Here's one of the small snippets I wrote:
I ran as fast as I could, pulling Natalia with me. If this attempt failed, we would never get out of here. Natalia whimpered and I quickly loosened my grip on her hand.
“Ssh, Natalia, you’ve gotta stop whimpering, okay? I’ll try not to hold your hand so tight.” I whispered, picking her up and settling her in my arms. I wanted to bury my face in my hands and just cry, but I couldn’t. I had to keep a cool head for Natalia.
There were trees everywhere. No clear path to take, and with the moon shining so bright, any option besides the woods would be absolutely fatal. I said a quick prayer to who know’s where, and started running down the densest section of woods I could find.
A tree slapped me in the face but I kept going, keeping my eyes ahead of me and my ears focused. Too soon I was exhausted and had to put Natalia back down. She wiped at her eyes and took hold of my hand.
“Benny, I’m scared.”
“I know, darling. But remember, shhh.” I smiled and put my finger on her lip, daring to rest for a few seconds. That rest was short lived because not long after, I heard the sirens. I bolted up and dragged Natalia along as fast as I could, away from the noise. I followed the peaceful sound of the river and tried to keep my hysterics to myself, allowing only a few tears to wipe away the mud on my face.
Please, no. We had to get away. If they found us now, we’d be beaten so badly who knew if we would survive. I was tempted to give myself up, and tell them Natalia had died on the way and that I had buried her. But without me to guide her, Natalia would never make it. The only option was to keep running, keep trying.
A blinding light in my eyes made me stop abruptly, and lose all hope. We were found. I had failed the only person that trusted me in the whole world. And now she would to live with the consequences. I grabbed Natalia, swept her into my arms and covered her eyes. This was one scene she didn’t need to see.
“Don’t look, dearest, okay?” I barely managed to whisper, keeping my eyes closed as well. Not again, I thought, Please, not again.
“Hands in the air! Don’t move! Give us the girl, and we’ll let you live.” A thousand voices repeated in unison, and a thousand guns cocked and aimed.The drawl, the different voices all speaking in monotone, every one of them different, but all of them the same. I imagined that if I were to open my eyes, there were be a thousand faces, all different, all of them with their eyes closed and a cold, calculating smirk on their face. I swallowed back tears and took deep breaths, mustering every ounce of courage I had left.
“What will you do with her?” I managed.
“Take her somewhere she belongs.”
I shuddered. That’s exactly what they had said before.
“And- and where does she belong?”
“Not with you, not with anyone. We have orders to take her to the Grand Duke of Escule, and you will not stop us.” I heard them all, all of them, like one massive appendage, take a step forward, their gear shifting and clinking. Natalia squirmed in my arms and a cold trickle of sweat crept down my back. The Grand Duke of Escule? That was new. That was different.
“Why does the Duke want her?” I asked. I knew I was pushing my luck, but I couldn’t just give her up.
They all growled. A deep guttural sound, and said, “She will become his cup bearer. Those golden locks become her well.” That was it. I knew they were telling the truth because of the way they said it.
Slowly, I opened my eyes and forced myself to look only at little Natalia, my dearest sister, and the only thing that mattered. If she would be safe, I had to do it. I squeezed my eyes shut, then whipped up my head and opened my eyelids. Only a foot away stood the leader of the group. Pale, his face skyward, that smirk on his face and his eyes closed. He looked almost asleep, except that he was moving slowly forward, reaching for my arms. I forced myself to breathe.
“I’ll do it! Here she is! Please, be careful with her.” I set her on the ground and she opened up her eyes. The fear and betrayal I saw in them echoed my own. Thank goodness she hadn’t seen them yet.
“Natalia, look at me. Only me, okay? Please remember me, dearest. Remember me. I’m doing this for the best. You’ll be safe, I promise.” My hands were shaking as I pulled her into our last embrace with tears falling unabashedly down my face. “I love you, Natalia, always remember that.” I whispered in her ear before the lead cop yanked my arms from her her.
She screamed and started crying. I managed a smile for her. “Natalia! Hey, hey, it’s okay. Now, just close your eyes-” I grimaced as handcuffs were forced on my wrists. “Close your eyes and think of unicorns or something, okay?” I tried to take a deep breath, tried to control my fear, tried to stop the shaking. For Natalia’s sake. “Goodbye, sister.” I croaked. Then I was yanked away into the endless night just as my father had been years before.Happy writing, ya'lls!
~E.K.M.
