The Great Escape

"Is that so?" The captain responded. There was a brief silence. Tension filled the air like steam from a hot spring. One wrong move and he was dead. Though, to be honest, he was dead the moment he stepped into the text. What happens next, he wondered.

Captain made the first move. She raised a hand. Hands left weapons and the ones behind Rikkard moved away. Puzzled, he watched as the captain removed their hand from the boy.

"Fine. If you won't kill him, you'll be watching him until we can find a more 'efficient' means of getting rid of him. Is that understood?" the captain asked. Rikkard paused to think.

He lifted his hand away from his sword. "Yeah, that works for me."

"Good." With that, everyone left the tent. Everyone was careful to not make eye contact with the boy who refused to kill. The last one to leave was the captain, who was the only one to stop and look down at Rikkard.

"I'm sure I don't have to remind you of the consequences if that boy 'magically' disappears without a trace, right?" The captain said, their eyes and voice giving off a threatening tone.

Rikkard gulped. Yeah, he'd be the one the chair, or worst, sentenced to death next.

"I understand… sir"

"Excellent, some food will be dropped off shortly for you both."

They disappeared out of the tent, leaving only the heavy breathing of Rikkard and the cries of the boy. Rikkard found a spot next in the corner and sat down. Then he placed his head in his hands.

Crap. What does he even do? The boy had done something wrong, but was that enough to be sentenced to death? He didn't want to kill the boy but all he did was delay the inevitable. Who will they send to finish the job? Kalim? The captain? Or will they force him to go through that again? Will he even be able to delay it again?

It seems that they live up to their title as the Order of Executioners. He might have to do something like this in the future. Can he do it? For the sake of his goals, can he take another person's life?

His thoughts were interrupted by movement towards his right. He raised his head to the sight of one of the men placing a metal tray of food on the ground. They didn't give a second glance at either the boy or Rikkard as they hurried out of the tent. Rikkard got up and walked over towards the tray. It was 2 bowls of bland soup and one piece of stale, hard bread. The food for someone who isn't cared about.

He brought the tray towards the boy, who edged away from the approaching footsteps. Placing the tray down, he reached for the boy, who whimpered at physical contact. Rikkard frowned. What have they done to this poor kid?

"Calm down. I'm going to remove the gags, ok?" Rikkard soothed, trying to calm the boy. The boy paused and gave a strained nod. Carefully, Rikkard removed the rope that was tied around the boy's mouth and eyes. He tossed them aside and inspected the boy.

Up close, the young boy had dark brown hair and brown eyes. His face was covered in mud, almost like he got just finished playing in it. His clothes were also covered in dirt. He didn't have any shoes and were only were a shirt and shorts.

The boys stared at Rikkard, eyes gleamed with hope. His round cheeks and small nose were in desperate need of cleaning. Rikkard gave a comforting grin. How can someone as adorable as this commit sabotage?

Rikkard lifted a spoon from one of the bowls towards the boy. The boy's eyes sparkled at the sight of food and his stomach grumbled. He opened his mouth but winced harshly. He gazed down at his feet then at Rikkard with pleading eyes.

"Ok. I release your legs, but only your legs, ok?"

The boy nodded eagerly and gave a toothy smile, revealing his small teeth covered in brown dirt. Rikkard smiled and untied the boy's legs. He wiggled his toes and legs a bit before giving Rikkard the purest smile that he'd ever seen, warming the inside of his heart.

This is why he was completely shocked by what happened next. The boy kicked Rikkard in the throat, knocking the wind out of him. Before Rikkard hit the ground, the boy placed his feet on the ground and launched himself in the air. He flipped over Rikkard, still tied to the chair, and slammed his back into the ground. The wooden chair shacked. Rikkard, still holding his throat, watched as the boy smiled, waved, and bolted out of the tent.

What. the. Fuck.

Rikkard scrambled to his feet. He busted out of the tent, sword in hand, quickly surveying the area. No one was guarding the tent. The camp was completely silent. He caught a glimpse of a small figure disappearing into the forest and chased after it.

The little boy ran very fast, leaping over bushes and branches. Rikkard leaped over right after with ease. All of Kalim's training was starting to kick. But it wasn't going to save him if they found out that he had let the boy escape.

"Hey! Stop!" Rikkard shouted, trying to stop the boy. The boy's response was throwing a rock that nicked Rikkard's shoulder. Rikkard flinched but continue his chase.

He caught up to the kid and tackled him. They collapsed to the ground, splashing in mud. The wiggled and squirmed underneath Rikkard. He paused once there was a sword aimed at his neck.

Rikkard had every right to kill him but… Not a kid. He won't sink that low.

His grip loosened on his sword. The kid, however, didn't feel the same way. The moment he saw the sword slant in his attacker's grip, he swung his arm. Before he could react, something flashed in the boy's hand as it flew towards Rikkard's throat.