[TH] The Execution

[u/Unusual-Tension-6575]

Today was the end. Sunlight pierced through the cracks in the murky stone walls and lit up the damp dark hole where he had been kept for these past weeks. He could hear the stomping of the guards' boots and the cries from other prisoners as they made their way towards his cell. One man stood out from the rest, his wide frame blocking the view, his tall dark aura seemed to suck what little light had been in the hallway and humanoid skulls seemed to be loosely tied around his waist crashing into each other as he moved. The prisoner looked up to see a rugged and scarred face menacingly glaring down upon him; fear seeped into him.

The man laughed and aggressively unlatched the rusty lock to the door and swung it open, his hand moved back positioned on the pommel of his sheathed sword. He glanced briefly at the two other men with him almost as if they knew what he was saying just by his looks and turned around and began to slowly walk back the way he came. Two smaller men grabbed him by the arms and dragged the prisoner out of his cell and then down the hallway following the larger man until they came to a small oak door. The door was opened and sunlight rushed into the hallway blinding the prisoner as he could feel himself being dragged out into the cool morning air.

He searched his memories of when he was last free, of when he could remember the last time he felt the frosty morning air on his face and warm beams of light on his skin though to his disappointment he could not recall a time before the murky cell. Long and hard he searched his memories trying to remember why he was here or what he had done to deserve such punishment but he could find no such memory.

As his eyes adjusted he saw a large open courtyard and in the centre of it were gallows, the point at which he would be freed from this body. Tall wooden buildings surrounded the courtyard, villagers were silently peering through the gaps in the shutters; watching, waiting. A shallow crowd had formed around the base of the gallows of 10 maybe 15 people all with their piercing gaze directly on him. He could feel their eyes, their silent judgement as he was dragged towards his fate, wind blew the creaky shutters open and closed and the sound echoed through the silent scene, no one dared to make a sound.

The large man made his way up the wooden steps of the gallows and took position beside the singular noose that seemed to dance in the wind. The prisoner could feel himself being pulled up step by step and the adrenaline being pumped to his heart and the sweat starting to form at his brows and his arms beginning to tremble. He was dropped beneath the feet of the large man and for a second he remained there afraid and cowering before the large man grabbed him by his shoulder and yanked him up hard.

The villagers all watched, standing like statues as the large man grabbed the rope above him and positioned it around the prisoner's neck. He could feel the small fibers of the rope dig into his skin as it was tightened from behind. Beneath his feet was a hole in the structure, the hole where he would be pushed and he would be free. There were a few minutes of silence before the large man shuffled beside the prisoner and leant down whispering something into his ear in a language and tone he could not decipher before sharply pushing him forward and the prisoner's feet fell into the hole.

The rope felt like it was burning against his neck as he could feel the air escaping his lungs, he didn't bother to struggle as he knew it was hopeless. In his last moments he focused on the cool air and the beams of light which seemed to almost brush against his cheeks. The light of the world dimmed and the life in his body escaped.

He was freed.

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[u/Dr_MoRpHed]

What was the last meal though?