The Endgame

No one has ever survived when they play. It envelops you, it crushes you. 
It banishes every hope in your mind. As it ends you, you feel nothing but fear and sorrow. I wonder what they thought in their final moments? Sorrow that they failed the test? Rage that they were tricked? Or again was it sorrow, that their families would weep in sorrow through fault of their own? I would find out, because today I am the one who faces He who butchers the soul.
My sister is the one who believes I can pass, because I'm unlike everyone else. If I survive, it's over. No one will have to be butchered again.
"I'm worried," I tell Celia, my sister. "What if I don't pass? If I escape and don't kill that thing.... what if you have to-" I couldn't finish that sentence. I lost mother. I cannot lose Celia. 
"You'll be fine," she said with a smile. Her beautiful black hair shone in the rain mixed with the sun. "Now get over there!" She had to push me into the tunnel.
The tunnel was lit by candles and soft music. The music was supposed to be an apology for sending us off to Oblivion. But no apology is ever enough for forcing us to die. I am close to the gate with the butcher. I can see inside the room. The room. The butcher is silent. The souls of the dead inside. One soul above all other floats gracefully. It speaks to me in a faint voice.
It's you. After all these years, I finally found you. 
"What? Who are you?" I ask.
I am Lena. I was killed by the beast years ago. I saw a prophecy that 10 years from my death, a hero would come. You are the first reaped of the tenth year.
"You're making a mistake. I'm not a hero. I have some abilities like my arm, but..."
I'm not lying. Enter the room of the Butcher and the chain of destiny will begin to bind you.
Lena was right of course. Once I entered the room, I felt an unusual sensation in my soul. Lena's soul also pulsated. The Butcher must have noticed, because he began to wake up. He roared and I drew my sword. I jumped up and slashed him in the face.
RRRRRRAGHHHHHH!!!! His scream echoed all around the room. If I had not jumped away from him, I would've gone deaf. I shot a blast of demonic energy at him, and he swatted it back at me. It exploded right in front of me and I was blown back at the wall. I looked at Lena's soul. The Butcher was coming toward her. She was terrified.
"Get away from her!" I yelled, throwing my sword at the beast. The sword's handle hit Lena's soul, absorbing it. I felt horrified. I had become a murderer. When I gripped the handle. I felt an unusual sensation. My left arm began to pulsate. It glowed. Was Lena inside me now?
I told you so, sucker! she laughed.
"Heh. Guess from now on I'll trust my elders. Let's kill this thing!"
My arm began to pulsate violently. A dark aura began to envelop me. My arm began to change shape. 
I feel as if my arm is becoming enveloped with Lena's memories and her own darkness. I don't have time to think about this, because I am busy registering what Lena did to me.
She has changed my arm. Scar-like marking appear on the arm, followed with an insignia on the hand. It depicts two black stars.
"Whoa. What did you do to me?" I ask.
You'll find out, she replies from within me. Suddenly my nails grow and come towards him. My nails actually represent blades. My arm is like an animal's claw. The nails glow purple as the Butcher is stabbed in the heart.
I don't move. I wait for the first sign that this isn't over. It never comes. The demon dissipates into Oblivion. The room suddenly fades into light. The souls of the butchered fade upward as I walk out.
      "The rain hasn't stopped." I say. It still rains, as if the bad day isn't over.
"I told you so."
I turn around to see Lena. Wait, I just saw her. I'm not sure how, but...
"How did you get a body?" I ask her.
"You," Lena says unemotionally. You helped me escape, so I'm restored. I should thank you." Lena turns around and leaves. "But I shouldn't be in this picture right now. We'll meet again, Tenka."
She faded away. But not upward or downward. It was like she was teleporting away. I simply shrug and walk off.
"Who was that, Tenka?" Celia asks as I pass her. I am silent for a while before I answer.
"A friend." She doesn't talk about it as we head home.
"Soooo.... you survived and I said you would. I have my demand list ready...."
"Is that the only reason you cheered me on? Some helpful sister you are!" We laugh at this and walk home.
The rain doesn't stop as I walk from the Endgame



Epilogue
  Lena hasn't come back for a year. And the rain has continued for a year. I wonder if the two occurrences are connected, but the very idea seems ridiculous. 
I practice with my abilities every day, and use my abilities. I learn to summon, but I'm not comforted by that knowledge. I just simply hang out with the crew. Celia and the other two.
Celia's calm as we hang out inside, but I hear the doorbell.
"I'm coming," I say, and open the door.
Lena is standing outside silently. She then says "Hi. Can I come in?"
And that's when the rain stops.