The Handle of the Knife

Carnival Night

Oh, right it's Carnival night. I guess I should be a little bit relieved, there not coming for me. The pastor never shows up, but he's supposed to. He always says he is under the weather at the moment and we just let him be since he's the pastor. Carnival is not all fun and games. It is the night that we go out and kill Grekens. Green, ghoulish looking creature is what I hear from them. I have never seen one. I won't be going with them until I am sixteen. Oh, I silently curse under my breath. I am sixteen and if I don't show up then I will be in need of three punishments.

I hurriedly get up only to sit back down again. I get up again, slower this time. I bend my knees slowly outward. I push off the ground with my hands and rise up. I become light headed very quickly, but I catch myself, putting my hand against the wall. I slowly hobble over to a chair and ease back down again. I know I have to get to the Carnival. With a lot of pain, endurance and a little luck, I've grabbed a fishing spear and I am walking out towards the east woods. I start to wonder where Bron is, and I catch myself actually missing the dog. I get to the main road as the sun just touches the ground. Its magnificent colors, bearing purple, gold and blue. I divert my eyes but the image is still as clear as day, or I guess dusk now. I can see a small collection of people. Just about the hold town of Bristoville, expect for a name few like Pastor Jon the mayor and a few of his guards. I never know any of the guard's name. They come and they go as the cavalry passes through dropping off supplies, taken soma. Sometimes leaving a few guards too. The guards are supposed to patrol the area for Grekens, but since we initiated Carnival night they never come out farther than the forest. As I slowly make my way to the back of the crowd, as far away as possible but still considered to be with the crowd, the rally speech begins.

"People of Bristoville in honor of the deaths in the Great War we punish the beasts. These green creatures defy our ways! They won't stop at anything to get what they want! And they want all of us dead! SO come join me as we slaughter the wrongdoings in the name of Grace. Kill all Grekens you find!" The blacksmith finishes his rally speech. The entire crowd is now up and ready to go. Enticed to act. Wanting to actually do something good for this place. They take role call and I listen for my dad's name. His name is called and I see a hand shoot to the sky. I should probably make my way over there to him. I decide against it and stay put in my very painful standing position. They call my name last. Newcomers are always last. Goeaviasoa

"And our newest installment of the Carnival we have Go-eat, Goeavsa. We have Go." Devin's several attempts to pronounce my name eventually goes with my nickname.

As Devin finishes, I slowly raise my hand over my head. Most of the people's heads have set to look at my dad. Expecting a reason why he isn't over with him. I give a small and meager croak of. "Here, sir"

"Ahh, yes. Ok, it looks like we've gotten everyone, well besides Jon. His note here says that he is getting ready for Sunday's scripture. Ok then break into groups of two or three. As traditionally I go with the new recruit." The rest of the group splits off into their normal partners. I remember sneaking out one time to watch them disperse, and how I couldn't wait to be out there fighting Grekens with them. Only now butterflies turn in my stomach faster than Jon could catch someone cursing. "Scared little pup?" Devin asked me after everyone else has left screaming into the woods with their weapons. "Well, it's a good thing you brought your own weapons, I've only got one extra." Devin is probably the gentlest man in the town. At least towards me. He is a big man, with a strong muscular physique. He has black hair, but soft brown eyes. He hands me a rucksack with a few extra equipment. Some bread, a small knife, of which I equip onto my sheath in the back of my right side, an extra pair of boots and a few other things I don't bother to look at. I walk to him a bit faster than before, as my pain in my head starts to diminish. We walk into the forest as the last glimpses of light disappear turning it into night. The forest seems to get darker the farther I walk into its net.