1 – The End? (FIREWOOD)

1

The van ride was painfully long. I could only picture what the inside looked like. All I could see was the dark and opaque interior of the sheath put on my head. Scattered light filtered in through gaps in between the criss – cross of thin fabric. The only evidence of people around me was the metallic clanging of handcuffs and faint pleads to god for a place in heaven. The jaws of death had clenched around me many a time before, but had failed to engulf me. But this time, it felt like there was no escape.

After what felt like an eternity of numb rumination, I had sensed a drop in the van’s momentum. It rolled to a complete stop and the suspension jerked backwards, locking the van in place. Silence. It had begun to sink in, that these were the final moments of life, and all that came out of the ragtag was silence. I wouldn’t say I was scared — slightly unsettled.

The sound of creaking metal hinges emerged from my right. As I turned towards the sound, the light being filtered into my sheath increased, causing my eyes to instinctively squint. From the direction I faced, two “clacks” (as if that of an officer’s boots), were clearly heard among the dead silence. I also felt the suspension beneath my feet tilt a bit to the right. At the same time as the “clacks”, the light falling through my sheath got blocked, not entirely, but partly, by something or someone in the way. The “clacks”, now paired with occasional “clicks”, made their way closer, growing louder with each passing second.

And just when I thought they were going to get even louder, they stopped. For a minute there was a ruffling of cloth, and then came a metallic clang, similar to that of the handcuffs, but lighter and more fluid, like that of a chain. The chain (or so I assumed), came dragging along from my right, and when it came to me, latched itself onto my right leg.

I finally felt fear. No more “slight unsettlement”. The fact that I was physically under the umbrella of someone else’s control, considering the fate which awaited me, awakened a heightened sense of fear and terror.

The “click – clack”s moved back to where they came from, and tugged at the chain twice. When I panic, random thoughts enter my head, and at that point, I felt like a dog being tugged away from a pile of shit. But subconsciously I knew this was a signal for me to stand. As I stood, the chain rose up, and I could feel the rest of it rise as well, indicating the presence and activity of others.

The chain was tugged a second time, in the direction we should walk I presumed. To make sure my assumption was right, I refrained from walking immediately. Once I felt the chain behind me slack, and the one in front of me become taught, I took my steps in the direction of the light.

After I took about five steps, I felt the fabric of sheath near my neck flutter. It was not caused by my movement, but something external, like a strong breeze. I took my next step, expecting to land on the same floor. But my heart was sent into overdrive, when I felt nothing under my feet, and weightlessly fell forwards. I clenched my fists, and squeezed my eyes shut, as I banged against a grainy but solid surface.

Before I had time to recover from the shock, a hand firmly grabbed my collar and swiftly pulled me up, like a cat being lifted up by its scruff. Once I was on my feet, I felt the fluttering again, but this time to all the fabric on me. When the top of my sheath was grabbed, again very firmly, I discounted it as the breeze, but when it was pulled off my head, the sudden and uncalled nature of it hit me as a shockwave, causing every part of me to freeze in a blackout.

The view was pretty simple and straightforward. We were in the middle of what looked like an abandoned mine, in a dug out site, which explained the strong winds considering it was the outskirts. In front of me stood a wooden guillotine with a metal blade, the width of my head, held at the top with a taught rope running below it. It overlooked the grey – black expanse of the rest of the mine.

A man, with a sharp jawline and muscly face cut, suited up in a formal outfit and holstering a gun, came up to the guillotine. His long hair fluidly waved in the breeze.

“Take a look around you lads”, he said, striding up and down with his hands behind his back.

We twisted our heads to the left and right, trying our best to get a glimpse of the full surroundings, as our lower body was completely bind by the metallic counterparts. A posse of policemen semi – circled our backs, with similar holstered guns, some even with rifles hung diagonally over their shoulders.

“You are surrounded by policemen of the highest order and training, taught to kill first and investigate later. So I leave the decision of escape, up to you”, he added, looking up at us finally.

“001, you’re up first. You, the one on the right”, he said, as he pointed at my chest.

I looked down, and found the number 001 printed on my chest in bold. I froze. It felt as if a self – defined bass inside me dropped, marking a penultimate moment.

“There’s no time to contemplate your fate, 001, you signed up for this when you dared those sins. Now come on up here”, he said, beckoning me forward.

I had no option but to walk up to him. A chill went down my spine, causing me to twitch.

“Oh, hang in there, boy. It’ll be quick. Just pray for a place in heaven, although I seriously doubt your admission in there”, he snickered, motioning towards the guillotine.

I went behind it and knelt down. It seemed tailor – made to fit my requirements, the space to rest my head was perfectly level with my position. I put my head on it, exhaling short and quivering breaths. The only thing in my sight was the dark undertone of the mine ground.

“I wouldn’t recommend making a final wish, none of us care enough to fulfil it. Close your eyes and it’ll be quick”, he said, the voice clearly coming from the top of me.

“1”

I closed my eyes.

“2”
I clenched my teeth and fists.

“3”

I stiffened my toes.

“May god save you. If he chooses to”, he said.

The blade slid down the slab smoothly, the rope flew up with a “thwip” and I tightened my body as my life’s moments came rushing back to me, at the speed of light, even faster.

(To be continued)