• The 'hero' lay dying.
    his blood seeped between twitching fingers
    clutching the fatal wound.
    but as he looked into the eyes of death, whom was dressed
    in guise of a darker soldier,
    he grinned.

    He was dead. There was no question as the shadows started to spin, slowly closing
    closing in
    in on him.

    But, while he was here entertaining his enemies,
    his allies had gone
    and saved the day

    His death was destined, and not in vain.

    then the darker powers came
    And whispered to our washed up, would be hero.
    "You. . . . are not worthy."

    "What?" he might of asked, but then no one did hear.
    "You. . . .are not worthy."

    He found the strength to sit upright, even as his life was flowing
    into ebon darkness, quietly speaking seductively to him.

    "I don't understand."

    "You gave your life. To save
    Your friends
    And the world."

    "You. . . .are not worthy."

    "To die?" There was hope.

    "To die a hero."

    There was despair.

    "We see you, your life, your soul, your breath, your thoughts, your everything, your nothings."

    "We"
    "Know"
    "You"

    three distinct voices, sounding like his comrades, and yet they weren't. looking like his foes, and yet, they weren't.

    "Your life is worthless. We made sure that we did not get. . . . swindled."

    Shock and Disgust? If you Must.

    "We watched you die to win. We made sure, that you died. . . . . and didn't win."

    You weren't worthy to give your life, but we will gladly take it.

    No rewards.

    No, you aren't a hero.

    Return home, and forget you ever had a name.

    Die.