Fateful Day

As soon as the judge slammed the gavel, I knew it was over.

"Arthur Blacklight," the judge announced. "For your crimes against our village and the heinous murders, I sentence you to death!"

Cheers cried out in the courtroom as two guards grabbed my shoulders. They spun me around and walked me down out. My head hung low, my shackles jingled. I was defeated. I was innocent, but that woman… the snake was… used me. Her testimony swayed the jury, using her wiles and false evidence against me. At that moment, I felt if I could kill her I would. A pure passion of anger drove me into a sickening madness, but fortunately didn't lash out as I was put into the wagon. The guards shut the door and locked it tight. I could only look glumly at the place I once called home.

About a month ago, I met a woman named Orlah. She had a calm demeanor, with red eyes and silver hair. She recently came to the village from the capitol in the north, so she claimed. The village is usually suspicious of outsiders, but after a few drinks in the only pub, she blended in quite well. That's where I met her. My eyes met her and I felt something. I was too nervous to express my feelings. It would've been rude. When I left the pub, she followed me. She asked me questions, I would answer, and we found out we had a lot in common. I was an adventurer, so of course some of the things like killing beasts didn't really apply to her interests. But the appreciation of nature's beauty and her admiration for every little thing like the squirrel that climbs the tree made me feel a connection with her… Yeah, she made all that up. How do I know it? I remember that moment very clearly. She was a good actor, I'll give her that, but if my feelings hadn't gotten in the way I probably would've noticed her tone. She was essentially saying yes to everything.

A week passed and we were lovers already. Men gave me glares of envy as I walked the streets with her. I bought her things with my hard earned money. Flowers, dresses, and other gifts. It's hard to imagine what life then would've been like without her. After a long day in the forest hunting monsters, she would comfort me. A kiss on the check was more than enough to keep me going. Two weeks passed and some friends of hers came from the capitol. Their names were Clyde and Lila. Clyde was supposedly a blacksmith while Lila was his wife. They only hung out with me when Orlah was "busy." I never noticed it really, but it was kind of odd now that I thought of it. These chains have given me more to think about than I realize. It was usually at the pub they talked with me. Plenty of people saw the three of us together. Sometimes when I did want to see Orlah, they distracted me. This wasn't often, but it happened too much.

Orlah had gotten a job at the local adventurer's guild, which I also was a part of. She was a secretary or something, I never got the exact details since her position changed a lot. It was now the fourth and final week and my relationship with Orlah. She and I had spent a month together, and my emotions were finally going overboard. I purchased a ring. I was going to ask for her hand in marriage. I was so excited, I went to the guild immediately after I bought it. I ran upstairs to the second floor, opened the door to her office only to find… bodies. Three of them. Two of them were dead already, their bodies had been mangled. One looked like it belonged to the headmaster while another looked like it was someone who got caught up in the crossfire. I rushed over to the body of the elf who was heavily breathing, her life slowly fading. My arms were covered in her blood, but I did not care. Through raspy breaths, she said one word, "Orlah," before she died. As soon as she exhaled for the last time, the door opened. As if on cue, Orlah stood there… and smiled. If there is one thing I will never forget, it was that smile. If it was as if to say, "This is the perfect opportunity."

She screamed and yelled for help. A group of adventurers rushed over and they only saw me holding a dead body. They pulled my body away from her and performed a citizen's arrest until the guards came over and took me away. From there, I waited for my trial for a day or so. Orlah managed to convince them I was working with spies from the west, Clyde and Lila. It made sense now that I was on death's row. The two had fled from the village the day of the murders.

As I reflected upon all of this, the wagon stopped. The prison was just in view of the window covered in iron bars. The last stop before, well… you know. It's not a very large one, only like two floors or something. I can count the number of prisoners currently in it using only my hands. The warden looked at me with contempt as the guards threw me into the cell. Three days. That's how long I had to live and then either my head will roll on the chopping block or the gallows. The moon was formed into a crescent smile, almost mocking me as it shined through the small barred window.

The days dragged on as my bitter meals were slid through a small opening under my cell door. I was alone in this room. Time stood still for me. Honestly, there isn't much to say about what I was going through because I knew the end was near. The guards took me as I was pondering and guided me down the prison hall. The other prisoners, the lucky ones who had bars in their cells rather than being stuck in a little closet like I was, watched me. My short stay was enough to tell them what was happening. I remember the glare of an elderly looking man who's cell was next to mine.

A guard sat with me in the wagon this time. I spoke, yet his face was stoic. My innocence was of no concern to him since the court had decided my fate. When the wagon had arrived at its destination, I was guided between a crowd. They all boo'd and hissed at me. Children would try to peek at what was going on but the adults would shield their eyes. My death was going to be but a spectacle to them. I don't blame them. Not many people were hanged in the village. Stuff like this usually happens every few days in the capitol. The gallows loomed menacingly, with a rope waiting to claim me. I tried screaming my innocence, but all I was known as was a liar. The noose was tied around my need as I stood on a stool, which a guard mercilessly kicked. The air was leaving me. My throat was constricted. I couldn't die here! Not like this! I don't care when or how, but Orlah needs to be punished, not me! My vision began fading. My strength left me. Before the darkness claimed me, for one last time I saw a smile. That same smile I saw in the guild. I promised to myself that she'd be sent to hell. And not too long after, I died.