Chapter 3 - Outsider

A drop of sweat ran between his dark eyebrows, on the nose bridge, then curved around his left nostril and, after a tumultuous journey, reached his cracked lips. It would have made it on the red teeth, but a sharp exhale launched it far away, near Greth's feet.

There was a holy silence, interrupted by the regular laboured breaths of the naked boy and the faint voices outside the temple.

Greth's eyes, surrounded by wrinkles and with very visible dark circles under them, were staring at him. First, his face, they moved imperceptibly to every angle of his face, but especially his eyes.

The pressure of those eyes was unbearable. The naked boy couldn't help but lower his head.

The leader's eyes, or at least he believed him to be so, moved across his entire skeletal back, passed over his hairless bum, down to his feet.

Jest was calmly walking around Greth. His shield had been replaced by a bunch of old, dirty clothes.

He didn't seem to feel the tension in the room as he was watching the statue and the stone crown with no expression, before stopping next to him.

He felt defenseless, surrounded by the three men. The Bastard was standing near him, with his arms crossed.

His arms were no longer trembling from fatigue, but from fear. The only emotion he knew so far.

<> Greth's voice wasn't so deep as the boy expected. <> He asked, looking at the Bastard.

Yet, it was Jest who answered.

<> Jest talked calmly, as if he didn't feel the authority coming out from Greth, who was running his fingers through his well-groomed beard, which showed signs of ageing.

<>

<> That was all Greth had to say.

He walked near Jest, and with his palm open, he gestured with his fingers to give him the clothes.

It took Jest a while to realise what he had to do. With a confused face, he handed them over.

As soon as the clothes touched his hand, he spoke.

<>

Jest and the Bastard followed the order immediately. In a second, both were on his arms and waist. The naked savior didn't even try to fight back, just accepting his fate.

In an instant, the monotonous yellowish colour of the floor shifted to the impressive ceiling of the temple, with roots knotted together in a marvelous pattern.

He could stare at that spectacular view for hours if it weren't for the two bastards who stood up, ruining it.

"Why would I care about them?" He thought, removing them from the view, focusing only on the beautiful roots.

He didn't know how to express it in words. But there was something inside him. A feeling, maybe? A realization? He didn't know.

The only thing he knew was that it was stronger than his primordial instinct. The primordial urge to cover himself, to cover his jewel. Even though he didn't want to be like that, with all his limbs away from his main, naked body, more vulnerable than before.

He knew that nothing would change.

So, he let them look at him.

(<>)

A delicate smile appeared on his face. Those were the exact words that explained his feeling... or realization.

"Why should I try to change something that has already been decided? Why should I fight?"

Whether he likes it or not, he's going to die anyway. He could curse Xoloth over and over again for teleporting him into the enemy territory.

To have stolen him from death only to send him back to it.

He could cover himself with a hundred hands. He could have curled up on himself a thousand times. And yet the outcome would be the same.

Death.

"There's no reason to cry, to beg for mercy. I can't control people after all."

His eyes were red from crying. All over his face, there was a mixture of tears, blood, and mucus, creating an unpleasant view for the three men.

Greth was walking around him, inspecting it with his gaze, appearing and disappearing from his sight.

He tried to take a deep, relaxing breath, but the sharp pain didn't allow him, cutting off his breath in his throat.

Slowly, he set his blue eyes on the Bastard, who was looking at him with a disgusted face.

If he had had the chance, he would have made him suffer a hundred times over.

"Fuck off." With that thought, he returned to look at the ceiling. He knew well that he was tremendously weak. Hell, they folded like nothing. He had no chance.

<> Jest's voice broke the silence, widening his arms.

Greth looked at him for a brief second, then he answered.

<> His voice became deeper, and his eyes screamed hate.

Both guards looked surprised. . 

<> Jest was incredulous.

<> The Bastard threw a glance at the leader. He stroked the scar on his upper lip, looking back at the boy.

The naked Savior laughed with all his little strength. A silent fart would be louder than that laugh.

"I hope we're done now, right?"

That laugh didn't go unnoticed by the Leader. Jest opened his mouth to talk, but Greth blocked him with a gesture of his hand.

<> He asked with an uneasy calm.

The boy looked down at his feet, where he was standing. He returned to feel that pressure, the same pressure, the same authority he felt when he met Xoloth.

<> His voice was harsh. His throat hurt like hell.

<> 

He lingered before answering, trying to recall something impossible to remember.

<> 

Greth looked at him for an incalculable amount of time. 

<>

This time, the Savior just closed his eyes, not wanting to endure any more pain.

The Leader ran his hand over his bald head as if there were hair there. A long and deep sigh came out of him.

<> Although he tilted his head slightly, his eyes remained as sharp as before.

The boy took a deep breath, as much as the pain would allow. 

He knew it was pointless. He would be killed no matter the answer. But if there was even the tiniest chance to live another day, he would have tried to take it.

Despair was stronger than reality

<> He managed to utter the last word with difficulty before coughing, and each cough felt like a stab.

<> He suddenly stopped talking. He frowned and fixed his beard near his cheeks. <> He asked calmly, looking directly into his eyes.

The boy nodded between coughs. His throat was still dry and hurting when he finished.

Light. He would have used that word, the first and only thing he saw when he opened his eyes. But it wasn't the right one when he had to describe "God".

He shouldn't only trust his mind, but also his body.

He remembered the whirlwind of sensations: His organs and body trembled when God spoke. He could still hear the ethereal, deep hum in the background. The space moved in every direction. His lungs filled with something strange and unnatural. He felt that beyond simple "light", there was much more, and he knew the right word for it.

<> That single word cost him another round of coughing.

This time, only Jest looked surprised. His face was hilarious, with his mouth wide open and his eyes twice as wide.

The Bastard went towards Greth, who had an unreadable smile, and leaned towards his left ear.

<> The Leader exclaimed, looking at the guard. Then, he threw the dirty clothes onto the boy.

<> He ordered before walking around the temple, near the altar and the statue.

With a violent sigh, Jest did as he was told. His hands were far from being gentle. The Bastard knew this time that one man was enough.

<> He whispered to him with hate in his voice. <>

"You're the monster." But this thought he kept for himself. He didn't want another broken rib.

After Jest put on the pants, leaving the shirt on his torso, he stood up.

<>

<> The Leader was waiting, sitting on one of the stones.

The Savior was lifted like a feather by both guards. He was stunned to see that he was taller than those two.

He tried to keep up the pace, and instantly, he failed. His feet slipped across the smooth stone floor.

In seconds, they reached the tall, wooden doors. The Leader was already outside, looking up to the sky.

He did the same, and his eyes widened in disbelief, forgetting all the pain in his body.