Command to Kill

For a woman her size, the taskmaster's voice was oddly juvenile.

The glow of some fireflies pricked Ginika's curiosity, and he lifted his head. He couldn't see them clearly, but this time, he was glad his eyes were not playing tricks on him.

Just on the top of the palm tree, which stood opposite the wagon. He saw three bats, picking their body with their small mouth.

Their eyes glowed blood red, and their wings seemed to be made from black smoke.

"So you, Drudge, have been practicing magic?" The taskmasters' voice brought Ginika's attention back to the circle, "and all this while you have tried to fool me with some drama?" The woman shook her head with regret. "How could I be so stupid." She added before sighing heavily.

Zahra lifted her eyes to meet that of the taskmaster. She held on to it, the fire that was heating out from the gaze could be felt throughout the circle.

'Please don't say anything rash,' Ginika pleaded with her in his thoughts. His heart was racing, and every pulse seemed to be getting louder and louder.

"Go and tell your master that his days have been numbered" Zahra gnashed her teeth, "Tell him that his death would be painful, and slow. The one born with Gini is coming. The liberator and the flaming hair demon is coming for him to crush down his empire."

The crowd exclaimed with fear at her words. Some of them shouted at her to remain quiet, while others were pleading with the taskmaster.

The taskmaster laughed as if her words were the funniest thing she had ever had.

"I think you should go and tell him yourself," The woman drew out her sword. It glints with the fire, every edge heating the cold air around it.

"But, don't worry, I will tell him myself." The taskmaster said. She held Zahra's head, and traced her sword around her throat, revealing the white skin underneath.

"ZAHRA. NO!!" Kichi shouted and picked up Zahra's body, which was still convulsing. The parameter had on the sand was already covered with blood.

"ZAHRA," Someone shouted and burst into the circle. It was Dodo and Zahra's mother. They both were crying their hearts out as the knelt down beside the lifeless body.

Ginika's world slowed as he stared at the circle but not seeing it. He tried to scream, but no words came out from his mouth. His vision blurred as tears licked, not even caring when he started crying as they sip out through his eyes, and dropping in down heavily.

"Zahra. God Zahra" Ginika sobbed.

"Kill every baby," The taskmasters shouted. "Seven years and below. Pregnant mothers too. Eliminate them all. I don't want to hear the cry of any male child that is Seven years or below. Kill them all!"

The circle broke into pandemonium as the villagers started running helter-skelter. Fathers were calling out to wife, and mothers were calling out to children.

'Chika.' Ginika wiped his eyes and searched the village square, which currently was like the hive of an ant that has been stirred up. He panicked when he remembered his little brother, who was five years old.

His feet were already on the ground before he could think of jumping down, and then he ran to the only place where he last saw his brother. He needed to go home, asap!

***

He ran as fast as he could. Sweat strolled down Ginika's brow as he trotted towards the direction of their house, brushing pass the populace and calling out the names of his mother and little brother.

The smoky air was harsh on his nostril, and he could taste it somewhere at the back of his throat. As he tried to swallow, he realized just then that there was no fluid in his mouth.

His eyes walked pass the palm tree to the shadow beyond the other side of the grass, but he could barely make out the face of anyone from the paleness of the moon.

Tugging his wet hair behind his ears, he stopped when he realized that it was a dead end. The disorder in the village square made it impossible for him to trace the familiar route of their house.