Disclaimer: I own nothing; all characters belong to their respective creators!
Author's note: Well, first off this is my first story but I'm glad to say I'm not alone while doing this as I'm currently co-writing this with another user who some of you might know, Cryztalline, who's currently writing her story "The Whipping Boy" but took a bit of a break to help me out on this and I'll tell you she's been a delight to work with. So on behalf of both of us I hope you enjoy this story!
I-oOo-I
"It's for the safety of our community Mary, those like him are not only a danger to our people but also to themselves!"
"I'm aware of it, but he's still my son and I won't let you hurt him!"
"So you would rather risk the life of your family, or what's left of it anyways, not to mention the whole village just to keep that monster from getting hurt?"
"He's my son! Do you honestly expect me to let you people just take him away so you can kill him? It's not as he wanted to do the horrible things he's done!"
"Do you really think a flood wants to drown the people? Or that a fire wants to scorch whatever's on its path? Same thing goes for that beast, I know your son's probably a good kid himself but whoever's cursed with the beast's mark is doomed to do what the beast inside them wishes."
As much as she wanted to continue defending her son from the accusations Judge Sylvester kept throwing at her, Mary Evans was running out of options. "Please Susan, imagine if it was your daughter who was in this position, would you really have her be persecuted for being something she didn't ask to become?"
The hard as nails judge kept herself in silence for a while, Mary hoped her argument had struck a chord but before any more wishful thinking the jury continued. "While on this court room you'll address me as Judge Sylvester, and keep my daughter out of this. Now, if there's nothing further to discuss I want to the jury to give out their final verdict."
There was a brief discussion between members of the jury but they made their decision fairly quickly, and that wasn't a good sign. One of its members finally stood up and gave the final verdict. "Mary, we're really sorry about your situation but the jury has made its decision. We can't risk the safety of the village as a whole for the sake of one life. We found the defendant guilty."
Mary froze while her pulse ramped. She looked mercifully at Judge Sylvester in hopes of getting some pity out of her but just like before, it didn't seem to work. "Please, I beg of you! Don't hurt him, he's just a boy!"
"That boy, as you call him, has murdered at least six other villagers in the course of two month. And must I remind you one of those villagers was his very own father?" The courtroom remained quiet once again until Judge Sylvester broke of the silence. "We're deeply sorry it had to come to this, but a demon like him needs to be stopped before he claims any more lives."
Mary Evans tried her best to contain her emotions but tears where already running down her cheeks. Hope was lost and there was no way she could get her son out of this situation anymore, at least not legitimately. "Very well, what's the solution you propose?"
Judge Sylvester, a bit thrown back by Mary's quick change of heart, continued. "We're all aware that there are a few ways to deal with creatures like those so we'll choose the quickest one, for your sake." After a quick search from part of some jury members one walked towards Mary's position with a wooden box at hand. "We had discussed this possibility for quite a while now so we where prepared, you'll be able to see the weapon of choice inside the box." The person carrying the box opened it revealing a medium sized silver knife. "One strike to the heart and he'll be out of his misery."
Mary closed her eyes and took a deep breath as if she tried to let that last comment go through without commenting back. "Your honor, I want to ask for one final petition if you all don't mind."
"And that would be?"
Once again Mary took a deep breath. "Please let me do it. If I can't keep him from suffering this fate at least let me be the last one he sees before he passes away."
Judge Sylvester gave a skeptical look; she then turned to the jury to see if they approved of her petition. Most members nodded while just a few remained neutral. "Very well, as long as you're able to go through with it." The courtroom remained mostly quiet while waiting for Judge Sylvester to dismiss the session but before the trial came to an end, Judge Sylvester gave one final announcement. "But there's one condition to all this, tomorrow as soon as the sun rises, present to this same courtroom his heart."
The dead silence that filled the courtroom wasn't the only disturbing thing inside the room, Mary Evans's look of utter terror could make even the toughest person feel pity for he situation, well except for Judge Sylvester that is. "I-…. I understand."
"Very well, I now declare this court session to be over. Hand her the silver dagger."
I-oOo-I
Everything was quite, something unusual on the Evans house. Both Stevie and Stacey Evans where already in bed while the eldest son, Sam, remained still on the small living room inside the small wooden cabin. The moon was something Sam had both feared and admired his whole life and he couldn't help but stare. Once the clouds cleared themselves from the moon's position for a bit he was relieved to this that it was a crescent moon that lighted up the night sky.
While still observing the moon and enjoying the silence, the main of the Evans cabin opened itself unannounced, Sam flinched at the sudden sound of the door but he kept himself in place once he saw his mother, Mary Evans, entering through the door. "Hey mom, how where thing at the courthouse?"
Shortly after Mary left her coat and a small wooden box she was carrying she rushed toward Sam's position and hugged him. While not completely sure, Sam heard her sob a couple of times, which he knew couldn't be anything good. "Oh Sammy, I tried, I really did."
"What this they say?"
"They want to kill you Sam, and they want me to present to them your heart." The words made Sam tremble in fear as Mary quickly broke down. "I tried Sammy, I really did!"
"So… are you going to go through with this?"
Mary quickly wiped out her tears and tried to regain her composure. "Off course not. I would never kill my own son, even if my life depended on it."
"Then what are you going to do? If you don't do as they say they will hang you."
"Don't worry, I got a plan." Mary walked towards the wooden coat hanger and grabbed two dark capped hoods and passed one over to Sam. "We're getting you out of here."
I-oOo-I
The forest was a dangerous place, especially at night. Just the truly brave or the most foolish of people dared venture into it. Sam had remained quiet for most part while his mother lead the way, if it hadn't been for the small oil lantern Mary was carrying they would have been wandering through the dark with the moon as their only guide. As they continued their way through the forest Sam finally decided to address his doubts to his mother.
"Mom, are you sure this is the only way?" Sam whispered as both continued their path.
"It is, believe me when I say it's harder for me than what it looks like. Once I realized that I was going to loose you one way or another I figured I rather loose you but still know that you were going to be alive than just loose you."
That made sense, at least on Sam's head. No wonder she cried, even if she had a plan she was still going to loose her son and that was something no mother could take lightly. "But what are you going to do when they ask you for the heart?"
"I got a supplement. Remember that pig I bought two days ago at the market? I'll begin cooking it for tomorrows dinner so rather than feed it's insides to the dogs I'll take it's heart out and show it to them and claim it's yours." Sam was impressed; his mother was quite a witty lady, something he wished he inherited.
"You really thought this through, didn't you?"
"Off course I did, it's my son's life that is at stake. I wouldn't just say anything if hadn't known for sure you'd end up being safe in the end."
As they continued their way through the forest the sound of owls grew louder and every step they took made the thick grass crunch under their feet. A few minutes later Mary stopped and Sam followed. "Mom? What's wrong?"
"Here's where you'll have to carry on while on your own. Can you see that just a few steps ahead the trees are no longer covering the way?"
Sam nodded. "Do you want me to walk over there?"
"Yes, you'll notice a small dirt road ahead. Continue walking straight down the road and you'll come across a small inn." Mary then took her other hand out of her pocket and handed Sam a small sack with a few coins in it. "Stay there for a few days. If you run out of money ask them if they're hiring, I'm sure they'll be nice and let you stay with them a few more days if you work for them."
"And after that?"
"I'll advise you to stay there for as long as you can Sam, if you go to another village they might have the same reaction ours had towards people with your… condition."
Sam nodded. "I understand, but what if I can't control it while on the inn? Won't they fear me as well?"
Mary kept quiet for a few seconds before answering back. "I'm sure they won't, now go. We don't have much time." Before Sam could move on, Mary held him in a tight hug and kept herself from crying. "I just want you to remember that no matter what you'll always be my baby and you'll always have a mother that loves you deeply."
Now it was Sam, who finally realized that he would most likely never see his mother nor siblings again, that had his eyes watery. "I will, please take care of Stevie and Stacey." Sam then went ahead and kissed his mother's forehead.
"They'll miss you just as much as I will." Mary then smooched Sam's cheek. "No go. Remember the road ahead will be a bit long but just carry on and please be as cautious as possible."
"I will, I love you mom."
"And I love you even more Sammy."
I-oOo-I
The cold night breeze was the only soothing thing about this whole situation. Sam had been walking for at least an hour looking for the inn his mother had told him but there was still nothing in sight other than the long dirt road he was walking on and the enormous plain that surrounded it, just a few trees where visible on the horizon.
The moonlight was his only guide now as he prohibited his mother from handing him the oil lantern, as he wanted her to have her so she could return safely to the village. The silver light it emitted was more than enough to keep him on track. Well, that and the sound of the wind whistling through the plains.
As Sam continued his way through the road he heard a different sound. This time it was that of rattling. He quickly turned back and saw a small light moving unevenly. It was pretty strange, to say the least but what surprised him was that the light began to appear closer by the minute. It wasn't until it was a few steps away that he noticed it wasn't just a simple light but the lantern that hanged from the top of a small black coach, which was also the one producing the rattling sound.
Sam moved out of the coach's way but oddly the vehicle also slowed it pace. By the time it reached Sam's position it stopped. Sam wanted to continue walking but he was perplexed as to why the small, yet elegant looking vehicle stopped on its track exactly next to him. Much to his surprise a smaller cloaked figure got off the vehicle. Once it got closer, and thanks to the dim yet bright enough light of the lantern, Sam was able to realize that the cloaked figure was an old, decrepit looking old man. While he didn't seem threatening at plain view he noticed that one of his eyes was missing any hue of color in it.
The old man examined Sam with his working eye while Sam couldn't help but remain frozen on his position. "Umm… is there a problem, sir?"
The old man took a while before answering back, something Sam found rather unsettling. "What's a handsome young man like you doing stranded on the side of the road?" His voice wasn't really imposing but there was a raspy quality to it that gave Sam a chill down his spine.
"I um… well thanks but…" Sam was pretty confused, and slightly scared, to answer properly.
"Lean over so I can have a better look at you." The old man asked while Sam did as he said. He continued to examine Sam for a bit. The moment Sam's eyes met with his working eye Sam swore he felt him look right through him. Quickly but gently the old man removed Sam's hood revealing his golden hair, through which the old man ran one of his hands in before plucking a few hairs out, after which he smelled the few strands while a weird out Sam looked at him with a disgusted expression. "Ah yes, you're a special. You're one of us! Get on the coach, I'm sure our mistress will be pleased to have you."
"Um… I'm sorry but I need to really get going."
"Nonsense, people like you and me are not safe amongst mortals. You're a special being and those like us need to keep ourselves distanced from the rest of the world. I'll take you to somewhere where you'll be safe and sound."
"I appreciate the offer but-"
"There will be a full moon in a couple of days, do you really think you'll be accepted over there once they discover the kind of secret you hold? If you come with me you'll learn how to control it."
The argument seemed valid enough, and as much as he trusted his mother, he wasn't sure trusting the owners of the inn would result in the best outcome. Yet trusting this weirdo didn't seem like a good choice either. "I'm sorry but I not sure I can-"
"The curse of the wolf is nothing compared to the rest of the cases you'll come across, your condition is curable but only if you take a chance and do as I say."
He knew. He was aware of Sam's situation and that was something no one, other than the ones who had witnessed the curse's effects, knew just by a simple examination on Sam. Even if this man was as the strangest thing he had come across in along time, he was also pretty aware of what was going on and promised a cure as well as shelter and Sam was in desperate need of both. "Alright, what do you want me to do?"
"Just hop on to the coach and take a quick nap. We'll probably arrive at the asyl-" The old man quickly corrected himself before Sam could make out what he was trying to say. "-Academy on the morning."
An academy? The offer seemed quite shady but it was still the best Sam could hope for and based on his situation he was in no position to turn it down. He got on to the vehicle and the old man go on the driver's seat and cracked the whip in the air which made the the two black horses pulling the coach make the vehicle take motion. The lantern began making that rattling sound once again.
