The boy is running.

Debris is falling all around him as he's running down a set of stairs.

"Hurry!"

The alarmed voice of a girl calls out to him .

He stumbles around as his breathing gets heavier.

"C'mon!"

A hand grabs his arm and yanks him. He looks up and sees a dark-haired girl with blue eyes in a military uniform tugging him along.

They reach the bottom of the stairs and burst through the door. A gust of wind blows his white hair out of his face as he looks out into the barren wasteland. He squints his ruby-like eyes as the red dirt reflects the light of a nearing star. A spacecraft is waiting for them a few paces ahead.

"Hurry! We have to go!"

The boy runs towards the ship, but something catches his eye. He looks up and sees a man looking down at the events unfolding before him. He has a big white beard with short, scruffy hair wearing rags.

The man notices him.

The boy blinks, and the man is gone. 

He stops and stares at the now empty spot in the sky.

A hand grabs his shoulder, and his surroundings shift. He's in a rock surrounded by darkness. He looks around and sees a red sphere making its way towards a star. 

"Beautiful. isn't it?"

The boy turns and sees the old man. He turns back and nods. 

The old man smiles.

They stand in silence as the planet nears its end.

"What about the people?" the boy asks.

"What about them?"

"Wouldn't they die?"

"... So?"

The boy keeps watching.

"It's a sacrifice that is made for the sake of art. It adds value to it through its irony and greater meaning. Adds beauty to the spectacle."

"..."

"Would you like to see more?"

The boy turns to look at the man. 

"Would it mean killing more people?"

"... Perhaps."

The boy returns his gaze towards the planet. Small, bright lights leave the planet.

"... No."

In a swift motion, the man grabs him by the neck and lifts him up.

"Then you must die."

The boy struggles as the hand squeezes his neck. His conscious slowly fading.

"... Please … no …"

He kicks and squirms, trying to get out of the man's firm grasp.

"I'll … do ... it .." 

"..."

The man loosens his grip and the boy drops.

The boy gasps for air as he tries to lift himself up. He looks over towards the planet being engulfed by the star. The lights are slowly getting further and further away. 

The man snaps his fingers. 

The small lights grew brighter for an instant and dimmed down.

"what did you do?" the boy asks, in a weak, hoarse voice.

"..."

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

"Finished the art piece."

The boy lowers his head. He begins to cry as his surroundings shift once again.