Are you coming to the Hanging Tree?
A simple question, really. It had once been a popular dating spot, that is, before the new head peacekeeper came.
The amount of executions was small at first. Just one every so often. But then something changed in the new head peacekeeper, and more and more hangings were given. Everyone became accustomed to seeing at least one body hanging from the sturdy branch.
The tree was only used for the direst crimes, but hanging soon became a punishment for even the smallest crimes. I remember seeing the body of a little girl who simply wanted to steal and apple for her family to eat.
Then, my father got sick. He forgot to inform the mine manager that he would be sick that day. He was executed for disregarding work.
My mother went a bit crazy after that. She tried her best to keep the family together, but it was hard for her to find work. In no time, she was executed for disregarding work, too.
My family began to starve. I worked as long as I could in the mines, attempting to be able to put enough food on the table for my brothers and sisters. They tried their best to not trouble me and get food their own way. My youngest sister was executed for stealing an apple. The others tried to not break the law, but it was getting hard for them. They were soon executed for stealing, too.
I was the only one left. My whole family dead within a month due to the cruelty of the head peacekeeper. I only had my love left.
She came from a nice family. She gave my family food when she could, but it could only go so far.
I snapped a bit. That night, under the full moon, I told my love that I was planning something drastic. That I would be with my family again after this. I planned to do something small, so no one would get hurt. But as I said before, I snapped a bit. I ended up murdering three peacekeepers that tried to clear out my family belongings.
Before I knew it, they were hanging me from the tree, too.
I was with my family again. Safe. Happy.
But my love wasn't. I told her to join me, and we could have eternal happiness. I saw her as she stared in horror at my swaying body. I wanted to tell her to join me. That we would be free of the harsh law. That we could marry and love each other and have children in the afterlife. That we could have everything we ever wanted.
I wanted her to also wear a necklace of rope. To sway alongside me and my siblings and parents.
She did.