We stood at the top of the mountain overlooking the village below. Chaos, confusion, madness and death. People were running in every direction, desperately seeking shelter. Their screams could be heard from the top, their agony and torture. They were begging for mercy.
I didn't understand any of it. My young, innocent eyes were looking from side to side, going wide with every horror I saw. I just wanted to sing. Mommy told me I could sing today.
"I have a surprise for you." That's what she told me when I woke up today, on my sixth birthday. "You are allowed to sing today."
Now, hours later, I was witness to the massacre happening below. To justice as she calls it.
"They had a chance to correct their mistakes and they chose to ignore it," she told Ethan. He was always there, by her side. She once told me, he was helping her. That he was there for protection. I didn't care, as long as he gave me candy.
I stood beside her, waiting. Looking at the poorly made houses, now consumed in the raging fire. Straw was burning everywhere, destroying precious homes, turning them into ash. I griped my teddy bear tighter. Finally, I looked at her.
"Can I sing now, mommy?" I asked hopefully.
"Not yet."
I turned back to the village before me.
I could see a woman in red, running from a soldier, her eyes puffy from wailing. Her red dress was torn in several places. She stumbled, before finally losing balance and fumbling to the floor. Her red dress was now, not only torn, but also dirty from the dusty ground. The soldiers surrounded her and hurled her on her feet. She writhed like a wild animal, trying to get away. I looked back at my mommy.
"Can I sing now?"
"Not yet."
"But you promised! You promised!"
"I said not now!" She hissed in annoyance.
I dropped the teddy bear, crossed my arms and pouted my lips. I redirected my gaze to the action taking place below. She promised! I knew she was lying! She never does anything nice for me! My eyes were starting to water.
I saw another man, on his knees. He begged for mercy. Begged to let his daughter go. Crying, that she was innocent. That she didn't deserve to die.
Then he turned his head and spotted us on the hill. He got up and began running towards us. "Please! Please!" he cried, before tripping over his feet and falling to the dusty ground. "She's all I have! Please! Don't take her too," he wailed.
The soldiers grabbed his daughter as she fought back without avail. As the soldiers reached him, he began thrashing around, reaching for her. He managed to get free, taking a few steps before being captured once again. Such agony was seen on his face. I was left wondering, how can one person be loved that much.
"Round them up!" I heard her say from my right.
The soldiers took every child, adolescent and woman, forcing them into a straight line. They made them kneel, before pressing the blade against their throats.
The men were stranded, as they were forced to watch. They were restrained before their burning homes, the fire decreasing as it slowly lost its fuel.
I could see the man from before, begging, his eyes filled with tears, his head submissively lowered.
"You were warned already. There isn't going to be a second time. I told you to sacrifice more souls and you refused to oblige. Now you will all suffer the consequences." Mommy said. Then she nodded her head to the soldiers below.
