The Cabin

For The Beats In My Heart

I awoke to being dragged. My legs fell asleep. For whatever reason I couldn't move. I looked to my left and saw that the kid was also being dragged by someone. 

For that I was grateful. 

Finally the dragging stopped. 

“We're glad to have found more of our guys.”

One of the soldiers that was dragging us.

“I'm surprised only the two of you brought down that thing, No wonder you're wide awake and can't move”

“Where are you taking us?”

“We're taking you where it's safest.”

They brought us to the main hall. It was like my first day here. Except this time it was different. It was chaos and destruction on our side. It seemed that many turned. Only around 15 people were still hanging on. Fighting till their veins popped. 

Yet my legs still didn't work. There was at least twice the amount of Soulless as there was people. If me and the kid barely stopped one, these people would have no chance of surviving.

The battle raged on. Blood and guts were all over the place. Me and the kid were left to fend for ourselves. We were as vulnerable as one could be. The Soulless were powerful, and ruthless. One by one each soldier went down. The nerves in my legs started going away. I wanted nothing else but to fight. I didn't want it to end there. I didn't want to turn. All my life all I've wanted was to fight. And that I have done. My heart wanted to jump out of my chest. Somehow I started gaining the will to push my limits.

I ran as fast as I could and grabbed a sword off the ground. Never had I picked up a sword before, but it felt so right. I quickly cut one of The Soulless's neck. Its black blood bathed me. The guts smelled of death. This attracted the attention of the other ones. Everyone else was ignored, for now I was their predator. And predators don't like being preyed on.

All the soldiers ran after them. A fire of survival burned inside them too. The Soulless got impaled one after another. They learned that they weren't just my prey. The drums of rebellion in this sick world beat hard. My heart running. I ran straight ahead. 

My wife died in front of me. My child was taken from me in front of me. My father wanted to put me out. Through all that all I wanted was to be accepted and loved. I now know I can't be loved by anyone.

First my right arm got bitten off. Blood gushing out. I dug the sword deep in his head, leaving me defenseless. 

In my most physically vulnerable state, I was not afraid. I've never been scared of death. Doesn't mean I want to die. I've always known that. I then cut off the part that was bleeding away. All I could do was that. Little by little i was bleeding to death

In that moment I did not die. By a miracle cursed by fate, I did not die. I stood tall and proud, like I had done in front of my father. Death also stood in front of me and walked away. 

Kasim came out of the shadows from where he presided. Killed all the Soulless quickly, but one on one. He was swift, yet thorough. A certain logic not many had.

There were only a handful of us that survived that ordeal. The kid had also gained back his strength in his legs. Terrified he was. I didn't understand why. The kid had some spunk in him. 

Kasim looked back at me and said

“Come with me Gypsy King. Come see what has become of your child.”

It had been clear to me that he was involved in the taking of my child. The real question was why?

That question would soon be answered.

We walked back to where The Demon Tree presided. It was different from before. It looked to be a tree house now. It was still alive, but now it had a simple wooden door to it. Somehow the entirety of the room had changed. It was like we were in the middle of a forest. It was a magical feeling to be there. I knew this wasn't reality however. Something sinister whispered in the background.

Kasim walked towards the door. I followed him. There he was, my child. The last remnant of me and my wife's days together. I got closer to see it had been bleeding out. Its blood had started drowning him. Yet he was dead long ago. Soon I would be in a similar state. Kasim held out his hand and touched my arm. Closing the wound.

I turned to him

“What is this Kasim? What is this sick joke?”

“It is not sick, nor a joke. I have simply sacrificed your demon child to The Demon Tree, hence its restored order. Soon enough this tree will give new life. Life you never thought possible. Your bastard child born from the soul of a Demon, and the soul of a Human had no right being born. Yet…here we are, standing in front your sacrificed child. Something you couldn't prevent. Quite a weak king aren't you. So privy to weakness, yet continues to walk my halls unwilling to serve as my tool.”

A loud boom comes from the hall. We hurry to see what happened and the wall to the entrance has been destroyed. A large tree stumped creature was standing tall and proud.

“I'm looking for the man named Kasim. Anyone that can bring me this man will be spared.”

He walks out.

“What are you doing here Soul Eater?”

“You know damn well why I'm here. Did you seriously think that there wouldn't be consequences for playing with life so ignorantly? Not even I would try such a thing. Still, here we are. I want it, whatever it is.”

“Very well. I was wondering if you'd show up. Your intuition is as fearsome as ever.”

A 5 footed Human walked up to an 11 foot creature. Looks up with no fear in his eyes. The 11 footed creature looked down with confidence and reassurance. 

“This would be the first time I fight you Kasim. I want to enjoy it.”

“I'm hoping it's the last.”

I felt true fear in that moment. I had never realized my massive powerlessness in life. I felt small, like an ant. A part of me screamed at such a fact, and another part hid away from the fact. I wanted to be powerful, bigger than both of them.

I started walking up to them. Neither even glanced at me. I continued walking still. Now a third part of me was dancing to the fact. It was delighted by it. This moment opened a window into what heights I could climbed towards. Yet as soon as it opened, it closed.

The Soul Eater showed up behind me. He went down to my eye level, like an adult would do to a child. Yet his eyes showed no paternal care, only fury.

“And what do you think you're doing? Most souls that come before me are paralyzed by me, but you; you walked toward us.”

“I..I was paralyzed.”

“So then why the sudden walk?”

“I wanted to dance.”

“Dance? Dance with us?”

“I WANTED TO DANCE TILL MY WILL GAVE OUT” 

“Then dance you will.”

My body had started moving on its own. It seemed as if The Soul Eater took control of it. Evil had lent out its hand, and I had happily grabbed it. What a fool I've been. When the devil also wanted to dance, I should have sat.

I was its puppet now as I had been my entire life. Even in death all I did was dream and fail. I wanted to be equal to a ballerina's grace, but I am nothing more than a peasant.

As his puppet he made me stare at death. He used me as a meat shield. He and Kasim fought for what felt like an eternity. I was long thrown out to the side. My body had been cut in two by Kasim. My eyes never wavered however. Even if I was a weak king I wanted to be a stubborn one. The angry tyrant that wished for the world to burn, but never had the power to.

Eventually I too closed my eyes. Once opened I woke up in the rubble of the castle.