I'm doing this chapter firstly from Will's point of view, and then later on from Jem's, so hopefully it won't be too confusing.

Responses to Reviews:

Midnightstone1118: Thanks for the advice, and I'm glad you liked Jem's point of view!

Jillessa Heronstairs: That's such a coincidence your teacher was talking about it being hanged and not hung as well! I'm really glad you like the chapter! You normally read them in maths class? I'm guessing maths is not your favourite subject. Haha ;)

ASilverShadowhunter: It's not Jessamine, but good guess. I've got Will's point of view for you in this chapter :) Sorry about the romance, I'm getting there. I was planning on developing it more when they get to the Clave.

SilverCarstairs: It's neither of them luckily! ;) That's actually a great idea about Sophie, I didn't think of that. Anyway you'll see… Glad you like the chapter :)

SmoochiePooh: That's actually soo true, it was a bit like Flynn Rider! Glad you liked his reaction :)

Guest: I'm soo glad you love it, thank you for your kind words! I endeavour to update at least once every week at the very least, or twice if I have time :)

Angelina Roongta: Glad you liked the chapter. Wow your book got published? That's awesome! Where can you get it exactly? I had a quick look at the facebook page.

Will looked around wildly, feeling confused and helpless, not ready to find out who was going to be executed. What if it was someone he knew? They were all aware of the risks when they had signed up for the Clave, but execution was such a horrible death. The person couldn't even give up their life to protect the people they loved, which was the only reason Will would ever want to die.

As he scanned the crowds, he felt a growing disgust, seeing some people excited about the spectacle, and others watched with a morbid curiosity. Many tried to find the best spot to see the events, and Will glimpsed some people leaning out of windows, balancing on roofs, and standing on each other's shoulders to get the best view possible. Vendors had set up their carts and booths earlier, and they now had a roaring trade going, selling food, drinks and even souvenirs to their customers. Minstrels and jugglers entertained the crowd while they waited.

Will suddenly felt, in that moment, like burning down the world. What was left for the Clave to save? Where was evidence of humanity?

His thoughts calmed a bit when he saw a teary mother, trying to cover the eyes of her two children, as she looked around in horror. He reminded himself that not everyone was corrupted from Mortmain's reign. All was not lost.

The crowd suddenly went deadly quiet, as the condemned was led towards the gallows in chains. The tall, muscular figure walked proudly, with a straight back. Will felt proud of this man, who didn't beg or hunch over. He wouldn't let them defeat him.

His pride turned to shock as the prisoner stepped up onto the podium and Will recognised him – the thick curling dark brown hair and eyes gave his identity away. Jem gasped, and Will knew he recognised him as well.

It was Thomas, who was a member of the Clave. Will's vision went blurry and red, as he felt his rage building. His ears started ringing, and he put his hands over them. Thomas who was so friendly and who treated everyone – even Will – with kindness. Thomas who had been Will's first friend when he had first gone to the Clave. Thomas who tended to the horses, helped with the weapons, and was a skilled fighter in his own right.

Will felt Jem put his hand on his shoulder, trying to offer a measure of comfort and support. But Will couldn't even think, let alone feel properly. He felt numb to the world. Digging his fingernails into his palms hard enough to draw blood didn't help; he felt nothing. Crying out, Tessa tried to pry his fingers off his palms, but he clenched tight, his focus taken up by the gallows, which towered over its audience, like a dark, all-powerful presence.

"Why can't my damn 'gift' work on men?" he thought to himself angrily. How useless his 'gift' was, when it was men who ruled the kingdom. He knew females with his 'gift' could persuade men, but it only seemed to only work on the opposite gender.

Will watched as the guards supervising Thomas poked and prodded him with their swords to get him into position. He didn't flinch at the pain or their laughter. His hands were calm and steady. Will marvelled at this, knowing that many other men would be shivering all over, and probably muttering gibberish.

Will's senses returned all at once, like a punch in the stomach, as they begun the speeches. The crowd's noise and anticipation slammed into him.

A guard read out his list of offenses. "You, Thomas Tanner, have been charged with helping and conspiring with the Clave." There was a collective gasp among the crowd, as many people wanted to help the Clave where they could, in order to get rid of the king. Will knew instantly, that King Mortmain had set up this spectacle to show the audience his power, and to demonstrate what would happen to people who were sympathisers to the Clave.

The guard continued, "Death by hanging is the punishment for such a crime. Do you have any last words to say before we begin?" Many other men at this point would beg for mercy, or try and talk for as long as possible, waiting for a pardon that would never come.

Thomas looked up, his gaze keen and alert, and his eyes seemed to focus right on Will. "I have laid down my life for the Clave, just as I swore I would when I joined. And I would do it again, as I believe in their cause and vision." He looked out at the people, and raised his voice, seeming to speak to everyone at once. "Help the Clave! It is the only way we can be rid of the king's foul presence."

The crowd starting muttering in shock and admiration. They respected someone who took his punishment with grace and bravery. Many started to "boo" the guards, and some people even hurled food at them. The guards called for silence, and dragged the people away who had been throwing the food. Will saw one guard draw his hand back and punch Thomas in the stomach in punishment, and Thomas bent over, clutching it. The guards then started with the preparations, making sure everything was in order.

Jem obviously wanted to comfort Tessa, and shield her from the events, however, Will saw the conflicting emotions crossing his face, as he couldn't leave Will alone. Jem knew Will's soul like no other, and could see he was about to plunge onto the podium himself. This was a rare time Will wished Jem didn't know him so well, as Jem grabbed his arms right when Will's muscles tensed in anticipation, before he could actually move.

"Let me go, Jem," he said, his voice deadly calm.

Jem however, refused to let go, and said, "Will, you can't go up there. We'll just be killed. Where you go, I go, so if you decide to go up there, I will come too, and three people will be hanged today. And think of Tessa, what will she do if we're killed?"

Before Will could argue, Jem's voice suddenly broke, and he said, as if in physical pain, "Can't you see William, that this is just as hard for me as it is for you?"

Will looked at Jem then, noticing for the first time, his teary eyes which looked just as frantic and helpless as his own.

He suddenly had an idea, and his voice turned excited, with a desperate sort of hope he couldn't hide. "Jem, you could heal him, right?"

Jem looked unsure, but said, "We'd have to get his body as soon as possible afterwards. I could definitely try. I've never healed anyone with such extensive injuries before though – I've never tried," he said biting his lower lip, while releasing Will's arms.

It wasn't nearly enough to honour Thomas. He deserved a rescue. Will wanted to run up there and rip out the gallows with his bare hands. But at least they had a plan – and it wouldn't end in all of their deaths.

Will knew the preparations were finished when the crowd fell silent. He looked up and saw them loop the noose around Thomas's neck. Everything then seemed to happen in slow motion. Out of the corner of Will's eye, he saw Jem step in front of Tessa, to shield her eyes, and he hugged her comfortingly as she stood there shaking.

Will however, stood there and watched the whole event, feeling a strange urge to be there for Thomas, and to honour him. He felt as if, if he looked away, Thomas would be all alone, with only an impassive crowd to remember his bravery. He felt his own throat close up, as Thomas struggled to breathe, and he only just managed to keep himself from throwing up.

Thomas drew his last, gasping breath, and time returned to normal. Will could hardly stand still, wanting to get into action. He exchanged a glance with Jem, and picked up an abandoned cart lying nearby, attaching it to his own horse.

The three of them, and their horses, then fought their way through the crowd, which was now starting to disperse as the events were now finished. Since Will was likely to be recognised the least easily, he waked up to the dreaded podium and gallows. He could feel it watching him, and he shivered involuntarily.

"Excuse me," he said as politely as he could to a nearby guard. "Could I purchase the body? For research reasons, of course." He had heard that barber-surgeons often collected the bodies, if family members didn't.

The guard looked like he was about to say no, so Will pulled out his coin pouch. He handed over the whole thing – which included all of their coins for the trip, and waited as the guard counted it with wide eyes. The guard nodded, unable to hide his excitement. It was definitely a substantial sum – probably enough to feed his family for a year.

Will was very aware of the time constraints, so he gestured towards Thomas's body. The guard nodded in understanding, and called over a few of his friends. "Get the body loaded onto the cart for this gentleman," he ordered, leaving no room for argument.

Will left, waving at the guard, as he steered his horse, and the cart, away. He followed Jem, Tessa and their horse, to a narrow, deserted alley. They didn't want anyone to witness this, or interrupt them. Setting the cart down on the ground, and tying his horse to a nearby wooden post, he looked expectantly at Jem, mentally urging him to hurry.

Jem looked down at Thomas's lifeless body. It was covered in bruises and scars, from a combination of his many fights, and the cruel torture at the hands of the guards. Jem had absolutely no idea if this would work; it was basically the equivalent of bringing someone back from the dead. Will looked at him confidently, so sure in his healing ability. Jem didn't want to let him, or Thomas down, but he knew he probably would.

He lay his hand over Thomas's neck, looking into Thomas's body, and seeing where his injuries were. Strangely, Jem couldn't feel Thomas's pain like he could normally feel others. It must be because he's dead, or nearly dead, Jem thought to himself sadly, hoping it was the latter. Jem knew he would have taken in all the pain in the world, if he could have healed Thomas right then. It reminded him of the saying, "an eye for an eye."

Jem could see Thomas's heart had stopped beating, due to the lack of oxygen, since he had suffered from strangulation. His neck was broken, and there was a red line cut into it from the rope. Many bruises also dotted his skin, and his stomach was still bruised from being punched earlier. Jem took a deep breath, then tried to heal each part individually. He mended the neck back together, and brought oxygen back into his lungs. Thomas's lungs inflated, and his heart started beating again, and Will and Tessa cheered, when they saw the typical breathing movements. Once Jem did everything he could, he stepped back, to admire his handiwork.

However, he instantly knew something was wrong. Although Thomas's lungs were moving up and down, his eyes hadn't opened, and he still seemed lifeless. When Jem touched Thomas's forehead, he was cold to the touch. He turned to Will and Tessa, his eyes filled with mourning. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice sorrowful. "I've healed his injuries, but his soul is no longer there. He's… gone."

Will bent over, with his head in his hands, trying to catch his breath. Tessa crouched beside him, and rubbed his back, whispering soothing words into his ear. Jem felt numb, he just couldn't believe his bad luck. What was the use in having his healing ability, when it couldn't even save Thomas or his parents? He felt helpless and useless, his normal sense of calm and collectiveness gone, as he stared down at his traitorous hands. He found he didn't care about them anymore – what was the use? There was no point in hands which could play pointless music easily, but couldn't even save a life. He threw his hands against the alley wall, again and again, until he couldn't feel anymore.

A/N: Please review/follow/favourite!

Sorry, for the sad chapter, hope you enjoyed it though.

Until next time,

~ SilverJem5