Last week, Chuck had us throwing 3-word titles at him. This week, he's asked us to pick one out 10 he's put up on his blog. I picked 'The Gallows Girls'. But I concentrated on one of the girls' lives not all three...
enjoy!
You don’t know me.
You never will.
You don’t take much notice of me when your
time has come.
Your attention is directed out on the crowds
in front.
Your eyes fall to the block in front of you –
stained brown with the blood of those who have gone before you.
You can see us prepare your fate from the
window of your cell; and I love it that we make you so nervous.
Every time we bring out the gallows, it’s
checked over by the other three girls who have to maintain it.
Yes, it’s us girls who are in control of
this death machine... as it was our Daddy’s responsibility before us. When they
did not have sons, it fell to their daughters to care for the gallows.
At first, I didn’t want to take up my Daddy’s
way of living; but it was the money that pulled me into it. I really didn’t
know he earned so much to do that to criminals. So, I learned to do my part –
and I learned the hard way: I learned after Daddy died how to swing an axe
properly. One of the King’s guards taught me all I needed to know; and he was
good enough to teach me how to use a sword in close combat as well as other
weaponry.
Then, he tried to have his way with me – as most
guards do with the women – and regretted it immediately as I slit his throat.
It
was amazing to kill my first human.
The power I felt was incredible as I
watched the life drain from his eyes... as he struggled to keep me from...
... it was such a thrill!
But the blood didn’t bother me by then.
I had killed so many pigs through practice
that slitting that pig’s throat was just as easy. However when I turned, I
found another guard standing nearby watching on.
“I saw what he was doing.” He said, his hand
on the hilt of his sword, ready to fight me if needs be, “He deserved every bit
of what you did.”
I glanced at the dead guard, “What now?”
He smiled, “We weight him and throw him into
the moat.”
I liked this guard.
He was going to be useful to me.
Two weeks passed by and the door of our hut
was kicked down by one of the King’s Guards. Mother moved quickly to one side
as I turned from sharpening my dirk, saw them standing nearby and went back to
my wet stone.
“Gallows Girl, rise to your feet in the
presence of your King.” The Guard snapped as he grabbed my arm.
I stopped what I was doing, looked at his
hand, glanced up at him, “You’re hurting me.” He let go and I put my dirk down
on the table and stood keeping my hand near it just in case things turned
around on me, “Majesty, why did you kick in my door?”
He looked around at the hut, “One of my
guards has been found dead in the moat with his throat slit.” His eyes rested
on me, “From memory, I ordered him to train you in hand-to-hand combat; and how
to swing an axe so as to do your work properly.”
“Yes, and he did his work well, Majesty.” I replied,
“But I did not kill him.”
Sighing, he walked over to me, “The guard
who witnessed the murder has admitted to helping you dispose of the body.”
“He was attacking me. I did what I did to
survive.”
His eyes moved to the floor for a moment
before they locked with mine, and he grunted, “I see.” Turning, he walked to
the door, “Arrest her!”
I have a nice view of the Gallows.
My cell is across from the guard who was
trying to help me.
But there are a few problems with what will
happen this day.
I am with child... that guard left me with
his disgusting seed inside me, and my stomach has begun to swell.
And I am the Executioner.
“It
just occurred to me.” The King’s voice said from the door, “You are the
Executioner.”
“Yes.”
“No guard wishes to dispose of you.” He rolled
his eyes, “I have no real choice but to remove you from this castle and
Kingdom.”
“You still need an Executioner.”
He nodded, “We cannot train one in such a
short amount of time.” He looked to his right, “Let her out.”
The door opened and I walked out slowly,
bowing to him, “I am forever in your dept, Majesty.”
“You have a job to do today. I advise you do
your job and stay away from the people in future.” He handed me my mask, “Your
family will move away from the castle and into the woods. I will only send for
you when I need an Executioner.”
“Yes, Sire.”
You don’t know me.
You never will.
You don’t take much notice of me when your
time has come.
Your attention is directed out on the crowds
in front.
Your eyes fall to the block in front of you –
stained brown with the blood of those who have gone before you.
