by Darren » Thu Mar 06, 2003 12:37 pm
The cold stone of his prison walls pressed against the thin cotton that he wore as his shirt. His knees were lifted and his elbows rested on them casually, his ankles bound togethor by sturdy chains. De`rouge, the man 'Of Red', watched the barred door with careful emerald eyes as his mind drifted to the memories he tried to bury in the deepest, darkest recesses of his mind.
"Come on, Deveroux..." he could hear her quiet, gentle voice echo in the back of his mind every night when he tried to sleep. Sometimes, he swore he could see her outline laying next to him at night. He didn't believe in things like that, though.
"We'll pick out flowers, and make lots of food, and just spend the day at the lake. It will be fun, and I know you love the water."
Sometimes he just wanted her to go away. She was dead now, and there was nothing he could do to bring her back. Her killer was running free, and all evidence lead straight to him. The memory of her murder was burned into his mind, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't rid himself of it.
The water from the lake was warmed by the summer rays of the sun. The two young lovers laid on the white sheet together with their basket, neatly filled with food, resting off to their side. Caitlin wanted to celebrate Deveroux's promotion in the military to First Class by spending the day togethor by the lake, since Deveroux's favorite hobby was to swim.
The glow of the overhead star showered the two lovers with its golden caress as they enjoyed their last day togethor. The married couple had said to spend eternity togethor; however, there was someone watching them. Dressed from head-to-toe in a concealing cloak, the dark figure snuck up on the unexpecting duo.
In his hand was a dagger with a serpent's head, a symbol of Deveroux's family crest. When he came in sight of the two, Caitlin squealed and immediately alerted Deveroux. He turned to find a dagger coming straight down toward his chest, but was able to roll away. Instead, the weapon found itself planted firmly into the arm of his lover.
The cloaked figure growled and then attacked Deveroux, and after a small struggle, was able to knock Deveroux to the ground with a painful blow to the head. With the stunned First Class officer on the ground, he then began to attack Caitlin. He attacked her viciously, marring her beautiful, pale skin with streaks of red and swelling wounds from the blade.
Before the guard's came that were alerted by Caitilin's screams came, he made a final slice across her throat and dropped the dagger by Deveroux before making his escape. When the guards finally came, they saw Deveroux holding his dying wife in his arms, with the dagger that beared his family crest next to him. They had all the evidence needed, and from that day, he was branded as De`rouge, 'Of Red', the wife killer. Vicious and emotionless, he had no regret in killing. They said it was what had made him such a good soldier. He was immediately decomissioned and placed in prison. That was two years ago.
"Two years ago..." De`rouge said to himself as he forced the memory away. "And still, I can't forget about her." He looked up from the stone ground to the clanking of a cell door, and a guard walked in.
"Deveroux Wilhelm," the guard started, "Because of an untimely turn of events, you've been selected to fight to the death for your freedom. Start preparing, wife-killer, I hear your opponent killed one of our own today when he was bringing him some food. I doubt he'll have any qualms with killing someone who is going to take his life."
The guard laughed as he turned and left the cell, locking it behind him. De`rouge could hear the guard's laughter echo through the hall as he walked away.
"I have a chance now," he said quietly, moving to his feet and staring over at his bed. "I can get out of here. I can avenge Caitlin."
I refuse to believe this is as good as it gets.