Chapter 34: Ch34 Dragged To Doom
A grunt.
Luther’s knuckles were white as he clung desperately to the handle of his bedroom door. His whole body pressed flat against the frame, legs spread wide like a stubborn cat refusing to be moved.
On the other side, Mariana had her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, digging her heels into the floor as she yanked with all her might.
Mariana (shouting): "LET GO, YOU BRAT!"
Luther (howling): "NEVER! I WON’T BE DRAGGED TO MY DEATH! I’LL ROT IN THIS ROOM BEFORE I GO!"
His voice cracked like a dying animal, echoing down the hall. He clung tighter, his cheek mashed against the wood, eyes wild.
Luther (sniffling): "Damn this birthday! Damn this stupid plot! I prayed for no birthdays this year, I even blew out candles for it!"
Mariana (furious): "You never had candles!"
Luther (sobbing fake tears): "That explains why my wish didn’t come true!"
With one mighty tug, Mariana pulled him a few inches away from the door—only for him to snap back and cling harder, arms and legs locked like a barnacle.
Luther: "No! No! No! This is kidnapping! I demand a lawyer! Where’s my union rep?!"
Mariana (groaning): "You don’t even know what those are!"
Luther (dramatically): "I know they’re supposed to save me!"
Mariana finally pried his grip loose. Luther tumbled backward onto the floor with a heavy thud, limbs flailing. Before he could scuttle back to the door, she grabbed his ankles and started dragging him down the hallway like a sack of grain.
Luther (screeching): "HELP! MONSTER ATTACK! I’M BEING ABDUCTED! SOMEONE CALL THE GUARDS!"
Mariana (gritting her teeth): "If I could, I’d sell you to the guards right now."
Step by step, she bumped him down the stairs. Luther’s elbows smacked every step on the way.
Luther (yelping each bump): "Ow! Abuse! Ow! Brutality! Ow! Child endangerment!"
At the bottom, Jobin leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, watching with an amused smirk.
Jobin: "Looks like she finally figured out how to move you."
Luther (glaring upside-down at him): "You! Snake! Traitor! Why didn’t you warn me about this?!"
Jobin (grinning): "Because watching you cry is the best part of my day."
Luther (clutching his chest): "My own brother... feeding on my suffering... how evil can you get?"
Mariana huffed, wiping sweat from her forehead.
Mariana: "Quit whining. You’re eighteen now, act like it!"
Luther (snapping): "I am acting like it! Eighteen is just eight with a ’teen’ stuck at the end! I’m perfectly in character!"
Mariana groaned, dragging him toward the door.
Outside, the villagers had already gathered, waiting by the cargo carriage that stood ready on the road. Decorations for Prayer Day fluttered in the breeze—bright banners strung across rooftops, flowers hung from poles, tables set up in the square. The scene was cheerful... until Luther was hauled out the door, heels scraping against the ground.
Betty stood at the front like a general before her troops, spoon in hand. Her sharp eyes landed on Luther immediately.
Betty (commanding): "Get him in."
Luther (desperate, reaching out): "Betty! Lovely, radiant Betty! You wouldn’t send an innocent lamb like me to the slaughter, would you? Look into my eyes! Pure innocence! See?"
Betty (flatly): "I see a boy who reeks of monster guts. Get in before I scrub you myself."
Luther (gasping): "No! Anything but scrubbing! Please, spare me the soap!"
In a last-ditch effort, Luther twisted free of Mariana’s grip and bolted toward the market stalls. His legs pumped wildly—until Jobin stepped in front of him, caught him by the collar like a loose chicken, and with no effort at all, lifted him off the ground.
Luther (kicking midair): "UNHAND ME, YOU BRUTE! THIS ISN’T FAIR!"
Jobin (smirking): "Life isn’t fair. Now get in."
With one smooth swing, Jobin tossed him straight into the carriage. Luther’s scream echoed through the square before he landed face-first on the wooden floor with a THUMP. His bag followed immediately, smacking him square in the back of the head.
Luther (groaning): "Betrayed... by blood... doomed to exile in a wooden coffin on wheels..."
Jobin leaned on the carriage frame, chuckling.
Jobin: "Don’t be so dramatic. You’ll be fine."
Luther (glaring, pointing a trembling finger): "You! I’ll haunt you! You’ll never sleep soundly again—I’ll rattle your stupid boots in the night!"
Betty tapped the carriage sharply with her spoon.
Betty: "Driver. Move out."
The oxen snorted, the wheels creaked, and slowly the cargo carriage lurched forward.
Inside, Luther scrambled to the back, pressing his face against the bars like a prisoner being hauled to execution. His eyes blazed with fury, tears streaming comically down his cheeks.
Luther (screaming at the crowd): "I’LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU! YOU’VE ALL DOOMED ME! I CURSE THIS DAY! I CURSE THIS BIRTHDAY! I CURSE THIS DAMN PLOOOOOT!"
The square burst into laughter. A group of older men leaning by the tavern door slapped their knees, nearly choking on their drinks.
Old Drunkard: "Hah! Didn’t I say it? Luther always runs when Prayer Day comes. Look at him now—dragged like a pig to market!"
Another Bar Regular: "Serves him right! Remember three years ago? He vanished into the forest and made the priest chase him for hours!"
Third Man (wiping tears): "And last time, he pretended to faint! Dropped right in the mud! Hahaha—oh, gods, it’s finally caught up with him."
The women covered their mouths, giggling, whispering about how Luther always caused scenes during the holy days. Children ran alongside the carriage, pointing and laughing as Luther shook the bars like a madman.
Luther (shrieking, red-faced): "LAUGH NOW, FOOLS! BUT WHEN THE WORLD ENDS, REMEMBER—I WARNED YOU!"
The villagers only laughed harder, waving him off like an entertainer leaving the stage.
The carriage rolled on, Luther’s curses echoing down the road.
Mariana huffed. A wicked smirk appearing om her face.
"Hmmm..."
"I wonder how those fools would react?..."
Jobin turned to her and smirked.
"You didn’t tell those old geezers he was coming did you" he asked amused.
"Nope" she shrugged.
"I always love a good surprise, and telling then would give out all the fun" she giggled.
"And... there is one person I’m sure would be most happy"
"ACHOO!"