Optio's POV/short story

Hi there, since it was my vacation month, I basically decided to write what short story I felt like writing. This came to mind. Spoiler warning, I suppose. It's the Optio's POV before he attacked Hati:

Another uneventful night at the tavern. Fucking hells. Should’ve just bought a whore.

Marcus promised to accompany me. Yet, he didn’t show up. Must’ve been busy. He’s an important man after all; could never hold that against him.

My lonesome steps echo in the too familiar street.

No. Not lonesome.

Someone else’s steps join mine. The sound makes me halt. Thieves?

Fucking hate thieves.

“Just try it, motherfuckers. I’ll gut you,” I shout at the empty street.

No answer.

Suddenly, my brain conjures up an image of me as a scared, lonesome lamb. And the person watching me is a hungry lion. The hair at the back of my neck stands up as the muscles in my legs strain, yelling at me to flee.

Flee? Me? I let out a chuckle. I’ve killed tens of men and no thief could best me.

I shake my head. Why so jumpy? Pathetic.

Look as I might, there’s no one here. I let out a sigh. Stupid. Stupidity. I–

There’s a person standing next to me.

A short, blond-haired little shit peers at me underneath their cloak.

I chuckle at the sight. What a puny fool.

However, the sound that was supposed to be a chuckle comes out as a pitiful groan.

They give me a smile that bares their teeth. They seem almost pointy.

I take a step back. Why am I afraid of that little creature? “Who’re you?” My voice is flooded with terror.

The creature doesn’t answer. I squeeze the hilt of my sword but the feeling of leather doesn’t fill me with the usual confidence.

It’s as if… I knew that I couldn’t kill them with a mere blade. As if it’s almost pathetic that I would even consider attacking them.

It’s as if I should just surrender to my fate. Accept whatever they have in store for me. Just lie down and wait for them to open up my belly and eat my entrails.

Finally, the silence is broken by their emotionless voice: “You will die tonight.”

“Huh?” Their words ring true. I have no choice but to believe them. “Now?”

They point me towards the road to the barracks. “Go.”

I don’t want to go. I’m scared. There’s a load of lead in my stomach and my feet feel as heavy. I think of my mother. The last thing she said to me was to shut my filthy mouth.

Fear.

Regret.

Then, the unnecessary feelings subside. Instead, rage fills me.

kill

Who?

A stupid question.

The image of that pathetic little shit fills my mind. Yes. I will. Kill. Kill the little shit.

The person looks after the man. There’s a small smile dancing on their lips. They’re not in a hurry as they start walking after him.