I have been
in power for five months now. My plan is almost complete. All of the traitors
in this nation must die. It is my duty. I have dealt with most of the counter
revolutionists leaders now. I will never forget three months ago when the
committee approved and told the people, “It is time that equality bore it’s
scythe above all heads. It is time to horrify the conspirators. So
legislatures, place terror on the order of the day! Let us be in revolution,
because everywhere counter-revolution is being woven by our enemies. The blade
of the law should hover over all the guilty.” The French will believe anything
I tell them.
As I sit at
my desk and think about what other necessary actions need to be taken one of my
informers, Auguste, comes bursting through my office doors. “Sir, sir.” He says
while trying to catch his breath.
“What is it
Auguste?” I ask half knowing what he already is going to say.
“A group of
men by the well were speaking of.” He stopped for a second as I to think about
what he was about to say. “They were speaking of leaving because of all the
terrors, and saying that if they could, they would start a counter
revolution.”
“Well.” I
paused. “Who was it?” I demanded.
Auguste
gulped before saying, “Emmanuel Roux, Luc Vincent, and Serge Lefevre.”
“Not those
trouble makers again.” I said. I waved my hand to dismiss Auguste and he
quickly, but quietly left the room. I waited a minute or two before calling the
guards to come to my office. They march in single file.
“Yes sir.”
They say while bowing to me. I stand up and hey follow.
“There are
a few weasels I need you to catch for me.” I said sounding official. The guards
waited quietly for me to tell them whom they need to arrest. “They go by the
names, Emmanuel Roux, Luc Vincent, and Serge Lefevre. I want them prepared to
be executed this after noon.” The guards nodded and quickly pivoted around and
followed each other out of my office in a line. I sit back down and look out the
window to see the position of the sun. If I’m not mistaken it should be around
six a.m.
I call in the postman. He comes in
wearing dark blue and white with red details.
“Yes King Maximillian?” He asks.
“Please inform everyone they are to
report in front of town hall for another execution at high noon.” I say
sternly.
“Right away sir.” He says almost
intimidated while turning quickly around and leaving.
I call in some more guards and tell
them to get the guillotine set up; and not to forget the basket this time. The
one called Raoul looks sheepishly down to his feet. They nod in unison and file
out of my office. I stand up and walk out on to the balcony to my right about
five feet from where I was sitting. I look out over the railing of the outside
structure down to the square of people. Why are there so many traitors in my
country? It is almost a shame they are all going to have to die eventually. I
laughed to myself before returning into my office. I make a turn to my right
and walk over to the white doors. I reluctantly reach forward and open the
door. I walk through the hall way making a right, then another right, a left
and up the stairs, making my final right turn and walking into the castle part
of the town hall that I live in. I walk through the living area and into the
bedchambers.
I go over to my clothes and search
through for something elegant to wear to the execution. A ruler must always
look his best when in front of his people.
I must keep this revolution going. If I don’t. Disaster will strike
inevitably.
I get back to my office and start
pacing. People come in and out. Before I know it I am being told it is almost
time for the execution and I need to go to the main foyer to be readied. I
follow my servant down the main stairway into a fabulously decorated foyer
filled with art from the renaissance. I
see guards on the right. Twelve at the most. Six of them are holding the
prisoners. They look grim. Excitement builds inside before I am handed the
royal scepter used before me by all kings. I hear the loud crowd outside having
conversations and I know its time.
I stand in front of the main doors
and look back to see everyone going into formation. I open the doors and lead
the group of people out. Behind me are two guards holding the flag of France.
Behind them are four guards that will keep order incase anyone else says
anything. And behind them are the three prisoners each being carried out by two
guards. WE all file on the platform except the four guards that are to keep
order stay on the sides of the platform. I stand in front of my people and the
crowd falls silent. I stand in front of them, holding myself high and looking
as confident as ever.
“Hello!” I say to the crowd of
people. “We are gathered because these three men,” I point to the three men,
“Have decided it would be ok to talk about the revolution in a bad way. We all
know that isn’t correct right?” I can see the crowd nodding. “Each of them will
be brought up and presented to you.” I wave the first man forward.
“This is Luc Vincent. Do you have
anything to say to defend yourself?” I ask not giving him time to answer, “No?
Good. Guards. Walk him over to the Guillotine.” I say motioning towards the
huge wooden structure to my left. The guards walk him over and use their knees
to know him down and they correctly place his head on the structure. The
executionist looks at me for a sign and I do the smallest head nod and he pulls
the lever causing the blade to fall from the top and sever off the head of Luc.
A burst of excitement flares up in me, but I hide it as to not break the
seriousness in the crowd. The bloodied head falls into the basket and the
guards quickly pick the body up and throw it aside, and make their way to the
other four guards who are waiting in case they need to calm down the crowd.
I motion the next one forward.
“This is Emmanuel Roux. Now do you have anything to say? No? Ok.” I motion for
the guards to position him in the guillotine, and the event plays out; and
another time. After Serge’s execution I stand before the crowd and say, “Terror
is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, and inflexible.” I pause to let
it seep into the crowd’s mind. “You may now proceed with what you need to do.”
I pivot on my heels and walk back to town hall with the guards following close
behind. We all enter town hall.
A huge smile grows across my face
but no one can see it. I am that much closer to the finishing of my plans. I
climb the stairs and go back to my office. I am lost in thought until I can go
back to my bedchambers for the night.
A
FEW MONTHS LATER
It’s April
1794. The revolution is spiraling out of control. Now even my followers are
starting to turn on me. I don’t think I can trust the council much longer. They
seem to be doubting my motives. I don’t know how much longer I will last being
the power figure. I have been getting less and less information on people who
are against the revolution which is a sure sign I will be out of the council
soon. Before I know Guards burst into the office and hand cuff my hands.
“What’s
going on?” I ask annoyed.
“You are
under arrest for the unlawful killing of nearly thirty thousand innocent
citizens.” They said while getting a grip on my arm.
“Who gave
you this order?” I ask just as I said it Pierre Prieur walked in look high and
mighty. “You did this to me?” I asked betrayed.
“Why Yes I
did. You unlawfully killed those people. The committee noticed it and we were
waiting to take action.” He snapped his fingers and the guards took me to the
foyer of the town hall. Pierre walks to the front and leads them all out of the
town hall and up to the guillotine. There is a huge crowd, as always.
Pierre
steps to the front of the Platform and says, “Maximillian has done horrific and
unneeded things. He unlawfully killed thirty thousand innocent civilians. It is
time for him to get what should have happened months ago.” The guards brought
me up to the guillotine and positioned me correctly to be executed. A smile
grows across my face and as the blade comes down to my throat all I do is laugh.
I laugh and then all at once, everything grows dark.
