Moonlight - Part 10
I was floating.
In a dark, empty space, my body calmly drifted along.
Suddenly, visions of red entered my sight. A burning sensation at first tickled my flesh, then escalated to unbearable levels. Scarlet flames danced within my view, and in the rubble, I saw the scorched corpses of fellow villagers,some destroyed beyond recognition by the unmerciful wrath of the intense heat. Black smoke rose up from everywhere, choking all within the range of its deadly fingers. The pain in my body became greater yet. I slowly, with all my strength, crawled myself near the town well, and looked into a muddy puddle, to see a distorted reflection staring up at me. My long black hair had become singed at the ends, my face was smeared with soot and mud, and my eyes showed a dead look, much like the one of a soon-to-be executed prisoner. I stroked my own cheek, surprised to see the ragged human in the reflection do the same. My hands were red with blood, and I could see my muscles and veins underneath my burnt skin. Without even realizing it myself, I began to cry. I didn't know how long sat there weeping. Even so, I didn't even know how this wreckage came to be. As tears fell from my eyes, I was suddenly relieved from this cruel vision. I woke up to the neighing of horses and loud yelling, drenched in sweat. I saw my mother in the corner of the room, weeping and praying to our ancestors for our safety.
Worried, I whispered to mother.
"Mother! What has happened? Why are you cowering?"
When asked this, she answered between her gasps.
"They've come. They who we've feared for so long has finally attacked!"
My face went pale. They who we've feared for so long. This phrase could only mean one thing. Bandits. Ruthless scums of the earth who would kill without a second thought for a single bronze coin. They did not care about losses, as long as what they gained in return was more.
"In that case, we must flee! Before they get to our home!"
"There's no use! They are on horseback, and far too close for us to attempt to run!"
"But we can still try can we not?"
"No...."
A loud banging was heard near our walls.
"Quickly, hide in the closet!"
My mother rushed me into a nearby closet.
Between the cracks of the doors, I could see all that happened in the room without being seen. I saw our door being kicked down with a great din. The stench of blood and alchohol rushed into the hut. Following this, a group of men, all wielding crude swords and axes loudly burst into the room.
"Hey look! There's a wench in here!"
One bandit called over the others.
They surrounded my mother, and began to interrogate her.
"Are you the only one in here? You know, I can SMELL fear."
The bandit, apparently the leader of the small group, looked around the room, his eyes resting upon certain objects and places in it.
"You know, if you only were cooperative, we might spare your unworthy life. Heh heh heh." He chuckled.
When his roaming eyes reached my hiding place, I began shivering furiously. The man most likely heard some sound, as he looked very carefully at the opening of the closet. Then, my mother snapped.
"SHE'S IN THERE! PLEASE, JUST SPARE MY LIFE!"
Vigorously, she pointed at the closet in which I was hiding.
"Hey look, she snapped! Hahaha!"
All of the men laughed heartily, and the leader began inching towards the closet. My shivering grew even worse, and my instincts were screaming to me.
-You're going to die.
-You're going to die.
-YOU WILL DIE!
Suddenly, the door opened, showing the bearded, eye-patched man grinning from ear to ear. Though his faced showed a kind look, I could
tell he was not a good man. He was evil.
"OY! BRING THE WENCH OVER HERE."
He yelled at the others to bring mother to him, and they quickly complied.
He turned to me, and his face changed into that of Satan himself.
"Lookie here, girlie. This is what happens to ladies who don't cooperate until the last second."
He began raising his sword in the air.
Mother was petrified, and so was I.
The inevitability of a horrible outcome was not something that I could look forward to.
As the sword fell, my mother turned her head to me, her eyes calling out for help.
This moment seemed like an infinity.
Then, the finale.
Splotches of crimson glinted in the moonlight which shone through the window.
Why?
Why must this cruel world take her away from me?
I could only think this thought as my mother's severed head rolled on the floor.
Silent with rage and sorrow, I watched as the blood spurted from the corpse.
RED, RED, RED.
A SHOWER OF RED ENGULFS THE NIGHT.
WHEREFORE DOES REALITY TAKE OUR MOST BELOVED?
SOONER OR LATER WE MUST PART WITH EVERYONE.
THOUGH WE KNOW THIS FACT, WE WILL ALL CURSE AND WEEP.
THOU ART CRUEL, MY LORD.
I HAVE REVERED YOU ALL MY LIFE.
YET YOU DESTROY ME, AND TAKE ALL AWAY.
I could not think of anything.
My eyes were dull, and showed no life.
Though I knew I was soon to die if I did not do something, I didn't care anymore.
The sword of the bandit was drenched in blood.
The red fluid dripped from the blade as it was raised once more to take another life.
Thinking nothing, I kneeled and stayed still, waiting for my fate.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YA DOING GIRL!?"
A familiar voice boomed from somewhere.
I'm waiting for the pain to come, but why?
What's going on here?
CRASH.
Five bodies went flipping through the air.
I looked up from the floor and saw a giant.
Jiaoyu stood there, in a fit of rage. He looked at the body in front of me, then looked back at the murderers.
"YOU SICK BASTARDS! I'LL BEAT YOU UNTIL YOU KNOW THE SAME PAIN THIS GIRL HAS FELT."
He then came beside me and put his hand on my head.
In a long time, I felt the heat of another person's warmth, and tears gushed forth from my eyes.
My weeping broke my silence, and Jiaoyu looked at me with eyes of sorrow and empathy.
"Look, girlie. Humans are fragile creatures. A single stab or strike from a weapon can kill them. Even if not attacked, humans will always die. We live in a tumultuous time. There will always be some casualties in life. Hopefully, you will be able to go on. If you are, I can take care of you."
With that he dragged the five men outside in his enormous arms.
Whatever he's doing, I hope they're getting the worst. The fires of revenge burned in my heart.
Many minutes later, Jiaoyu returned in a panic.
"Chunfua! We need to run! They've resorted to burning down the town!"
Swiftly, he picked me up and together, we escaped into the forest, leaving behind the ruins of the former town.
Thus, I start my voyage with Jiaoyu the vagabond.
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