Role

Chapter 3

They told me I could watch them kill the killer. There were three hanging
executions that day. The man who killed my father died first and it was fast.

Thunk, snap, creak.

The one after him was a necromancer and he kicked really hard and turned
colors. Something deep inside of me turned on. I felt like an animal watching
a wounded gazelle run. I wanted to chase it. I wanted to leap on the
wriggling necromancer on the rope and punch and pound and tear and bite. Then
he stopped moving and I felt sad I wasn't there for it.

The third one went fast. I felt disappointed.

Adults' concerned frowns decorated my life like tapestries decorate rooms.

Reconnecting with the wilds would brighten me up, they said. They told me it
would be best if I played outside. Maybe they just wanted to get rid of me.

Anyway, I played outside. I made believe that I was a time traveler and that
I was leaving Evermoon for good. I made believe so hard that I escaped the
trees and scaled a mountain and crossed the plains and was among the cities
of man.

I made believe so hard that I made everyone else believe it, too.