Death's Decision

Something nudged him. It was too soft for a punch. Opening his eyes revealed a muzzle in his face. A familiar red scar on the black muzzle brought a smile on his face.

"So you didn't return," he coughed.

The nudging continued.

"Let me drink first," turning onto his stomach.

Drinking, the pain wasn't as great as before. It faded as water went down his throat.

Turning around and standing on his knees, motioned with his head and said, "Down."

Slowly the horse went down and sat on its knees in front Rath. Pulling the rope with his tied hands, with his back to the horse wrapped the rope around the saddle horn. Rath crawled onto the saddle and sat on the rope.

"Up," nudging with his boot heel into the horse ribs.

Slowly it stood up.

"Home."

Dragging the April's body, the horse walked. As they moved, Rath remembered fists pounding into his body.

The long barrels belonged to two females and two males. After they had caught him, they had tied and dragged him into a cave. Their dressed in black male leader had left before the games began. The other three had stripped his clothes off, bound his hands, and strung him with his hands above his head ready for the butchering.

"Didn't want to ruin your fine clothes, Rath," said the white hair woman, "War, how do you like our guest?"

Cracking his knuckles, "Doesn't look tough," said the muscle bound War, "Gunslingers always seem overrated to me, Famine," throwing his fist into Rath's face.

Laughter increased as his head whipped back. War threw his fists against Rath's trunk. Cracking ribs didn't stop the onslaught of punches. When punches sent Rath swinging, kicks would send him back into the punches.

The two females dug scratched and sliced their nails into his flesh. Blood blanketed his body.

Throwing a couple more punches into Rath's stomach, "Playing with this live meat," said War, "a real improvement over dead meat," turning towards the brown hair near the fire, "Pestilence, how are the hot knives coming? He has been tenderized enough, time for a barbecue."

Holding up the knife, Pestilence blew on the glowing red section of the knife. Spitting on it, the spittle hissed.

"That and everything else is ready for the meat burning," she said.

Holding a hot nail with pincers, "Rath, just you know," remarked Pestilence, "We not doing this for information. No, we're doing this because we like doing it just so you know," pressing the nail into his bare skin.

Skin sizzled. Rath grimaced in pain yet he did yell.

Grasping his head, "Did she kiss you like this?" asked Pestilence kissing him and then digging her teeth into his lower lip.

Pulling Pestilence away with her teeth still gripping his lip, "How dare you kiss Pestilence?" said Famine slapping him and then biting his ear.

Loud snapping filled the cave.

Testing a whip, "Maybe he needs real women treatment?" remarked Pestilence.

Throwing a whip towards Famine, together they let the whip slice into Rath's back. Pestilence switched and started to work on his front. Each snap and crackle sliced Rath's flesh.

"Thinks not yelling is going to remove the fact he is a coward," said War, "Didn't have the guts to kill your self, but to kill a woman," holding a knife, "Let's make him a woman sine he's a disappoint as a man."

"Wait, War!" stopped War.

Standing in the cave door way, was their leader.

"Leave some dignity," he said.

Throwing the knife down, "Ruin the fun, Death," grumbled War.

Death walked towards Rath. Grabbing Rath's chin lifted his head up until their eyes met.

"You wouldn't be any chance be Mort?" asked Rath.

"Surprising you can still speak," remarked Death, "Yes, I do go by that name. Where did you pick up that name?"

"Aquaiel."

"You meet and killed Steve," commented Death, "Well April was part of a plan to overthrow the Judges. Now she's died, we'll have to find some else to use," studying Rath's eyes, "Famine check his eyes."

Staring into Rath's eyes, "See a hunger, but not from a lack of food," she remarked, "If he was untied, he'll properly take us on."

"You did coat your nails, didn't you?"

"Yes, Death."

"What did the boss say?" asked War.

Still holding Rath's chin up, "We have another kingdom to overthrow," Death said, "and our imagination will deal with him," letting Rath's chin go, "Pestilence, clean him up."

Disappointment was apparent in Pestilence's body.

"Didn't say anything about using water?" remarked Death.

Rath's skin was still irritated from the poisoned bath Pestilence had given him. He was dressed, hands tied behind his back, blindfolded, and placed on a mule.

The heat gave away that they were outside. Hoofs striking rock disappeared. They went over hills through rivers. Leaves rustled as wind bushed against Rath's skin.

Stopping, something went around his neck. The blindfold was cut and removed. Before his eyes could adjust to the brightness, he was kicked off the mule. His face landed in sand. Getting up, saw Death staring down at him.

"Left one bullet in your shooter since it took one to kill your lady love," turning his horse to Rath's left, "That bullet just case you can't take the heat," slowly riding away.

War passed Rath and spit at him. Famine and Pestilence mockingly blew kisses at him. They dragged two brushes behind them. It wiped out their tracks. They disappeared from Rath's view.

Peering over his shoulder saw the rope around his wrists went up to his neck. It was wrapped around his neck. Then it went to April's death shrouded body. Sighing wished he could change the past, but he can't.

"Stop being sorry for yourself," Rath thought, "You pulled the trigger. Now play the hand dealt."

Studying his surroundings, the four riders went north, if Rath could trust his sense of direction. The sun was setting, so he would go east. East remained his direction until coming to the water pool.

Now he tried staying on his horse, who chose the direction to go.