The young elf's eyes filled with tears. His little voice shook.
"Please don't kill me. I don't know any secrets about Ashwood Village…"
Executioner stared at him, the edge of his sword still catching the moonlight. But then, his expression softened. The blade lowered. He placed a firm hand on the boy's shoulder, feeling how fast his heart was racing under the skin.
"Hey. Don't panic," he said quietly. "I won't hurt you. I don't kill kids."
The boy blinked at him, chest rising and falling fast. Slowly, his breathing eased.
"I… I'm Rex," he whispered, voice small and unsure.
Executioner nodded. A faint smile touched his lips, the kind that didn't reach his eyes.
"You want to learn how to kill, Rex?"
Rex's eyes widened. Then he shook his head hard, curls bouncing.
"N-No!"
Executioner chuckled low in his throat.
"Killing's fun, Rex. See that rat over there?" He pointed to the side of the path, where a fat rat was sniffing around some leaves. "Take the sword. Try it."
Rex hesitated, but his small hand reached for the handle. The blade was cold and heavy in his grip. His arm trembled as he raised it. Then, in one fast swing, he brought it down.
The rat squealed, split clean in two. Blood spilled out in a warm puddle, soaking into the ground.
Rex stared at it. His breathing quickened, but it wasn't fear anymore—it was something else. His eyes lit up with something wild.
"Was that… fun?" Executioner asked, voice low and wicked.
Rex nodded fast, lips curling into a grin. "Can we do more?"
Executioner laughed. It was cold, cruel, amused.
But then—creak.
The front gate of Ashwood groaned open. Three grand elves stood at the entrance, tall and cloaked in green, their eyes scanning the shadows.
"Rex?" one of them called out. "Who's that with you?"
Executioner's face changed in an instant. The wickedness vanished. He smiled, warm and polite, like someone meeting his in-laws.
"Nice to meet you, elders," he said smoothly. "I just saved your grandson from a hungry python."
Rex blinked, caught off guard. But he nodded quickly, catching on.
"Yeah! Grand Elders, I almost got eaten… but this guy—" he leaned up to Executioner and whispered, "What's your name?"
"Parker," Executioner whispered back.
Rex turned. "This guy, Parker, saved me."
The elders stepped forward. The one in front—Austin—gave a small bow.
"Thank you, young man. What can we do to repay you?"
Executioner smiled faintly, putting just enough sadness in his voice.
"If I could stay here for a while… that'd be more than enough."
One of the other elders, Tyler, leaned in and whispered, "He looks… strange. Are we sure about this?"
Dylan frowned. "He saved Rex. We owe him."
Tyler grumbled, but nodded. "I don't like it…"
Austin looked back at Executioner, firm. "He stays."
Executioner's smile turned sly. Thanks for accepting Raven, he thought silently.
He followed them inside.
Ashwood was beautiful—lush green trees, smooth rivers glowing under lanterns. The elves were tall, graceful, dressed in flowing green robes. Their skin glowed faintly in the twilight. As Executioner stepped into the heart of the village, eyes turned to him. Curious whispers spread through the crowd.
But Executioner just smiled, calm and composed, even as annoyance prickled beneath the surface.
Suddenly—a scream.
A woman's voice rang out sharp, cutting through the evening calm. Rex grabbed Executioner's hand.
"Come on! Someone's giving birth!"
They rushed to a wooden house. Through the window, Executioner saw the woman screaming on a bed, sweat pouring down her face. Her legs shook. A skilled midwife worked between them, calm but focused.
More elves gathered. The room filled with quiet tension.
Executioner watched from the window. For some reason… he couldn't look away.
The woman screamed louder, until finally—
A wet cry filled the air. The midwife caught the baby, lifting it up. The villagers cheered.
The mother looked up, smiling weakly, tears in her eyes. She laughed, soft and tired, staring at her baby…
Then her smile faded. Her eyes slowly closed.
She fell back, silent.
The cheer died. One by one, the elves realized.
She was gone.
Everyone froze. Tears welled up in their eyes. No one spoke. The baby cried, tiny and unaware, cradled in gentle arms. But the woman who brought him into the world lay still. Dead.
Executioner stared, heart pounding in his chest.
My heart?
He placed a hand to it. It was beating.
But he didn't have a heart. Not anymore. Not since he became Executioner.
Sadness washed over him like a wave. Something sharp and bitter. His chest tightened.
The voices screamed in his mind—louder than ever.
"You're not one of them! You're not human! You're Executioner! You're the devil's apprentice!!"
His eyes flared red. Then green. He screamed, his voice raw and twisted.
The elves turned, shocked. Executioner fell backward, crashing hard.
He fainted.
---
Hours passed.
6:23 PM.
Rex tiptoed into the quiet room, climbing up onto the bed. He shook Executioner gently.
"Parker… wake up."
Executioner's eyes fluttered open. His breath caught in his throat.
He sat up, rubbing his face. Rex helped him steady.
"Let's go," Rex said.
As they reached the door, Executioner asked, "What happened?"
"You fainted," Rex replied. "We've been taking care of you."
Executioner nodded. His head still throbbed. But something didn't feel right.
Outside, the village was too quiet. No laughter. No singing. No elves in sight.
Austin met them near the path.
"You're awake," the elder said. His face was tight with worry. "Bad news. The dead are rising. Zombies. From the cemetery nearby. They're coming this way."
Executioner tilted his head. Then slowly… he smiled.
"What do you want me to do?"
Austin hesitated. "We're evacuating at dawn. We can't fight them. They turn people into husks… black eyes, no soul left."
Executioner turned to Rex, handed him over gently.
"Stay with him."
Then he disappeared into the trees.
---
The wind howled above the village walls. Executioner stood on a branch, looking out. The sound was faint at first—then clearer.
Scratching. Groaning. Chanting.
"Aaarghagha… Aaarghagha…"
He moved along the tree like smoke, eyes narrowed.
Below the wall, they gathered.
Zombies.
Dozens of them. Rotted, green flesh peeling. Sharp nails. Empty eyes. Mouths foaming as they snarled and clawed at the stone.
Executioner's grin stretched wide.
"This is what I've been waiting for."
He let out a laugh—low and twisted.
"Haha… hehehe…"
The zombies mimicked him. Their chants grew louder.
He placed a ladder gently against the wall. A path.
Then he stepped back. Watched from the shadows.
One by one, they climbed. Groaning. Moaning.
Thirty-five of them.
An elf stepped out of his home, stretching in the cool night.
He didn't see them until it was too late.
A zombie lunged. Bit deep into his neck. The elf screamed once. Then silence.
Within a minute, his skin turned green.
Executioner kept watching, hidden. Then—
"Rex?" he whispered, eyes widening.
The boy was there. Curious. Looking around.
Behind him, a zombie rose.
Executioner's breath caught.
Its teeth opened wide.
It was inches from the boy's neck.
"Rex—behind you!!"
But the words never left his throat.