Outside the barrier (3)

Erik's ruthless slash left a deep, gaping wound in Conal's throat. He fell to the ground, pressing his hands against the wound in a vain attempt to stem the flow of blood.

Conal stared at the masked man with a look of disbelief and fear. His eyes opened wide, his identity now clear.

Although unexpected, he understood why Erik went so far as to do all of that. The things he and the others did to him were cruel, and they went on for years.

As he did that, the blood from his wound gushed like water from a burst pipe, draining the color from his face until it was as pale as a sheet of paper.

Conal's guttural, desperate sounds mingled with those of the battle the other two were having with the Lomalins. The kid tried to make the others understand who he was and point at him, as if saying, 'It's obviously him,' but they didn't understand.

Erik did, though, and nodded at Conal, as to tell him he indeed got it right. He was the masked man.