came near him

He stared cold hatred directly into her eyes as she gasped and turned away

His made his way up the darkening street

Bar, the sign said

Perfect

The cold was becoming unbearable

A drink or two might help

The madman laughed, and the demons danced

“40 years “, the madman said

“He was a hard one to bring down”

The Warrior had been watching from a distance

Just as He had since before the foundation of the world

The Warrior turned His eyes upwards

“Now Father?” He said

“Not yet” answered the King

“The Comforter has a lot of work to do

Our man’s trials are only beginning

Stand near him, as always, with the Helper

The plans I have for him require strength that will only come

Through the intense pain and suffering of the trials that are ahead

Because I love him, he was chosen

Because I have chosen him, he will not die”

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