Chapter 29: The Trees and the Crows

As I announce the verdict, all Ace can muster up in reaction are two pitiful words.

"I’m… exiled?"

His once optimistic eyes are long gone as they flash back and forth at everybody, desperate for somebody to grab his hand and help him before he stumbles into the abyss.

Or perhaps he might just be praying the real outcome of the trial was being withheld for the sake of a cruel joke. Unfortunately for Ace, this was no joke.

"Ace, you have proven that you have superhuman abilities that could cause harm to any of us. Even further, you refrained from sharing the existence of these powers, and now, it's quite evident that you are willing to use these powers to suppress or harm us.”

Ace unveils a bleak smile as he grumbles, shaking his head in disbelief, "No, no, no, no, no. This… this isn't right, this shouldn't be…"

"Ace… you will never return to camp and never make contact with any of us again. You will be on your own. That is your punishment."

Shifting her glare from Ace to me, Delta asks, "What?! Why not just kill him now?!"

"Killing Ace now… would be a mercy. By the looks of it, he's killed two of our own and almost a third. Someone like him deserves to suffer much longer than what a quick death would supply,” I match Delta’s gaze. "And by the sound of it… he'll be entering a living hell and will surely die. Do you object to that punishment, Delta?"

A sly grin creeps across Delta's face, "As long as he pays for what he's done."

Paralyzed in shock, Ace stands completely immobilized, unable to move a muscle. I notice Code giving Ace a pitiful and maybe even saddened gaze. Something tells me he was planning on voting not guilty before Ace’s rather colorful display of his abilities anyway.

With that in mind, I instruct, "Forest, Falcon, knock him out."

They nod in unison, and Falcon punches Ace across the face. Ace falls over with no strength or will left to fight.

Exiled… exiled… exiled… exiled… exiled… exiled… exiled…

Gaping at the hazy night sky, Ace couldn’t stop thinking about that one word. And as he grew weary, his eyes shut. But just before he fell asleep, he thought about something else.

Is this really the life… I'm destined to perish in…?

***

As Code and I approach Ace the following evening, Code remarks, "Wow, he's still asleep. Falcon really knocked him out good."

With the sight of Ace tied up again becoming clearer, I’m reminded of my decision last night. It's been almost a full day, and I still don't know if this outcome is the right thing to do. We might need somebody like Ace in the future. But what's done is done…

Without showing any signs of my inner dilemma, Code somehow picks up on it, "You saw what happened. We can't allow somebody like him, who has powers like that, to stay here. He’s a danger to us all.”

I nod, "But as he said, he could protect us, help us. Exiling someone who could be so beneficial to our survival… it's certainly a risk.”

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"He admitted to killing Grace. Although he claimed it was unintentional, it proves he was willing to risk her life for the sake of his own. And that's enough to tell me he can't be trusted, especially after that fiery display."

“Yeah, you’re right,” I say, ending our brief interaction.

"Evening, boys! It's been a great day, hasn't it? No fighting, no killing..." says Delta, announcing her presence as she catches up to us with a smug smile.

I flash a look at Ace, "I guess so."

Just then, Ace moans and rubs his hand against his cheek. Before long, he realizes the three of us standing before him, and his eyes immediately grow alert. He attempts to move but frustratingly realizes that he’s once again restrained.

“Damn it, not this again,” mutters Ace.

Genuinely relieved to see him awake, I tell him, "Glad to see you're still alive. I thought Falcon might've killed you last night.”

"Ace, no need to feel stressed. We've already prepared your belongings for you," adds Code.

Seriously Code? You couldn’t have given him at least five seconds to wake up before reminding him about that?

Scoffing, Ace turns his face away from us and gazes at the campsite.

"Who gives a damn? You do realize I'm just going to die anyway, right?"

I wave over Falcon, Forest, and Hazel, who are all socializing by the campfire. Forest recognizes my gesture and informs the others, and the three of them make their way over, each wielding a sword of their own.

Chuckling, Ace snarkily says, "Oh lookie here, now you got three guard dogs on my ass instead of two… how kind of you."

"Just taking an extra precaution considering the nice little stunt you put on for us last night," says Delta as she folds her arms.

Ace asks, "So when will you make me leave?"

“Right now,” I tell him.

Following those words, I kneel and start untying the rope-bound Ace. After unraveling the final knot, I stare out into the forest, where the conditions of dusk have already begun to set in. As Ace and I gaze in opposite directions, my face dimmed from the shadows while Ace’s is lit up by the sunset, he says, "So this is it…"

"Yeah… it is."

Ace carefully rests his head back against the tree trunk.

"What's done is done. I just wish things turned out differently."

As I loosened the rope around the backside of the tree trunk, I responded, "Me too."

Freed, Ace stands up, and immediately, three swords are held up to him.

Ace raises his hands, "Woah there, easy guys. There's no need for all this."

"Don’t waste your breath. You've given us more than enough reason not to trust you," proclaims Forest.

Ace sighs, "Yeah… I guess you have a point there."

Ace turns toward me, Delta, and Code, "I'm just a victim, a victim like the others. I'm not your enemy, but I'm not your ally now, either. Soon enough, you'll know the truth. The truth of our enemy and his power. And unfortunately for you all, I'll be dead by then."

Changing the topic, I say, "Your stuff is down at the end of the path. It's the path your group took a few days ago, so you should be familiar with the area at least a little bit. Follow me.”

While I trek toward a backpack filled with Ace's spare clothes, sleeping bag, and canteen... Delta, Code, Ace, and his three guards follow me. Upon arrival, Ace leans over and picks up his backpack, swiftly putting it on. The rest of the people have begun to gather nearby as Ace looks down the path before him, the sunlight radiating a golden hue on his skin.

"Ace, today you will be exiled from our campgrounds. And you may never return,” I say.

Ace takes a deep breath and slowly begins walking toward the golden light. However, after a few steps, Ace stops.

"The trees and the crows, beware of those two things."

Sneering, Delta questions his words, "Are you seriously still trying to mess with us? Even now?"

Ace turns back, his expression earnest, "Flora and Grace's final words… were about those two things."

Everybody reacts differently; however, the group remains surprisingly hushed. Ace's eyes then meet mine, and we stare at one another for a few seconds.

"That's all," says Ace before he turns back around and officially exiles himself.

"I'll see you all in hell soon enough."

And as Ace walks off into the sunset, a crow that was hidden nearby silently takes off into the skies.