A Cruel Love Story

In the heart of a corrupt land was a town full of thieves and bandits. A fierce and psychotic leader ruled it. He was once fast, strong, and handsome. Yet, the years of ruling and many assassination attempts had aged him. His body grew old and feeble. His mind did not weaken. It grew colder, more paranoid, more cunning.

The town was full of criminals, but there was no crime within the walls. If subjects violated the Lord’s rules, they suffered a cruel and sinister punishment.

The Lord favored philosophy, preferring to leave punishments to fate. He had repurposed a stadium to serve as an arena of justice. Once a place of good-spirited rivalry, it was now a dusty field of despair.

The accused would hold a bouquet of the most beautiful flowers. and fitted in a black suit or on rare occasions a white dress. They stood in the center of the dirt field. Opposite of them were two identical doors. With the stadium seats packed, the accused chose their fate.

Behind one door was a monster. The monsters were the children of those Fate found guilty. Stripped of their humanity, these orphans knew nothing but violence. They could hardly speak. They slept and ate like animals. They felt no love nor hate. They lived for one purpose. To kill those before them.

Behind the other door was an angel. Angels were often the second victims of this cruel punishment. Chosen from the town, they were the town’s most beautiful and kind people. They were the trophy to the accused if fate were to find them innocent.

Many of the townspeople complained about the cruel punishments in public. In secret, everyone loved the sick sensation the drama gave. They held their breath in anticipation of a vicious murder or a wonderful wedding.

Though vicious, this town was a beacon to those seeking their fortune. As the saying goes, it is better to be a king in Hell than a servant in Heaven. There was a young mercenary who traveled to this treacherous land of violence and sin. He sought glory and fortune. Gifted in warfare, he rose through the ranks. He impressed the Lord and gained the reputation as the Lord's right hand.

As he rose in status and grew closer to the Lord, he also grew fonder of the Lord’s only daughter. Late at night, he would meet her in secret. In the light of day, he showed small gestures of his affection.

The Lord often joked that if the young man was not a foreigner, he would make a wonderful son. Yet, since he was, he would never be anything more than a lieutenant in the Lord’s army. The Lord had promised his daughter to the son of a great rival. The marriage would unite the two towns and lead to peace in their region. The Mercenary never lamented the situation.

On the wedding day, the Lord asked his trusted lieutenant for a favor. The Lord was a cripple from many battles and assassination attempts in his life. He was unable to walk his daughter with dignity to his new son. He entrusted the Mercenary with the honor.

 As the two young lovers walked to the altar, the daughter cried. She clung to the Mercenary more with each step they took. He did not cry. His face was calm and stoic, but the daughter could feel the tension he held in his body. They resisted every step they took until they stood before the groom.

The Mercenary turned to the groom. He smiled and nodded his head. Then, without warning, a knife materialized in the Mercenary’s hand. Before the cry left the bride’s lips. Her husband-to-be lay dead, with the knife planted in his heart. Guns fell on the Mercenary at once. If it wasn't for the Lord’s daughter wrapping her body around his, they would have killed him on the spot.

The rival gang leader wanted the Mercenary. He wished to kill him in a manner most cruel. The Lord refused. The Lord felt more pain than he had ever had from broken bones and gunshot wounds. His daughter had broken his heart with her betrayal. It would not be enough for the Mercenary to die. He must punish his daughter as well.

After many days, the two Lords reached a compromise. The Mercenary would undergo a twisted form of justice in the stadium. Word spread like wildfire through the town and beyond.

This punishment initially did not please the rival leader. It wasn't until the Lord explained its beauty. After all, no man could escape Fate. The visitor demanded a slight change to the procedure.

For this particular sentencing, there would be no monster. Instead, the brother of the fallen groom would stand ready with nine of his best soldiers. Though the Mercenary was the best fighter in the town, he would be no match against the mob and their guns.

As for the angel, the Lord handpicked her himself. If Fate found the Mercenary innocent, he would marry the Lord's niece. Her beauty was comparable to his own daughter. Some even confessed that her beauty surpassed that of the daughter. And when compared to his daughter’s fiery passion, his niece was as cool-headed as a mountain stream.

The news reached the daughter and sent her into a rage. The two women had been the closest friends since infancy. They had been one another’s confidants. Worse, this cousin was the only soul who knew of their secret engagement besides the two lovers.

Though she loved her cousin, the daughter could not help but feel jealous. She often imagined them having an affair and cried at the thought of him whispering sweet words to her.

She wished she did not feel the fire of passion rise in her chest whenever she caught her cousin looking at her man. Yet there were times when she wanted to pluck out her eyes for such an offense.

The day of the trial arrived. The townspeople and travelers packed the stadium. The story of the Mercenary’s love-fueled vengeance had traveled through the land.

The Mercenary entered the arena. The stadium erupted with cheers of celebration and screams of disapproval. This man had almost started a war when the towns had expected peace. But the story was so romantic that many among the crowd couldn’t help but admire it as an act of true love.

The Mercenary entered with his head held high. He wore a beautiful black suit with polished shoes. In his bound hands, he carried a bouquet of gorgeous red roses. When he reached the center of the arena, he turned to bow to the Lord. It was the smallest of moments, but one could see his hesitation. He had not expected to see his love in the stands.

All the eyes in the stands fell on the Mercenary in the center of the arena. His eyes fell on the daughter. Time stood still between them. The crowd roared with excitement. Their eyes locked.

Though the Lord was a fan of philosophy and a lover of fate, his daughter was not. She could not leave the decision of her love to simple chance. Having taken great care, she had found out which door held the monsters and which held her cousin.

Her movement was slight. Only her love saw her raise her left hand and, with an almost invisible gesture, guide the man to the door on the left. The Mercenary smiled and bowed. He turned on his heels and walked to the left door with his head high and his chest full of hope. The crowd fell silent.

The man reached the door and opened it wide with his bound hands. The crowd erupted in cries and cheers. She watched with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. She had succeeded in bending fate to her will and ensuring satisfaction for her soul.