how it ends

~~~

     It was a bright snowy day now; I was in a park. But most importantly I was free, I turned eighteen the other day so I no longer had to stay at the orphanage. I was with one of the other kids; we were running around enjoying ourselves. Their birthday was today so we decided to meet up. Suddenly bells were ringing, which meant that everyone able should head over to the town center. We arrived there along with a bunch of others. A short while later, once more people had arrived, a small man came out with a scroll. It stated that there would be a conscription. He continued reading that they would be requiring all able-bodied men and women, fifteen and older, to go to the front lines and not bring anything.

     The scene switched again, this time to one filled with blood, there were bodies of horses and people scattered around, some with arrow holes and others with bleeding sword wounds. This was our side, we were losing. It was not unexpected seeing as we were not as advanced in warfare as our enemies. I saw myself. It was horrifying, this was the side of me that I hated. The side that loved the bloodshed and thrill of battle. I killed so many, I sacrificed people on my side and used some as my pawns.

     Once again, the scene switched, I was in a courtroom. Chained and muzzled like a dog, I sat in the front next to two others, only handcuffed, who seemed scared of me more than everyone else. They were deciding what to do with us. Out of the four thousand people on our side that originally entered the battle only three were left, my stomach churned at the thought. I heard the judge's decision; we were to be sent to a work camp and stay there for life. It was generous seeing as we could have been excited on the spot or tortured to death.

     The next scene was of the work camp. There were thirty people including me. I was carrying a large stack of wood so I couldn't see where I was going very well. They bumped into me, my love. Oddly enough we hadn't talked other than the occasional passing greeting. They apologized and helped me pick up the wood.

     There was more flashing as the scenes flipped through memories of our interactions; they went from more awkward times, to when we started dating in secret. After some more passed one came to a rainy night, I sucked in a breath, I didn't want to relive this. There was a scream, it came from the housing area. People ran outside wanting to see what was happening. People were being pulled out of their beds and dragged to the middle of the clearing. My eyes met theirs and I saw the fear. A man, the head guard, stood on a small platform, he yelled:

     "These people didn't work hard enough they will be an example to all of you what happens if you don't meet the quota." The words rang in my head as I registered what they meant. I leapt forward but some of the others in the crowd held me back. I screamed. The bows were drawn. I kicked the people holding me. They fired. I looked at their face for the last time, they smiled and mouthed something to me. The arrow went through their head. I finally got through the people holding me and ran towards them, I held their body in my arms and cried.

do what is best for you'

     The others around left and I sat there surrounded by dead bodies. I remember sitting there until the bodies were collected and I was no longer allowed to stay there, I didn't even fight.

     The scene switched to what would have been a few months later. Only a few had died since then and a few more had been brought in. It was the middle of the night again, we were all brought to the clearing. The head guard read another proclamation.

     "This camp is no longer considered efficient so you are all to be killed." We all stood stunned. One of the guys started to run, they were shot after two steps. Then the rain of arrows fell.

     I was suddenly brought back into the courtroom with the death god. I felt the tears on my face, but I didn't wipe them off; I had no right to appear strong. The god stared at me, we just sat like that for a few minutes. Then he spoke,

     "You should not feel ashamed of your actions, they were not weak and neither are you. Not many would have kept going after everything." I nodded a thank you to his words. We sat for a while longer. Then he stood from his chair.

     "You were an orphan than a knight than a slave. Throughout that you worked hard and never once stopped, that is an admirable quality. Due to such things, you will be entered into the underworld of heroes and you will stay there with others like you. Is there anything you would like to ask?"

     "Do you know where they are?" I whispered.

     "I do, they are in the underworld of commoners. I would like to make you a deal. Would you like to hear it?" I nodded looking up, " you can stay with them in the underworld of slaves, seeing as that is the time that you were together. Is that a deal? Both you and them would be together forever."

     I thought about it, then their last words came to mind 'do what is best for you'. Did they mean it, should I follow what they said, what do I do?" the words echoed in my, also if I wanted to be with them I would hurt them, a slave is worse than a commoner.

     "No thank you," I said. the words were quiet and choked in the large room. The death god smiled.

     "You have passed," he said. I looked at him confused. "You don't wish to ruin other's happiness for yours. They are already in the underworld of heroes; the deaths of all the people in your camp started a revolt and they are considered a heroic figure for being one of the first...

you can live forever with them in the afterlife."