There were a lot of theatrics that went into the planning and execution of this event, in that Scarlet likened it to a world cup in her mind. Just when she thought that things would not get any more bizarre, from the roof of the coliseum descended energetic dancers performing robustly and twisting their bodies with red blades in their hands. Scarlet looked around and realized that she was the only one who appeared to be fazed by this circus, everyone else was enthralled, cheering and clapping.
I guess this is act one of the execution concert, no wonder they say that you learn sothing new everyday, she thought. Who new that an execution could be combined with an entertaining performance?
She finally saw the use of the glow sticks as the lights were dimd and it darkened slightly in the coliseum. Those glow sticks and glow worms or whatever other glowing beast sticks were being waved around high.
After the dance ended, the bright lights returned and the executioner stepped on the stage, five tall and large n, wearing black ceremonial robes with hoods and gold masks dripping with streaks o red paint. The golden masks covered the faces of the executioners completely and not even their eyes were visible.
Their arrival caused a sensation in the audience, drawing gasps from so while others held in their breaths in anticipation of what was to co. In their hands, their red swords which were giving off sparks of fire buzzed as if they were excited, thirsty and impatient after a long dry spell without the taste of blood.
Another man in a similar outfit stepped forward with and pointed to the large screen.
"Judge Jason." he read a na from the screen.
The face of that criminal was exposed on the screen and his executioner pushed his head down on a silver block from which straps rose and trapped him by the neck. One after another, other nas were read and for each na, a similar action followed.
Scarlet noticed that all eyes were on the king, waiting for his approval it seed. His right hand was raised up and she watched him lower it.
Her eyes turned back to the stage and she saw the five executioners raise their swords. She saw the fear multiply in the eyes of the criminals, all of them behaving similarly as their eyes darted around wildly, seeking for an escape. Only one man, she noticed had his eyes closed, resigned to his inevitable fate it seed. His lips were moving rapidly as he muttered sothing and Scarlet used her grim reaper hearing to listen in on his words.
"I pray for forgiveness from those whose lives I have taken, if there is an after life I pray that I be..." It surprised her that he was repenting, sending up a prayer to a deity. Was it too late for that prayer to be heard? Death had already co calling since the reapers were in the audience. Was he repenting because he felt it?
As he prayed, the swords in the hands of the executioners were lowered simultaneously and the eyes of the crowd leaned in on the screen. No matter how many tis they witnessed this event every year, the morbid curiosity towards the act of beheading did not fade.
Scarlet felt Justin place his small hand in hers and clenching it tightly. She looked down and held him by the shoulders, turning him around so that he would not see the bloody scene which was to follow.
"Don’t look." she told him as she rubbed his hair. It may be part of tradition in the interstellar but it was not a must for her son to watch.
On the screen, the swords of the executioners fell down completely and the hot blades t no opposition, slicing through flesh, sinew and bone swiftly. Five heads went rolling down, and the caras made sure to capture the disbelieving and shocked look in the eyes of the prisoners at their mont of death. The contraptions which had held the prisoners in place opened and another group of executioners in black kicked the heads and the headless bodies which were still splaying blood off the stage. They fell down, plunging into an open pit of fire down below the stage.
The crowd erupted in a mixture of gasps, cries, screams, victorious cheers and retching. More than one child was whimpering or crying loudly and many won had their faces turned away from the screen or the stage. It was not an easy thing to witness the death of another human being, especially one so brutal and blood chilling as a beheading.
The executions swung their blades around and returned to their positions waiting for the next group of criminals whose blood would quench the thirst of their blades.
Amidst an applause, five more were brought forward including the back breaker who was said to be responsible for the death of the live strear certified gold. The previous process was repeated, and they similarly died.
"Soul eaters." Severus raised his head and said.
"Evil souls too." she told him. All the souls being collected were emitting black smoke, signifying the high level of evil they possessed after soiling their hands with too much innocent blood. She circulated her soul binding rope, dividing it into many pieces so that none of the evil souls escaped. So of them did try, and they shrieked loudly while the ropes dragged them into the soul gourd.
On stage, the beheading was repeated again, again, and again, a long process which lasted two long dreadful hours and when it was finished, the stage was cleaned, the coliseum doors were opened and a free concert followed it.
Just before it started, the emperor and empress left, followed by so mbers of the royal family, politicians, governors and anybody else who felt they had no reasons to stay anymore. Scarlet was not willing to stay anymore, all the souls had been shared between her and Ramslin and what she had witnessed did not put her in a dancing or singing mood.
"Well, I don’t know about you all but my neck is tingling right now."
Scarlet heard a host say this right before she took her last step out of the coliseum and she heard the crowd laughing hysterically as if it was the funniest joke to ever be told.
"Mommy." Justin called for her in a small voice, sounding so weak and powerless.
Imdiately, she gave all of her attention to Justin first, checking and ensuring that he was fine. She even took the cat mask off his face, and threw it away. She didn’t just take his mask off, she took off hers as well and threw it away. The execution was over, there was no need for these cloaks or masks anymore.
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