Fade Into You / Mazzy Star

“Fade Into You,” acrylic painting by Mazzy Star

how I wanted to turn away, to run from that graveyard forev- an and her children, our children, all I had hoped for and er, but the same power which had driven me to the specter fought for. The life I had won, that, although not perfect, now pulled me in once more, willing me to surrender myself I would go through the very pits of Hades to preserve. to the flames and my fate. Suddenly my head seemed to be

I glanced at the specter for a cleared, and I found myself filled moment and I thought I saw it nod, as if to confirm all my fears. I would step forward and resign myself to Once again my heart filled with that holy terror which consumes with strength once again. I realized that be it an angel from Heaven, a demon from Hell the flames. I would obey. I would ... But then I felt my hand, still a man at the brink of or something in between, nothing in creation can match the resolve gripping the pistol in my pocket. I his demise. of man. had only to shoot, and the specter In that moment there was no

would be gone. I had faced Death Z right or wrong, no black or white. many times before, his icy grasp Only I had the power to save my had crept through my veins, only life, and I knew what I must do. to be thawed by fire of youth. With a shaking hand I raised the pistol and pointed it at the

But I had left my vigor behind inside a muddy trench in specter’s heart. It stood completely still, mockingly, as if to far off France, and I could almost feel the poison gas burning say Arrogant man! We both know that you do not have the in my throat as my head turned foggy, and once again my strength to do it. heart filled with that holy terror which consumes a man at The figure held up a hand. the brink of his demise. “Go back to the netherworld, demon of the abyss!” I

But it was not all over yet. Through the fog there came shouted with as much strength as I could muster. another image, a vision far clearer than the rest. A wom- A shot rang out, and all was silent. q