Condemned (Semi-Advanced)

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    He was going to die, that much was certain. They had told him that much, again and again, and now here he was, tied to a stake in the town square, wood piled around his feet, a gag stuffed in his mouth to smother any pleas for help or of innocence. He knew that he looked like a wreck, perhaps even a madman after what had happened. His long dark hair was matted and greasy, his face covered in grime, his clothes torn, his eyes wide with terror. He had been accused of being an informant, passing information to the neighboring kingdom so they would know when and where to attack. He was innocent, that much he knew. Why they had decided upon him to blame, he suspected, but did not know for certain. The townspeople were beginning to gather now, as the sky slowly darkened toward night. Two guards approached him, pouring oil over him and the wood, laughing to themselves and prodding at him, speculating aloud how long he would burn before he died and how loud the screaming would be. He closed his eyes, knowing that the torch would come soon, and that then there would be no hope of rescue.


    "Today's your lucky day. Traitor. You wont be burning alive at the stake alone. You'll be burning with the outsider." One of the men hissed at him. While they were preparing for the town burning, they dragged out a woman with blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes. "Let go of me!" She yelled, clearly struggling to get out of his grasp.

    He watched her as they pulled her toward the stake, his grey-green eyes filled with sympathy for her plight and horror that the kingdom would do something like this to a woman. Burning at the stake was a humiliating, agonizing way to die. He was forced to close his eyes again, though, when the oil began to drip into them. It had already soaked into his hair and into the thin tunic he wore. His other tunic, one of thick wool, had been taken from him when he was taken prisoner. The oil felt wrong against his skin, sliding down his face and neck, over his shoulders, down his back and his chest and his legs, some of it pooling on top of the logs. Once more, he strained against the bonds that held him, trying to at least get the gag out of his mouth or free a hand to wipe the oil out of his eyes, but the ropes held. Even if the roles had broken, it would have been difficult to get away - the logs were piled to almost knee height around him.


    "Be quiet woman!" He yelled before he was bitten by her. "What's wrong with you?!" He yelled slapping her hard enough that it was audible to where the posts where. SHe only glared at the man and held her face, wanting badly to hit back. But knowing that doing so would only cause more problems for herself. He yelled some things at her, then continued to drag her to the wooden posts.

    He winced, the sound muffled by the gag, which to his disgust was beginning to get some oil soaking into it. He opened his eyes again to watch the woman, who seemed to be not nearly so confined as he was. He envied her for that - when he had been brought out to the stake, he had only been half-conscious, his arms twisted and tied behind his back, the gag already stuffed in his mouth, a guard on either side. Perhaps this woman would escape. She certainly had the chance, and it was doubtful that the townspeople would help chase her down - not for a few minutes at least. They loved a daring escape from time to time. It was too much to hope, though, that she would take him with her. He was already trapped by the logs, bound by several thick lengths of rope, and already looked sort of sickly, as though he might die anyway, even if she did free him. No, if she escaped, she would probably leave him to die, and the worst part was that he could not do anything about it.


    She had been wearing a light colored dress with long sleeves, which seemed unusually big for someone her size. As they dragged her over to the stakes, she smiled to herself, even as she saw him. But her smile changed when she saw hi; it went from something of a grim nature, to sympathetic. The man threw her to the floor, and started talking to the other men, the ones who were to tie her up, and pour oil on her. As they tied her, she stayed silent until they were far enough away that she could talk without being heard. "I have an idea. But you're going to have to move quickly. I know you can't really say or do anything right now. But try to respond if you wish to come with me." She whispered where it was only audible to his ears.

    He managed a barely perceptible nod, and made a muffled sound through the gag, trying to let her know that he had heard and understood, and that he wished to go with her. He then looked down at the love piled around his feet, wondering how he was to escape those. More villagers were starting to gather now, and a few, as always, jeered at the pair. In the back of the crowd, he could see a few making bets on various things - how long they would burn, how loudly they would scream, who would burn longer...all things that he hoped they would never see the fulfillment of.


    One of the men walked over to her, and started pouring oil on her, making the dress cling to her. "Lovely, this is just lovely." SHe mumbled not intending for the man to hear her. Once her did, he hit her, and smirked when she cringed back as much as she could. both men had hit her in almost the exact same spot, and that would hurt almost anyone. He turned and called to one of the others. "Should we gag her as well?" He asked, waiting for a response. "Yeah, that way it's easier to see who screams louder." The other called. He grabbed a cloth and gagged her, making sure to make it especially tight. She coughed slightly, and glared at the man, earning her yet another slap.

    There was oil running into his mouth, and the taste disgusted him. He began to choke on it, gagging and trying to cough. One of the guards noticed this and left the girl, coming over to him and hitting him hard across the face. His head snapped to the side, a muffled wince escaping through the gag. The guard paused for a moment, then smiled cruelly. The man slowly lifted his hand, then shoved it hard into the upper right part of tied boy's chest, where he had been sliced at with a sword when they had captured him. He wailed in agony, not even the gag doing much to stifle the sound.


    She closed her eyes hearing him cry out in pain, and being unable to do anything. She had to wait for the right time which wasn't right now. and this was basically killing her, she wanted to help him, she really did. But she also didn't want to ruin their chances of escaping. Another man walked over to them and said some things that were incoherent. "Move back or you'll be burned along with them.' The man said, pulling the other backward. he light a flame and moved back. She let the dagger fall from her sleeve and quickly cut the ropes the were binding her. She turned and cut the ropes binding him. SHe didn't give him a chance to do anything and instantly pulled him away, pushing throw the crowd.

    It took him a moment to get his legs out from the logs that were piled around them, but he finally did and stumbled after her, hardly able to breathe because of the gag. Blood was seeping through his thin white tunic, joining with the places where the oil had seeped into the fabric. His steps were halting, and his arms felt strangely numb, probably from having been tied for so long in the dungeons.he didn't know if he would be able to keep up with this girl for long, so hopefully they would soon reach a place where they could hide.


    She moved swiftly, pulling him along. "Pick up the pace. You don't want to be caught do you?" She asked, as if it had been a normal question just anyone could have asked. "I'd rather not. I always hate being drenched in oil. It makes my clothing stay against my skin. And that is very bothersome." She said, glancing back at him. She took a sudden turn into the forest, trying to find a clear path way so the wouldn't trip.

    He wondered if she knew that he was still gagged and therefore couldn't reply to anything that she said. His hands were untied, yes, but his fingers were numb and he was concentrating too much of his energy in staying upright and running after her to expend any on getting rid if the gag just yet. It would have to stay for a little while longer, a tangible reminder of what lay behind him. He followed the girl into the forest, although he nearly collapsed entirely when he stumbled over a tree root.


    "We're almost there." She said, trying to steady him as they ran. "It's a little bit further and we can rest. But now you're going to have to pick up your feet, or you really will fall." She said, turning quickly and heading to a well hidden house. They outside had looked abandoned, but it wasn't. That was only the beginning. they neared the house quickly. She was trying her best to avoid thing that they could fall on, but it was nearly impossible.

    He had almost reached the house when the faint feeling that had been creeping over him ever since he started running finally came to the fore. He slowed down slightly, trying to breath in deeply but only able to take in a little air through his nose - his mouth was blocked by the gag. He continued to run toward the house, but he felt lightheaded and slightly nauseous. The next moment, he collapsed on the ground, unable to breathe enough to both sustain consciousness and keep him running. He sprawled on the rough path, eyes closed, his breaths coming quick and shallow and still not seeming to be quite enough.


    She went down with him, landing on her back and looking at him. "That's not good.' She whispered, tacking the gag off of him. "I hope you wont mind being dragged." She said, knowing very well that there would be no answer. She let go of his arm, and tried to prop him up as much as she possibly could; but he had been taller then her, so she still ended up slightly dragging him to the house. "I'm really sorry." She said, knowing that there would most likely be immense pain when he awoke.

    He didn't wake up for about fifteen minutes, and when he did his head hurt and his lungs felt as though they were on fire. He made a soft, pained noise, then realized that the gag was gone. The boy didn't open his eyes quite yet, curling into a smaller ball and hiding his face a little. Finally, his eyes still closed, he asked tentatively, "Is- is anyone here?" His voice was soft and somewhat raspy due to his not being given much water in the past few days, but to the careful listener it was still audible.

    The post was edited 1 time, last by Linear Guild ().


    She walked over to him, and moved the hair from his face. "Are you alright? I thought you would have taken the gag out while we moved." She whispered, not sure what to do. "Would you like to change out of your drenched clothes? I can go grab some quickly. But you might want to clean up before you change." She added, making sure to stay quiet.

    He managed a small nod, opening his eyes just a little. "I- I would like that very much, Miss. I would have taken the gag out, too, but my hands...they have been tied behind me for so long that they would not move quite right when I tried to undo the gag. I would have had to stop, and that would have meant being caught, which is not something that I wanted. I- I just hoped that I would be able to make it far enough...I spoked I was wrong about that, was I not?" He stayed silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and tried to sit up.


    "You can rest a bit more if you feel the need to. You were breathing in the oil. I will go get the clothes that you will be wearing, and you can either rest a bit more, or go clean up." She said, kindness showing in her blue eyes. "Please have made your choice by the time I come back." She said, standing up, and walking toward the door, he dress still clinging to her skin. She had looked around the same age as him.