Blood Moon

Chapter 21 - Blood Moon night

Chapter 21

Blood Moon night

Leira POV

The journey up the mountain track has been hellish. No cart can make it up the steep incline so all the condemned have been flung over the guard’s shoulders and carried up the path.

   My arms and head dangle down flopping with each jarring step my ride makes. This I can live with, the humiliation, the pain or the smell.

    Before we had left the town’s folk had lined up on either side of the square to see us off, like we were some kind of sick parade. They had waited till the council members had past, before hurling all matter of disgustingly rotting fruit and other unmentionable objects at us as we go by.

    No, that was livable; it is the fact that this degenerate had been feeling up my ass the entire trip that has me so mad! What's worse there is nothing I could do about it without destroying our only chance of escape.

   Five hundred and forty-two steps and three bruised ribs later, we finally get to the top. We had all received fresh bites prior to us leaving so the other nineteen condemned souls wouldn’t have felt a thing through out this trip.

   They just dump us unceremoniously in a pile in the center of the room, and my elbow slams against something hard. The guard’s retreat to a respectful distance as the council members now circle around us reading out the charges one last time as well as the sentence that is about to be carried out.

   Formalities are so boring, just hurry up and leave us to die already.

   Four cloaked figures turn to go, but father hesitate, walking forward towards the pile. I am located somewhere in the middle, my head rests on someone’s stinky shoulder while I can see the tops of someone shins as they pin my burning legs down.

  Father grabs me by my ratty, grime covered top and howls me up till he can look right into my bright purple blue eye.

  'I know you can hear me. I wanted you to know that I have always hated you like I did your deceitful mother,' he thought.

   Then he placed me on the top of the twisted pile he lent over me and whispered in my ear “This is so you can see them coming” he twisted my head so I faced the entrance, "And so you are the first one they see".

   With that he was gone. They all were gone, racing down the trail to safety, eager to pronounce that justice has been done.

  The night is still while I burn in silence.

Ariel POV

   The town is celebrating. Everyone is laughing, dancing and very, very drunk. The danger has passed the condemned to be slaughtered and all is well in the world. Or so they believe.

   Slowly I creep through the shadows, pausing when I need to, avoiding detection.

   I can see a still bandaged and broken Aaron sitting in the same spot he was last festival, surrounded by the same girls soothing him. He really has been milking his injuries for all that they are worth. Playing up the danger and his role in defeating the ‘monster’.

   Honestly, no one was killed in Sofi's attack; yes, a few broken bones and a concussion or two but that was about as bad as it got.

   Sneaking forward again, I finally reach the house I seek.

  "Come on out, it is time to go." I am already carrying the baby Juli, she is but six months old but I have already seen her future, if she is left behind she will not survive another one.

   Rolond exits his home, in his hands is a small bundle containing a few clothes and his favorite toy.

   "We have leave now." I tell him.

   "Because if we don't they will kill me like the others?"

   "That’s right, you know that you are special right?" I had gone over this before but how much can a four year old remember?

   "Yes, I know, I make mummy and daddy stop fighting ‘nd I can make Jenny laugh n smile whenever she is crying. I have always known. I'm really sorry I get Leira in trouble."

   "That’s alright. You will see her soon and can tell her sorry yourself. "

We creep softy till we are almost to the gate.

   "Now Rolond, I need you to do something for me," I place my hands on his small shoulders and stare deep into his bright eyes hoping I can convey how important this is. "I need you to put the guards to sleep. It must be a very deep sleep; they can't wake up until after we are gone. Do you understand?"

   His curly mob of red hair bobs in agreement, while his little face screws up deep in concentration as he stares at the four men guarding the gate.  

   At first nothing happens, then one by one their vigilant pacing begins to slow. Next they start to yawn, till at last they have sunk to the ground with their back to the gate.

  "Good job, let's go," I pat him on the back and we race to the gate.

    It is huge, larger then two men combined, luckily off to the side is a much smaller door. We quietly slipped out locking the door as best we can.

   Following the rough and slippery path we climb. At the first rise I tell him to wake them up. If they are discovered asleep an alarm will be raised and a search done. If they wake up themselves at the same time they will be too embarrassed to admit to sleeping on the job.

  Once this is done we continue our trek up the path.