The end of the story

And just like that, after all the strife and fight, the dark warlock stood looking at them.

“That is our book but this is your fantasy. You are its hero” He said. “You let us free. Only you can finish the story."

Hope lit their eyes. There was an end.

“How?” asked Tom. “How can I stop it? I’ve already tried destroying it, but I didn't even damage it. How can I do it?”

The warlock walked over to them.

“Just like the story started with someone, that same someone must end too.”

“What does it mean? If I must give up fighting, I will. How can I end this?” said Tom in frustration.

“The story ends with its hero.” Asnwering bluntly. “Do you understand now?”

Sarah which had been in the back the whole time moved forward. Her expression could not be understood. Sadness? No, something deeper. She knew already what the warlock meant.

“Is there any other way?” Asked Sarah. “After all we’ve done… It can’t end like that. Stories are supposed to have a happy ending.”

“True stories don’t have happy endings.”

“But we tried hard. We really did.” Said Sarah. It sounded much more like a plea.

“True stories don’t have happy endings.” he repeated

“I still don’t understand what I must do” said Tom. He was totally oblivious to the meaning of the warlock’s words.

“You have to die” said Sarah. Already her eyes showed sign of tears. She would cry for him. She would miss him. “You have to die, so that the story can end”

“The girl understood.” A mix between a compliment and an insult. “Do you understand now? You made this. It must end with you. As soon as you die, we’ll disappear.”

Sarah sunk to the ground, with hands on her face, crying.

“If I die, will she be ok?” asked Tom

“Yes.”

“And your people will disappear?”

“Yes.”

“Do you promise?”

“We are not creators but creations. We are proud for that fact.”

Tom looked at the sky. “Well it was good while it lasted” A tear streamed across his face, but when he looked at the warlock, his face was firm.

“There must be another way” Said a sobbing Sarah. “You can’t die. Not now. Now that…”

“I'll never truly die”, interrupted Tom. “Don’t worry, silly. It’s not like I’ll leave you. You’ll feel me in the rain. You’ll hear me in the wind. And I’ll be watching over you. I’m not afraid” Said Tom with a smile.” Although oblivious before, he now knew what he must do and was totally prepared for it.

“Then, how will I go? Excruciating pain? Free fall from the top of a mountain? Poison probably?” toyed Tom.

The warlock laughed. He remembered. Occasionally there were these kinds of heroes. Happy-go-lucky fools that were defiant to the end. The true stories were about these few that outlasted even their fear of death. These were the ones that truly lasted forever.