I looked out the window to see the silvery moon that had gradually made its appearance along with the large array of stars that accompanied it, dimly illuminating the black night sky. I took a deep breath and stood up; I pulled the long cloak on pulling the hood up shrouding my face in darkness. I jumped out the window of the inn, my cloak fluttering behind me.
Once I reached the ground, I slipped into a dark alley the moon barely illuminated. I walked along familiar paths to the place I spent a part of my childhood. Once I reached that place and laid my eyes on the small shack, memories flooded my brain of those times clouding my brain. I shook my head to clear my head and hid behind a tree as I peeked my head out, focusing my eyes on a chipped wooden table. I could faintly hear the giggles of a young girl and a familiar voice entered my ears; it was Barnes, that old fool. They were sitting on two stubs at the chipped table while Barnes chugged down alcohol, some spilling out from the edge of his mouth, trailing down his skinny mole-filled neck before disappearing into his gray messy beard. I scrunched my face in disgust feeling the urge to throw my guts up at the sight of him, my black eyebrows furrowing in anger and disgust, I could feel the thick blood-lust emanate from my body as I clenched my hand till they turned white desperately trying to hold myself back from immediately rushing in and cutting him into a million pieces.
I slowly unclenched my hand and immediately blood rushed there returning it to a rosy pink, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down I stepped out of my hiding place, sauntering over to where they were chatting happily, as I got nearer and nearer without their realization their words entered my ears.
"Barnes, you're like a father to me, when you showed up I really wondered if it was all a dream, you were like the light at the end of the tunnel my only hope after my...my family abandoned me, I really appreciate you," The skinny girl was about fifteen years old smiled sweetly, her short brown hair shining softly in the moonlight and her similarly brown eyes filled with love, trust and care. Realization dawned upon me as I understood what was going on; this was like a business to that old fool, lure in a girl who lost everything and was vulnerable only to betray that trust and sell them off to that hellhole. I felt bad for the poor girl, she was just like me in a sense. She lived in constant misery and just as she was about to give up on life a light shone dimly and that light was Barnes but I couldn't tell if I empathized with her or sympathized or maybe both.
When I was only about six feet from them was when they seemed to realize my presence and snapped their heads back to look at me. The girl jumped up, going into a clumsy fighting stance while looking at me with wary eyes. "WHO ARE YOU?!" I didn't reply, keeping my head down.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US!?" She stood in front the drunk old fool in a protective stance and I couldn't help feeling bad for her, she too had been naïve trusting the old fool and opening her closed off heart and if I didn't come she would end up in that hellhole and most likely break and live her life slowly decaying, alive yet not alive.
"Girl, think things over, can you trust this old fool," I finally looked up, the hood of my cloak still covering my features.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!! WHO ARE YOU CALLING FOOL OF COURSE I'LL TRUST HIM, HE'S MY ONLY FAMILY! YOU KNOW NOTHING!!" she rushed at me in not-blooded anger and I quickly stepped to the side just as she was about to land her punch. It was unfortunate but this girl would never believe me, I don't blame her if someone told me Barnes would betray me at that time, I would laugh and lunge at them in anger the same way she did. I hit the back of her neck and caught her before she fell to the ground unconscious. The least I could do for her was spare her the pain of seeing him die. I placed her against a tree and looked at her silently. She could hate me all her life, but at least she would have a drive to live; to kill me. I hoped that at least that would keep her going. Was I cruel for doing this to her?