My face became twisted at the barmaid's words. What was she talking about exactly?

Suddenly Martin appeared with plates of grilled meat. He began serving it to all his men in the tavern, they ate the meat and drank their fill of beer. Martin looked towards me and brought me a plate. An odor wavered through the air and it smelt familiar.

"Eat up Demitri!" Martin said.

My eyes wander over to the barmaid who still had a smile on her face, but something told me it was covered with terror.

"I'm alright for now. I just want more beer!" I said.

Martin smiled at me and laughed.

"Okay! More beer! Everyone! It's a feast!" Martin yelled.

The tavern got more rowdy and loud. I quietly drank from my cup while I examined the meat. It looked like any other grilled and seasoned meat to my eyes. Yet there was something strange and I couldn't quite tell. It was as if I seen it all my life but I never ate as much meat as Martin.

Martin and his men ate heartily but it was almost savage in nature. My mind started to question about what was going on. Where did all this meat come from? Didn't all the pigs die? I didn't see any cattle or livestock when entering Swillsden either. My eyes move to other patrons in the bar and they all had a smile on their face.

It had become eerie and I couldn't shake a familiar smell in the air. The aroma of grilled meat lingered and the sounds of men increased. I only sipped my drink while observing others. Martin had sat with his other men and they talked about past glories. Some of his men pierced some gazes toward me but I ignore them. As the fervor of celebration reached higher, the tavern doors opened and someone rushed in. It was a man who looked to be another mercenary like the others.

"Mayor!" The man said. "There's a problem!"

"What is it?" Martin replied.

"The storage house was broken into!"

Martin's face tensed into anger.

"Damn it!"

Martin slammed his fist on the table.

"What?" I said.

"It must have been those criminals," Martin said. "No wonder we couldn't find them!"

"They led us out on a chase so they could get into the storage house."

"What's in the storage house?" I asked.

"Our food supply!" Martin said.

Martin and his men stood up, there was no cheer in the tavern anymore.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked.

"Don't worry Demitri, we'll handle this," Martin said.

Martin took his men and left the tavern. As soon as they left some of the patrons in the tavern relaxed. Their smiles replaced with looks of despair. Realizing I was still here, the smiles of the patrons came back. Only the barmaid came quickly over to me. The unnatural smile she had was gone, replaced with a stoic face.

"Sir, I don't know why you are here but you should leave." She said.

"Why?"

"There's going to be trouble soon and you shouldn't be here."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"You look different from them."

The barmaid left me alone as soon as she gave her warning. There was something odd going on and I couldn't just wait here. I left the tavern and wandered about the town. There was a strange atmosphere around the people. The town folk walked around slumped but when they saw me, they had a big smile on their face. Anytime I would look at someone, I was returned with an unnatural smile.

There was also a disparity between the sizes of the town folk. Some of the people were big and overweight while others barely looked like they've eaten. Martin had told me that there were no class differences here but this seemed strange. Some people I saw were eating meat happily while others did not.

While walking around town I witnessed a child carrying a meat stick scurrying to his mother. She looked like she was starving. When the child held the meat stick towards his mother she slapped it out of his hand. Her face was filled with terror as she berated her child. Suddenly her gaze came upon me and she broke into a smile. Quickly she grabbed her son and left deeper into the town.

There was definitely something going on but I couldn't understand. Was the meat tainted? Why did some people eat and others did not? I decided to investigate more and see what was going on. If Martin was in trouble I was going to help him. It was the least I could do for taking away his place in the world. Martin had created a new position for himself here and I didn't want to see it broken.

People started disappearing from sight as the darkness crept over the horizon. The echoes of my breathing resounded through the town but I heard faint whispers. I could feel people watching me as the whispers continued. I couldn't evade the eyes or the sounds as I lurked about. That familiar smell still lingered in the air.

My nerves were being tested and I felt strange. I turned into an alleyway in hopes of regaining my composure. I stare at the ground while twisting the ring on my finger. My gaze moved down the alleyway and there I saw some hooded figures. They looked like they were in a rush to be somewhere and I moved to follow them. Could they be the criminals Martin was looking for?

I could hear them talking to each other in low voices. I sneaked behind them and kept in the shadows.

"Is he gone?"

"Yes."

"How are the others?"

"Fine, a little shaken."

"Good."

"What about that other one?"

"Who?"

"The one who came with them."

"I don't think he's like them."

"He seems to be dangerous."

"I heard that he's an old friend of the mayor."

"Then we should stay away from him."

Were they talking about me?

I watched as they entered a house on the outskirts of town. The house was in plain sight but it was covered by high walls and a gate. I don't think I'll be able to enter through the front anytime soon. I made my way to the walls of the house and walked around. The wall completely wrapped around the house.

Sounds emanated from the house but I couldn't make them out. A tall tree was situated close to the wall behind the house. The tree branch extended over the wall. I had found my way inside and would have to physically exert myself. I climbed up the tree swiftly as a squirrel. I still couldn't see what was happening inside the house from the tree.

I walked over the tree branch and dropped myself over the walls. My eyes came face to face with a small girl. She looked malnourished and she was playing with a doll. The small girl had a tired expression but became wide-eyed at my appearance. Her cheeks were sunken in and it looked like she hadn't eaten for days. I put my finger to my lips to tell her not to make a sound and she nodded.

"Hello sweetheart, my name is Demitri," I whispered.

"Anna." she replied.

"What are you doing here?"

"Playing."

"Where's everyone?"

"They're inside talking."

"Do you know what they're talking about?"

"The mayor."

My face turned grim at her revelation.

"Is your family here?"

"Yes, this is my house."

This would be a terrible place for a criminal hideout if they had a small child. Or it could be the perfect disguise. With this child here, I don't think I could do anything reckless. I wasn't going to scar this child for life. I'll just observe for now and if anything happens, I'll escape.

I pat the small girl on the head and leave her. I edge closer to the house and peer through the side of a window. There was a dim candle that lit the room and I could make out some figures. They were all cloaked but I could make out the shape of their frames. They had lean and scrawny bodies, very different from some of the plump town folk.

It looked like they were in a heavy discussion about something but I couldn't make out what they were saying. As I try to listen closer, I see the shadow of a little girl inside. She was the same little girl that was outside with me. I realized my mistake when she pointed out the window to my direction. Many of the figures drew their weapons and ran outside the room.

I try to make my escape and look for a quick way to scale the wall. I run and jump, trying to climb out the wall when an arrow pierced my hand. I cry out in pain while my momentum stops. I fall down to the ground like a rock. Removing the arrow that pierced my hand, I look up to the cloaked figures. A man rushed me and propped me up by the collar.

"You're with those monsters!" The man screamed. "Martin and his company of devils!"