A Monster
The moon rose to its peak height above the sky, and wolves howled as though they already knew what would happen that day.
At the plaza's center, several people gathered around the vast stage, usually used by stage performers. But this time around, no performers were present on the scene, and the people weren't crowding the entire place to watch a wonderful performance.
They were there to watch an execution that was about to begin in a minute.
"Everyone, come and see what kind of monster that deceived the Emperor!" A fat man with his stomach bulging shouted loud enough for everyone in the plaza to hear his voice.
"This monster pretended as a princess and not only lied to the royal family. She lied to everyone in the Kingdom of Ellesmere!" The fat man continued to say.
"She's a beast that deserves to die!"
"We cannot let such an abomination live!"
"Hang her!"
One voice was enough to create a thousand reactions from everyone. And soon, the people of Ellesmere joined in to express their desire to erase the existence of this monster, keeling in pain on the floor.
They threw rocks and anything they could grab on towards the beast. They didn't even flinch when blood started to drip down the face of this person they kept on calling a beast.
But who would show sympathy towards a beastkin anyway?
Ever since everyone knew of what she was, Medea was pulled down from her high horse and dragged around like a dirty rag meant to clean up the filthy ground.
She badly wanted to laugh. To laugh at her and laugh at the people who came to watch her die.
Just a week ago, before they found out what she was, they crowded around her, asking her for affection and looking at her with respect. Like ants attracted to the smell of food, they gathered around her, showering her with compliments. But when they found out the truth, they were faster than a fly to get away from her.
For most of her life, she dedicated it to herself and the throne. She wanted to be the best and exceed everyone's expectations. She wanted to go by her mother's will to live her life as she wished to love everyone around her unconditionally.
And yet, the love that she gave to the people was the same thing that brought her down. She trusted too much and gave her all to the people who showed her respect and love at first.
Looking around while the rocks rained on her body, she saw several familiar faces who stood on the side of the stage. They all wore their grandest clothes and dresses as if they were not to watch a public execution but to attend a ball.
Letting her eyes roam on the faces of her siblings and close aides, they finally landed on her father's face.
The man looked handsome even with his age. His eyes were also staring at her, but he wasn't allowing himself to meet her eyes. It was not because he felt guilty for killing his most prized daughter, but because he felt disgusted to look at her pleading eyes as if he could see those times when he gave her a bit of affection because she had some value in her.
Medea saw a butler coming to her father's side. Since the butler wasn't covering his mouth and he had no intention of lowering his voice, she could hear what he was saying word by word.
"Your majesty, the time is near."
Medea's father, King Allan, took away his gaze and looked at the butler before he nodded without the slightest hesitation. He seemed pretty hopeful and excited to eliminate the beast that lived with the royal family for 23 years.
"You can begin." King Allan told the butler beside him and looked around the plaza. Then, he continued to speak, "Drag it a little bit longer. I want to burn this scene before everyone else's eyes. I want everyone to witness the death of a monster who deceived me for the rest of their lives."
Even though it was faint, Medea could still hear what her father said. She could taste something metallic and salty in her mouth and didn't realize that she had bitten her tongue until it bled.
Her chest hurt like it. Her heart was crushed into a fine powder, and her eyes bled her tears.
As much as she wanted to speak and beg for help, who would help a monster like her? She already realized that no one would come for her before this happened. No one was willing to reach out to her and get her out of this hellhole, no matter how much she begged and cried in front of them.
"The time has come!" The executioner loudly said in front of everyone else.
"The former princess, Medea Trancy, has deceived everyone and hid the truth that she's one of the Beast People, a clan that has gone extinct many centuries ago! Her existence alone is dangerous. Hence, with the orders of the royal family and King Allan, Medea of the Beast clan shall be hanged to death today!" The executioner added.
Then, with a wave of his hands, two soldiers donned in silver armors walked to her side. With the rope binding her feet and hands, Medea couldn't move to escape their hands.
After struggling for a while, the soldiers finally got to put the noose around her neck. It wasn't slightly loose, but she knew that it wouldn't stay in that state for long. After all, this rope would be the end of her.
A tear slowly dripped down her cheeks as her lips trembled in fear after grasping the truth that she would die today.
Looking at the dark sky surrounded by dark clouds, Medea laughed at herself.
Even on her death, God won't permit her to see the sun before she closes her eyes.
Behind her, the executioner waved his hands again, and the other three soldiers holding the other end of the rope finally untied the rope from where they tied it to the wooden pillar. The rope suddenly and quickly tightened around her neck, depriving her of the precious air she needed to breathe.