REJECTED SAVIOUR

He kept running even when his lungs screamed for rest. His entire body was in pain and he could feel the ache all over. He wanted to stop and rest for a while but he knew he couldn't. Time at that moment was particularly precious and any slight misactions of his can ruin all that his friends had sacrificed for him. He needed to get away before he was caught. He was certain the king's guards were now on the lookout for him after all he had done. He could only but hope that his friends get away from this chaos in peace and his mother? Oh, he couldn't bear to think of her. She had suffered so much for his sake and he wished he could be the kind of son she deserved. But he couldn't. Here he was, running away. He came to an abrupt stop when he caught sight of the red palm tree the gatekeeper had made mention of. He looked sideways furtively, to ensure the coast was clear and he was the only one around. He sighed in satisfaction when he confirmed he was all alone except for the green almond shape entity in the sky that provided the light he needed to see. It was a good thing the moon was at its peak that night. He walked slowly to the palm tree and stooped, searching for the hole the gatekeeper had told him about. He cussed angrily when he noticed the tree had numerous holes in its stem. Couldn't the gatekeeper have been more specific, instead of allowing him to go through the stress of searching for the right hole? How would he find the key without anyone seeing him? He wondered even when he knew there was no other way to escape. It was either this or his head hanging on the pole at the square for the whole world to see. He exhaled in frustration and began searching for the key from one hole to another on the stem. The holes were so tiny that they could only fit in one of his fingers. He sighed miserably at his misfortune, hating his life at that moment and how unfortunate he was. After series of pulling his finger in and out of different holes whilst looking behind his shoulders for a sight of any living creature, he finally found the small shining crystal-like item shaped in form of a key. He sighed in relief, breathing heavily at the frustrating exercise he had undergone to find the key. Now, with the key in his possession, he sought to find the gate that would take him away to the unknown. The gatekeeper had clearly told him the gate was buried underneath the ground so he began the search for it; his hands scattering and shifting sand away as he searched fervently. Small beads of sweat were already forming on his head despite the cool atmosphere and he sighed for the umpteenth time. No one told him it would be this difficult to get away. The hard metal that came in contact with his skin made him back away for a moment as the silver circular gate shone under the green moon. A big smile crept onto his face as he beheld the gate, feeling very glad to finally find it. He quickly inserted the key into the cylinder and watched as the key disappeared into it. The gatekeeper had been right. No one had ever done this before. Could that be a good thing or was there going to be a repercussion? He shook his head, wondering why he was thinking about something unnecessary. It wasn't like he had another option. This was the only way out. He stood above the gate, shifting his weight to his left leg and back as he waited patiently for the gate to open. It had been minutes since the key disappeared into the gate and nothing was yet to happen - the gate was still closed - and the man was starting to get worked up. Had he done something wrong or had he inserted the key into the wrong place? The gatekeeper hadn't told him where to insert it and he had seen two holes. Panic began to set in as he watched the silver gate in fear. He looked behind his shoulders again. He was alone, but how long would it be before they caught up with him? Arrested and hanged him? The mere thought brought shivers down his spine but he shrugged it off as his fist came in contact with the hard metal for he had struck it very hard. He winced in pain, glaring at his already broken knuckles. "Open! Open, you goddamn metal." He fiercely whispered. "Open up now, won't you?" Nothing happened, and he shut his eyes firmly, giving up on his only way to escape. Perhaps, the gatekeeper had lied. Why else would the king's subject let a fugitive go without consulting the king? It must have led him here to die in the cold. His hands balled into a fist and he turned to strike the gate again when it began to glow and slowly it started to give way. His eyes widened in shock and admiration as he watched the gate transform into something ethereal; something surreal. He stood to his full length as he stared at the vertical entrance the gate had already given way to. "I guess, this is it!" He muttered to himself, staring back to catch a glimpse of the place he had once called home. Though it was now a distance, he could still make out the gigantic gate that protected his city from eternal forces with the help of the green moon. "But I'll be back, one day." He consoled himself and closed his eyes as he jumped into the underground entrance, expecting nothing but the unknown.