The young elf's eyes welled up with tears. " Please dont kill me, I dont know any secrets about Ashwood village."
Executioner looked less harsh, and lowered his sword. He place a hand on the boy shoulder, feeling the boy's rapid heartbeat.
" Hey, dont panic. I won't hurt you. I don't kill kids."
The boy breathing slowed, and whispered,
" I-I'm Rex."
Executioner nodded, a short cute smile on his lips.
" Want to learn how to kill, Rex?"
Rex's eyes lit up, and he shook his head fast. Executioner let out a low laugh.
" Killing's fun, Rex. See that rat? take the sword and kill it."
Rex took the sword, his hand shaking. Then raised it up and struck the rat, cutting it in two. Blood flow out, and Rex eyes lit up with excitement.
" Is it fun?" Executioner asked in a low wicked voice.
Rex nodded, a crazy look in his eyes. " Can we try more?"
Executioner laughed. He stood up, and the gate suddenly creaked open. Three grand elves came out, standing at the end of the gate looking for Rex.
The elders caught sight of Rex with Executioner.
Austin shouted, " Rex, who's this?"
Executioner smiled, hiding his anger. " Nice to meet you, elders. I just saved your grandson from a hungry python."
Rex looked up, knowing Executioner was lying.
" Yeah, grand elders. I was about to get killed by a python, and this guy..."
Rex whispered to Executioner, " What's your name?"
" Parker," Executioner whispered back.
Rex continued, " This guy, parker saved me."
The elders bowed slightly. " Thanks, young man. What can we do for you?" Austin asked.
Executioner smiled, sounding sad. " If I could stay here a bit, that'd be great."
Tyler whispered, " He looks weird. Can we trust him?"
Dylan said, " We gotta repay him." They nodded in agreement.
Tyler muttered under his breath, " I don't know..."
Austin gave him a stern look. " We owe him. He stays."
Executioner smiled, thinking, ' Thanks for accepting Raven.'
Executioner followed them into Ashwood village. Everything was green-trees, and the rivers flowed smoothly. All the elves wore green, and their beauty was mesmerizing. When they entered, all eyes were on Executioner. The elves surrounded him, asking questions. Executioner smiled, hiding his annoyance.
Suddenly, a scream cut through the silence. An elf woman was in labor. Rex pulled Executioner to the window. " Look, a new brother!"
Executioner felt...different. The voices in his mind whispered, " You're not like them."
The woman's cries became louder. Executioner smiled, watching the woman suffer. Then, the baby was born, and a skilled elf midwife carefully caught it, raising it up with a warm smile, the elves cheered happily. The woman's face lit up, and she laugh slightly with excitement, tears streaming down. She looks at her baby, held by another elf. Her eyes starts to close slowly, and she fell back, dead.
The elves' stopped cheering. They stood frozen, tears welling up as they saw the woman dead. their faces showed deep sadness as they mourned the loss.
Executioner's heart...pounded? He didn't have a heart. Why was it beating?
He held his chest, feeling the rhythm. Sadness swept through him. The voices screamed loudly in his mind, " You're not a human! You're Executioner, the devil's apprentice!!"
Executioner's eyes turned red, then green. He screamed, drawing attention, and fainted.
The elves carried him and laid Executioner on a bed. Hours passed.
6:23pm
Rex came into the room. He approached Executioner and shook him.
" Parker, wake up!"
Executioner's eyes slowly opened. He sat up, rubbing his face. Rex helped him stand.
" Let's go."
As they walked to the door, Executioner asked, " What's going on?"
Rex replied, " You fainted. We've been taking care of you."
Executioner nodded, still looking a bit of it.
They stepped out, seeing no elf around or hearing sound. Austin approached Executioner.
" You're awake. There's a bad news, zombies are coming on our way. They're from the nearby cemetery. They'll turn our villagers into mindless creatures with black eyes."
Executioner made a wicked smile before answering Austin question.
" so, what should I do?"
Austin paused. " We need to leave by tomorrow morning."
Executioner nodded, handed Rex to Austin, and climbed a tree. Creepy sounds rang out from beyond the wall-scratching, groaning, and the chant:
" Aaarghagha...Aaarghagha…"
Executioner open his eyes turning his head side by side. He walk quietly along the branch, peering over the wall.
Zombies clawed at the stone, their fingers sharp, teeth bared, and mouths foaming. Their green, decaying bodies seemed to writhe like living dead.
Executioner's dark smile grew. " This is what I've been waiting for." And he let out a menacing laugh: " Hahaha...hehehe..."
The zombies below mimicked his laughter, their " Aaarghagha," became louder.
Executioner leaned a ladder against the wall, creating a path for the zombies. He run away, hiding behind a tree to watch. The zombies climbed up one by one, their groans and " Aaarghagha" becoming louder and louder.
Thirty-five zombies climbed inside, while the rest awaited outside the gate. An elf, drawn by the night air, walked into the horde. A zombie pounced, biting into his neck. The elf's screams were short as he fell dead, in a minute, his body slowly turning green.
Rex emerged, curious about the commotion. A zombie stand up behind him, it's eyes stare on the young elf's neck. Executioner's eyes narrowed in horror as he watched, frozen in shock.
"Rex, behind you!"
Executioner wanted to shout, but his voice caught in his throat. The zombie's jaws opened wide, ready to take a bite.