Achilles
I can smell the smoke from miles away. The air was pitch black, and it looked like it was raining ash. Troy was on fire. The screams of the townspeople were agonizing. Nothing ever took my breath away more.
I don't care about my deal with Agamemnon; I only want to get Briseis out of the city and leave. My men are treading carefully, trying to chase the smoke away with their hands so they can even see. Even from this standpoint, we can see that the men have invaded the streets, but they haven't gotten inside the castle yet. Once we arrived in the city, our goal became clear: we needed to lead as many people as possible to safety. It struck me, even after all this time, that I held no hard feelings toward Troy.
The air was thick with the crackling sounds of buildings collapsing around us, each noise echoing painfully in my ears. I could hear the disturbing thuds of wood splintering and falling, creating a chaotic run of people. Dust filled the air, mixing with the panic and confusion that surrounded us, and in that moment, all that mattered was the rush of adrenaline and the determination to protect those in need.
"Once in the city, our goal is to get people to safety; we have no fight in Troy." They all nodded their heads. Once we made it to Troy, we all went our separate ways. My eyes searched everywhere for Briseis. I screamed her name over and over again. Where could she be?
Sadly, the castle was already overrun by the time I reached it. It was a fast-paced process, way too fast. I entered and ran through the halls, calling out for her. I found myself frozen in horror as I watched her with Agamemnon and Hector, both of them restrained by men with iron grips.
"The star of the show is here," Agamemnon taunted, confidence dripping from his words.
"I'm not here to kill Hector; he has done me no wrong," I asserted, each word heavy with defiance.
Agamemnon clenched his jaw. "And the girl?"
I watch as the man holding her hands grips her harder.
"You have the city; let them go." My voice was steady, but my heart was beating so fast.
"As long as the king lives, Troy will always stand," he sneered, a cruel glimmer in his eye.
My heart shattered at that moment as I watched Agamemnon drive his sword deep into Hector's chest. A gurgling moan of agony escaped his lips, a sound so haunting it echoed in my mind, reminding me of all the men I watched die, just like his father, King Priam. Briseis' cries pierced the air; they were so heart-wrenching and filled with despair.
"You will never be the king I was," Hector gasped, his voice fading as his eyes began to close. Those were the last words I heard from him before the light faded from his gaze, leaving a void that would never heal for the girl I loved. I frowned as Agamemnon removed the crown from his head and placed it upon his own.