The afternoon sun surrounded the town square with bright, vibrant orange and yellows, painting the setting for the soon to be, execution. Many townspeople had gathered, although there were always people that managed to slip the cracks and somehow avoid coming out to these sort of events. Hainer stood there, silently observing his surroundings and the people around him. “What’s on your mind?” His grandpa asked. Hainer simply didn’t respond, continuing to stand there, arms folded. The crowd continued to murmur, until it slowly drowned to complete silence. Approaching the wooden stage, was the Mayor, alongside several guards and the executioner. The guards were dragging along a man in hand cuffs, his hair a mess, and sweating. His clothes and face were dirty, He wore the typical black hood, and wielded a massive blade. Hainer stared at the steel weapon, thinking about many it must’ve been soaked in blood. Better yet, if the executioner even thought twice before slicing off someone’s head. “You know, some would say execution is probably the best way to go. As opposed to drowning or hanging, I mean.” His grandpa said, catching Hainer staring at the executioner. Hainer remained silent, watching as the Mayor’s crew waltz up to the stage. The handcuffed man was instructed to get onto his knees by one of the guards, who stood around the stage. He looked almost defeated, his hands tied behind back and head cowering. It was his last few moments of his life, and the poor guy had to face his fate in front of the town as if it were a spectacle. Even Hainer felt sorry for the man.
“Standing before us today, is Keith Lark Jr.” The Mayor’s voice suddenly boomed, everyone’s attention now situated at the stage. “A talented man. A brother, father, and a loving husband.” The Mayor paused. Hainer looked around to see if he could point out the man’s wife or children, however, there were far too many people present for him to pinpoint who it could have been. Sure, the dead giveaway would have been to find a woman that crying, but there were several people crying which made it difficult to narrow down. “I remember when he was just ye’ big, looking into his eyes I saw a boy full of potential. The potential to accomplish many great things.” He took another pause. “However, somehow and somewhere, this man took a wrong turn. A turn that did not lead him down the path to finding this potential, but the path towards ruin!” The Mayor shouted, pointing his finger at Keith. The man sat there on his knees with a blank look on his face, continuing to remain silent. “And so he stands here today, his life reaching the end. Giving me no choice but to punish him for his witchcraft, and occult magic.” The Mayor paused, as the crowd began to murmur. Hainer raised a brow himself. He had heard rumours about someone who had been doing something witchcraft-related of the sorts, but had no idea it was this man named Keith. “Keith,” The Mayor continued. “Have you any last words?” He asked, giving the man a somewhat kind gesture. Hainer figured it was due to the Mayor knowing Keith since he was a kid, as usually many execution victims just face the blade without any last words.
The crowd’s murmurs slowed down, becoming more quiet in anticipation for Keith. He, however, remained silent for a few seconds. The Mayor stared at him for a few moments, waiting to see if he was going to say anything.
“This…town.” Keith started to speak, his head lowered. If it wasn’t for the fact that Hainer was watching near the front, it would have been nearly impossible to hear him speak. “This town, will soon meet its end.” He said, a bit louder. The crowd remained silent, as did the Mayor. “The Mayor, the townsfolk…you are all going to end with the same bloody fate as I.” He spoked again.
“Is that a threat? There’s nothing you can do as a dead man, Keith. I expected you to say something as least somewhat meaningful, upon facing death.” The Mayor said, disappointed in the man.
“I’m not going to do anything.” Keith’s head suddenly lifted, staring at the Mayor. “It’s them you need to worry about.” He said, facing away from the Mayor, towards the crowd.
“What? The townsfolk?” The Mayor scoffed.
“No, not the townsfolk, you pompous bastard. What lies beyond the city.” Keith looked past the crowd, and towards the forest covered mountains in the not-so far distance, beyond the City of Ivesburg. “They are coming, and they are going to feast.” He then looked at the crowd. “Every single one of you is going to die, and this cowardly man won’t do a damn thing to protect you!” Keith suddenly shouted, almost in a manic state. He became flustered, attempting to free himself by standing up and squirming his wrists to let loose from his cuffs. Suddenly the crowd began to talk loudly, also getting into a panicked state, in response to what Keith was saying. Without letting it get any further, the Mayor signalled the guards to hold Keith. They put him back on his knees, as he struggled to get out of their grasp. The Executioner suddenly swung his blade once the guards manhandled Keith into position, slicing off his head. The crowd gasped at the gruesome sight, his head falling clean off, and the stage dripping with red.
“Everyone calm down!” The Mayor shouted. “He is just spouting nonsense! The man was on his deathbed, he would have said anything to get out of this execution!” The Mayor shouted once again, staring at the crowd to clam them down. “I promise you, that you are safe!” He shouted.
Hainer was admittedly taken a back by the whole situation, especially the sight of Keith losing his head. He glanced around at everyone talking amongst themselves, also in a state of worry.
“Standing before us today, is Keith Lark Jr.” The Mayor’s voice suddenly boomed, everyone’s attention now situated at the stage. “A talented man. A brother, father, and a loving husband.” The Mayor paused. Hainer looked around to see if he could point out the man’s wife or children, however, there were far too many people present for him to pinpoint who it could have been. Sure, the dead giveaway would have been to find a woman that crying, but there were several people crying which made it difficult to narrow down. “I remember when he was just ye’ big, looking into his eyes I saw a boy full of potential. The potential to accomplish many great things.” He took another pause. “However, somehow and somewhere, this man took a wrong turn. A turn that did not lead him down the path to finding this potential, but the path towards ruin!” The Mayor shouted, pointing his finger at Keith. The man sat there on his knees with a blank look on his face, continuing to remain silent. “And so he stands here today, his life reaching the end. Giving me no choice but to punish him for his witchcraft, and occult magic.” The Mayor paused, as the crowd began to murmur. Hainer raised a brow himself. He had heard rumours about someone who had been doing something witchcraft-related of the sorts, but had no idea it was this man named Keith. “Keith,” The Mayor continued. “Have you any last words?” He asked, giving the man a somewhat kind gesture. Hainer figured it was due to the Mayor knowing Keith since he was a kid, as usually many execution victims just face the blade without any last words.
The crowd’s murmurs slowed down, becoming more quiet in anticipation for Keith. He, however, remained silent for a few seconds. The Mayor stared at him for a few moments, waiting to see if he was going to say anything.
“This…town.” Keith started to speak, his head lowered. If it wasn’t for the fact that Hainer was watching near the front, it would have been nearly impossible to hear him speak. “This town, will soon meet its end.” He said, a bit louder. The crowd remained silent, as did the Mayor. “The Mayor, the townsfolk…you are all going to end with the same bloody fate as I.” He spoked again.
“Is that a threat? There’s nothing you can do as a dead man, Keith. I expected you to say something as least somewhat meaningful, upon facing death.” The Mayor said, disappointed in the man.
“I’m not going to do anything.” Keith’s head suddenly lifted, staring at the Mayor. “It’s them you need to worry about.” He said, facing away from the Mayor, towards the crowd.
“What? The townsfolk?” The Mayor scoffed.
“No, not the townsfolk, you pompous bastard. What lies beyond the city.” Keith looked past the crowd, and towards the forest covered mountains in the not-so far distance, beyond the City of Ivesburg. “They are coming, and they are going to feast.” He then looked at the crowd. “Every single one of you is going to die, and this cowardly man won’t do a damn thing to protect you!” Keith suddenly shouted, almost in a manic state. He became flustered, attempting to free himself by standing up and squirming his wrists to let loose from his cuffs. Suddenly the crowd began to talk loudly, also getting into a panicked state, in response to what Keith was saying. Without letting it get any further, the Mayor signalled the guards to hold Keith. They put him back on his knees, as he struggled to get out of their grasp. The Executioner suddenly swung his blade once the guards manhandled Keith into position, slicing off his head. The crowd gasped at the gruesome sight, his head falling clean off, and the stage dripping with red.
“Everyone calm down!” The Mayor shouted. “He is just spouting nonsense! The man was on his deathbed, he would have said anything to get out of this execution!” The Mayor shouted once again, staring at the crowd to clam them down. “I promise you, that you are safe!” He shouted.
Hainer was admittedly taken a back by the whole situation, especially the sight of Keith losing his head. He glanced around at everyone talking amongst themselves, also in a state of worry.