Ophelia Falling

Written by Wolsal

Script assisted by Crussofang

CONTENT WARNING(S): Death, grief, fatal injuries

The air was heavy with the scent of blood and the yells of the fight raging on. It had only been a few weeks since the Great God Beelzebub had been felled by the other Gods and had killed the God of Famine..

Merry ran through the woods- ducking between trees. Each breath drawn in with such intensity and fervor you could practically hear the strain of her lungs. It was carnage- unbalanced- chaos in the absence of Chaos- it was so purely wrong. 

The once thriving domain of Sol Valley had quickly become overrun by disciples, priests, and prophets alike swarming the lively forest in search of any of they who still worshipped the God of Chaos- and any who posed a risk to free him.

Without much warning, only a few yards away from Merry, a familiar face ran by. The usually stoic and stoney rat, a devoted disciple of Beelzebub, Ophelia, now wore a face wrought by fear and determination. She was followed close behind by a large crowd of Exterminators, all brandishing weapons of various different kinds. 

Merry’s eyes went wide- no, no it was too soon- this whole thing just started it hadn’t even been a month- she couldn’t lose someone yet-

But Ophelia was the perfect target, was she not? The morbid thought was unwelcome, however it made sense she was the one targeted. For a fraction of a moment Merry thought to keep running, but she couldn’t. She had to save her- escape with her- safety in numbers, they could be ok-

She ran as fast as she was able after the group, ears pinned upwards to catch every sound she could- she couldn’t lose them, she couldn’t lose her- 

Distantly she heard a yell from a voice all too recognizable- no, no- she had to get there now- she couldn’t let this happen, not yet not now damnit-

.

It took her a further few minutes to reach Ophelia- she came up on the mouth of a cave, a runoff of a larger stream that intruded into the gullet of the rocky formation. The Exterminators had left- then where was-

No… 

As she drew closer to the cave, slowing down from the sprint she had been pushing, she saw it. Her. 

Inside the cave lay a crumpled up form, diluted red spreading throughout the shallow pool of water at the cave floor, ebbing and flowing in crimson ribbons. Her breath caught in her throat, a pit forming in her stomach.

Merry ran as quick as her legs would carry her through the water, kneeling down next to the unmoving form. The rat’s face was partially submerged in the water, lying on her side. “OPHELIA-” She quickly grabbed onto her shoulders, rolling her over onto her back and resting her upper body across her lap. 

She frantically felt around for a pulse- any signs of life. “No no no no- stay with me stay with me Ophelia-” She begged, doing her best to remain composed as tears welled in her eyes. With a shaky hand pressed against her chest, she could feel it weakly rising and falling. 

Ophelia’s eyes were unfocused- face wet with a wash of water, tears, and blood- all mixed together. “It’s ok, you’re gonna be ok- look at me you’re gonna be ok-” She repeated to her, though it almost seemed like she was trying to convince herself more than anything.

She mumbled something incoherently, it didn’t even seem she was trying to say anything in particular. She didn’t seem to even be fully aware of anything, eyes loosely on Merry. 

She quickly fumbled around, trying to find the source of the scarlet liquid that permeated out. As she looked over the rapidly declining rat, she discovered to her horror that the source was everywhere- deep stab wounds, gashes, and lacerations covered her body. 

“It’s gonna be ok- you’re gonna be ok hold on just hold on please- you can’t go you can’t- please-” Merry spoke, placing her hands over the deeper wounds she could see, pressing as much as she could in a vain attempt to stop the flow of blood breaching her body.

Ophelia mumbled more, slurring her gibberish as she spoke. Her eyes drooped more, breathing growing even weaker. Merry desperately looked around, growing more frantic as the obvious became more and more clear.

She was dying. There wasn’t going to be any saving her.

Merry let out a guttural cry, sobs wracking her body as she began to come to terms with the reality of the situation. Gently, she brought Ophelia into her arms, holding her dying body close. “I’m so sorry- I’m so sorry- oh gods Ophelia I’m so sorry-” She repeated, blood and water quickly seeping into Merry’s clothes. 

She gently pet Ophelia’s head, trying to give her whatever comfort she was able to. She held her tighter, as if somehow holding onto her would stop her from leaving.

Ophelia let out a final wheeze- barely opened eyes glazing over as all movement ceased.

Merry didn’t let go yet, burying her face into the top of Ophelia’s head as she sobbed harder, grief crashing into her in a tsunami of emotions- thoughts invaded of Ophelia as she was in her life. As she was only a few weeks ago. So alive. Now here she was, dead and broken in the arms of her fellow apostle.
.

Everything that occurred after was a blur- Merry wasn’t even sure she was aware of what she was doing. She was dragging Ophelia’s body out of the cave, she found herself in a small clearing in a bed of twisted flowers. Sunflowers reached towards the sky as if they too were trying to escape the Valley. She gently laid her body down in a patch of flowers, petals almost seeming to cradle her lifeless body. Merry sat next to her for a while, unable to will herself to leave. Not yet. She knew in her heart that as soon as she left… she’d never see her again.

She gently reached for Ophelia’s ear- the remaining one that hadn’t been torn off, removing the earrings that she’d worn ever since she became a disciple. She carefully stowed them away in an inner pocket of her cloak.

She plucked a few flowers from around her- placing them on her chest. She stood up, vision still clouded by ceaseless tears.

“Goodbye Ophelia… I-” She took a second to take a few breaths in and out, suppressing the urge to scream, the anguish was too much to bear. She shook her head. “I’m so sorry… and I-” She choked out a sob, feeling her heart break as she forced the words out. “I’m gonna miss you.”

.

The Chaos apostles, it was only a matter of time before more were claimed by the ravages of the slaughter. Though there always has to be a first- and Ophelia had fallen.