Eelroy took a moment to smooth out the lines of his coat and check his hair before he pushed the double doors wide to the shouts and jeers of the awaiting crowd. A makeshift platform had been constructed in the middle of the square beneath the oak tree. The noose had already been tied and looped around a large and sturdy branch.

Now all they need is a neck to hang from it, Lukas though. He had expected being walked to his death would be a more depressing and frightening experience but the whole thing was so surreal it was hard to take it seriously. Beside him Eelroy was making a grand speech about the crime and arrest, and how their bravery and skill had preserved the safety of the town. It was a highly imaginative version of events but Lukas was hardly listening; he had his own tale to weave.

“Have you ever heard the tale of the hanged man’s justice,” Lukas whispered to Marko. He didn’t respond but he tightened his grip on the rope so Lukas knew he had heard him. “It’s an old tale of a man, who is wrongly accused, but no one would listen to his pleas of innocence, they just laughed at him.”

Eelroy had finished his speech and they started to make their way through the crowd.

“When they would not listen to his pleas the man instead tried to warn them. He knew that to execute an innocent man was murder and would stain the souls of all those involved.”

“Shut up,” Marko hissed back. Lukas was starting to get under his skin.

“And worst of all for the one who did the deed,” Lukas continued as they pushed through the crowd, heckling and throwing rotten food as they passed. “For they would forever be haunted by the face of the life they stole.” He heard Marko’s breath hitch in his throat.

Artony was standing at attention by the stairs to the platform. He was also dressed in his formal uniform, but the effect was spoiled by his face. His nose was swollen and bent to one side in the middle and though he had tried to cover it with makeup, a dark bruise was blooming across his face. Lukas made sure to catch his eye and smile; in for a penny, in for a pound. Artony went red beneath the makeup and bruise.

The stairs proved more of an obstacle and Lukas almost tripped with the effort but Marko caught him by the back of the shirt and practically lifted him all the way up, on to the awaiting box. Eelroy started part two of his grand pronouncement; he was going to make the most of Lukas’ death. Meanwhile Marko slipped the rope over Lukas’ head. He was adjusting the noose and checking it was tight enough when he stepped in front of Lukas and met his eyes.

“These are the eyes of an innocent man, and if you commit this act they will haunt you all the rest of your days.” Lukas made sure to look long and hard into those beady little eyes. “For the rest of your days,” he repeated and saw Marko’s skin pale slightly before quickly shuffling out of sight.

Lukas didn’t bother to look at the crowd. He didn’t want to see Allwood’s satisfied smirk and the looks of disappointment and disgust from all the people he knew. Instead he closed his eyes. He had meant to envision the forest in the early morning, tranquil, no one but him and the wilderness. But instead a vision of Wilt crystalized in his mind.

Oh well that works too, Lukas thought as he held his breath and waited for the drop.

Eelroy finished his speech with a great flourish and the crowd simmered down into a low murmur before settling into an eerie silence.

Lukas felt the box he stood on shudder beneath him when all of a sudden a loud cry filled the air.

“Fire, fire! Blaze on the eastern row. Help, fire!”

Screams rang out in the crowd as panicked footsteps started charging off in all directions.

“Stay here,” a voice ordered followed by more footsteps. Lukas was about to open his eyes to see what was going on when the box shuddered again followed by a loud crack and then a hand pulled him from behind.

Lukas fell backwards and the rope snapped tight around his neck. His eyes shot open but the noose prevented him from moving his head. The square had been emptied; there was no one to help him. He gasped out the breath he had been holding and unable to take another his body flailed around as panic set in. His wrists strained against the bonds while his feet kicked out to find the box. He could feel the edges of it but couldn’t find the top to pull himself back up. The edges of his vision started to blur and turn dark; his lungs burned in his chest.

“I’ve got you,” a voice spoke from behind as strong arms wrapped around his thighs and lifted his weight back onto the box. Cold metal pressed against his hands and the rope fell free. Lukas’ hands flew up to yank the noose from around his neck, but he was so frantic he ended up pulling it tighter. “Hold on, let me help,” the voice said calmly and slipped the noose off with ease. Finally free from his restraints Lukas turned and a giddy, flutter erupted in his stomach when he found Wilt standing behind him.

“Aww, I’m dead aren’t I?” He sighed, his voice croaky and pained.

“Not yet,” Wilt replied as he looked him up and down. “A bit banged up though.”

“Why did you come back?”

“Don’t know, I meant to leave. I did leave and then I came back,” he shrugged as if it were that simple.

Lukas shook his head in disbelief, a smile pulling at his lips but it died when he saw Marko’s crumpled body on the ground. “Is he dead?” he asked in alarm.

“No,” Wilt replied incredulously. “Did you want him to be?” he flashed the dagger he had used to cut the rope. Lukas honestly considered the offer for a moment, a long moment, but killing someone while they were unconscious just didn’t sit right.

“Quick, let’s go before someone sees us.” Lukas grabbed Wilt by the hand and shuffled away into the cover of the forest as quickly as he could.