[Before you continue, I want to say this — I'm sorry.What you're about to read isn't easy. It wasn't for me when I wrote it either.Some scenes will hurt, not because they're meant to shock, but because they had to happen.This is where the story crosses the line between light and shadow — where "Born From Nothingness" truly begins.Read it when your heart is steady.]
The Duskbornes dragged the three wounded survivors into the chamber and dropped them in front of Angelo. Vaelgor leaned forward on his throne, his voice calm and cruel:
"Do you know them?"
Angelo lifted his head, still bound by Serika's chains. His gaze moved over the bloodied soldiers—two unfamiliar faces. But the third made his breath catch.
"… Colonel Pierce?" he whispered.
Vaelgor caught the flicker of recognition in Angelo's eyes and grinned.
"Ah. I see you do."
He turned to the Duskbornes. "Kill them—slowly."
The Duskbornes stepped closer, their jagged weapons gleaming under the dim light. Angelo thrashed against the chains.
"Please! Don't! I'll do anything—just don't kill them!"
Laughter echoed through the room, monstrous and cold. Even the Saints chuckled.
The three soldiers met Angelo's gaze. Colonel Darius Pierce gave a crooked smile through the blood on his face.
"We messed up, men. We came to rescue him… and now we're the ones going down first." He looked at Angelo, regret deep in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I led them all to their deaths."
Specialist Nadia Faye, her face pale and bruised, gave a slight nod.
"It was an honor fighting alongside you, Colonel."
Staff Sergeant Jonah Keene looked directly at Angelo.
"Kid… close your eyes. You don't wanna see this."
Angelo's voice cracked as he shouted, "No! No, it's my fault! Hale… Ryan… now you—everyone around me dies! I'm cursed!"
"Bullshit!" Pierce barked. "You saved lives—hundreds of them! The Watchers, the Angels… those people escaped because of you. You're the reason they're safe. You have to survive. Your family is waiting for you—"
He stopped mid-sentence as the chamber doors creaked open.
The Hollowed Saints returned—Shrikecoil, Mireglass, Thornmarch, and one more. In their grasp were Olivia, James, Alex, Emma, and Sophia. Shackled and terrified, they were dragged into the room like offerings. Emma clung to her father, face buried in his chest, her small voice crying softly.
Serika's smile widened.
"The main guests have arrived. Now we can start the party."
Pierce's voice shook.
"What happened to the rest of the team? Why are they here?"
The Duskborne standing behind him growled.
"You talk too much."
Without warning, it swung its weapon and sliced off Pierce's lower jaw. He collapsed, screaming in agony, blood pouring from his mouth.
"NOOO!" Angelo shouted, eyes wide with horror.
Olivia screamed. James held Emma tightly, shielding her eyes. Alex froze, trembling. Sophia stood in front of them, trying to remain composed, but her body shook uncontrollably.
Emma covered her ears and screamed in terror. The room filled with the laughter of monsters.
"Close your eyes!" Jonah yelled again. "Don't watch this!"
Angelo squeezed his eyes shut, chains rattling as he pulled with everything he had. But they didn't budge.
The screams began.
One by one, Jonah, Nadia, and the mangled Colonel were tortured. Their agonized cries echoed off the stone walls, searing themselves into Angelo's mind. He begged—sobbed—for it to stop. Over and over again.
"Please! Stop! I'm sorry! I'm sorry—please!"
Then—silence.
Angelo opened his eyes slowly, heart pounding in his chest.
Before him were the mutilated corpses of the three soldiers, their blood staining the floor.
He broke.
Tears streamed down his face. He stared, shaking, and whispered to himself over and over:
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
Angelo looked up at Vaelgor, voice trembling with rage and sorrow. "Why? Why are you doing this? What have I—or they—ever done to you?"
Vaelgor leaned forward on his throne, amused. "It's simple, really. Our king ordered us to bring you to him."
"Then take me!" Angelo cried. "Why are you killing them?"
Vaelgor chuckled. "We could've taken you straight to him. But where's the fun in that? Breaking you is much more entertaining."
Angelo's voice cracked as he begged, "Please… please take me instead. Let them go. I won't resist. If pain is what you want, then hurt me—just not them. Not my family."
Vaelgor narrowed his eyes. "You? You're not even worth hurting. Look at yourself. One of my Duskbornes stabbed you straight through the stomach—yet here you are. The hole's still there, but there's no blood. So, tell me… what exactly are you?"
Angelo glanced down. His shirt was torn, his skin ruptured—yet the wound didn't bleed. His breath caught in his throat. Even he didn't know the answer.
Vaelgor grinned. "Enough talk. It's time for the main event."
The Hollowed Saints stepped forward, dragging Angelo's family and Sophia to the center of the hall. Olivia screamed. James held Emma tightly. Sophia fought against her chains, trying to shield the others. Angelo cried out, pulling at the bonds with everything he had—but the chains only dug deeper into his flesh.
"Please!" he shouted. "Please don't do this!"
Vaelgor nodded to one of the creatures. "Choirmaster. Make sure he doesn't miss a thing."
The Bound Choirmaster slithered behind Angelo and, with its long, clawed hands, pried his eyelids open. Angelo thrashed, but he couldn't look away.
The Duskbornes began with Alex.
"No—no, please—!" Angelo sobbed, thrashing against his chains. "Not him!"
Two creatures dragged Alex forward, forcing him to his knees. He struggled at first—spitting, cursing, trying to fight them off. But when he saw Angelo, his body stilled.
His breath trembled.
"… Angelo," he said, barely audible over the silence. "I should've said it before…"
He looked up at him, eyes wide with fear—but not of death.
"I'm sorry."
And then the Duskbornes tore his arms off.
Blood sprayed across the stone floor. Alex screamed—shrill, raw, full of pain. They stabbed him again and again, mercilessly, until his body slumped forward.
Still.
Gone.
"No!" Olivia wailed. Emma screamed and tried to run, but the chains held her fast.
Then they took Emma.
"No—EMMA!" Angelo shouted, thrashing so violently the chains rattled like thunder.
She looked up at them—then at Angelo. Her voice trembled, and her knees shook.
"Big brother…" she whimpered, shrinking away as their eyes met. "Why are you letting this happen?"
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled in the Duskbornes' grip.
"I thought… you were s'posed to protect us…"
She twisted, trying to break free. "I don't wanna die! I wanna go home! Mommy—!"
Her screams were cut short as the blades sank into her.
She gasped, choking on her breath. "It hurts… it hurts so much…"
And then, barely a whisper:
"Make it stop…"
Until her broken body slumped to the ground.
Then James.
They forced him to his knees, blood running down his face and soaking his torn clothes. He looked down at Emma's broken body, pain, and fury burning in his eyes.
"Stay strong… for Olivia," he gasped, locking eyes with Angelo, voice raw but steady. "Don't… let them win."
His hands clenched the ground as they cracked his legs, slow and cruel.
Each stab cut deeper, but James held on, gritting his teeth through the agony.
Blood poured from wounds in his chest, yet his gaze stayed fixed—haunted by the loss of his daughter and the thought of his wife.
When the final blow pierced his heart, he fell forward, eyes wide but unblinking.
Angelo sobbed uncontrollably, throat raw from screaming, eyes burning with helpless rage.
Then Sophia.
She didn't resist. Her body was broken, but her gaze never wavered from Angelo. Two Duskbornes held her up as a third carved deep wounds into her arms and sides. Her lips trembled, but she didn't cry out. Not until they shattered her kneecaps, forcing her to the ground.
Before the final blow, she looked up at Angelo—blood dripping from her mouth, her voice barely more than a breath.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't keep your family safe."
And then she was gone.
Only Olivia remained—shaking, sobbing, covered in the blood of her family. Her eyes locked with Angelo's, wide with terror and heartbreak.
Angelo sat in silence, breath shattered, soul in ruins. He couldn't look away. He couldn't blink. He couldn't scream.
All he could do… was break.