I thought it was all over. All the public hangings. People getting whipped at the markets. The children screaming as their parents were carried off. I thought it was all over and yet, it was only the beginning.
It was a busy day at the markets. Children running around playing with hand crafted toys. Their parents looking at fruits and vegetables in the market stalls. Vendors calling out, trying to lure in folks to buy their products. And here I was a kid, saved by a man and his family, trying to live a normal life in a not so normal place.
“Keep up James.” Aldris called to me, with a hand stretched out behind him.
He placed his hand on my shoulder towards him, leading me through the crowd of anxious buyers. He stayed right behind me. Every stall we passed people called us, by name, asking if we needed anything they were selling. Fruits, vegetables, meats, crafts, and arts, your name it someone had to have it, but Aldris and me were on a mission.
At the auction block, the biggest attraction of the market, was a bunk bed. I had been begging Aldris for a bed of my own for a while, but he just didn't have the money. Life is rough when you're in and out of work, he tells me. So I saved the money myself.
Aldris nudged my left shoulder. With his left hand he pointed over my shoulder in the direction of the auction block. A large crowd gathered around all the handmade furniture. Aldris' wife, Annabelle, and kids, Sarabelle and Winston, were standing next to the bunk bed.
“The bed sold early.” Annabelle sighed, a wash of sadness flowing over her.
I began to panic. The only bed on the auction block was sold and id have to go back to sleeping on the floor in Winston's room. It just wasn't fair. Winston always left his clothes on the floor and hardly ever cleaned up after himself. I'd always have to clean up just so I could have a spot to sleep.
“I guess we'll have to try again next month. Sorry, bud.” Aldris let out a heavy breath. “It's my fault. We trained to long this morning.”
I looked at the bunk bed. It was perfect in every way. Four wooden pillars held together by a logframe, mattresses already covered by red checkered sheets, and even matching pillows. I couldn't just walk away from something that I wanted so much.
I looked at the bunk bed and then over to Annabelle, “Do you know who bought it?”
“I'm sorry.” It's all she could get out before the whole market was interrupted by the scream of a young women. Soft and distant, yet loud and horrific.
I didn't think, I just ran. The voice behind the scream sounded so familiar. A person everyone knew, but no one dared get close to.
The scream got louder, or did I just get closer. It wasn't coming from the market area, but still on the same street. I ran past house after house until I just about past one with an open door.
When I stepped in the door I wasn't too fond of what I was seeing. Blood and pieces of clothing scattered the floor. A chair lay smashed to pieces in the corner of the entryway. I followed the trail of destruction,through what must have been the living room, right into the kitchen.
A man leaned over the table struggling to hold down a young girl. Blood pooled at her feet along with more fragments of clothing. He pressed her face to the table, his whole body struggling to keep her in check. I couldn't quite tell what he was doing, but I knew it wasn't right.
I quickly tried to think of something witty, “You could at least buy her dinner first.” Total fail…
“How the hell did you get in here?” The man shoved the girl into the table and rushed for me.
I ducked under his arms as he tried grabbing for me. My eyes caught glimpse of the girl, huddled by the stove, trying to cover herself.
It only took a moment to realize what was going on when the mans pants fell and he tripped, hitting his head on the corner of the wall.
He wasn't out cold, but he certainly wasn't moving. I took hold of his collar with both hands. He was heavy, but I managed to drag him out of the house. A better look at him revealed to me that he was King, the new king.
This man was to be the next great savior of our kind. Humble, good-looking, wealthy, all things our people looked up to in a king, but behind the shroud he was nothing but a slob. When the people turned their gaze his true self walked freely. And I was lucky enough to catch him in the act.
“A fat fucking slob.” I muttered under my breath.
People stared and whispered amongst themselves. Here and there I caught what some of them were saying as I dragged King towards the pillars at the market.
What's going on? What's he doing with our king? Is that James? He looks pissed.
The pillars weren't far. Just a house or two away and I could begin his justice.
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