Snow Angel

❄️》12 - The Hanging《❄️

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(1,388 Words)
Cassandra’s POV

I walk with Lucy Gray to the hanging tree. I had never been to a public hanging before, but I doubted I would like it. Neither of us knew who was being hung today, either. Just had heard from some people we had passed by that there was going to be one today. None of the Covey had been able to go outside much since the night at the hob. The mayor was sure Lucy Gray had killed Mayfair, Billy Taupe too. He had been sitting in front of the house all week, the peacekeepers questioning all of them about it over and over. When we reached the tree, there was a fairly large crowd that had gathered, and we squeezed past a few people so we were able to see the tree clearly. Peacekeepers stood around the tree, most likely to stop anyone who tried to stop the hanging, and I spotted Coriolanus standing in the crowd after a moment of scanning faces. I looked for Sejanus as well, but couldn’t find him. Perhaps he wasn’t one of the peacekeepers who had to be here today. Coriolanus’ face was blank, he looked like he was possibly lost in thought, although definitely not pleasant thoughts. I glanced at Lucy Gray who was watching him as well.

A peacekeeper van arrived and I turned from watching Coriolanus to instead watch the van as the door opened and a young woman with olive skin and long black hair stumbled out in chains. At the sight of her, many in the crowd began to call out what was presumably her name. ‘Lil’. I remembered hearing Spruce say the name when we had walked in on him, Sejanus, and Billy Taupe at the hob. The thought of that night made my eyes water slightly. A few seconds after Lil had stumbled out of the van, an all too familiar face followed her. Sejanus. I turned to look at Lucy Gray, who grabbed ahold of my arm as she saw the look on my face. I tried to pull away but she wouldn’t let me.

“Let me go!” I said, tears welling up in my eyes as I turned to look back at Sejanus and Lil who were now being escorted towards the tree. Lil was shaking, her legs weak as she was pushed forward. Sejanus’ face was filled with terror. I sobbed as I continued to try and pull away, to run towards him.

“Sejanus! Sejanus!” I called out, finally breaking free of Lucy Gray’s grip, pushing my way to the very front of the crowd, but it was too late. Sejanus was already too far up, by all the peacekeepers and the tree. Running after would be an immediate death sentence, although maybe that was better than what was about to happen.

The peacekeepers positioned the two side by side on the trapdoors. Another peacekeeper began to read the list of charges but my head was spinning and my legs felt like they would give out any second. I felt Lucy Gray lay a hand on my shoulder, I could hear her repeating my name but everything sounded distant.

The peacekeepers walked closer to Sejanus and Lil, holding nooses. I sobbed and watched as Sejanus looked around in complete terror. He locked eyes with me and my heart felt like it was completely shattering. I leaned against Lucy Gray to be able to stay standing as a drumroll began. Squeezing my eyes shut, I turned and hid my face in her shoulder as I heard Sejanus’ voice.

“CASS! MA!” He cried out, and then there was a bang of the trapdoors. Birds around the tree picked up the sound and mimicked it, repeating the words over and over again. I sobbed, clinging to Lucy Gray.

“Come on, Cassie. Let's get you home.” She said quietly, but I shook my head. I wanted to look back, to be able to see Sejanus looking back at me with that stupid smile on his face like a little kid. I wanted him to laugh and tell me he was just joking, even though that would be a horribly cruel joke.

“Cassandra, look at me. Hey.” Lucy Gray pulled away from me, taking my face in her hands. I opened my eyes and saw that she had tears running down her face as well. “We can't stay here forever. We have to get home.”

“I don't- I can't let them see me like this.” I whisper, my voice about as loud as I can get it. I'm all out of tears to cry.

“I know, but we can't stay here.” She repeats, and she wraps an arm around my shoulder, leading me back towards the Seam and the house. My body moves on autopilot, and I'm only semi-aware of what's going on.  Instead of going home, however, we go to the woods. Lucy Gray walks to a small clearing and sits me down on a tree stump. Lucy Gray sits next to me and it goes quiet around us, but my mind is anything but. The cries repeat in my head over and over, ringing and leaving me extremely guilty. He had called out to me, had called out for his mom, and no one was there to help him.

“Cassie.” I heard Lucy Gray say, her hand on my shoulder. I look over and realize I'm crying again. She sighs and pulls me closer to her, wrapping her arms around me and holding me there. It's comforting and I start to calm down a bit, pushing away all thoughts of what just happened. A minute passes by, then two, and then I’m not even sure how long it's been. Definitely way longer than we should have been out, the Covey might be getting worried. I stand up and Lucy Gray does too, watching me for a moment before taking my hand as we walk back to the house. We don’t say anything until we get there, walking inside. Lucy Gray squeezes my hand reassuringly before letting go, walking away to give me space. I climb up to the loft and Briar Rose is sitting on her cot reading.

I lay down on my own cot, facing away from her, and after a moment I feel a tap on my shoulder. Briar Rose frowns.

“What’s wrong?” She asks, and I smile as convincingly as I can.

“It’s nothing.” I say, and she raises her eyebrows.

“Something’s wrong, I can tell.” She says, sitting herself down on the edge of my cot. I sit up and bite the inside of my mouth.

“Cassie?” She asks and I look over to her. It’s not like I don’t want to talk to her, but how do you explain that you just watched your boyfriend die to a child?

“Me and Lucy Gray went to the hanging today..” I start, my voice quiet. I can't find the right words.

“Did something happen at the hanging? Or before or after?” Briar Rose asks.

“At the hanging. I- me and Lucy Gray-” I can feel myself about to cry again and I don’t want to cry in front of Briar Rose.

“You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.” She says, resting a hand on my shoulder. I close my eyes for a moment, taking a breath.

“It's not that I don't want to. I'm sorry it's just kinda hard to talk about.” I say, and Briar Rose looks like she understands me perfectly.

“I watched Sejanus get hung.” I say, my voice not much louder than a whisper. I see Briar Rose frown, and she hugs me. I hug her back, trying to hold the tears back. I've already cried so much since, and I don't want to again.

“I'm sorry, Cassie.” She whispers and I laugh slightly.

“It's not your fault.” I say, pulling away from her and smiling sadly. “Don't feel bad for something you couldn't do anything to stop.” She nods and hugs me once more before walking away to give me space. I watch her as she goes back to reading before I lay down again, shutting my eyes and trying to sleep. It's hard falling asleep, the memory playing on repeat in my head, but when I finally fall asleep it's peaceful.