Redemption
In the suffocating stillness of the woods…
Two men stood — or rather, faced each other through silence and pain.
Only the chirp of distant insects remained, as if the forest itself held its breath.
Karthik, bloodied and broken, sat slumped against an ancient tree. His breath was slow, uneven. Each inhale rattled through his chest; each exhale was a struggle against surrender.
His blood soaked the earth beneath him, turning the forest floor into a dark, heavy mess of crimson mud.
He dropped his head… and then, in a way only someone who's lost everything could…
He laughed.
Not a laugh of joy.
A maniacal, broken laugh.
The sound echoed off the trees, eerie and painful.
Then silence again.
He lifted his head and stared at Charlie.
Charlie's face… cold. Empty.
"What… you expecting curses? Rage? Hatred? Or… something else?" Karthik said, his voice dry, broken, but holding weight.
"My whole life… I thought I was walking the path of a warrior."
His breathing quickened, shallow and desperate.
"But… I couldn't even save my own people."
He choked on the words.
"So tell me… how can I even call myself… a warrior?"
Then… the forest rustled.
Both of them turned, slowly, eyes sharp but hearts heavy.
From the darkness…
A child.
Crawling.
Tiny hands pushing through leaves and dirt.
He made his way to Karthik, and with no fear, clung to his hand.
Karthik froze. His broken breathing slowed for just a moment as he looked down.
The child smiled at him. Innocent. Pure.
In those young, wide eyes… Karthik saw hope.
Hope he thought was long dead.
He just… stared.
Charlie narrowed his eyes. Who is this child? Where did he come from? His mind raced.
Karthik coughed, then whispered, "Hey… Charlie."
Charlie didn't speak. Just looked at him.
"I have a request… for you."
Charlie blinked, slightly confused.
"What is it?"
Karthik's lips trembled.
"Can you… please save this child?"
Charlie's brow furrowed. "Huh?"
Karthik smirked, though pain twisted his face.
"Even you know… I've got enough energy left in me to escape with him. But… if I do that, he'll live his life running, hunted by your kingdom. I won't let that happen."
He took a shaky breath.
"Nor do I want him to die by the soldiers' swords. I don't know who he is, where he came from… but right now… all I want… is for him to live."
Charlie remained silent.
Karthik's voice cracked.
"And then… kill me. Let my death be your proof. But… please save him."
Charlie's face became unreadable.
He spoke coldly, slowly, each word heavy like iron.
"So you want me to save this child… and kill you as proof that I've done my mission?"
"Yes."
Karthik's voice was barely audible.
"It would be… a huge favor. I'm not doing this to redeem myself. It's just… at death's door, I want to be… human. Not a warrior."
A long silence.
Even the wind dared not disturb this moment.
Charlie stood there… frozen.
Then… step by step…
He moved forward.
The sound of his boots pressing into the wet soil echoed.
He raised his sword slowly… the metal gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
"Then… as a warrior… I promise you… I will… not save this child."
Karthik's face twisted in pure shock.
"What…? What are you—"
"I'm sorry, Karthik. I can't save this child."
Charlie's voice was cold. Final.
Karthik's heart skipped.
"No… no! Charlie! Please!"
Charlie's eyes… turned colder than steel.
His sword rose.
Karthik's breath caught in his throat.
The child… looked up, still holding Karthik's hand.
A heartbeat.
A pause.
The blade in the air.
Karthik's eyes wide with disbelief, panic, confusion, betrayal…
And then…
The sword came down.
SLASH.
Silence.