CHAPTER THREE
Redania 1209
The bellowing voice belonged to none other than one of Merits men. He must have spotted me. However, my back was turned to them and I wondered if his call might have been a misunderstanding. Maybe they weren't talking about me at all and I could quickly be on my way, but that seemed unlikely. The sound of hard boots stomped down the cobbled street and that familiar laugh echoed out as Merit and his men approached.
"Well, if it isn't the girl I was just looking for" he said with those teeth bared in a sickening smile as I turned to face them "I was meaning to drop by at the market, but you know how it goes. Time gets away from a busy man like myself"
My fists tightened at my side as I held back a roll of my eyes. It disgusted me the way Merit tried to appear as if he were more significant than everyone else; as if this town really needed him. A fowl man like Merit and his men had no business gloating over horrible deeds, and it would give me great pleasure to see that look wiped from his ugly face.
Biting my tongue, I spoke only the words that might try and get me out of this situation "I'm sorry but I have to go"
My feet moved to try and slip away but a quick hand snatched to grab hold of my own. Pulling me back with a forceful tug, the feeling of Merits grimy fingers made me wince as his nails dug into the flesh of my skin "Now, now. Not so fast. We were just chatting you and I"
"Please, just let go of me" I pleaded, only for it to fall on deaf ears. Taking matters in my own hands, I twisted to yank my hand free from Merits grip. Rubbing the bruised skin of my wrist, I saw the distinct crescent imprints his sharp nails had left behind "I should be going"
Putting his hands up in mock defence, Merit gave a short laugh "Alright then, no need to get feisty. Let's just say this's gotten out of hand. Come now, we're all friends here" he said, although it did little to comfort me "I'll tell you what. Why don't you say where you're headed and we'll you give an escort. Only the very best for a beautiful girl like yourself"
"I prefer to walk alone"
Merit raised a finger and wagged it back and forth "It's a generous offer, I guarantee you"
Looking between the four men, I saw nowhere to run nor any chance in talking my way out of this. I'm more than trapped with absolutely nowhere to go, other than to except Merits offer and let him take me to the gate. Of course, I know I could never really trust a rat like him but there was no choice. His change of tone was already warning enough and I didn't like to think of what would happen if I were to refuse, so I agreed.
"Alright. I'm headed towards the gates to meet Bartha"
"Then we best not keep her waiting. Right boys?" he said with a quick glance over his shoulder. The trio snickered in reply and Merit held out his arm. I didn't want to take it, but it wasn't a request.
Linking my arm with his, I kept my shameful eyes cast downward as we continued along the street. I know people are watching and wondering what might be going on between us, but no one would dare step up and ask. Then I thought about Bartha and what she would have to say once we arrived at the gates. There'll be nothing but scorn the whole journey home and I dreaded it, knowing she won't ever let me go on my own again.
She was right of course, when she said it's dangerous in town. But how is anyone to really know when danger approaches. Sometimes it just seemingly sneaks up on you, and unbeknownst to me, it wasn't all too long until it had done so again.
It was awfully quiet as I looked up at the dead end of an alleyway. It was just a bare square space with the giant stone wall of town covering one side. The entrance also happened to be the exit leaving me trapped. Dead grass, dirt and bits of rock littered the ground below us and I turned to look at Merit. There was clear confusion written on my face.
I asked hesitantly "Where are we?"
"Just taking a short detour" he explained with a lick of lips, those yellow nubs smiling at me once again.
"You said you'd take me to the gate"
"You'll get there eventually, I'm sure. But there's something I've been wanting to see"
Pulling me closer to his persons, Merit quickly reached up to rip the cap from my head. My stark white locks fell over my shoulders like blinding waves and my eyes widened with shock. Trying frantically to snatch the cap back from his grasp, Merit gave a rather hard shove to my chest. Stumbling back from the force, I fell to the ground with a hard thud; the wind knocked my lungs as I landed on my front side.
"I told you, didn't I?" Merit spoke excitedly as he looked toward his men "Pure as the winter snow"
Rolling over, I sat up on my bottom and inch myself away from them. Clutching my hair over to one side of my shoulder, I held onto it as if it were as precious as pure gold. The sudden turn of events had me petrified. I'd never felt so exposed or defenceless. My hair rarely ever saw the light of the day, let alone the eyes of these greedy men. Where they going to take it from me?
"I reckon she's cursed" spoke one of the goons with a gesture "What kind of woman looks like that?"
"Maybe's she's a witch" added another.
"No" replied Merit with a shake of his head "If that were true then we'd all be dead by now. She's just a scared little girl. Isn't that right?"
"What do you want?!" I bellowed in anger and fright.
"We've all had our suspicions ever since you came to town. But my men and I are rather curious about your certain features. We've all been wondering. The four of us have even made bets" he joked with a cackle "So I have to ask, is it all just the same down there?"
Venom laced my words as I hissed "Touch me and I'll kill you"
They only seemed to laugh at my threat and so I grabbed hold of a nearby rock. Hauling it into the air, the jagged object struck Merit in his retched face. A thin trail of blood oozed from the fresh wound on his forehead and he instantly clutched it with a wince "You bitch!" he seethed while pointing a finger to me "Get her!"
The three goons didn't hesitant as they marched forward. Grabbing my arms and fistfuls of my hair, they dragged me along the dirt and grass before pinning me on the flat of my back. Thrashing about in their hold, I must have looked like a wild animal "Get off of me!" I screamed. My eyes darted all around in search of help, but when I saw there was none to be had – the fear set in.
Squirming on the ground, my teeth gnashed and my fingers scratched; trying so desperately to hurt them and get away "Keep her down" spoke Merit as he moved to straddle my belly. I could barely breathe as his weight bore down on me. Everything that was happening was all too much as I became overwhelmed; my brain turning to a muddled mess.
My vision began to blur as it came in and out of focus. My tongue ran dryly on the inside of my mouth as I heaved for air. Merits awful stench reached my noise along with that of his fellow goons and I winced in disgust at the nightmare I'd been tossed into. Merits blistered and red face swooped down, his greasy lips pressing an unwanted kiss on my own.
Tears poured from my eyes to run along the sides of my face and my cheeks sucked in sourly at the taste of his fowl breathe. It was in that moment as my eyes were pinched tightly closed that I imagined Merits death. A horrific site filled with pain and torture, just as I feel right now. A monster like him doesn't deserve to live; not after everything he's done, to me and no doubt the countless others of this town.
It wasn't until the weight of Merits lips were lifted from my own that my eyes started to flutter; barely a squint full of tears. The hands that held me down had loosened their grip and I felt the body on top of my own begin to convulse. Sharp wheezing echoed out into the alley and Merits wide eyes stared down at me in fear as he clawed at his own throat. The skin of his neck began to bleed from his efforts.
"What are you all staring at?! Somebody help him!" bellowed one of the goons as hurried to assist the suffocating man.
I should have felt more afraid at this point, and more importantly I should have took this deranged distraction to flee from my captors. Instead I lied here on the ground, weak and unmoving as all my energy had been taken. All I could now was watch as Merit wreathed and struggled. His head jolting this way and that as white foam bubbled from his lips.
Black veins ran through his greying skill like rivers of poison and his eyes had started to leak trails of blood. It was at this point that the goons rather moved away to watch on in horror, than dive into the chaos for his rescue. This time, there was no one here to help Merit and it wasn't long after that he collapsed to the ground beside me; silent and still.
He was dead.
The alley was once again placed into silence until one of the goons let out a belching vomit in lieu of the scene. Staring up at the sky, one of the men took a stumbling step forward before announcing solemnly "He's dead"
There was a pause before another chimed in; the one who'd vomited "I told you, didn't I? She's a witch. She killed him. She going to kill us!"
"Pull it together" bellowed another in a hiss "No one else is going to die. We'll turn her in. Let the Mayor deal with her. I can guarantee she'll burn before sunrise"
My stomach crippled at the thought. I wanted to reach out and tell them that they're making a terrible mistake. I had nothing to do with what had just happened. I didn't kill Merit. I couldn't have. My hand lifted shakily in the air in protest and I whimpered weakly "Please, help me"
The brute of a man hissed at me "Shut up!" before looking at the others "Now both of you, come here and pick her up"
"No" replied the one who'd vomited with shake of his head "I'm not touching her. You saw what she did"
"Stop acting like a frightened little bitch and pick her up, or I'll make sure they put you up there with her. Is that what you want?" said the brutish man with a shove of the others chest. It was clear that he was the dominant of the three, while the others seek only to follow.
It was then agreed upon between the three of them as they gravitated toward me. Their hands reached down to pluck me off of the ground and my head lolled this way and that. My eyes could barely focus on my surroundings as they took me from the alley and back onto the main streets. I could hear the whisper of the town's people as they passed us by. I can tell we're drawing a lot of attention, but just as before, none of them bothered to ask what was going on.
"Bartha" I whispered as a face flashed to mind. She would be worried sick about me "I have to go"
"You're not going anywhere" grumbled the man on my left.
Heading toward a rather large two story house built of stone and wood fitted with a balcony, I recognised it as belonging to the Mayor. It was located by the south border of the wall and stood in front of a large open court, meant to fit the town's people whilst the Mayor made any announcements. Before the home was also a steep staircase entry. The men carried me upward until we reached the double doors.
Reaching out, one of the men knocked with a repetitive rattle of his fist and it wasn't too long until the door was opened wide. I didn't have the strength to look up at the face that stood before me, nor listen to the words that were being exchanged. The front door creaked open wider and just as I watched my shoe crossed the barrier of the home – the world turned dark.