I looked back as the loud screams of the friends I had known all their lives pierced the air. It was a horrible noise. They had all been killed. Blood splattered the walls. He had mutilated them all. Our friends. The ones we had fought by for this land. The ones we had made peace with. The ones that helped us, and we helped them. It hurt, seeing that he had killed them. He was our friend too. One of the best ones. He was a wonderful leader, he had ambitions, but his soul had darker spots growing on it like mold, spreading faster and faster.
The cries of the baby cradled in my arms was alerting him of our position. Which was not good for them or this baby. They had both just barely got him. I looked over at the quickly writing man. We had been married for a while now. My heart fills with joy every time I look at him. I knew this man had to be the one. My soulmate. He was the perfect definition of a good man. He thought about others, he was very family orientated, he was loyal, he cared so much. And the fact that he chose me. I will never forget our wedding. It was the perfect moment. My reminiscing got interrupted by the loud, psychotic laughing from outside the locked door. I had to stop myself from screaming as I turned to my pale husband.
“We have to go! Now!” I whisper-yelled.
“Give me a moment-! This is important!”
I nervously glanced at the door, eventually taking the sheet of paper from his hands. I already knew what this was, and where and when to deliver it. It would eventually make its way to the right person, when they were ready. He saw it. A little blonde daughter, grown up with a personality as snarky as mine. Best not to linger on the future though. This is the present.
“I wasn’t finished! How will she know what to-” I interrupted him. There wasn’t much time for chit chat. He was already banging on the door. My own magic couldn’t hold it up for that long.
“She will know when it comes to her.” He stared at me with a worried expression for a few moments before swallowing and nodding hesitantly. I threw up the scroll and whispered the location before blowing flames to it. It crumpled quickly into ashes, but it was definitely sending. Meanwhile, my love was unlocking the window and opening it. I could just barely make out the sound of the wretched man screaming from beyond the door.
“I KNOW YOU HAVE HIM! I KNOW YOU HAVE MY SON!”
I winced at his screaming. I knew that if we were to hand him over, the baby and we would be killed. No. He wasn’t at all in the mindset to raise a child. Neither were we, really. But we still went. We escaped through the window. Into the nearby woods we ran, carrying the crying baby. I gently cooed to him while running. It was all I could do. Eventually I had to stop, panting against the tree. I looked down. There was a gentle curve on my stomach. Soon we would have a child. He stopped and turned around, quickly approaching me as he looked down at the baby. His eyes ever so slightly widened. I knew what that meant. I knew him better than anybody.
“We can't take him. We can’t even keep him alive. It’ll be terrible if we do. He’ll grow up to kill. He’s going to be just like his father.”
His words were strong. I looked down at the young baby.. Surely he wasn’t? He was the child of the strongest man I knew, truly. And my own son. One of my many reminders of my mistakes. I couldn’t just kill him. My heart wouldn’t allow it. I just nodded. I hurried off into a deeper part of the woods. I gently gave him a kiss on the forehead, setting him down on a soft, grassy stump with moss growing on it. His bright, glossy dark eyes staring up silently now.
“I’m sorry little one. I’m so sorry. One day you will grow up to be a strong warrior. This tree shall protect you, and you will grow alone. But never forget to return the love you have received. Goodbye. You won’t see me again, but I will always care for you. And inside, I know your father does too. He will never see you, and you will never see him. But you are loved by someone.”
I felt tears begin to stream down my cheeks. I can’t get attached to him now. I need to go. I have to. I pull my hood up, and scurry off, pausing only once to look back at him. I sniffle and continue.
But I knew deep down that I had just made a very bad decision.
