Note: I'm RO illiterate... sue me. I made some stuff up, so yeah... it was hard keeping up with the people in the RO fic-writing community. I'm writing this because... uh... everybody's doing it?
Story Info:
Title: Another Chance
Chapters? to ?
Rating: PG-13, R in some instances.
Rated For: Intense Violence, Language, Immorality
Another Chance
By Stratikeo (stuh-rah-tee-kay-oh)
Chapter 1: I chose to live...
"Wake up!" said a loud voice.
"You're not going to die on me, aren't you?" said another.
"Hurry, he's losing blood quick! Where's that god damn acolyte?" said the first.
"He'll die anyway. What's the point?"
"You want us to be stoned too?"
"Well, no..."
Baldlice the menace. Baldlice the silent slayer. Those were the names the people of Prontera gave me. The city nurtured me. The streets were full of sustenance. I no longer live in that horrible place. Juno can fly to its death for all I care and Prontera may drown in its own serenity.
"Give it, Beorn."
"Give what?"
"Give it! The map!"
"Sorry, friend. Only the supreme executives and the King himself can look at this."
"Trash! What has the kingdom done to you?"
"Stop it, Baldlice! I, Sir Beorn hereby arrest you for your crimes, Baldlice Cuthbert. I order thee to be stoned to death in public."
"Your loyalty is defunct! Retire to your filth, the King! You are a traitor, Beorn! You are a damn traitor!"
Life had betrayed me on that open space outside Izlude. Beorn had chosen the life of a crusader! An assassin would expect no less after an active life of killing which lasted a solid twenty-five years. Cronies and ego cannot sustain me. My prime has passed, and nothing... even the filthiest of filth can even come close to forgiving me for my sins.
"In the name of God, I restore thee!" shouted the woman in white and red.
"This is amazing. I didn't think self-sustaining was possible. A lesser man would have died at the fifth cast."
I stared death in the eye. That was one of my proud accomplishments. I spoke right into the mind of the devil. I stand with no fear before the beast. I came an inch away to assassinating King Tristan. I came so close to achieving my goal. His ruling is an abomination. At least... I used to think it was.
"Sir Beorn! You may proceed."
"The court of Juno has decided! Permission has granted. For an attempt at ending my life, scum like you... Baldlice Cuthbert should die and be dropped into the fiery recesses of hell!"
"I'm sorry, Baldlice. It has to be done. You have to pay." said the troubled Crusader to his old friend.
"You disgust me!" Baldlice said as he spit right into Beorn's face.
"Take him away." said Beorn in a soft tone.
"I don't want to see him again. Clean the area up as soon as you're done. Memory of him will be expunged." he said as he left through the metal gate.
"Beorn! You can't do this to me! Answer me, Beorn! BEEEOORRNN!" screamed the desperate criminal.
The killer instinct was no longer lingering within me. Only fear and pain was left. Fatigue reigned in my body. Confusion reigned in my mind. Sorrow reigned in my heart. My friend's betrayal left me in the dust. I was left to suffer for my crimes while he took his chance and went along the path of light. He started over. I ended in hell... but hell didn't want me.
"Did it work? You're not skilled. Maybe a priest can help him."
"Look at him! He's old and washed up! We can't mess with him! He might hurt us?"
"Hurt us? How? Are you crazy? He's battered and bloodied!"
"What if we took the old man in?"
"No. We can't."
"WHAT?"
A killer waits inside the black heart of every man. An assassin like me, or a crusader like Beorn. Everybody has the capacity to end the life of another. It has always been that way in my principle. One must live, and one must die. The one who lives must live a cursed life and must carry the title of a criminal. I chose to live. I chose to kill. I chose to end in the fire. But... there was one who did not believe. There was one who refused that life. There was one with a heart brighter than the sun.
As Baldlice winced in pain from the lightning-like blow from the executioner's whip, the crowd continued to hiss at him and cheer for Beorn who was comfortably sitting on a suspended recliner overlooking the open torture area which sadly, Baldlice was in.
"Rot in hell, foul being!" said the first heartless volunteer as he violently heaved the first stone.
"Living devil! Assassin of the dark one!" said the second as he as well, threw a sharp stone at Baldlice.
His blood was flowing out of the countless open wounds on his back and front like a demonic fountain. His face shone red like a beet and a crimson mask covered up his face... and he looked a hundred years older. The pain was excruciating. Every second felt like an eternity for the suffering man.
"Stop... I beg of you..." he said as he grabbed hold of the executioner's tunic.
"Bitch! Now you're begging! You're pathetic! Die already!" he said as he kicked Baldlice out of the way.
"STONE HIM! MAKE HIM BLEED! MAKE HIM SUFFER!" the enraged crowd cheered repeatedly and this cheer was ringing in Baldlice's mind like a loud shriek.
Suddenly, just when Baldlice couldn't take it any longer... a voice spoke and the crowd became silent.
"Stop this torture! This man deserves to live!" said the merciful crusader up in the air.
"Beorn... you..." said Baldlice even though every inch of his body had been lacerated and he was lying in a vast pool of his own blood.
"In the name of God, stop! You barbarians should know better!" exclaimed the worried friend.
"Don't... they'll..." said the bruised and bloodied Baldlice, barely heard.
"What are you talking about, Sir Beorn? This man committed a crime and must be punished!" said the executioner, confused.
"I'd rather be the one in his place."
"No! We cannot do that! The King has more authority over you!" the tall man with the mask said with fear to the crusader in front of him.
"Let him live!"
"KILL THE CRIMINAL! THE CRIMINAL! THE CRIMINAL!" shouted the public, witnessing the massacre.
"Have you no mercy? If only crusaders, acolytes, and priests can relate to being merciful in the name of God, then I don't know what..."
What follows shocked everyone. Nobody moved and nobody spoke. A knight who was secretly waiting behind Beorn charged and drove his Halberd, a heavy weapon, right into the sternum of the crusader, impaling the thick armor as if it were paper. Beorn's eyes became pale and blood seeped from his mouth and chest. The knight lifted his weapon and threw the heavily-armored yet lifeless corpse of Beorn aside like a doll while it left a trail of red liquid behind.
"BEOOOORRNNN!" said the weak Baldlice.
"Silence, you impudent bastard!" said the executioner to his victim.
"Why... why did you kill him?" screamed Baldlice like a man full of rage and energy.
"We suspected him to be a traitor from the very start. The King and leader of the Knighthood are wise indeed, Baldlice Cuthbert. We knew he was your friend all along. When the time was right, we would kill him. That's what happened."
"Son of a BITCH!" cursed Baldlice.
"SILENCE!" screamed the executioner.
The tall executioner took his mallet and slammed it into the skull of Baldlice. He was immediately knocked unconscious and it made an ugly sound when his head hit the hard concrete. The crowd groaned for a moment and then cheered a second after.
"Take him away. Our weapons won't break him... but the sea can."
I didn't remember anything after that. Beorn was both loyal to God and me. It sickened me to watch him die that way. He felt pain but for only a short time... but his life had ended. I had to suffer terrible pain for long hours and yet I live. What is my true purpose? What am I to do with the rest of my years?
"The sea had washed away the dirty blood and closed most of his wounds. It's a good thing the rocks didn't tear him to bits of flesh and protein. He's a lucky man to survive a beating like that."
"He seems to be alright now."
"What should we do with him?"
"Well, Father Terence can take care of him. He seems strong enough."
"How do you know?"
"His joints... the way they bend like that. Only a thief... or an assassin would have a body shaped like this."
"He's an ASSASSIN? Get him away from me! AWAY!"
"Damn it, he's injured! Come, let's go to Father Terence's residence. He will do the rest."
"Agreed."
CHAPTER 2 COMING SOON
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