The Age of Blood

“Do you think father will return from the wars anytime soon?” Alice asked.

She was young and naïve, only four years younger than Kross. Even so, thirteen and nine were far different in maturity. He was the man of the house and had to take care of his sister and mother while his father was gone. It was his duty.

“I don’t know. He’ll do what has to be done to feed us, and will return when the king sees fit and wills it to be so,” he said.

“But the king is mean and hurts people just for fun, that’s what mother says. She said he hurt her before, and aunty… and many other women,” she said.

“Yeah whatever, don’t talk about the king in any manner other than good. If you do, you’ll be one of the women being hurt, probably by more than just the king. There are many cruel lords and soldiers that would take pleasure in hurting you.”

“But father said people have to earn respect. He’s a soldier and he wouldn’t hurt me.”

“If the king told him to, he’d have to, or he’d be tortured and killed. Do you want that, do you want father to be killed because you were stupid? Shut up, and stop talking about anybody better than you in any way that makes others perceive them as cruel. They do as they wish, learn that,” Kross growled.

“I don’t want none of that to happen, but I don’t want to live as a slave either. We should be free to say what we want. Father said he fights for freedom, I want that,” she said.

“Just shut up. Freedom is being alive,” Kross shouted.

Alice flinched, hanging her head low, staring at the rugged grass path. The hillside they were walking along was rich with wildlife, birds, rabbits, squirrels, and all other sorts of animals scurried around in the brushes.

Sweat beaded at Kross’ forehead as he stared up ahead. It wasn’t much farther now, soon they’d have plenty to eat. The soldiers finally allowed in a few lucky souls to collect apples. His mother could even bake one of those famous pies that she loved so much. His mouth watered simply from the thought.

Kross unintentionally glanced over to his sister, guilt seizing his chest. He hadn’t wanted to yell at her but their father clouded her mind with many foolish ideals. He was a dumb man who left to war on the claims of fighting for freedom for their country. There was nothing free about it, only death and pain. If it wasn’t for him leaving, their mother would’ve never been touched by the king or any of his disgusting men.

A woman’s scream tore at the ears, his heart halting for a moment as his feet froze in place. The echoing laughter of others followed soon after. It was just ahead of them, in the wilds.

“Let’s just walk b-” Kross began.

Alice sprinted forward, withdrawing the dagger that their father had given her. It was a basic steel weapon, one that she should’ve never had. Kross’ eyes widened, his hands shook as he unsheathed his short sword, chasing after his sister.

“Just be obedient and you might live through this, even after scratching me, worthless bitch,” a man said.

A branch cracked under Kross’ feet, leaves brushing across his arms as he pushed out into the open. Three soldiers in leather were surrounding a woman in a red blouse, close to Kross’ age. It was ripped at the shoulder, her blonde hair covered in dirt as she pushed her back against an apple tree. A basket was toppled over, the plump fruit scattered everywhere.

The captain’s face was bleeding, his flesh ripped from the woman’s nails. He turned toward Alice; her dagger high as she rushed toward them. One of the men screamed as she plunged the dagger deep into his knee.

The captain smashed his fist into Alice’s jaw, unsheathing his long sword. She stumbled back, clutching her cheek, “you little fucking whore.”

The wounded soldier was on one knee, glaring at the dagger. He gripped onto the handle but hesitated before pulling the blade free.

Kross sprinted over, standing in between the soldiers and his sister, “this is a misunderstanding. My sister’s stupid. She’s touched in the head. Please forgive her and let us go.”

“Fuck you kid, that bitch stabbed a dagger through my knee. We’re going to kill the lot of you now. You made things worse for this red headed bitch. We weren’t even going to kill her before, now you’ve done it.”

The injured soldier pushed himself toward Alice. She screamed as he swung his long sword in her direction. Kross’ hand tightened around the handle of his blade, his jaw clenching together as he thrust his sword into the soldier. The man gagged, blood gurgling from his mouth as Kross’ short sword impaled his throat, pultruding through the other side. He fell to the ground, limp and lifeless.

“Get out of here, both of you,” Kross screamed, his voice cracking.

He stared at the two remaining soldiers, gripping onto his short sword with trembling hands. His heart began pounding within his chest. These men knew how to hold their weapons better than he did, and there was two of them. He should’ve been fled as well.

The red-haired woman sprinted around the soldiers, helping Alice to her feet. Alice glanced back, wanting to say something. No words could escape her lips, fear settling in, her skin pale.

“Your dead boy,” the captain snarled.

Kross swung for the captain, his blade parried and shoved aside. He stumbled back, toppling over the corpse of the dead soldier. The two of them took that as an opportunity, jumping on top of him.

He raised his sword hand but before he could act the captain’s blade pierced his arm, locking it to the ground. They began smashing their fists into his face, pummeling him over and over again. Even as he sobbed, tears falling upon his bruised bloodied cheeks, their torture didn’t falter.

“I don’t want to die,” Kross cried.

The other soldier withdrew his dagger, holding Kross’ free hand to the ground. He slammed his blade into the palm, impaling it into the ground. The world became blurry, the captain grabbing Kross’ leg and holding it out.

“Cut it off,” he said.

“You don’t need to tell me twice,” the soldier snickered.

He swung his sword, cleaving the leg below the kneecap, severing it off in one clean swoop. The pain was worse than anything Kross had ever endured before. Blood pooled from the wound, soaking into the world’s soil.

“Aw, what the hell. Why didn’t you take your time with it? Should’ve struck his leg a few times,” the captain said.

Kross’ jaw fell open, his breathing rapid and uncontrolled. He knew now more than even that they were going to kill him. He tried to scream, nothing but a gasp escaping his lips.

The captain swung his blade aimlessly at Kross’ other leg. He did it again, and then maybe another time. Kross couldn’t tell but each strike brought on more agony than the last, “stop, please stop. Someone, help me.”

The captain withdrew his dagger, kneeling down. A devious smile crossed his lips as he cut open Kross’ shirt.

“This is what happens when you murder a soldier of the crown, boy,” the captain said.

“I’m sorry,” Kross sobbed.

The captain sliced the dagger across Kross’ stomach, reaching in a feeling around. Blood leaked from the wound and the pain from the captain’s hand was pure torture. Devastating screams left his lungs, his agony echoing throughout the forest.

The captain pulled hard, ripping out Kross’ innards before throwing them on his chest. Kross groaned, staring at his guts. The soldiers were speaking, laughing to one another but he couldn’t make out a word of it.

Everything was becoming cold, far away as if he was dreaming. It was the most frightening thing that he’s ever experienced. He had wanted to live long, to ask the girl of his dreams out to the park with him. He was going to share one of his mother’s specialty apple pies with Cassandra. Now, he would never get the chance. He was never going to feel anything again. No love, no hate, and no sadness, it was all going to be gone.

The captain chuckled, glancing at the other soldier as he grabbed Kross’ short sword. He lifted the blade, pushing it toward Kross’ skull. There was no further pain, the agony disappearing as everything suddenly vanished.

.   .   .   .

“Is he going to die? It’s my fault,” Alice sobbed.

The night was dark, neither of them able to return home. Rain fell from the end of the cave, water streaming down the sides of the walls. Alice didn’t understand why helping a woman in need prevented them from returning home. How could it be allowed for soldiers to commit such vile acts and get away with it?

“It’s not your fault, he did what he did to save you and I. Your brother is a hero. Just believe in your heart that he made it out, okay?” Sandra said.

“Where are we going to go now, and what about my mother?” Alice asked.

“We’re going to be wanted by the crown. We only have one option. We must flee to enemy territory. It’s the only place that we won’t be hunted.”

Alice wrapped her arms around Sandra, resting her head against her chest. It was warm and soft during the cold unbearable night. Sandra welcomed her embrace, rubbing her fingers through her hair.

“What about the rebellion. My mother said that there was a rebellion,” Alice said.

“Um, I didn’t think of them but maybe. The only problem is that I don’t know where to find them. They could be anywhere, and joining them would be dangerous. We’d be at constant risk.”

“I want to fight for freedom. I don’t want to live in a world where people can be killed for helping someone and then get a bounty. It’s not right. It’s just not,” Alice said.

“I agree, it’s wrong, but it’s the world that we’ve always known. I promise you; we’ll find the rebels and if the soldiers hurt your brother, we’ll seek justice.”

A world where justice is a thing, where freedom is abundant. It was all that Alice wished for. To be able to eat without having to worry about saving scraps. To live in a house with her own bedroom. She wanted the things that everybody should have.

“I’ll die for freedom if I have too. I won’t die a slave,” Alice said.