Darkness was all he knew, clammy sweat and feverish shakes were his friends that night and a wet, twisted sheet was the thin protection he had from the impending shadows of looming around him, promising to do what they did best - snuff out any lights in his life.

He’d checked himself out of the infirmary easily, telling the Techs attending to him that he was fine, he’d heal up quickly and whatever. He was a Lifer too, he knew the tricks. Bandages, bandages, and time. There really wasn’t much else they could do for him rather than supply him with some painkillers, which he could easily grab himself if he so desired. The thing they couldn’t do was ease his frantic mind, running circles around itself chasing its tail and panting for a warm body in his bed.

Where was she? He’d taken the ring off at night, as he always did at night. He could feel a throbbing in his finger, a dull pain that he knew was all in his stupid head. The ring weighed the same as it always did, looked the same as it always did - but his guilt, longing, the dread building up inside warped the ring into a shackle, reminding him that he’d failed to protect her. Lex had always said Ami could take care of herself, and that she didn’t really need him to look after her. But now… now she was indeterminately gone.

He’d talked to H, and found out that the last time his girlfriend was seen was reporting for duty to go to the Haunted House. That made him worry even more, the mere thought of what she may have encountered made him slightly queasy. Especially after the Horseman Incident - what if some crazed War or Famine thing had caught her, chained her up and was torturing her? He could hardly take the thought, and the more he thought the less likely he was to fall asleep.

Eventually, however, exhaustion and a slight fever took over and brought sleep, fitful and terrifying. He was walking in that forsaken desert, no weapons and nothing to protect him but his clothing. The Green Lex walked beside him, chattering and speaking of dragons and epic adventures and the Green King who was so gracious and kind. Then there was the… Xel. The thing he’d become when Medea touched him, her shadows ripping into him and changing him into the thing he hated. It spoke of killing everything, of the world burning and the Horsemen being on top. They would win, they would rule over all the insects, crushing them and feeding off the FEAR they generated.

“How would that generate fear? Fear of what, exactly?” Lex questioned Xel, aggravated. The thing didn’t make any sense when it spoke, only riddles and conclusions that had no beginnings. “Fear has to be derived from something. You can’t just create it from nothing.”

Xel said it would rule, and that would be enough. Alexei piped up from the other side, making tutting noises and shaking his head. “No no no, not enough Fear to rule! Fear of submission and tyranny only lends so much power! Eventually Creativity and Courage will happen, and that FEAR will be sunk to the bottom of a sea. You utter nonsense, sir Xel!”

Xel seemed to make a hissing sound, shaking its horned head. “You two are fools. We will rule over all, conquer all, by means of ---.” It walked ahead of the two of them, bow drawn and an arrow notched. “This is how we will conquer and rule. Watch.”

A figure arose from the sand behind them, petite and with long hair once braided but now a frayed mess. The figure was female, sporting a high waisted skirt and a fanciful blouse, leggings and ankle height boots. She was familiar, but they had yet to see her face. Alexei and Lex both looked to Xel, questions obvious on their brows. Who was this? What was he intending to do?

“Just watch, you morons.” It hissed again, letting the arrow fly into the figure’s leg. She screamed, falling to the ground. Lex wanted to vomit, recognizing the voice. Ami, it was Ami. Xel was hurting his Ami.

“Stop that, a*****e.” Lex demanded, turning to Xel. “Stop it, now!”

Xel simply smirked, notching another arrow. He shot again, hitting her in the shoulder and earning another scream from the woman.

“Quit!” Lex pleaded, face growing red. He wanted to move, to tackle Xel and beat him into the ground with his bare fists, and Alexei already had his sword drawn. “Stop this at once, interloper!” The Green Knight cried, charging forward, but was deftly sidestepped by the Conquest Horseman.

“This is how we shall rule.” It uttered again, letting another arrow fly and landing right in the woman’s exposed throat, and the desert ran red as Lex howled and shouted, bitter and hot tears flowing red, everything so red and hot. He became red, Xel was red, the entire world was a mass of red and warmth.

“Death is how we shall conquer. We are become Death, now that Death is gone.”

---

He awoke with a start, tears streaming down his face and clawing at his chest. He was hyperventilating, and needed to stop. Deep breaths in… deep breaths out. Ami wasn’t dead, Xel wasn’t real…

He would be okay. She would be okay… she wasn’t dead. She wasn’t dead.

He’d make sure there was never threat on her life again. She couldn’t die on his watch.