Prologue

It was dark. She couldn’t see anything. But she could feel it: the tight ropes cutting her wrists, the cold stone beneath her body, the whistles of the wind. However, she couldn’t hear anything. It was far too quiet. A muffled sound escaped her throat as she realised her location. Slowly, she started moving. Her arms, her feet, her hips. Tied together like a package ready for sending, yet she somehow managed to sit up, slumpingng against a cold wall. Her ears perked up. A sound! Finally. Heavy footsteps approached her, slowly, as if scared of a wild animal. “Who would have thought? Our honorable captain, caught in her own net of lies. Must be nice being you”, a rough and far too loud voice exclaimed right in front of her. “Serves you right, tho. I always knew you were up to no good, cunning b*tch.” Keys climpered together. His voice still echoing through the air, a creaking door was opened, the man stepping closer. She could now feel his presence with every fiber of her being. However, it was not a pleasant one, that much she could tell. Maybe before, way before everything had gone down the way it had, she would have been happy to see him here. Maybe she would even have longed for his touch, secretly as ever. But now, now everything was different. And there was no one as despicable and disgusting as him anymore. “How satisfying, seeing you all slumped down against a wall. Pathetic”, he scoffed. Stepping even closer to her, his presence now felt overwhelmingly dangerous, ready to devour her. “I have waited for this moment for a very long time, y’know?” His breath hitching at her ear, he continued: “What? Got nothing to tell me?” She remained quiet. “Ha”, he scoffed, “fine. Just you know, that was your last chance. Off to the gutters we go!” An almost joyful echo hovered in the air. She remained seated. If he wanted her to go, he would have to take her. “Tch. Still as unruly as ever, huh? Let’s see who’ll beg for forgiveness in a second. I’d be delighted!” He grabbed her arm, strong fingers winding around her rather delicate limb. He pulled and with a tug she was on her feet. “Move it”, the man growled. But she couldn’t see anything, for she was blindfolded, and thus tumbled backwards. “Can’t even walk now, can you?”, he mocked her. Leading her out of the cell he continued blabbering, but she didn’t listen anymore. In the distance, she could already hear furious screams: “Behead the traitor! Behead her, who dared to betray our kingdom!” She shivered. Of course she had known that the people wouldn’t treat her kindly anymore, but she hadn’t been prepared for this wave of pure hatred before her. “Oho, the audience’s favourite, aren’t ya?” The man leading her released a cruel chuckle. “They once adored you. Treated you like a hero. And now here they are, eagerly awaiting your beheading. How ironic. Must feel nice.” “Indeed. It is a rather…peculiar feeling”, she responded, her voice quiet and steady, not a single sign of fear showing even whilst facing her inevitable end. Then she stared up into the dark night sky, her mouth tilting into what could once have been a faint lopsided smile.

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