Chapter 11. What A Nasty Joke

For the thousandth time, I awake to yelp in fright. That same dream of those spirits whispering sweet nothings of destruction to me. At this point, I can't even tell the difference between reality and my nightmares in the pitch-black darkness of this pit. I hear the grinding of gears, my cell vault opens up sending destructive death rays of light frying my eyes. "Wake up you lowly little demon, report to the Acropolis. You will be staying there until further notice." The prison warden telepathically lifts me out of the pit and drops me on the ground like a sack of potatoes. The sun's rays feel like the sting of a thousand fire wasps. Unable to stand my lowly presence any longer the warden begins to take his leave. It's been four weeks without food I grab at the hem of the guard's tunic and beg. "Please sir just one meal just one cup of milk will do. Please."

A look of enraged disgust paints the guard's face and he violently slaps my hand away. "Don't you dare pollute me with your touch and filthy beast!" With His departure, I trudged off into the village and searched the Acropolis. With a weary heart and a faint mind, I'm making my way through the village streets. All the clans all the clansmen who saw me whispered just another just enough for my ears to pick up. "why does the patriarch let that monster roam unleashed?" Their words stung Like poisonous darts. "Look all of the plants and animals die within two meters of that demon." No matter how many times I've heard it always gets more painful. "They should put that abomination out of its misery already." Their gazes as if looking at vermin filled me with rage. I was less than human to them. They all maintained a healthy distance from me, fearing catching an infectious scourge. the voices of hate began to whisper in my ears even more intensely. Though I was famished and on the doors of death for some reason the Great spirits angel of cessation never came for me. as if to mock my suffering. 'Gothorn...give me...' The ever-present whispers intensified.

I scarcely made it to the steps of the Acropolis. A gentle waft of wind blew against my skin. What one would assume to be refreshing felt like the blast of a dragon's flame against my skin. My mind went blank as I fell on the marble steps. The pain that ensued from the fall was like being minced by that very same dragon's jaws. I tried to drag my pathetic inside of the acropolis to seek shelter but my limbs were no better than hindrances. My strength has been escaping me even more as of late. I can feel it, my demise on the horizon, its promise of coming soon is like hell knowing that the end is coming but never knowing when it's, like an ever-present Guillotine hanging above your neck. All your days being told that your end is nigh but never notified when that blade shall sever your neck. Such uncertainty makes one wish it would fall and end everything at that moment, so the apprehension and crippling suspense of it all can end your depraved existence of uncertainty.' please take our hand Gothorn we will avenge your pain give into us... you need us.'

I struggled to pick my head up and look at the other children bathing at the bank of the spring. A smoldering jealousy Burns within my chest as the other children play in the waters giggling and smiling without a care in the world. And then there was me miserable, wretched, and withering, how I yearned to get a single taste of their joy. A scene that should be beautiful looked so hideous to me why can they smile without a worry As I sit in this painful misery? A navy blue silver-haired boy danced around in the water's joy jubilantly while swinging a wooden sword, splashing the other children with water. "Hey, Roes The elders have been praising me telling me that they've never seen As gifted in the sword as me. What's the point of staring at your reflection when you could be staring at the glory of my sword." An azure blue girl's wet face looked up from her rippling reflection, she had shiny black French braided hair, a button nose between elegantly refined high cheekbones, and bewitching golden eyes that could daze one for eternity made for a breathtakingly lovely portrait. She grimaced in befuddlement at the boy's ridiculous proposition." But your sword is nowhere near as beautiful as my reflection. So save your wasted breath, Sabel. I'm sure if you give a hand of mangos to Gulzig or bug Luiaard enough they'll watch your swordplay."

Luiaard, a green boy with uncouth bright copper hair, was sunbathing near the bank, lazily lifted up an eyelid to glare at Roes and Sabel, who had disturbed his daydreaming." Don't you see me working right now? Leave me out of this." Gulzig, a blue boy with ruddy red hair, was gorging on watermelon slices while counting the profits he made from selling Roes a golden hairpin with his feet." I'd love to, dear brother, I just need some motivation." The skinny boy who had already finished his fourth watermelon caressed his hands like a shady merchant. A small petite green ginger entered the Acropolis and sat near Luiaard. " Hey Sabel, I would love to watch your swordplay." As given gold Sabel's eyes gleamed with cunning machinations. " Solsikke, you're the best. I've never seen such a beautiful soul such as yours. Nothing can compare to your beauty." Roes was infuriated at Sabel's disrespectful remark. He paid the vicious aura no mind as he practiced with the sword. Solsikke sat at the bank resting her head between her hands watching Sabel as he performed stances with a distant look on her face. "I wonder where he is right now."

I lay there at the top of the steps, watching their jovial attitudes, ignoring my state. I'm sure they all noticed me but they treated me as no more than air. Hatred began seething from my heart. I watched them for hours and like always as they sat by the springs bank talking and eating, my body slowly began to heal and regain a modicum of strength. 'Why is my existence so wretched, too weak to support myself and resilient to die?' The ginger girl finally takes notice of me and with a look of shock, she runs to my side and grabs my dilapidated corps, and brings me near her chest in an effort to help me up. she began to channel calming white energy in an effort to heal me. " Are you okay-Ahhhh!!!" She screams in pain as her arms and hands were scorched black from holding me. Hearing her cry out In pain Sabel and the others rushed to see what happened." You demon! You dare lay your hands on Solsikke!? Die!!" Sabel's enraged sword nears my face and smacks me in the face and he begins pummeling me with his sword. Luiaard put a hand on Sabel's shoulder." If you kill it the patriarch will send you to hell with him." sable spat on my broken body and headed for the Acropolis. "Tch. make tour self faint and don't appear before me again. Come on Solsikke some things are meant to be debased and aren't worthy of your compassion."

Solsikke came near me when everyone had left and put a dandelion in my hand and whispered in my ear. "I'm sorry this is all I can do for you, it should heal your wounds." with a flashing smile that outshone the sun I was overwhelmed by the purity of her beautiful soul. After she left I brought the once beautiful dandelion in my mouth to eat, but it was already shriveled. Only foul ash and soot fell into my mouth. 'What a nasty joke.' It was at this moment I realized that of all things I hated she outstripped everything by far. I was destined to live this twisted reality forever alone, with no one to love me while she was loved by good and evil alike favored by the world cherished by all the clan. Life rejected me and its beauty disdained my presence. But life would not let me go into that good night, I was a crude imitation of life not quite living but far be it from dead. But to rub salt into my wounds she was sent to make a mockery of my suffering and to remind me how destitute I am. Like my very hands, I began to hate existence wanting to snuff it out. Terminate those harsh eyes of judgment, belittling my affliction, destroying their rejection by ending all who could reject. 'I want to oblige them with my suffering. Since the world loathes my blasphemous birth, I will make her lament as the blood of her favored sons of heaven stains her soil. I will leave her womb barren so she will no longer be able to play favorites and all will be equal in death. I will be that abominable demon you named Gathorn Afgunstig. I will destroy it all.' spirits began to dance around me laughing screaming and whispering.

that same four-armed spirit appeared in front of me again that same ringlike crown hung around his head with those twelve terrifying green X-shaped with dark sclera embedded into it bore into me. His massive hand slowly reached for the chains that griped onto my heart. his shadowy face that was originally featureless cracked open a terrifying white smile. 'That's right my child take my hand once again we will destroy it all. I will make you strong again. let us destroy this offensive place.'I lay there under the setting sun hating everything, the squirrels playing in the trees enjoying freedom, the purple wisteria trees swaying with the breeze that afflicted my battered body. I hated it all. My hate was multiplying with every second that passed. My hand reached for his as he reached for the chains around my heart. It was then a dark blue boy in samurai armor like the village guards appeared for me, his eyes glowed like a flaming furnace with a valknut symbol in his eyes. before the spirit could finish its plans a plus of energy hit it, forcing it to dissipate into the shadows cast by the setting sun. His eyes shifted from the spirit to me, I began to feel uncomfortable with his gaze as if I was stripped naked. The boy knelt beside me I began to shake in fear anticipating how I would be punished for the transgressions of my thoughts. His strange eyes gazed into mine, my soul was bare before him. "Those are some treasonous thoughts Gothorn." it was over for me. 'what next solitary confinement, torture, experiments?'

I closed my eyes resigned to the fate I was to receive, but contrary to my expectations I was pulled into a hug. my body which should have scorched his skin black with blight had no effect. Translucent vein-like structures started coming out of his skin and wrapped around me, some piercing my skin. what should have been an indescribable pain was a feeling I had never felt before I felt peace and tranquility, and the ever-present pain I always felt faded away. 'Is this Euphoria? Am I in love?' " Tell me Gothorn, would you really be satisfied with such aimless hate? You need not desire the world's love for I will give you all that you need. Give me your scorn and I will sharpen it into a sword slay this malformed realm and I will create a peaceful paradise. I will divest you of that ever-present agony and relieve you of its shackles. But first, you must give me your soul. Don't you want just a little taste of what she has?" His words sounded more like the sweet whispers of the devil but I was already in purgatory. 'If he can give me what I want, why not serve him.' Not wanting to be separated from the blissful feeling my capitulation was preordained." soul contract with me to destroy this place and get revenge, then your wish is my command."