Triple Temptation
His vision was tunneling, the tactical lights of the humans becoming blurred smears of white and red.
"He's a cockroach," the lead soldier spat, stepping forward to kick the iron sword out of Ash’s hand. The blade clattered across the stone, sliding toward the abyss. "Finish him. Then bag the girl."
Ash looked up, his breath coming in wet, ragged gasps. He saw the muzzle of the rifle. He saw the finger on the trigger. He felt Rhea’s scream behind him, a sound of pure, unadulterated soul-shattering grief. He closed his eyes, not in fear, but in a final, quiet prayer that she would find a way to live without him.