Nakoma

All my life I hated moving. But no matter how hard I begged my father, we always ended up moving anyway. Every time I pleaded, he would sit me down on his knee and give me that same ol’ talk.

“Daddy’s job makes it hard to stay in one place, you know that, Nakoma.”

And now that my father was gone I had to make up my own excuses.

“It’s just a downside to a shitty job…” I muttered to myself as pulled a hoodie over my plain white shirt. Now that I thought of it, I didn’t even know what my father used to do before he vanished. It had to be something sketchy or he wouldn’t have just abandoned me, right?

I exhaled sharply and decided to stop thinking about the father I desperately longed to see. If I were braver, I probably would have gone after him months ago. Instead I decided to use what little talent I had to steal. Not very glamorous, I know, but it put bread on the table… usually. And that same occupation is what brought me to a small town marketplace alive with chatter and barter. I forced a casual smile and waded into the ocean of people.

There were countless stands selling various goods: food, flowers, toys, beads, pottery, whatever you could imagine. It reminded me of a scene from a fairytale or renfaire of some sort. A man selling tulips all colors of the rainbow spotted me and waved, brandishing a bouquet.

“Pretty flowers for a pretty lady,” he offers. I humour him and walk over as if I was contemplating buying. I bend over to sniff the bundle of flowers while my eyes travel elsewhere. A few stalls down I notice a glimmer of sunlight against something shiny. There’s a stand selling what appears to be golden chalices and crosses. Definitely worth looking at. I shake my head at the tulip man to decline his offer of buy one get one free and walk away. I pretend to take interest in the other stand along the way. Rugs, pots, and dolls hold my mock interest as I listen for any useful information.

As I make my way to the golden artifacts, I overhear its clerk talking to a patron.

“Is that real gold?”

“Yes, ma’am. Reasonably priced too.”

Jackpot. I could definitely buy myself dinner for a few nights. I browse as the other patron walks away and the clerk continues to set more golden and silver things out for display. I notice a price tag. For being “reasonably priced” they sure were expensive.

Suddenly, I get my chance as the clerk turns his back for a single moment. But it’s all the time I need. I snatch a golden goblet and run as fast as my legs can carry me through the crowd. I push past person after person as I hear a strained cry.

“Stop her! Stop that thief!”

A few people make grabs at me as I bolt through the crowd murmuring with distress over the commotion. There are a few high pitched screams, probably caused by overreacting women, but I don’t stop.

Almost there. I can see my escape route. It’s so close I can nearly taste it. But just as I push past a hefty middle-aged man, I feel a hand clamp down on my shoulder. I gasp and look over to see a young man dressed in a cop’s uniform.

“That’s enough. You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”

I consider running away, but the grip on me is tight and… frankly I was too tired. I don’t protest as he snatches my golden meal ticket and shoves my hands into cuffs. The only thing on my mind is how long I was going to be in jail for. And hey, at least I’d get fed in prison, right? I’m sure I could survive a few years. Father would kill me if he ever found out though.

He reads my rights as he pushes me back through the crowd, still unsettled by the scene I caused. Dirty looks mixed with disdain and fear were shot at me but I could honestly care less. All I wanted was to go home and sleep, pretending this didn’t happen.

***

Colt

The sky was heavy with coming rain as Colt waited quietly behind a bush watching a duo of people speak quietly to one another outside the outskirts of the Holy City. The two speaking were male and female humans that appeared to be in their early to mid twenties. The male was tall and ginger while the female was shorter with mousy brown hair pulled into pigtails. Colt thought they looked really cute.

“So what do you think about the Horsemen?” the girl asked. “Pretty scary stuff, right?”

“Yeah,” the male agreed. “Means the End of All Times could be just around the corner and we’re underprepared.”

Colt found himself grinning. These two had to be Saints! Only Saints would possess the knowledge of the Horsemen’s behaviour and what it signified. He was unsure he could take more than one of them at time, he had never interacted with a Saint (let alone any human) before, so he decided to wait a bit longer to see what ensued.

“Another earthquake hit Japan,” the male whispered. “And sporadic storms have been popping up around the world…”

“We need the Angel Blade and quick,” added the female. The Angel Blade? Colt had never heard of such a thing. Perhaps he should ask his father about it once he returned home victorious. After what felt like hours of chatter, the male departed leaving only the small female behind.

Colt watched her for a moment before deciding to make himself known.

“I know you’re there,” the woman spoke before Colt could even move to announce his presence. “You were watching us talk, weren’t you? I’m not stupid, you know.” She puffed out her chest with pride. “I am a Saint.”

Colt sighed. The element of surprise was no longer on his side. Begrudgingly, he revealed himself.

“Indeed I was,” he said with a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

Her brown eyes locked onto him with some sort of fury as she mouthed “demon”. Colt chuckled at this and held a hand forward.

“I have a question for you,” he purred. “May I have your soul?”

Her punch came whizzing through the air before the last syllable left his lips.

***

Nakoma

“Nakoma Jansen,” read the officer from his clipboard. “I see you’re wanted for quite a few accounts of minor theft.”

“Yeah that’s me,” I waved him off.

“Right… normally we’d only be looking at a few years but with the murder-.”

“Hold up,” I interrupt him, my eyes wide with disbelief. “What murder?” The officer looked surprised.

“The clergyman selling the artifacts. He was stabbed several times. We have multiple eyewitnesses stating you-.”

“No, not me. I would never kill anyone!” I protest. “Theft? Yeah, I’m a thief, but murder? There’s no way in Hell I would do such a thing!” The officer goes silent for a moment before speaking.

“Someone got you on video, I’m sorry Miss, but this is a pretty shut and close ordeal. Normally there would be an investigation and a trial but since the man murdered was part of the Church we’ve handed it over to them and well… they were quick with the punishment.”

My heart sank. “And...?” I ask even though I knew the price for the blood of a Holy Man.

“Death.”

***

That night I prayed in my stupid cell as hard as I could. I fell down to my knees as tears trickled down my cheeks. My hands were folded so tight they were white. I ached everywhere but I remained there on the ground before a silent, invisible god and begged.

“Dear Lord, please, if you have any mercy, any at all, please don’t let them do this. Please, I don’t want to die for something I didn’t do! I’m begging you, please don’t let them do this to me! You’re supposed to be a champion of truth and love, right? You’re supposed to love your children, right? Well I could use a bit of love… a bit of mercy…”

I fell forward, the tears too much to continue. I just wanted to go back. Go back to the days of my father sitting by my bedside, reading me a fairy tale or two before tucking me in for the night. I just wanted my father here with me now to tell me everything was going to be alright. But the night was empty and silent save my ragged sobs as I utter a single word to the still air.

“Amen.”

***

The day of my execution came quickly, and the realization that I was going to die over some stupid shiny cup hadn’t set in yet. The night before I got a last meal, like in the movies. A cup of chai tea. Some toast, over easy eggs, sausage, and some fresh fruit. It was delicious but it didn’t at all ease me into the thought of getting my head chopped off in front of a crowd of people.

Public executions were only done in serious crimes… against the church. I had only witnessed one in my lifetime and I had hid my face when the blessed blade swung down on the criminal. Back then I never would have thought it would be my own neck. I stare out at a sea of people with haunted looks. We’re overlooking them on a marble platform. Beside me is a priest and a holy man dressed in white holding the ornate silver blade that would be slicing through my neck.

"Nakoma Jansen.”

I step forward.

“You stand here today guilty of stealing from the church and the murder of a clergyman. Here you stand now, before God and his children. Do you have any last words?"

I think for a moment, drawing a blank on the phrase that will be my last.

“Let God judge me.” I say bluntly. The priest nods for me to kneel which I do without hesitation. I don’t think about running, I just wonder what death will feel like. How much would the sword hurt and how quick until I stand before Heaven’s gates? Would my father be there?

I rest my head against the chopping block stained with the blood of criminals before me.

“I’m so sorry dad…” I whisper to the stone.

"Now, we send you to your true, heavenly father to be judged for your crimes.” The priest backs away and I hear the steps of my executioner come forward. I close my eyes as his hand brushes the hair away from my neck.

I brace myself.

“Wait!” I hear the priest shout.

I hear running footsteps.

“This woman… this woman is a Saint!”