Krii7y Oneshots :)

(Helios)

The small town was bustling with people. Children were playing in the streets, stopping every so often for horses controlled by guardsmen. Roaring laughter could be heard from a nearby tavern, the building itself looked old and well trodden.

The homey feeling never escaped my mind as I watched a mother with her son walking down the road. For a moment, I considered staying, but I know better than that. Being on the run was often disappointing.

Leaving serene places like this wore me down, that's why I make the most of what I can while I'm here.

Pulling down my hood, I shake my head to brush aside the hair covering my eyes. I glance around before entering the lively tavern, the atmosphere warmly lit by candles and sunlight.

The cool afternoon air flows through the open windows as I sit down at the bar, tapping my fingertips on the wooden surface.

"What'll it be, stranger?"

I lift my head to see the barkeeper leaning on the smooth wooden ledge of the bar, wiping down a nearby spill with what looked like a dirty cloth. Humming, I brought out what I had left in my pockets, listening as the metal jangled onto the hard surface. "Whatever I can get with 5 gold pieces," I sigh, taking in my surroundings, fiddling with one gold piece between my fingers.

The man beside me let out a sort of "humph" as he listened in on our conversation, however short it was. Subtle blue markings on his tunic told me more about him than I needed to know. He was a Deorum soldier. Just my luck.

"Where you from, kid?" he asked, his voice gravelly and uneasy.

The dizzy feeling took over my mind as I realized that he was onto me just as I was onto him. I rested my elbow on the bar, threading a hand through my hair to keep his sight off my face. "I'm not a kid." I sneered, taking a sip of the beer that was recently placed in front of me. "And I'm not from Deorum, that's for sure."

The guard hums, tilting his head to gesture to the wall behind me, "You wouldn't happen to be from Orcus, would you?"

The chair creaked as I turned quickly, glancing at the wanted poster nailed there. I groaned for a moment at my stupidity, the description matched myself, as did the name. Not to mention the illustration, which certainly helped. Blinking slowly, I returned my gaze to the guard, "Can I at least finish my beer first?"

If it weren't for the shake of his head, I would have laughed at the quip of humor. Shooting up from my seat, I grabbed my change and shoved it into my pocket. Feet scrambled behind me as I ran for it, pushing past the door of the tavern and into broad daylight.

I made a mad dash for the plaza, trying to blend with the masses as the guard alerted his colleagues loudly. "Mortalis! Mortalis is among us!"

My cover was partially ruined as the crowds of people started to scatter. I decided to run with them, turning a corner and stopping in an alleyway. It was well shadowed, as the roof overhead kept the sun at bay. I leant against them wall, placing my hands on my knees, breathing heavily in the quiet air. "Thank the gods, that was so close."

Clutching my chest, I regained composure, staring up at the rafters of the roof above me. I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the swipe of a hand and stepped out into the open. Just as the sun hit my eyes, I knew the chase was over. "Don't move," I heard from behind as the guard from earlier held a bow drawn back, the tip of the arrow was nudged between my shoulder blades.

I rolled my eyes as more guardsmen circled around me, holding my hands in the air as a form of surrender. The arrow is removed from its threatening position and the guards forcefully grab my wrists, tying them together behind my back.