April Tiger Pack

March 31st was the last peaceful day for the wealthy. The entire month of April felt like nightmares coming to life. For the past 60 years, right as time passed from march 31st to April 1st, the attacks began. Attacks on politicians, generals, and all the higher ups in the castle. The castle of Brim, where everyone who dreamed big wanted to live. So much money and power. Everyone seemed happy there. 

However, in April the air filled with worry, the castle became eerie. No one wanted to leave their houses, all jobs were closed for the entire month too. Fear of Tigers drove the castle insane during the month. Tigers would swarm from every direction of the castle. Hundreds of guards and walls boarded tight, they still found a way inside which led to at least a few deaths per year. Deaths never included civilians, their fear drove them to believe the tigers will kill them, but they have not killed in all 60 years a civilian. Although, some civilians trying to stand up and fight with the military slay a few tigers per year. 

Outside of the castle, in the great plains, a tiny village viewed April as a month of growth. They believed it was the most remarkable month. They directed the attacks with a secret ability found in ancient scrolls. A man or woman has to worship the sun year round. Over the year you will save all your energy, then release it on march 31st. The person will achieve supernatural abilities for the next thirty days.

Every year when the people achieve the powers of April, they plan their attacks on Brim. Commoners slaved away for the corrupt wealthy people and never earned respect or money from it. The penalty for not working for the castle and wealthy people was death, they were merely getting revenge. 

The special ability granted a person to take control of any animal that neared them. This helped tremendously for never being caught. Once a year they sought the land tigers roamed and traded spirits for each being. The man putting his spirit into the tiger’s body would instantly rush the castle, looking for someone on the hit list. The tiger going into the human’s body did little. Usually they would just lay on the plains and snooze. 

April 1st was coming up, the village was preparing for the hits. Meanwhile, Brim had a method of their own to counter the tiger pack. A day before the havoc, they set out on horseback. multiple guards on horses. Inside the carriages is where the most powerful people of Brim sat. They were riding towards the common village directly on the plains. 

Meanwhile, the commoners had just begun their ritual to receive the special ability. They appointed the children to go play barely outside the village so they wouldn’t see the ritual take place. The children playing noticed the castle members in the distance. They immediately went to ring the bell, warning the adults. Startled, the adults paused the ritual, then sprinted towards the bell. 

When they reached the children, a few hundred feet away were 10 carriages being pulled towards the village. The armor and logo on the guards identified who they were. Nerves racing throughout the adults, they wondered why they were here, or if they found out who was behind the attacks. The carriages were going to arrive in thirty seconds, so the sheriff of the village walked in front, prepared to take all responsibility. 

Fifteen seconds — all the men got in front of their wives. The women were shaking, thinking of only the worst outcomes. 

Ten seconds — the guards riding horseback noticed the entire village was there to greet them, putting a smile on their faces. Three, two, one — Face to face, the commoners stood silent until the head guard jumped off his horse, ambling towards the sheriff. The head guard was an intimidating man, over 6 feet tall with arms the size of the sheriff’s stomach.

“Have you seen any tiger’s round ere?” 

The sheriff took a step back, wide-eyed, at a loss for words. The guard crossed his arm and gave a harsh stare back at him. “Well, have you?” raising his voice, assuming he wasn’t clear the first time.

“um, no sir, we haven’t seen a tiger in years.” The sheriff said, clearing his throat. All the guards let out a cheer, hopping off their horses. 

“How perfect, we’ve taken our elites outside of the castle for the month to try extra measures for their safety. We’re going to sleep inside yalls homes, but we will set up tents for eryone, of course.” The guard said.    While they spoke, the guards opened up the carriages, explaining they will stay here for the month. Wealthy people spilt out of the carriages, the commoners became pale. The men they have sworn to kill sleeping under their roof. Everyone took a step back with glum looks. 

The king of Brim strolled up close, with some guards aiding him as he was in his eighties. He was the reason the commoners used their ability for killing. King Washington II, this man normally praised as a god inside the castle, but outside he is pure evil. Never being able to kill him throughout the years, a group of commoners smiled knowing this could be their chance to end them all, especially the king. 

The wealthy folks started fires inside, using the wood the commoners brought them. Every time a commoner walked away from the wealthy they could hear through the thin walls the wealthy discussing the “repulsive decor” and size of their homes. “An entire month in this junkyard.” They said in disgust. The commoners held their emotions in check, as they knew the wealthy wouldn’t stay long. The king was the only wealthy trying to help set up tents with the commoners, but the guards grabbed him. 

While commoners were setting up tents, the sheriff and a few others spoke inside a tent already set up. All questions directed towards the sheriff.

“What are we going to do? How will we do the ritual without them seeing us?” 

The sheriff holding his hands together, looking down. The tent was tense no one could articulate words with the shocking situation. Before the founder of the ancient scrolls passed away, he explained to the sheriff that we can do the ritual between the end of march and April. They have plenty of time to plan, but there was something off. The sheriff feared the battles being on their turf, all the years before it was always in the castle. 

Tigers that were slain in battle sent the spirit back into the human, so casualties were never an issue. Now, the commoners held the battlefield, and he understood the reason even civilians feared the tigers. They brought chaos throughout their land. An attempt to help, but sending fear amongst the innocent. His mind racing. Maybe they deserve it, for what they have done to us, he thought to himself. Conflicted, not sure if they were right or wrong, but the rest of the common folk would not give mercy like the sheriff would. 

It was April 5th; the plan was being discussed out in the fields doing their normal work. The wealthy back at the village walked around as they owned the place, well technically they did, but it bothered the commoners every time they laid eyes on one of them. Most wanted to rush the attack, they wanted the ritual to take place during work hours than return to attack. However, some guards came out every once in a while to grab some of the freshly harvested crops. 

April 13th, The plan was official. This plan would send the guards of Brim out of the village, leaving the wealthy vulnerable. The sheriff walked to the church where the king and head guard stayed. Upon entering, the king was fast asleep. 

“Howdy,” The head guard said, poking the king a few times to wake him. When the king woke, the sheriff tried to greet him, but the king mumbled, speaking like a one-year-old child. 

“He ain’t know how to really speak no more, we’ve been doing all the work behind the scenes for him since I can remember.” 

The sheriff was shook; the king couldn’t create corruption, the people under him took advantage. He realized he couldn’t space out again he had a reason for coming. He told them he found where the tigers are living. The head guard jumped from his seat like he would go fight them himself. He demanded their location, and the sheriff responded with an area far away. 

Sprinting out the church gathering his men to get revenge on the tigers. The sheriff was astonished how easily his plan worked. They jumped on their horses and went east, which was opposite from the actual tigers. 

April 14th, the commoners went to the fields where they work. Instead of working, they began their ritual. The children came too, so they wouldn’t be near the village. After the ritual, they walked a few miles to reach the land where tigers roamed. The sheriff stayed behind; he had a crucial piece of the plan to fulfill. He sat speaking with a couple leftover guards who stayed to tend the king. Last time the sheriff was in the church, he planted a dagger under the king’s chair. Prepared to take out the several guards, he switched his seat to be right next to the king. They turned their heads toward the doorway, and the sheriff leaped up and reached under the chair. No dagger lied there. Confused, he looked up at a smiling king. The king with a demonic smile held the dagger in his hand. 

“Hahaha, you fool!” King said. Once he stopped speaking, his hand propelled towards the sheriff. Blood spilling, the sheriff was silent even upon impact. The dagger went straight through his heart; his face was similar when the people of Brim first arrived in his village.

“Catch up with guards and explain to them our situation.” King said.

Back in the fields, children were out playing with parents who stayed watching them. Out of nowhere was the Tiger Pack. They ran so fast, as if they were flying with the wind. The children stared in awe.

The tigers had their mouth wide open with tongues hanging out flapping through the wind, excited for the feast. In the fields you could hear the screams and cries for help in the distance. No one seemed to be fazed. Even the children shed a smile. In the center of the village, wealthy bodies piled up, some torn apart, and some killed instantly. The sheriff warned everyone of the king’s situation. However, some tigers needed to make sure his plan was successful. 

Busted through the church doors, they came across more dead bodies. These bodies were not from tigers. The very end of the church was a smiling king staring at his dagger. The sight of the sheriff dead was enough to enrage the tigers. They sprinted towards the king, but suddenly everything stopped.

“You are mine now!” The king shouted. This village didn’t know outsiders knew of this power. However, the king knew, he knew more about the powers than anyone. He took control of every tiger he laid eyes on. His power was much stronger because he didn’t do the ritual once a year, he waited 60 years. He used these tigers to take over the world, his guards, military, politicians were all killed. Not only them, but anyone who stumbled upon a tiger was at risk. He demanded they must kill all humans and even their old bodies where the tiger spirit was. He took the world by storm and no one could stop him. The April Tiger Pack was now a year round nightmare.