A Man That Can’t Be Saved

[Sparrow]

Marcus sprinted through the forest, running as fast as he could. He was terrified. His heart was racing, and he could hear the blood pumping in his ears. His feet ached. He had no idea how long he had been running, but it never felt like it was enough. He had to get away. Had to flee. He couldn’t stop; his body wouldn’t let him stop. But his mind was clear. He thought about the people he used to call friends, and the truth he had always known stared him in the face. They all hated him. They all turned on him so quickly. All for two gold; the fact that they thought he would betray them for any amount of gold stung deeply. They genuinely thought some noble could buy his loyalty. They had looked him in the eye and considered him a traitor. But he already knew this. He knew he had no place among them even before tonight.

All he had ever been to them was a mercenary. He started laughing. Finally, admitting the truth to himself felt wonderful. He no longer had to pretend he never saw their sidelong glances or heard their hurtful remarks. And they no longer felt the need to pretend they cared. They proved that his loyalty had meant nothing to them. He started crying as he ran, knowing he never had a place among them. He no longer had to act like he ever belonged. Now, he was just a man running through the woods, trying his best not to die. Now, he just had more enemies. Having enemies was something he understood. But finally making friends after all this time, though? That had been something new. It was fun for a while, pretending they cared, but the hounds were out for blood now that the game was over. Meadowmere would probably send someone out to kill him. He knew too much about the town.

He tripped on a branch as he ran, stumbling and barely catching himself on a tree. He started to hyperventilate. He saw shadows at the edge of his vision no matter where he looked. Tears still ran down his face. He thought they had cared for him. For the first time in his life, he felt that he had made a friend. Was it all a lie? It had to be. He was just Meat to them. Not a person. Just Meat. That’s all he ever really had been. That’s all he knew how to be anymore. So Meat did the only thing he had ever been good at.

He ran and hoped no one cared enough to chase him.

[Author]

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