~Few hours earlier~
The day I was sentenced to death was one bright and beautiful day.
The sun shone and the birds sang, but I couldn't appreciate any of it – I never could. It still feels surreal, like living a dream I couldn't wake up from. It was the market day—a day I got to make a decent amount of ends meet.
I had awoken very early in excitement that day as I was going to sell the potatoes I had harvested from my garden. I had always dreamt of having my own farm and being self-sufficient, and this moment felt like a step toward that goal.
I spent the previous evening cleaning and packaging the potatoes, ensuring they were in their best condition. I hoped to make a good profit and perhaps even attract some regular customers.
My potatoes had grown three times more than I expected, which was a huge blessing. Having enough money to buy crops and food was a dream come true for me, especially after struggling for so long. It gave me a sense of relief and comfort, knowing that I wouldn't have to worry about going hungry anymore if I could make good sales. The ability to buy a new dress also brought a sense of joy and satisfaction.
Since Nana passed away, bringing my harvest to the market and selling them as often as needed has been challenging. I only venture out of my safe comfort into the village when I am desperate to make money so I don't starve to death. Despite the hardship, I am grateful for the knowledge Nana imparted on me about farming and growing crops, which has kept me alive thus far. However, I still long for the days when she was around to guide me through the challenges of being able to keep my head in this unforgiving terrain.
Sometimes Denie, my only friend, would sneak her way to the outskirts of town to bring me food. She wasn't so lucky every time though, as she was often caught by the town folks and beaten severely for trying to lend me a helping hand.
I was an 'outcast freak' nobody should ever be seen interacting with.
Regardless of the risks, Denie never gave up on me and continued bringing me food whenever possible. She was my only support system, and I couldn't be fortunate enough to have won an important place in her heart. Her kindness and loyalty were the only things that kept me going during those dark times.
I reached the market early to trade my potatoes for other crops and vegetables. The place was bustling with people from all walks of life, each one looking for a good bargain. My potatoes were gone shortly after. They were either traded for other things I needed or sold in exchange for money.
I was ecstatic that things went well for the first time in a long while and felt a sense of relief and gratitude for the abundance of nature's gifts. I realized that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.
I couldn't wait to leave prying eyes and return to my safe haven to continue basking in my success.
Well, it was only my wishful thinking that this day would end without any unwanted events because barely a few minutes later, I spotted a gang of teenage boys joking around on the road.
"Oh no…" I muttered under my breath. They weren't just any group of teenagers but the mayor's son Lance and his stupid friends.
This particular group was the biggest bully in the village. Lance has always found ways to abuse his power since we were children. He either had me wincing on the ground in pain while his feet descended mercilessly on my body as though I was his football or would throw stones at me whenever he saw me.
My existence was like an eyesore for him. It was like that for everybody in the village except Denie.
I could sense trouble brewing by just seeing them, and I knew I had to take action before things got out of hand. The last thing I anticipated this day was bumping into these jackasses, so I quickly tried to change direction for an alternative route. Unfortunately, luck was against me as their attention snapped toward me.
"HEY FREAK!" I heard Lance yell at me. "Did you honestly think you could escape me that easily?"
I pretended not to hear him and kept walking in long strides.
"HEY, I'M TALKING TO YOU, FREAK…"
I kept forcing my legs to move faster. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to come up with a plan to get away from him before he caught up to me. I knew I had to stay calm and think fast if I wanted to make it out of this situation unscathed. I kept forcing my legs to move faster and hopefully make it out without having to face his wrath. Oh well… I guess the word 'abuse' would better describe what I tend to face. He was an abusive prick.
"Get her, boys. Don't let her escape!" He ordered his gang.
I felt an adrenaline rush as I heard them come after me.
With that, I did the only thing I could think of in such a situation; I broke into a run.
I let go of the bag containing the items I had traded my potatoes for and sprinted as fast as I could.
My heart was pounding in my chest as I hoped to outrun my pursuers. The sound of my own ragged breathing was the only thing I could hear as I fled into the darkest part of the bushes.
The branches and thorns clawed at my skin, leaving deep scratches that stung with each step but I ignored the pain. My eyes strained to see through the dense foliage, searching for any sign of safety when suddenly I tripped on a hidden root and stumbled to the ground.