Sinner

Sinner

By: Casey Laday

We lost five years ago. I know we did, I was there. I mean blood was pouring from my stomach like a river and my left eye had already been destroyed, but I was aware enough to know defeat. Victory is a sudden shock like ice cold water being thrown onto you unexpectedly. Your body freezes up because you don’t know what’s happening, then all at once everything triggers. Defeat is different, its like hunger. You’ve seen the people on the streets? Its dull at first, but then slowly starts to eat at you from the inside. I think that’s why after certain wars a rebellion starts. They feel that nulling hunger and they think that if they just keep fighting they’ll get that win. That food their body needs. Eventually they starve, yesterday I starved. Five years of loss, but yesterday was the day I felt defeated.”

The young man spoke, still covered in the blood of his victims, calm and low like if he had spoken any higher he may wake up a sleeping giant. Two men stood in front of him one a large half orc grey skinned the color of a decaying body. Muscular like most of his people with white piercing eyes. His massive hand lay on his weapon ready to strike if the human dared to make any sudden moves. Standing next to him, an elf, tall and slender like most of his kind with skin that almost looked golden. His hair ran down his back was as red as fire. The elf looked unarmed but was everything the contrary.

These two men, Peace Enforcers, dressed in military red and gold. Badges decorated the left side of uniform and anyone who with basic schooling could tell that these men were not only dangerous, but important. They watched the young man while he sat in his cell both perplexed. The suspect had killed twenty people in cold blood at a market place yesterday, then sat down in the center and waited to be arrested. When guards came to kill him, as one would expect poorly trained guards to do, he disarmed them and knocked them out without killing anyone. He only moved when he was ordered to go to a cell. The report said thirty men escorted him to that cell, all scared to touch him.

Finally the elf broke the silence. “I am Kailu Leogella and this is my partner Gogrurz Naybu, we are Peace Enforcers from the alliance. We are here to pass judgment on you as part of our duty as a Peace Enforcer. Your outcome will either be death, imprisonment, or institutionalism. You have already admitted to killing twenty people, most of which were ex-military or ex adventures. What I don’t understand is why would you kill fellow soldiers? You didn’t kill the guards, but you killed the market workers.” The prisoner looked over to the side as if he had an imaginary friend that he needed to ask permission to speak from. There on his neck almost covered completely with a blanket of blood was a slave mark. Gogrurz nudged Kailu to draw attention to what he had already noticed.

Gogrurz roared “You are a slave! Is this some type of act of rebellion! Don’t like your lot in life human!”

“To answer both of your questions Peace Enforcers, yes I am a slave, no this isn’t an rebellion, and those ex-soldiers are no brothers of mine. Any other questions you’d like me to answer?” The prisoner says as he turns his head back towards the Enforcers the dried blood cracking and flacking off as it bulges in his skin.

“Give us some information about yourself. We have no idea who you are.” Kailu states in his calm demeanor.

“I figured they would have told you about that as soon as you got here. I am the slave known as Fifty-Three. I rented a two bedroom in this town about a month ago, and yesterday I killed people in the market.”

“Your Fifty-Three!” Gogrurz was so surprised by this that his hand slipped off his weapon. He quickly put it back and secretly felt shame that he was rattled by the mere mention of a name. However it was a name to have. The slave Fifty-Three was one of the hero’s that fought against Plague. A Beast-Man with horns that people mistook for a devil. Something that was common for Beast-Men. They had humanoid figures, but would have traits such as sharp teeth, wings, claws, and other animal appendages that would easily frighten the masses. Plague took advantage of this and started a war. No one knows how he got the power he did, but it didn’t matter, in the end he won. Some of the Hero’s like Fifty-Three defeated high ranking generals, but the Champion of the Hero’s could not best Plague. Without a Champion most of the Alliance fell.

“Yes, I’m a used to be Hero. Is it weird to see me like this? Did you expect me to be cripple like Figgin? Or insane like-“ Kailu interrupts

“We are not here to insult what you did for us at such a young age. You were strong and you fought valiantly. Rumor has it that you even came out of the war with some nice gear. A Tri-Iris and a hell axe. That’s what the reports say. They say you only use that eye when you really need to, and judging by all the blood you have on you I assume you didn’t use it yesterday. However we cant just listen to anyone who says that their a Hero. If we did that we’d have thousands.” Fifty-Three raises his hand and just like that an axe appears. The axe seems to have black steam constantly coming from it and the handle has words carved into its dark wood that look so ancient Kailu in all his eight hundred years of life couldn’t figure out the language.

Gogrurz drew his sword. His teeth gritted and arms threatening to rip apart his nice military top. Kailu raised his hand resting it on Gogrurz weapon. If this really was Fifty-Three, he and Gogrurz wouldn’t be able to beat him without the death of one and the dismemberment of the other.

“Do you believe me now Enforcers?” Fifty-Three throws the axe into the air and it disappears. Gogrurz and Kailu look up and see no indention where the axe would have hit nor did they hear a noise. Kailu, an elf who always liked to be in control of everything, felt disheveled. His partner wanted to kill the suspect every chance he got, the suspect is most likely one of the strongest humans alive, and he was no closer to finding out why he killed a market of people. Kailu had to think, that was always his strongest attribute. He was always praised for his magic skill, but what really got him through life was thinking. One thing was certain to Kailu, Fifty-Three didn’t want to kill them. If his intel on that axe was correct he can transport to where ever its thrown as well as summon it. It would have been nothing to throw it into a wall and then appear at that wall free of the cell. So that’s not why he stayed. So why is he still here? Why doesn’t he just leave, go to another town and do whatever he pleases? Was it because he was waiting on something? Kailu had to ask, it didn’t seem like Fifty-Three was hiding anything so as long as he could ask the right questions there would be answers.

“I’m starting to believe you, but if you didn’t draw your weapon again that would be nice.” Kailu said as he finally lowered his hand from in front of Gogrurz who still hadn’t lowered his weapon.

“That’s fine, can we get to the sentencing now?” Fifty-Three’s voice raised when he spoke, A sign of excitement, something a normal person would miss but not Kailu.

“Why are you ready to be sentenced? Don’t you want to tell your side of the story? Fight for your innocence?” Fifty-Three looked up into Kailu’s eyes. The elf felt uncomfortable, his thoughts went to the dreaded Tri-Eye. What if he used it, what would it do to him?

“I’m ready to stand before the town and be executed. That’s the last part of my plan.” Fifty-Three spoke and as he did Gogrurz growls steadily become louder as he stood ready for battle.

“Your ready to die?” Kailu said his voice rising over Gogrurz.

Fifty-Three raised his voice to match “No, death isn’t in my plan. At least not here.”

“Well what is your plan human!” Gogrurz’s voice came out more as a bark then any tangible language. He was feeling threatened by the calm young prisoner in the cell, and his natural instincts to kill were taking over him. Gogrurz had always had problems controlling himself, but that’s to be expected from his race. In actuality he was one of the most calm half-orc’s you’d ever see. Now however, for him, it wasn’t the time to be calm. Fifty-Three was a threat and needed to die.

Kailu could see something was wrong. In the two years he had worked with Gogrurz he never seen him look the way he did now. His face sweety and thick spit running down his mouth. They had been in fights before outnumbered and tired with no sign of victory, but Gogrurz never looked like this.

Fifty-Three saw it too. The anger that dwelled in Gogrurz was something he could relate too. Anger so strong that you can only think of one thing. A type of tunnel vision a type of rage that only like minded people could relate too.

“If I told you my plan you’d try to attack me and I don’t want to fight you. I don’t know you very well, but I don’t think you’re being yourself Peace Enforcer.” Fifty-Three’s words hit home with Kailu. Something was wrong with his partner.

Kailu backed up out of the room and walked towards the main entrance. As he did the voices of people outside became clear. Chants of death rang form outside the prison doors. How could he not hear it? An Elf’s hearing is superior to a human and half-orc. So the fact that they didn’t hear it could be excusable, but Kailu himself should have heard it.

The chants turn into roars as he opens the door to the outside. Men and woman stand there with the guard. Ranting and raving like mad people. Mage’s in robes stand around their mouths moving but Kaliu was unable to understand through all the yelling. This was turning into a riot and a town riot was something that two Peace Enforcers cant contain. Not without death.

“Good people of this town. Calm down! We are trying to get to the bottom of this! If you all would just go home we will have everything figured out shortly.” The yells continue, Kailu didn’t know if they fell on death ears or ones so full of contempt that nothing would get through.

“Kill the fucker!”

“Hang em!”

“Behead him!” The people shouted as Kailu stood frozen by as if he had been incased in ice. The savage way these people were acting was unbecoming of a civilized society.

“Please” He tried again “Please people try and come to your senses. This is not how we act. We are better then our feelings. Justice will come.” The people don’t listen. They don’t or they wont. It makes no difference, the only thing that matters is that Fifty-Three gets a proper trial. Kailu remembered the time they found the Elf killer. It ended up being a group of men killing and raping innocent Elf women. He wanted to kill them all there on the spot, but he couldn’t. He had to listen to there testimony and give a just decision. Seven days of accounts of torture and death, but he did it because that was their rights giving to them by the Allience. In the end they were found guilty and sentenced to death. Kailu had personally seen to and delivered everyone, but they got there rights. If thoses pigs got a trial then a man who used o be a hero surly would.

He figured he’d have to get Fifty-Three out of here sneak him out at night and take him back to the capital. Once there the questioning could continue. As he thought of his plan the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Something was wrong and what ever it was it was right behind him. Did Fifty-Three escape? If so he was as good as dead, and what happened to his partner? Was Gogrurz dead, why would Fifty-Three kill Gogrurz and not the guards? Why is he so selective about who he kills? What am I missing? Why would he come to town and get a two bedroom just to kill a market full of people? Then it hit him why did he get a two bedroom? Right after that the stinging pinch of metal forced its way through Kailu’s stomach.

“You won’t do what needs to be done, but I will!” Gogrurz’s voice rang from behind him. Kailu’s body slumped over Gogrurz pushed him forward sliding him off his sword. The people cheered at the sight of this confusing Kailu more then ever. Gogrurz grabbed Kailu by the hair and drug his used to be partner out of the way as the people ran inside.

“Why would you do this? Your one of the most honorable people I know!” Kailu’s voice shricks as the blood pours from his mouth. Gogrurz’s voice changes. It’s not the gruff voice of an ex-soldier. Not the voice of the partner that he travelled with for so many years. No it was someone else’s voice that spoke this time.

“I’m terribly sorry, I truly hope you don’t die. I just needed you out the way so we can kill this man ourselves. Your brand of justice takes too long.” Gogrurz’s body stands there gripping Kailu’s hair as he speaks. Someone had been using magic. Kailu didn’t knew when it had first started, but they were already in a spell or three when they fist entered the town. The fact that he couldn’t hear outside, the way Gogrurz continuously got aggressive, and the most obvious the voice coming out of his partners body.

“Who are you?” Kailu says weakly. He starts to feel cold as he lays on the floor. He knows what this means. The light will start to leave his body and he’ll go to the afterlife to meet Dry-al, an Elven hero that most Elves look to for inspiration.

“A mage, one that needs that man dead. So if you’d please excuse me.” As his words stop so do his hold on Gogrurz. His body falls to the floor and he doesn’t move. The crowd bring out Fifty-Three. Cheers and promises of death to come flow from the crowd. They drop him to his knees and a man comes from the crowd. An older man cleaner then most with all of his teeth. He pulls out a dagger and everyone grows quiet.

“Any last words boy?” Kailu waits in anticipation. Hoping that some how everyone comes to their senses. Fifty-Three smiles and turns to Kailu.

“Close your eyes.” Without thinking Kailu listens. He closes his eyes and hears screams coming from the crowd.

Kailu opened his eyes. The screams had died down about five minutes ago, but he was so scared that the idea of opening his eyes didn’t hit until now. People were gone, and clouds of dust rattled the air. The man with the dagger was no on his knees. White puss hung out where his eyes once where and his tung hung half bitten off on the side of his mouth. Blood continuously poured from his ears and every couple of seconds he moved. Kailu didn’t know if he was alive or twitching because of death, but what he did know was that he witnessed the aftermath of the Tri-Eye. Fifty-Three walked over to him vial in hand.

“Sorry, I’m not a healer. This will help and you’ll survive but you’re going to feel like shit until you get to a real healer.” Kailu snatches the vial out of his hand.

“Why! What was the point of all this? You killed that man on the street!” Kailu yells.

Fifty points around the street. “I killed like four other people too.” Kailu looks over in horror as he notices other bodies in the same sickening position as the man on his knees.

“I’ll find you! I’ll find you and bring you in for justice.” Kailu states not believing his own words.

“You wont have to. I’m coming with you. I’ve finished what I had to do?” Tears start to flow from Fifty-Three.

“You never told me why. I don’t get it, and why did you rent a two bedroom?” Kailu says. Feeling like he might just go crazy if he doesn’t get to the bottom of this.

“You asked the right question finally. Like I said before, five years ago we lost. I didn’t feel defeat until today. That’s because the weight of someone I lost hit me today. About six months before the war ended I found a little girl. She was five at the time. Beast-man, had cat eyes, a ram horn, and wings. I didn’t know what type of animal she got the wings from, but she was so cute. Fattest cheeks you ever saw with a cute little gap. That little girl never wanted to hurt a fly and she actually cried when she saw me hurt things. Monsters, bad people, and yes she cried once when I killed a bug. I was sixteen when the we lost, but I had her with me so I didn’t lose everything.

“I raised that gift for five beautiful years. Before I was chosen as a hero I didn’t have anything, and she wasn’t a possession. She could leave at anytime, and if I found someone who could take better care of her I would have left her with them. I think that’s what love is, letting someone do what’s best for them even if it doesn’t include you. I don’t know if that’s true I never had family or anything I just had her.

“Then we came to this fucking place. She decides that she wants to make breakfast on her own so she goes to the market. Wants to get eggs and be an adult. It was such a cute idea that I let her. She never comes back. I search for her and in my search do you know what I find? Cat eyes are rare, and dragon wings are also rare. Wouldn’t you know it she had both. The people in the market, ex-soldiers and ex-military took her cut her up and sold her parts. Because to them she’s not human. No she’s a devil-man. A stupid thing people say because of Plague. He scared people into hatred. People treated me like I was nothing before becoming a hero and that was ok, but not her. She didn’t hurt anyone. She didn’t deserve to die like that.

“So I used my eye. I looked at everyone in the market place and I used my eye to see who knew something about it. I killed them, I made them remember her last moments of life and I slowly destroyed there brain while they watched. One by fucking one. And I did the same to that old man and the others who think they got away. Now when you and your partner are ready I’m ready to be sentenced.” Fifty-Three’s eyes were filled with tears. Regular on his normal eye and blood on his other. Kailu had finally gotten his answers and his report would say everything that happened and what he was told. He would recommend institutionalism because after hearing that he honestly agreed with him. However he had one question left to ask.

“You made everyone relive what happened to her. One by one when you killed them. Doesn’t that mean you had to watch her die over and over again?” Fifty-Three didn’t answer that question. The quiet boy who had a plan this whole time and stood tall like a mountain crumbled. He wrapped his arms around himself and curled into a ball. Then he cried. He cried so loud that people around seemed to forget why they were angry. Maybe they heard his story, or maybe when something this tragic happens everyone just wants to heal. Kailu didn’t know. He didn’t want to know. This was one answer he didn’t have to have the answer too.

END