Betrayed

It hurt

Not the fact that his leg was just severed, that affected him as much one would be affected by bumping shoulders with a stranger in a corridor, nothing more than a minor inconvenience thanks to his Eon abilities

No what hurt him so bad was watching it be done by one of the few people he had complete and utter faith in, he almost did a double check to see if he had misunderstood the situation. The thought crossed his mind that maybe his leg was actually stuck or crushed, and Chris was just doing this to so that he could save him. Then the thought that maybe this was a dream crossed his mind, maybe he was actually just asleep in his bed back in his real world instead of watching his three friends tie him up like some sort of present for the beast guarding the Rent like Cerberus guarding the gates of hades.

But these thoughts were instantly laid to rest when he looked into the eyes of the boys, they were eyes full of grief and a will to live as if he was already dead and they had decided to move on without him

"When?" he couldn't help but croak as he watched them tie his wrists without him putting up any resistance. He didn't ask why because that was already completely obvious, they were using him as bait so that they could survive similar to how a hiker trapped by a rockslide may cut off his leg in order to live another day. But what he didn't know was when they had decided to do it, this was clearly a plan made in advance judging how the twins had not been shocked by Chris's actions

"When we first woke up you were still unconscious" Chris responded in a resigned tone with a sad smile "we knew that if it came down to it, you would just be dead weight with your abilities"

"w-we hoped it wouldn't come to this Ead" volunteered Billy from behind his brother as if that would make him feel any better about the betrayal

"so, I guess you found a use for my powers though huh? Eadwulf chuckled darkly, thinking aloud "the boy who doesn't feel pain AND regenerates quickly? Is there any better bait?"

"You think this was easy Ead!?" Countered Chris clearly angered by my words, finishing tying his hands he through them back into Eadwulfs lap "you think we wanted this?!"

Chris began dragging him towards the clearing and by the back of his shirt, towards the swirling eyes that were watching their every step "It doesn't matter if it was easy because you still did it! You had this planned from the BEGINNING!" Eadwulf got angrier and angrier the more he talked but he still didn't resist, hoping beyond hope that his friends were better than this, that they were truly his friends

Chris responded by silently dragging him towards a small rocky mound and resting him against it, facing towards the Rent that was by now the sized of a small cabin. Only ten meters or so separated them from the hundreds of needle-like teeth smiling at them, yet the nightmare made no move to attack them, instead it seemed pleased by the offering releasing a throaty gurgle, its eyes never leaving Eadwulf

"Please Chris…Billy…Will don't do this" Eadwulf quietly begged looking at each of them individualy, but all he saw was a terrifying desperation visible in their eyes as if all that was left in this world for them was survival

They didn't answer and instead backed away slowly with slight tears in their eyes and began to circle around him and the nightmare. Slowly as if time were moving sand grain by sand grain in a hourglass the swirling eyes began to get closer and his once friends further away.

Despite the drooling monster in front of him his eyes never left the three figures that seemed almost alien to him at this point, they were pale and jerked with each movement and as they slowly got closer to the Rent tears made their way across his face

It hurts it hurts It hurts it hurts It hurts it hurts It hurts it hurts IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS

As the three people he had trusted, and their lanterns got further and further away like two suns setting he couldn't look away until they reached the Rent. First Billy with a speed that was clearly gained with his Eon ran into the mass of dark blue energy looking as if he were crying, but how could he when Eadwulf wasn't even dead yet?

Next walked William, he was so similar to Billy, but you could tell by his steps that we was running from nothing and seemed to ignore Eadwulf as if erasing his presence from his mind and life entirely

And finally, Chris, the one that he had believed he would walk across the earth for, his greatest ally and friend, he had known him for years and this was what he got. As Chris stumbled towards the

Rents exit he unlike the other two looked towards Eadwulf, but his gaze contained not grief just simply a will to live.

"Sorry" he mouthed and then stepped through the portal

Leaving Eadwulf alone with nothing but two eyes staring him in the face, swirling with hunger holding his gut and realizing his hand was wet

Looking down he noticed a sword made of thin air buried in his gut

"Son of a bitch was thorough huh?" he couldn't help but laugh