Unconventional Death Wish Chp. 1

Chapter One: An Execution

“Eight, Seven,” It won’t go fast enough these ten seconds seem to be the slowest of my life. You would think that I would want it to be slow give me time to think and live, but I don’t.

“Five,” I smile at the thought that it will be over soon.

“Four, three, two,” almost there.

“One.” I feel the air brush against me one last time then the poke of the needle as it meets my skin.

But things don’t go as planned, they never seem to.

The executioner is pulled away, and I can hear him crashing into the stage floor behind me. The strange state of almost calm that had controlled the town is gone now. They are shouting and fighting. For whom, and against whom I can’t tell.

But I’m still calm. It’s not like I can do much else, I’m still stuck in this damn chair. I watch patiently, peacefully. Like a play surrounds me, and I’m just the obedient audience.

Someone is thrown into me, knocking me to the ground. The chair is smashed, but I’m still stuck, the man’s body weighing me down. Their blood spills out from their chest drenching my clothes. They aren't much more than rags, but I’d hoped to die wearing something clean.

Thankfully the man is removed and tossed to the side. My savior reaches his hand out to help me up. Black hair, much like my own slipping into his face.

“Thanks,” I say sitting up and twisting my back until the last bits of chair fall away. “But, my hands are stuck behind me. Idiot.” I add, rolling my eyes.

“Great to see you too dear cousin,” he responds and I laugh pushing myself onto my feet.

“You suck at this,” I say, passing him and kicking the gun out of the hand of the guard who had started to aim for his head. Kyren catches up knocking the guard to the ground. “You too,” I direct toward the fallen guard. “Next time hurry up and shoot. I’d really love to be rid of my cousin of an annoyance.” Kyren laughs at me before shooting them.

“You didn’t have to do that.” 

“Oh, but they were about to stab your leg,” he says motioning to the blade still in the Hmelkin guard’s hand.

“That bastard,” I exclaim, suddenly annoyed. “Well, cut me free now,” I add turning around.

“No please?” Kyren asks, but he still frees me, while I laugh.

“Finally,” I stretch out my sore arms, before properly taking in my surroundings.

No more guards stand around us, either dead or among the group that the crowd was currently ripping into. Black-clad men replace them.

“Not too shabby,” I tell Kyren. “Next time maybe free me sooner, then I’ll be able to save your ass before you get yourself killed. You really need to stop nearly dying.”

“And you need to stop getting caught,” Kyren responds starting to move off the stage. “I can’t come save you every time.”

“Then just let me die,” I say, following.

“You know I can’t do that,” Kyren tells me, stopping and turning towards me.

“Whatever,” I mumble continuing past him, but I don’t get far before he grabs my arm stopping me.

“You being this suicidal is no good! He is getting tired Lacera.” Kyren says seriously.

“I know, I know.” I say shaking him off, “Tell the king I say hi.” I shout over my shoulder as I slip into the crowd. But Kyren follows me, like a stupid duckling. I think I’m about to lose him when two of the black-clad men step in front of me. When I try to turn away they grab my arms.

“Let me go,” I command, getting annoyed.

“We can’t do that, your highness.” The taller of the two says.

"F-” I begin, but Kyren cuts me off.

“I told you. Your father is getting tired.”

“So?” I ask as innocently as I can.

“So, he wants you to go home,” he explains.

“You know it isn’t my home. It hasn’t been for some time.”

“Sorry Lacera,” and with that, I’m pulled off my feet by the men who start carrying me towards the edge of the crowd.

I refuse to look towards Kyren as we go. I know he’ll truly look sorry and that’ll kill my anger, but I don’t want to let it. I want it to grow and fester and then I’d release it later in an attempt to escape. Or at least if that fails I can just throw it all at my father when we arrive at the palace.

The pull me into a nearby inn and up a flight of stairs. The men finally let go of me after throwing me into a room and closing the door leaving me alone. There is one small window, but when I look out of it I find another two similar men watching me from below. There won’t be any escape from there.

Giving up I throw myself onto the bed. Half of it is taken up by bags, obviously filled with a change or a million of clothes. I want to throw them on the ground and pretend they don’t exist in protest, but it’ll just be pointless. Kyren will force me to change later anyway. Can’t let a princess go wandering around in bloody rags after all.

Tired of the scratchy and annoying rags, I open the bags.The majority are filled with colorful and childish dresses, but I find one black dress. It’s obviously for a funeral. Long, plain, and boring.

My execution was planned for just after sunrise, so it couldn’t be that far into the morning now. Kyren won’t be ready to leave until tomorrow, wanting to secure the town from the Hmelkin’s. He’ll leave me locked in this room until then, only visiting me to say goodnight this evening, leaving me with a lot of time. I’ve been running away for almost four years now, I know the pattern.

It’s getting harder, with the Hmelkins losing the war, I have to get farther before I’m in their territory. As they fall back though, I’m risking being recognized whenever I visit any place more wealthy. They won’t kill me on the spot like they try to when I act like a normal criminal. No, instead they’ll take me hostage and bargain me back into my father’s hands.

I have a death wish sure, but I don’t wish to jeopardize winning this war for my country.

I search the bags further until I find a sewing kit, and luckily a black veil that’s meant to go with the funeral gown.

Then I begin ripping it to pieces and putting it all back together again. I may have hated all of my lessons in sewing and the likes, but I was quite the amazing student.

I remove the arms, and a large portion of the back, altering the rest so it’ll be skin tight and show off my figure. I do add a small bit of the lace from the veil to the front to make a strap that’ll wrap around my neck and hold the dress up. Next, I rip the skirt down the front and remove multiple layers until it’s thin, but I leave it long enough to trail behind me. Lastly, I turn some of the additional fabric I’d ripped off into a pair of shorts.

Happy with my work, I grab my newly made dress and tuck it underneath the bed, such great work should be saved for my return to the palace tomorrow. My father will be wonderfully proud, and appalled.

After cleaning up the mess I’d made I notice, that the sun is dipping down away from the horizon. The day had passed much quicker than normal and I’d been too preoccupied to notice. I had a lot of complaining to make up for.

After finally changing out of my now completely disgusting rags and into one of the more dulled down dresses I head over to the door and start banging. It’s not long before the men open the door. They must be new to this, normally I get ignored for a lot longer.

“I want out!” I scream immediately. Their grunts and movement to cover the entrance with their bodies work as a no. “Can one of you at least get me some food?” I try sweetly.

“General Grehla told us you would wait to eat with him.” One speaks. I look him over quickly, but he’s nothing special, he looks like every single one of my father’s men. Big, tall, strong, but boring as hell.

“Fine, but if I starve you get to explain it to the king,” I exclaim, stomping back towards my window.

The town isn’t quiet, but instead celebrating. The saw themselves as free, finally a part of the proper kingdom, one whos ruler would treat them right. My father surely would, he was a good king. He loved his people, he feeds them, gives the children educations, and makes sure they are all happy.

If only he had ever cared for his family like that. He has never loved us.

“Lacera.” Kyren’s voice breaks into my thoughts. “The men say that you were very well behaved. What were you doing?” he asks suspicious, tentatively looking around the room.

“I slept.” 

“Really?”

“Yes, but if I didn’t… you’ll learn what I was doing soon enough.” I hint carefully, returning my attention to the window as someone enters with food.

“Can I trust you?” Kyren asks, joining me.

“Why wouldn’t you be able to,”

“Come on.” he laughs grabbing my arm and pulling me over to the food. “So, it’s been a whole month since I last saved you.”

“I know. I thought I was far enough ahead of the warline, but you keep catching up before I can get myself killed. These Hmelkins really are too slow with their executions.” I joke, sitting down and grabbing a roll of bread. It was nice to have nice food again, but I’d never admit to it.

“Congrats though, we are going to win this war in no time with you at the head. Five years of fighting really is too long.” I say “Just promise me you’ll give me a couple more months to get killed.” I add, not being able to help myself.

“You’re going to need a new strategy,” Kyren says chuckling.

“Well, I was going to join the army, get killed by helping my country, but my father’s laws prevent any girl from joining so… committing crimes in enemy territory it is.”

“But if they find out who…” Kyren begins, but I cut him off.

“I know!” I yell. Taking a deep breath I continue. “I’m not stupid Kyren. Give me some credit here.” and with that we don’t speak again, but just eat in silence.

He wishes me a goodnight and I grumble a response, too tired to care. Changing out of my stupid dress I climb into the bed. I dream of the day, except Kyren never showed up. If only it were the reality.