[~ For best reading experience, please use your headphones to LISTEN to the music recommended to this chapter called "Freedom" BraveHeart Soundtrack by James Horner from YouTube; and put it on REPLAY in the background until you finished~]
<< See foot notes/glossary chapter at the end of every 10 chapters. If you seen this symbol (**) at the end of every word, it means it will further explain the meaning of the word. As more chapters are completed and the story advanced, the more information will be added.>>
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Free•dom | \ ˈfrē-dəm \ [noun]
Definition of freedom —
1: the quality or state of being free: such as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
2: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : INDEPENDENCE
"Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another."
— Toni Morrison
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[~•SACRIFICE: MEMOIRS OF A MARTY•~]
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Rip.
Rip.
SLASH.
Gasp.
"—ughhh! arghh!"
"It can all end...Right here..Right now."
My name is Alexandria. I don't have a last name, neither a place of what you can call 'home'. If the people ask 'what about your family'? Let me tell you.
They're dead.
The remaining precious people that I have left are in hiding at this moment. I hope that no one is here now to witness this.
The Public Execution.
I don't want them to cry for me. I don't need it. If you're wondering where I am and what I'm doing, well I'm on the ground, laying on top of The Cross** with both my hands and my feet nailed on it. My body is full of lashes from the whip they inflicted upon me from before. And lastly, a crown of thorns upon my head to complete it. Inside my head, I laughed. It's amusing how these so called Nobles of Beorc** are so creative with their punishment. I remember one of the soldiers mocked me saying its a replacement for the crown that I didn't get—that now I'm the 'Slave Queen of The Laguz**'. Anyway, it's very painful you see. The fact that four people are gutting my insides and taking my organs out as my next torture is even more worse. I hate this! Its so painful. Oh I wish I have my beloved wings so I can fly away.
Somewhere far away.
Away from this wretched place—
Rip.
Rip.
Tugged.
My eyes widen. Reality is so cruel. As much as I yearn to fly, I also remember how they violently took away my prized wings. They chopped it off from my back and offer it to The King as tribute so he can perched it on top of his bed stand to get quote unquote 'Eternal blessing from The Goddess Nox**' What a load of bullsh—
I gasped louder.
They took out my liver
"Peace!"
Tugged.
My stomach is gone.
"Just say it! Cry out!"
I clench my teeth.
Tugged. Tugged.
"Ugh!"
"Say Mercy!"
I glance at The Great Elder** before me. My eyes watering as I can't block out the pain when the four executioners continue to do their abuse that will eventually end me. It hurts a lot. Why must I go through this. I miss my father, my twin brother, my two younger brothers, my little sister and specially my mother...
Ahh.. My sweet gentle mother.
"Argh!"
"Mercy!" One woman in the crowd yelled.
The people started looking at each other one by one, bustling and murmuring 'mercy'. Slowly they chant. Then, become louder and louder.
"Mercy! Mercy!"
The Great Elder sneered.
"Come on. Cry it OUT!"
The crowd continue to shout "MERCY! MERCY! MERCY!"
I hear them. The people's voice. I hear what they wanted. But I just cant. They don't know. They don't understand. I shake my head from side to side, tears running down my face.
The Great Elder went down to my ear.
"JUST SAY IT!! CRY OUT!!"
Tugged. Rip. Rip.
Across the crowd I heard my two companions with my acute hearing.
"Mercy Alexandria."
"Oh God! Please just say it! Mercy! That's enough."
'No. No! NO!' I thought to myself. They're not suppose to be here! I ordered them not to! I can't believe this! For once, they should just listen to me!
"uhnggg!"
I coughed. Huge amount of blood splattered out of my mouth. I can't take it anymore. It hurts so much. This torture needs to end.
I closed my eyes tightly and then open them again. I tried opening and closing my mouth to get as much oxygen as I can but I can't breathe. There's already too much blood inside my lungs. At this rate, I'm choking on my own blood and saliva. My death is near.
You know when you're on your death bed and people say life flashes in a blink of an eye. That's true. I see myself going through each stages of my life. It's like a worn out film playing before you.
"MERCY! MERCY!" Echoed throughout the vicinity of the place.
I choke out a sob. I'm full out crying right now. Big fat droplets of tears going down relentlessly like angry rivers. People suddenly scrambling on the front of the execution platform as they rush towards my tears that turned into diamonds when they fell into the ground. They began to push and fight for the first one to get it
I thought to myself.
'Oh all these people... My God, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing..'
I look at the sky above.
It's hard. Super hard. This duty. This sacrifice. This sad and cruel fate that befall me. Yet I have no choice. I have to accept it.
My vision becoming blurry.
'I don't want to fall asleep. My Goddess Hemera** Please! I don't want to pass away.' I pleaded in my mind
'I want to see my future because I'll never see those days again.' I continued.
'I beg of you.'
As I search the sky to get my redemption, the Great Elder mistook my search for beseeching.
"Silence! The prisoner wishes to say a word!"
The crowd hushes down while some still chant in a low voice.
"Mercy! Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!"
I shook my head. Coughing. Trying to collect myself. I suppress back another violent sob that threaten to come out. Blinking my eyes. I stared at the sky.
'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?' I thought loudly.
And then unexpectedly—
Drip.
The rain poured.
From then on while the Great Elder waited for my response. I closed my eyes and think back what my mother said to me when she was still alive. I recollected all my memories of her. The way the corner of her eyes will crinkle cutely when she smile, her bell-like laughter, her soft gestures, her stern voice when she's mad. But one thing stood out from all the things she done. It was her when she treated me of my wounds. She said,
"Your name is Alexandria. One day you will lead us, not only just us, the Laguz, but also the Beorc. You will change the earth. It is your destiny, for your name means defender of mankind."
On that moment, I know that all is completed. That everything of what the goddess declared is fulfilled.
So for all intent and purposes before the Great Elder could even said anything; I gathered all my strength and focused on shouting at the top of what my lungs could.
Opening my eyes wide. I screamed my last wish.
The world's wish.
"FREEDOM!!!"
The entire world fell silent after that. Everything seems to be in slow motion. I saw the Great Elder look to the far right. He might be eyeing the King for confirmation or some sort. I don't know. I don't really care anymore. It's the end. In the corner of my eye, one of the four executioner in charge of decapitating my head, nodded to the Great Elder and proceed to swing the gigantic axe. I slowly drop my head to the side to make a clean cut. Surprisingly, within my field of blurry vision, the world once again became clear and among the crowd I recognized my beautiful mother. Gradually she draw closer to me.
I whispered softly.
"Goddess, into your hands I commit my spirit."
Finally, my mother stopped. She stood in front of me. Next to her, one by one, my precious family appeared.
She smiled.
"It is done."
When I said this, I breathed my last.
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"The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion." — ALBERT CAMUS
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[~•SACRIFICE: MEMOIRS OF A MARTY•~]
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Fin.