I wish that my birth had much more meaning than this spectacle. I stared at the crowd of people who gathered in the town square and kept chanting enthusiastically:
"Hang her hang her hang her." The cheers were fierce and loud as if they were a collective singing in a choir.
Then they changed the chant to repeating the word 'hang' instead of adding her, as a young woman wearing a torn-out dress that showed more of her body was dragged underneath the noose and being prepared. A priest with a slight mischievous grin drew a symbol with his hand.
I was staring at the young lady who kept pleading for her life as they tied the knot on her neck. My ear vibrated as the shouts grew into delightful cheers as everyone looked enlightened and happy.
'Really, what is up with these smiles? Why are they happy when someone is being killed?' I questioned myself inwardly.
'Humans are truly strange,' I analyzed with that conclusion.
'Wasn't happiness being with your family? Is happiness not when you love your wife as she is with you? Is it not happiness when your mother reads you a bedtime story?' I kept questioning myself, knowing that an answer did exist, but I pushed it away farther into my mind.
'I pity their children; this is the future that might await them if they give into this ecstasy of evil and wickedness.'
I laughed inwardly with a suppressed expression showing on my face, with eyes darting around as sharp as a dagger. The young lady pleaded, but her voice drowned in the noise of the people who cheered for her to die.
I walked slowly back from the crowds as the priest said a prayer that made me feel like my world was slowing down as I concentrated on the words while walking my way back through the crowd as they all closed their eyes:
"Heavenly mother, Heavenly father, we gather to watch your judgment be passed."
"We look to you for wisdom; we thank you for this beautiful day and the right to be men and women in your creation."
"Seek retribution for what your child has done to one she pledged to love."
"We were told to love as you loved us, we crave for justice and judgment to be passed by your hands and guidance."
"Mother and father of the heavens, we seek a sign of entry and exile for this soul."
They said in unison:
"U' timus''
As they drew a symbol representing the mother, father, and humanity on their shoulder, forehead, and heart in that order.
When I heard the last sentence before U'timus, I had already turned a corner and grabbed a quiver of arrows and a bow I had prepared in advance. I hid in the shadows cast by the building with focused steps and piercing eyes. I looked around to see if someone was looking back here.
The clouds were near the light; the shadows seemed darker.
'Who am I kidding? Nobody will look here. Humans will never want to miss a moment of their joy in public entertainment; distractions are not easy to leave behind, they are just… so…mesmerizing.'
I took a breath as my eyes remained focused on the young girl who was about to be hanged, and the rope around her neck, with tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at the sky.
I took out an arrow from my quiver and pulled the string on the bow back with the arrow. The string tightened and was ready to be released, and then I inhaled, then exhaled, and let loose.
The arrow whistled, penetrating the air as it flew through toward the rope and immediately cut into it with sheer force and piercing energy.
The rope was cut loose before the priest's eyes; the young lady and the crowd's eyes were illuminated on their faces with their shock still in play as she fell to her knees.
Without wasting time, I took out another arrow and fired at the lever next to the priest, which released a trap door. The young lady fell through, leaving the crowd gasping in confusion and signs of panic.
Before the priest and crowd could look to where the arrow came from, I hid in the corner and closed my eyes as I told myself:
'Remain unseen'
I breathed through my nostrils and swiftly took out another arrow, as I turned toward the corner to get a clear view and took aim at the bottom hollow compartment of the stage where the priest stood and let loose again. The arrow pierced the blank of wood with its metal tip; some might say that I have missed, but jokes on them:
'I never miss when it matters'
A pained and angry roar reverberated throughout the town as a massive abomination was trapped in a compartment that immediately pierced the wooden makeshift prison, then sprouted its legs and stood as it carried the stage with the priest on it.
I smiled as I let out a sharp whistle as the creature within the stage started to carry it away. It stampedes its way out, moving as shouts of terror were let out as everybody ran away in different directions.
I stood in the shadows I watching with an amused face as I thought:
'Come on, why run humans? Aren't you entertained, my dear humans?' I was just happy as I watched the stage run with those four legs. The creature stumbled blindly as a wake of destruction followed, as roars and screams filled the town.
I observed, guided the creature by shooting at specific points in the compartment to lead the monster outside the town without being seen by panicked citizens and town guards.
***
Outside the town
The lush green field lay ravaged—trampled earth, splinters of wood scattered like fallen leaves, remnants of the shattered stage strewn far and wide.
The young woman stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open slowly, revealing eyes clouded with pain and disbelief. She gasped softly, fingers trembling as she brushed dust from her face and arms, as if trying to confirm she was truly alive.
"I'm alive," she whispered, voice fragile and barely more than a breath.
But relief was fleeting. Her breath hitched, chest tight with exhaustion and lingering dread. She scanned the ruined field, confusion clouding her gaze.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the silence:
"Not for long."
She whipped her head toward the sound, heart pounding violently in her chest. Standing before her was a tall, muscular man—dark eyes locked onto her with an intensity that made her shrink back. His bow was drawn; the arrow aimed directly at her.
Panic flared. Her hands shot up instinctively, trembling uncontrollably. The raw terror of moments before surged anew—memories of the noose, the crowd's jeers, the priest's merciless smile—flooded her mind.
Her voice caught in her throat, words choked by fear. She wanted to plead, to beg for mercy, but before she could form the words, the man barked, "Duck. Now."
Her body obeyed, dropping low with frantic haste.
The arrow screamed through the air, striking the preacher who lunged toward her with a wooden plank. The man crumpled instantly, crimson pooling beneath him.
For a long, frozen moment, she lay on the ground, heart pounding in her ears, eyes wide and unblinking. Relief washed over her like a wave, but it was tinged with disbelief—Is this happening? Am I safe?
Slowly, she pushed herself upright, knees shaking. Her gaze met the man's steady eyes—so calm, so sure. A fragile flicker of gratitude broke through the storm of her emotions.
"Thank you, mister," she whispered, voice barely audible but sincere.
The man tilted his head, caught off guard by her words.
Oh no, how do I respond? he thought. I planned for her to wake alone with a letter and money... now she's awake and thanking me. What do I do?
He smiled, easing the tension. "You're welcome, Mrs."
"Pardon, Sir, what be you given name?"
To her, he seemed almost majestic—stoic, protective, the embodiment of a guardian. His ebony skin, once a detail she might have questioned, now felt like a mark of the unexpected hope standing before her.
He sighed softly. "For now, I am the Woodsman."
Then, with a smile that held warmth and promise, he added, "Come. If you have nowhere to go, I know of a town that might be a home for you."
She nodded, her breath catching in her throat. Hope—a cautious, trembling hope—bloomed in her chest as she followed him into the woods.