Chapter 34: Losing a Bright Light
WARNING: This chapter contains the death of a character. Reader discretion advised.
Ren rushes down the aisle and prepares for a punch against Jace. He steps out of the way into one of the rows of benches. He side-steps down the row as Ren opens the palm of the hand he went to punch with and uses a burst of fire to redirect himself towards Jace. From there, he moves his other arm back and goes to punch again. Jace isn’t able to get out of the row in time to successfully block the attack, so he’s sent flying before crashing into one of the pillars.
Jace. “He’s not holding back at all…”
He struggles to stand as Ren lands in front of him.
Ren: “What’s wrong? Is this too much pain for you?”
Jace: “Pain means nothing when I can just heal back any non-fatal injuries.”
Ren: “That gives me the perfect idea!”
Ren steps all the way back to the main aisle. He raises his palm out to Jace and begins to charge a fireball in his hand. Jace props himself up against the pillar to get his footing before aiming his left palm at Ren.
Jace: “Whatever you’re about to throw at me…I’ll block it for sure.”
Ren shouts before unleashing a massive blaze of fire towards Jace. He swaps to Flood and begins to spray back at the flames. He clearly sees that he’s being overpowered by the fire, so with a yell he uses the adrenaline from Ren’s previous attack with his own willpower to create the largest stream of water he’s ever manifested. Ren smiles as he leans forward a bit, causing the fire to become even more rapid. Jace tries to fight back, but becomes overwhelmed and inevitably engulfed by the flames. Ren stops the attack and looks to Jace.
Ren: “Just as I expected.”
Jace trembles in pain as his entire body is on fire. The Shiftium in his body is working overtime to ensure that his skin or hair isn’t burned or melted. He grits his teeth in anger and begins to step towards Ren.
Ren: “You’re really trying to hang on there, aren’t you? Wouldn’t it be easier to lay down and let the flames consume you?”
Jace: “You know me. I won't quit. Whether that’s due to determination or stubbornness, I don’t know yet, but I do know that I will do anything to save you all.”
Ren: “Fine. If you won’t burn, then I’ll give you the fight you want.”
Jace: “I don’t want to fight you. I just want to get that memory chip out of your head.”
Ren snaps his fingers and the fire dissipates immediately. The Shiftium in Jace’s body is able to heal his body back to 100% now that it’s no longer being challenged by the intense flames.
Ren: “Then I’ll give you the fight I want. You can fight back now.”
Jace: “About fucking time.”
Ren picks up one of the booths with one hand and hurls it in Jace’s direction. He rolls under it before using his legs to spring himself up in the air over Ren. He yells and goes for a watery punch, but Ren catches it with ease and flings Jace towards the stained glass. Before he makes impact, Ren blasts off towards him and rotates his body as if to kick Jace. His legs miss Jace, but Ren catches his neck in his forearm to lariat Jace through the glass and out onto the dirt and mud below. The two stand back up and ready into fighting positions once more. The late afternoon sunset beaming on them from the east.
Jace: “Enough with the flashy shit. If you want to kill me, get it over with now.”
Ren: “My time’s just about up anyways.”
Jace: “What?
In a blink, Ren grabs Jace’s neck once again and rockets forwards, dragging Jace through the dirt and rubble before throwing him in the air like a ragdoll. Jace tries to look around for him, but ultimately fails as he appears behind him. Ren grabs Jace’s left arm before grabbing his left leg. He evens Jace out with the horizon line as they begin to descend back down to ground. Jace can only watch the clouds rush by as he tries to free his arm from Ren’s grasp. With a slam that causes a shockwave, Ren jams his knee into Jace’s back. Jace screams in pain as he feels and hears his vertebrae individually snap and shatter. After a few seconds, Ren tosses Jace’s limp body into the mud.
Ren. “Now that I know you can’t move. I have something that I know will kill you.”
Jace: “W-Why…?”
Ren: “If you never convinced Henry to leave Rozay and start everything, my aunt would still be here. I’d still have a reason to wake up, to do what I do, and a reason to come home. Without her and without anyone else, what are my reasons for living?”
Jace: “Us…”
Ren: “Your ‘friendships’ are what got us here in the first place!”
Ren clenches his fists as his entire body begins to glow orange. He walks over to Jace who’s still unable to move and sighs.
Ren: “Burn in Hell, Jace.”
The glow of Ren’s body begins to shine so bright it blinds Jace. He closes his eyes as his body is almost done repairing his shattered spine. Suddenly, he feels that warm sensation again. His eyes shoot back open as he notices the inferno he’s been caught in. This must be every last ounce of Ren’s strength, manifested to make sure Jace can’t recover in time. All Jace can do is grit his teeth in pain as his entire being starts to hurt. After what feels like hours, the fire fades away and ashes begin to drift towards the sunset. Jace’s body finally catches up with the damage as he finds himself able to stand once again. He looks around for Ren, but sees no sign of him. He really decided to fade away.