Viana

Viseri had hoped for death. Not for himself. But the others left behind.

Viseri had hoped for death. Not for himself. But the others left behind.

He had run away but they couldn't. He could imagine them now, cowering away in their basements. Nibbling on whatever little food they had, or already starving. Hopefully dead.

It was better than coming out and facing them.

It was the worst of plagues that took their town. Humans.

Wrath, they called themselves. Houting, hollering, and creating a ruckus down every street. Armed to the teeth, they were quick in killing every moving thing.

Not even a bird flew over their peaceful town anymore.

The first line had opened blind fire. Killing in masses, burning everything in their path. The rest was done by the following soldiers. Waving their flags, they had descended as a black mass and painted their town red.

It was a long time coming.

The neighboring King had always pushed for treaties to control their ports. It had made their small town richer than his whole country. But it was the only source of their income too, so the small town had pushed back.

Yet it was not this that gave him the excuse for this massacre. It was her. Viana. Her in her beautiful white dress that flowed as the wind from the sea flowed in. Always had a smile on her face. She had caught the unwanted attention of the prince. Shooting him in the arm with his own gun, she had been arrested on the spot.

On the pretext of grave insult, a public execution followed. The people could do nothing. Most of them had closed their eyes, some cried, while some left the spot. Their mayor had stood with his head bent, his hand clutching his prayer beads, asking for forgiveness.

Viseri had watched. He had watched as blood painted her dress red. As the men still leered over a dead corpse. As the people left one by one. The people that she had adopted as hers. No one came forward to claim her.

He knew then that nothing could have saved her or them.

Their ship was docked far away from the range of shot yet they could see what was happening. He was one of the only five who were able to get away on a departing ship. They stood day and night as their feet cramped and their skin felt raw because of the sun. The captain had been one of the residents, and not yet ready to lose sight of his home.

The old lady on Viseri’s side pointed her trembling finger at something in the distance. “Viana” she had awe and fear on her face.

He could see her now; she had waited a long time to come back. Waited till the blacks killed all the cowards that didn't save her.

And now she was enveloping them.

She came down as a mist. It started from the port farthest from the kingdom and slowly enveloped them.

He could hear their screams. The firing of guns penetrated the dense fog at places and glowed as they tried to make sense of the phenomenon, killing each other in confusion.

A painter would have loved the reality that unfolded in front of him, white mass rapidly taking over the black and the red mess that was left of their town.

Soon, the land was silent. Even the sea took the cue and stilled. Everyone on board watched, thinking it would lift up, and disappear.

Their eyes widened as the mist continued to grow as if opening its hands wider to take over the whole kingdom.

But he still wondered if there was anyone left behind.

The captain set sails to the dead wind and prayed.

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Another addition to the Dead Sisters' Tales.