"How Hard it is, That We Must Die" Summary LANCE CARTER, a contemporary twenty-year-old struggles to determine self-worth while staying in a three-bedroom apartment with a former high-school thug, JEREMIAH LISATH, and a long-term female... companion; LARISSA BELLE'S yearning for a deeper relationship complicates Lance's already deteriorating mental state. On top of reality constantly reminding Lance of his "worthlessness", a recent fit of horrific nightmares causes so much distress that it forces him to rethink his sanity. In this dream, Lance's true self is shown. The altered persona Larissa refers to as ZEKE. Meanwhile, an unfortunate antagonist combats his own issues. A fallen father, a dying mother, ALDRIC CAIN can't seem to catch a break. Thankfully his family is financially secure, but that doesn't make up for the sentiment one receives from those who care about them. With everything in his life dissipating - Aldric decides to forgo his own mental trauma. All that matters to him is taking care of his little sister, NATASHA. His unwavering goal of protecting his sibling is convoluted by the arrival of FELIX, Aldric's own supernatural representative. But on top of a psychological battle among characters, these dreams... something about them seems too real. The characters in them, Zeke of Lance's nightmare, and Felix, the Forceful entity plaguing Aldric's mind - seem all too real. In time, the purposes of these "guardians" are shown. Zeke's purpose, as a Seraphian, is to protect and serve the person they serve. Felix's motive, as an Odian, is to manipulate and corrupt. Integration of the characters in an everyday environment initializes an eternal struggle against good and evil. What started out a petty quarrel among men - evolves into a full-scale assault among sentinels. So which side will you choose? Seraphian - the Path of Light, Or, Odian - the Road to Darkness.