Post by 𝕡𝕖𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕥 on Aug 14, 2016 20:20:27 GMT -5
AN: The characters here are entirely made up, so don't expect to see any actual forumers. Nor is this an accurate representation of the Mods.
Madeline couldn't believe her eyes. She covered her mouth in shock as she comprehended the announcement on the village board: "In fourteen day's time, Forumville and the surrounding countryside will be obliterated, as well as anyone on those properties. We ask that you continue to abide by the law in the upcoming weeks, until the end. It's the lesser of two evils, we swear. Thank you, and have a nice death! — Your rulers, the Mods."
Madeline noticed that there were more forumers out than usual; many more, in fact. She saw citizens who had disappeared years ago. It was both refreshing and frightening. They all crowded around the board. Some wept, some shouted in anger, a few even cheered, but most were silent, in denial.
She was in denial herself. Sure, Forumville was small, and ruled by the Mods with an iron fist, but it was still home. The fact that such a home could be erased, along with its citizens...
"Oh my God!" Joseph yelled. Madeline turned to look at her friend. He trembled with rage. "How—"
Mary-Mod swooped in on her black demon wings. "Talking about religion, I see?" She unsheathed a crude sword.
Joseph let out a whimper. "Huh? When did I do that?" When did he do that? Madeline wondered, confused.
"Fool!" Mary-Mod roared. She slashed his throat open with a single swipe. A gasp of horror ran through the crowd. Madeline stepped back, too scared to protest. "You mentioned religion just now!"
"'Oh my God' is a perfectly valid exclamation." a weak voice in the back of the crowd piped up. Madeline stiffened in shock. I agree, but how much of a fool must you be to cross a Mod?
Mary-Mod's wings flared in anger. She whipped her head around, glaring. "Who said that?"
Madeline parted with the rest of the crowd to reveal Olive. Oh... Olive was a child, barely eleven. Despite being somewhat intelligent, the girl was still a newcomer. Surely Mary-Mod wouldn't punish a child for naïveté?
Mary-Mod slapped Olive across the face. She cried out in pain, before crumpling to the ground. The Mod then pointed a finger at the child. Madeline could only watch helplessly as Olive's body vanished, without a trace. Mary-Mod spat on the ground in disgust. "Talking about executed citizens and the circumstances surrounding them is forbidden!"She suddenly smiled, her tone sickly sweet. "Who's next?"
Madeline started to move backwards, her heart pounding. I have to get away from this place before time runs out. But Forumville territory stretches as far as the horizon! I might as well die now. An idea occurred to her. There's no point in prolonging my demise any longer. I don't want to wait for fate to finish me off. I will provide a rallying point... make it clear that I will not stand for this.
Before she could change her mind, Madeline pushed to the front of the crowd, and punched Mary-Mod in the nose. The forumer screamed in anger, "You! How dare you treat us like toys, and leave us for dead! You know what? You're a—" She started swearing, calling the Mods every bad word she could think of. Most of the forumers started to cheer softly, while others covered their ears in disbelief.
Mary-Mod gritted her teeth, staring Madeline directly in the eye. "Swearing and violence go against our Sacred Code, and that's not even considering the blatant blasphemy!" She grabbed her subject's throat.
As Mary-Mod's cold, cold hands made contact with her skin, Madeline prayed silently for forgiveness. Tears streamed down her face as she awaited her death. She gasped desperately for air, to no avail. I'm so sorry it had to be this way...
After some time, Madeline slipped into unconsciousness, followed by death, never to be seen or heard from again.
Thank God, it was quicker than she anticipated.
...
Madeline opened her eyes, surprised to find herself awake and alive. I just died, didn't I? Is this Heaven? It couldn't be; she was surrounded by trees and shrubs. The traumatic experience fresh in her mind, Madeline had to force herself to her feet. Oddly enough, her throat didn't even ache. Huh.
As Madeline surveyed her surroundings, she noticed a sign reading, You have now entered the property of Forumville (50 mi north). She was standing at the edge of Forumville territory!
Tentatively, Madeline took a step over the border, and shrieked; the pain it caused, just to set foot in Forumville land... it was unbearable. Madeline hopped back to her side of the border, and the pain stopped. Madeline pressed herself against a tree, hyperventilating. As she rested, she noticed another sign, downstream. This way to the Warriors Camp and Refugee Place [WCRP].
Eagerly, Madeline headed down the path for a full day and night, before coming across a village. It was even smaller than Forumville, yet much, much more just, judging by the board rules. She was starving and famished, so she knocked on the door of the Main Hall.
A young man answered. He smiled warmly. "Are you a refugee from Forumville?"
Madeline nodded numbly. "Yes, Sir. I need food and water, plus shelter, if you don't mind. I'll be on my way by the next sunset."
The man raised his eyebrows. "What are you talking about, lady? This is your new home! Come. We've taken in many refugees. Only the innocent ones, of course, but there's plenty."
She laughed uneasily. "Sir, I'm not exactly innocent..."
He waved his hand dismissively. "Fine. You're gray, rather than white. You had good intentions, and that's all that matters. Come, look around."
The man lead Madeline into the square. She gasped aloud. So many old forumers were here! Joseph, Olive, and hundreds, if not thousands more.
Is this it? she wondered. Have I found home? Though she still had many doubts, Madeline knew in her heart that she had indeed, found home.
Madeline couldn't believe her eyes. She covered her mouth in shock as she comprehended the announcement on the village board: "In fourteen day's time, Forumville and the surrounding countryside will be obliterated, as well as anyone on those properties. We ask that you continue to abide by the law in the upcoming weeks, until the end. It's the lesser of two evils, we swear. Thank you, and have a nice death! — Your rulers, the Mods."
Madeline noticed that there were more forumers out than usual; many more, in fact. She saw citizens who had disappeared years ago. It was both refreshing and frightening. They all crowded around the board. Some wept, some shouted in anger, a few even cheered, but most were silent, in denial.
She was in denial herself. Sure, Forumville was small, and ruled by the Mods with an iron fist, but it was still home. The fact that such a home could be erased, along with its citizens...
"Oh my God!" Joseph yelled. Madeline turned to look at her friend. He trembled with rage. "How—"
Mary-Mod swooped in on her black demon wings. "Talking about religion, I see?" She unsheathed a crude sword.
Joseph let out a whimper. "Huh? When did I do that?" When did he do that? Madeline wondered, confused.
"Fool!" Mary-Mod roared. She slashed his throat open with a single swipe. A gasp of horror ran through the crowd. Madeline stepped back, too scared to protest. "You mentioned religion just now!"
"'Oh my God' is a perfectly valid exclamation." a weak voice in the back of the crowd piped up. Madeline stiffened in shock. I agree, but how much of a fool must you be to cross a Mod?
Mary-Mod's wings flared in anger. She whipped her head around, glaring. "Who said that?"
Madeline parted with the rest of the crowd to reveal Olive. Oh... Olive was a child, barely eleven. Despite being somewhat intelligent, the girl was still a newcomer. Surely Mary-Mod wouldn't punish a child for naïveté?
Mary-Mod slapped Olive across the face. She cried out in pain, before crumpling to the ground. The Mod then pointed a finger at the child. Madeline could only watch helplessly as Olive's body vanished, without a trace. Mary-Mod spat on the ground in disgust. "Talking about executed citizens and the circumstances surrounding them is forbidden!"She suddenly smiled, her tone sickly sweet. "Who's next?"
Madeline started to move backwards, her heart pounding. I have to get away from this place before time runs out. But Forumville territory stretches as far as the horizon! I might as well die now. An idea occurred to her. There's no point in prolonging my demise any longer. I don't want to wait for fate to finish me off. I will provide a rallying point... make it clear that I will not stand for this.
Before she could change her mind, Madeline pushed to the front of the crowd, and punched Mary-Mod in the nose. The forumer screamed in anger, "You! How dare you treat us like toys, and leave us for dead! You know what? You're a—" She started swearing, calling the Mods every bad word she could think of. Most of the forumers started to cheer softly, while others covered their ears in disbelief.
Mary-Mod gritted her teeth, staring Madeline directly in the eye. "Swearing and violence go against our Sacred Code, and that's not even considering the blatant blasphemy!" She grabbed her subject's throat.
As Mary-Mod's cold, cold hands made contact with her skin, Madeline prayed silently for forgiveness. Tears streamed down her face as she awaited her death. She gasped desperately for air, to no avail. I'm so sorry it had to be this way...
After some time, Madeline slipped into unconsciousness, followed by death, never to be seen or heard from again.
Thank God, it was quicker than she anticipated.
...
Madeline opened her eyes, surprised to find herself awake and alive. I just died, didn't I? Is this Heaven? It couldn't be; she was surrounded by trees and shrubs. The traumatic experience fresh in her mind, Madeline had to force herself to her feet. Oddly enough, her throat didn't even ache. Huh.
As Madeline surveyed her surroundings, she noticed a sign reading, You have now entered the property of Forumville (50 mi north). She was standing at the edge of Forumville territory!
Tentatively, Madeline took a step over the border, and shrieked; the pain it caused, just to set foot in Forumville land... it was unbearable. Madeline hopped back to her side of the border, and the pain stopped. Madeline pressed herself against a tree, hyperventilating. As she rested, she noticed another sign, downstream. This way to the Warriors Camp and Refugee Place [WCRP].
Eagerly, Madeline headed down the path for a full day and night, before coming across a village. It was even smaller than Forumville, yet much, much more just, judging by the board rules. She was starving and famished, so she knocked on the door of the Main Hall.
A young man answered. He smiled warmly. "Are you a refugee from Forumville?"
Madeline nodded numbly. "Yes, Sir. I need food and water, plus shelter, if you don't mind. I'll be on my way by the next sunset."
The man raised his eyebrows. "What are you talking about, lady? This is your new home! Come. We've taken in many refugees. Only the innocent ones, of course, but there's plenty."
She laughed uneasily. "Sir, I'm not exactly innocent..."
He waved his hand dismissively. "Fine. You're gray, rather than white. You had good intentions, and that's all that matters. Come, look around."
The man lead Madeline into the square. She gasped aloud. So many old forumers were here! Joseph, Olive, and hundreds, if not thousands more.
Is this it? she wondered. Have I found home? Though she still had many doubts, Madeline knew in her heart that she had indeed, found home.
