Screams echoed through the darkness, my own voice hoarse and foreign. I crawled, hands scraping against the cold floor, bloodied fingers smearing crimson stains on the walls. Agony wracked my body, every inch of movement a torment.
As I struggled to rise, my blurry vision began to clear. I turned, cringing at the sight behind me.
He stood tall, eyes blazing with animosity, fang-like teeth bared in a snarl. His gaze pierced mine, and I felt a chill run down my spine.
"You angels," he spat, his voice dripping venom. "I've always hated your kind. Thinking yourselves above us, with your wings and your holier-than-thou attitudes."
His hand dipped into his pocket, producing a cigar. He placed it between his lips, and with a snap of his fingers, the tip blazed to life. The flame danced, casting eerie shadows on his face.
"You're not so divine now, are you?" he sneered, taking a long drag on the cigar. The smoke curled around him, shrouding his features in a malevolent haze.
My vision began to fade, but I clung to consciousness, driven by a burning question: Who was this monster, and what had I done to incur his wrath?
I summoned every last shred of strength, forcing myself upright. My wings, once majestic and powerful, now felt heavy, weighed down by some unseen force. They trembled on my back, weak and battered.
Desperate, I focused on conjuring a spark of light. My hand trembled as I cupped it, willing the energy to build. Weak, flickering flames danced in my palm.
With a snarl, I hurled the feeble blast at my tormentor.
The man laughed, dodging effortlessly. "Pathetic," he sneered, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Undeterred, I charged again, but he was relentless. A swift punch sent me crashing to the ground. I landed with a thud on my knees, coughing up blood.
The man loomed over me, cigar smoke curling around his face. "No matter what magic you wield, angel," he sneered, "you'll never be stronger than me. Your kind's divine power is nothing against the darkness I've embraced."
He took another drag, exhaling slowly. "You're just a relic of a bygone era. And relics are meant to be broken."
His foot connected with my ribs, sending me tumbling to the floor. I writhed, agony consuming me.
As darkness closed in, I saw the man's face, etched with contempt. His eyes seemed to burn with an otherworldly intensity, and I realized that I was facing something far more sinister than human.
I spat blood, meeting the man's gaze. "You'll... never win," I rasped, defiance burning within me.
The man grinned, his fang-like teeth glinting. "Oh, but I already have." He took a leisurely drag on his cigar, exhaling smoke rings. "I am the Reaper. And you, angel, are nothing but a relic."
The Reaper's grin widened as he reached for my wing. His grasp closed around the base, and with a twisted smile, he tore it from my back.
I screamed, my voice shattering the air. Agony ripped through me like a tidal wave, leaving me breathless. My vision blurred, colors bleeding together.
The pain was indescribable – as if my very soul was being ripped apart. I felt my wing's roots tearing, tendons snapping, and muscles shredding. My body convulsed, wracked by spasms.
Tears streamed down my face, mixing with the blood on my lips. I begged for mercy, but the Reaper's laughter drowned out my pleas.
He grasped my other wing, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "You're no angel without these," he sneered, tearing the second wing free.
My screams echoed, a haunting melody of despair. I collapsed, limp and shattered.
The Reaper stood over me, his chest heaving with exertion. "Pretty soon, I'll be the one true king," he declared, his voice dripping with triumph. "And you? You'll be nothing but a footnote in history."
As darkness consumed me, I saw the Reaper's face, etched with madness and ambition. Without my wings, I knew I was nothing, completely vulnerable.