We stand trembling behind the front opening; none of us are ready to act, but it's now or never.
"Go."
I whisper, and Dillon runs out through the opening to the side of the barn facing away from the tavern.
"We have a sacrificial lamb here?"
Dillion freezes.
Then he slowly turns around and looks back at me with a face I'll never forget.
He wears his gentle but smug smile and winks at me, as if to say, 'Keep fighting.'
Then, Hades readies his attack.
But this time, I don't look away.
I simply nod to Dillon, and he nods back.
Boom.
A large beam of light devours Dillon, and he screams in agony until it stops.
Nothing remains where he used to stand except for a pile of ash.
"Let's go!"
I and the other slaves run to the back opening and out into the field.
Hades comes to the front of the barn but sees nobody there.
"Damn filthy pigs!"
We hide in the fields and slowly traverse to the other side.
I hear a swoosh, and I see Hades in the sky staring down on us like a malevolent god.
"Oh, you ignorant fools."
A staff appears in his hand, and a beam of light strikes us.
The field is set on fire, and those who haven't escaped burn alive.
But I don't turn back; I keep running with the few of us who are left.
Eventually, after Hades shoots down a few more people, we get inside the tavern.
I bolt through the building, busting open room after room, until I find a heavily locked door.
I call the other slaves over, and we break down the door.
And as I expected, inside is the treasure vault.
We all grab our fair share of gold and run down to the horse stable, which is connected to the tavern.
Each of us gets on a horse, and we bolt through the plains.
I finally feel the breeze of freedom, and I look around and see the green grass and the rising sun.
Hades is still searching for us in the tavern, and by the time he's done, we'll all be long gone.
"We're free!"
One of the freed slaves shouts as we ride our horses into the sunset, the most beautiful scene I've ever experienced.
I've heard stories of this world from my family, but I never expected it to be this great.
Suddenly my expression darkened.
Dillon… he couldn't escape with us.
He didn't get the opportunity I did.
But I shouldn't dwell on that.
He died so I could live that life.
The life he couldn't.
And I'll never forget him for that.