When faith is all one knows, it should, in theory, be enough to keep one from straying off the path of righteousness. Yet in a world as nightmarish as this, it is all one can cling to — where the Living Dead aimlessly walk a path of destruction that leaves no innocents behind.

Although humanity teetered on the brink of abandonment, the divine had not turned away completely and created Necromancers and their magic. When Jason’s mark manifested at the age of five, he along with other children just like him, was forcibly taken and indoctrinated into the Church to aid in its Crusade.

But even the blessed cannot keep God's favor for eternity.

"Shh," he softly cooed, trying to quiet the anxious gurgles of his dying partner, fingers smearing out the runes of the magic circle around them. “I promised to always take care of you,” he reassured, although he couldn't quite tell if the words were meant to soothe himself or the one who lay dying in his arms.

There’s so much blood, oozing across the ground in a river of sticky and warm crimson. The sharp and biting smell of it all was starting to make him feel sick.

Jason’s a powerful Necromancer, with sorcery beyond his imagination. He’s never bound another human to himself before. But he can’t afford to lose the one he holds the most dear. He would rather die than bear the mere thought of being left alone. And if selfishly playing God meant keeping them by his side for the rest of eternity?

Then so be it.

A shaky hand tenderly cupped his love’s pallid cheek, rubbing a thumb that stained red in its path.

It won’t be long now.

“We'll be together forever,” Jason promised, pressing a kiss to their forehead. And that was an understatement. Because the only way to break the Necromancer’s Contract is when he perishes himself.

It’ll be just him and his own beloved Living Dead.

Because even in death, they'll never be apart.