ThEm

They look like humans but they are not humans, they wear torn dirty clothes, they have delicate nails and they have claws, We have teeth but they have mouths full of sharp teeth like a shark, they sleep during the day saving their energy and hunt humans during the night. The sound of them screeching fills our hearts with terror. they are not vampires but they feed on us, they have been here before us and they want to remain here after we are all gone. Their leader is a man who leads them in everything they do, The time is the only time we are at peace, we have tried to leave but the only way is through the forest and mountains where they live, Once a group of people tried to leave but where all caught by them and killed by them, they are not mindless they are coordinated just like us, other neighboring villagers left long ago or died. We were born here and this is all we know, we have barricaded our village, we have soldiers who fight for us every night to protect us, and we are waiting for our priestess to show us our new leader who will lead us beyond the mountains who is brave enough to venture into the forest,

"When you see the sun going down, run lock and your doors, do not sleep, Do not go outside, Open your eyes and ears listen, If you hear any sound hide underground and cover your ears, and pray that they never find you and if they do kill yourself before they do" this is our motto our prayer,".

We grew up here, around fear and horror, Me and my brother are the only twins in our village, My name is Kira and my brother is Kylan we both have brown eyes, black hair, brown skin, the same red lips, and bushy eyebrows. We love to hike, run, and train with the soldiers, we are not built like other young people in our village, according to them, we are "strong giants, pool," that is because we wake up early and train and we are fearless.

I am tired of seeing weak and fearful people around me, when I was young I hid with the others now I protect my Village.

We are all waiting for the old lady (oracle/priestess ) to tell us about our future, well I think it's all nonsense, our future is death if we remain here. My brother Kylan agrees with me.

"Over thinking are we?, "Kylan whispered teasing Kira like always.

"We must leave Kylan, and I know what you will say, "Kira replayed her brother. Kylan raised his right brow and smirked.

"We must wait for the oracle," Kira said mimicking Kylan. When Kylan saw her funny face he laughed hard earning the attention of the Village leader Nico.

Nico gave them a warning glare, and they both quickly fixed themselves, Nico knew the twins were troublesome.

"Remind me again why we took them in," Nico said palming his face in embarrassment, Martha his wife rubbed his back and whispered.

"Remember you wanted them, not me,"

And she walked away laughing.

The village was chaotic as it was close to dawn and everyone hurriedly inside their houses, it had been Three weeks without a visit from them, and some people were starting to believe that they migrated or died, Nico wanted everyone to follow the same protocol every single time and the rules kept them alive.

DO NOT LEAVE THE WALL

DO NOT OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE AFTER DARK

THE WALL IS THE BRIDGE THAT KEEPS US SAFE

EVERY MALE MUST REPORT TO DUTY

EVERY HOUSE MUST HAVE A HIDDEN CHAMBER UNDERGROUND

NO MORE THAN THREE CHILDREN PER HOUSEHOLD

Nico created these rules to keep us safe. Many gathered in the hall and eagerly waited for that old lady to come and lie to us again, I don't know why people believe her. I do not believe in magic or stupid prophecies. We knew it would be dark outside soon and no one knew if they were coming today or not. Just like many of my friends, we want to know about THEM. I was so caught up in my thoughts I didn't notice the cloudy mist covering the whole room, I squinted my eyes trying to get a clear picture, I saw an old lady wearing a white robe holding a stick, she waved her stick in the air and the mist disappeared.

"Before us, They owned the lands, They ate everything in their path, they destroyed each other, wild animals they were". She spoke and everyone listened

"A rock fell from the sky and they came out of the rock, savages, I do not know where the rock came from but I know a male-led them, and I know we came from them," the crowd gasped in shock and disbelief.

"Ooh yes the first son of their leader left them for an unknown reason with him he took a young female and others followed him. He forbade fights, and the consumption of human flesh, This angered his father who followed him, His Father wanted to kill him but the Prince was different, he was already two steps ahead of his Father,".

"The young Prince built a wall that shielded his people and us from them, we have been fighting them ever since but I do come with good news. A direct descendent of the Price has been chosen to lead us before the great feast happened, "those were her last chilling words before vanishing.

I was left with many questions, One question troubled me" What is the great feast?, "Her prophecies predict death all the time but this time it was different, We need action not words before the great feast.

I waited patiently for Kylan outside the hall, time was not at our side, and each night brought more fear and horror, it's not normal for Them to disappear like that, they hunt and kill it's what they do, it's what they have been doing, why stop now?. I Kylan following Mary his crush and I followed them closely watching them, her soft giggles, the way he lifted her chin and kissed her right rosy cheeks, and the way she blushed when he kissed her, just the thought of someone touching my hand sent shivers down my spine, I know Kylan knew I was following them, he turned around and winked at meand I heard his voice in my head."Kira loosen up you will never find love if you keep on behaving like a man" He wants me to find love but I see no reason to if we are all going to die anyway.