/ Amelia /
I was laughing. A light feathered giggle that always brought delight to the rest of my family. Chasing my younger brother down a long winding stream outside our pint-sized cottage while our parents watched, pleased that we were getting along. Grateful that we were acting like children.
We lived in the countryside alone about two miles from Nadir, a small village which we only utilised when necessary. We lived in the middle of a variety in place of different assortments of trees: Oak, pine, and Willow. I used to list the names of them when I was bored.
I was fourteen at the time. I had a petite frame; smaller than other children I have encountered. Lesser than my younger brother who was ten. My Auburn ginger hair only just reached past my shoulders but looked significantly shorter as my curls bounced in undulation.
My younger brother, Klaus. Had a considerable frame for his age. Which partly made reason as he is a male. But he was more courageous than me. He always climbed trees, always jumped in the little stream nearby. While I usually sat and kept a firm eye on him which wasn’t even my responsibility.
Klaus had similar hair to me but shorter; thick waves that only just reached above his shoulders. And similar sharp pointed-out-ears which could easily pass us as elves. I used to show them off and tell other kid's absurd stories about how I was captured due to being magical even if we all knew elves were just old anecdotes.
We weren’t a wealthy family, but we Aren’t inadequate either. We had a content life and never complained about what we maintained because so many people were in a more difficult position.
This time I decided to use my imagination and join my brother in playing a game. We pretended to be warriors battling the dangerous monsters on the other side of the stream. We constantly got told that our kind was wrong and nasty, so we always made sure that the monsters were the humans. I found it more amusing at the idea of fighting Klaus with a stick and pretending he was a murderer than the whole use of playing pretend. Klaus had the kindest soul. He was a gentleman and always apologised for anything. So, it was funny seeing him carefully poke me with a stick, anxious that he was going to hurt me, apologising every second he “hit” me.
Momentarily enough it was supper- we inhaled our food like it was our last meal as we always had done. Klaus and I had venison with potatoes we grew ourselves. Our parents had a stew because of the sufficient number of deer to feed all of us today. We settled down next to the fireplace with our blankets and listened to our mother tell us stories which no one had heard of before. She had numerous, unlike sorts of books about powerful sorcerers, fairies, dragons and even Dwarfs and their love towards riches. One time I found this story which appeared like a guide regarding how to use magic which baffled me since only witches and sorcerers required that, and they were not real. I never understood why people would make up stories this accurate just for other people to visualise what it would be like. I found the whole fantasy thing sadder as
these specialities weren’t true. Either way, I closed my eyes and listened to her faded words as I drifted into a deep slumber.
As dawn approached; I was already awake. I shrouded myself in multiple layers of cloak; the only colour in my outfit that wasn’t dull was my amber eyes. I had kept a small pocketknife in my boot. “Just in case I needed it” Mother had always told me. Today I had to go to Nadir with Klaus to collect some herbs and food as we were running low. I tied my thick curly hair into a high ponytail to make sure it didn’t get in my eyes during my travel then helped my brother with his shoelaces. I usually didn’t allow Klaus to come with me often when it involved shopping because of the potential threats. But Nadir wasn’t a busy village; we knew most people there. So, my parents allowed it this time.
As we wandered along past the stream and across to the path, I occasionally made my redundant jokes to Klaus which always made him chuckle. They were ridiculous, for instance. One time I compared Father to a startled deer and then another I made quips about how Klaus would one day become a tremendous giant due to his height similar to the stories mother read to us. I was known as the comedian of my family. I took satisfaction in making them happy when the mood felt dull since no one appreciates a household full of grief. If I saw the need for a joke- I would make one.
We were playing eye spy for the rest of the journey until we had reached Nadir around the late morning. I peered down at Klaus and squeezed his hand as tight as I could while we entered the centre. He frowned at me. “Amelia! I’m nearly eleven. I don’t need you to hold my hand everywhere we go”. I turn around to roll my eyes and then try to think of something clever to say.
“Who said I’m holding your hand because I am protecting you? What if I’m frightened right now and need my little brother's support?” I forced out a big teasing smile at him briefly before I began to engulf the atmosphere. Everything seemed to be ordinary. There were only a few villagers outside purchasing as well as trading items for food and apparel from stalls. The village was remote but every Saturday there was a market where people from active villages like Aladian and Lindon came to sell items. However, Klaus only cared for the old, tattered wishing well in the middle of the market while I shopped for food. He believed that one day what he wished for would come to life. As the incredible big sister, I brought extra cash for him whenever he was allowed to go. Most of the foreign traders permanently seemed to scowl at us as we passed so I understood immediately to not go anywhere near them. After some time, I came across a pair of traders who didn’t seem to abominate our presence.
I released Klaus’s hand and oversaw him to the well before I approached carefully towards the two men: who were at the end of the market. They contained a stall robust with venison along with several types of fruit I hadn’t encountered before. The first man on the left had an immense build; it was difficult to see his complexion due to a shady mask that coated his mouth. I found it quite unsettling. Nonetheless, I did notice a profound unsightly scar that trailed from the hair reaching out from what I could catch a glimpse of his beard to the end of his neck. The additional guy on the right carried a more friendly impression as his warm hazel eyes greeted me. He wore a comparable outfit to his companion. He had an identical mask and similar dark clothing as well as the same long straight hair. But he held a gentler demeanour to him, his hair was soft brown like Father’s while the other guy had death-black strands which made me shiver.
He waved me over.
I shifted nearer to the man on the right and fiddled in my pocket for coins. “Please can I have venison and a small variety of the fruits you have?” the guy examined me then as I began to pass over my money, he grabbed my hand and directed it away.
“It’s on the house” he winked.
My eyebrows practically flew up to my head as I gaped at him.
“But-”
The man on the left peered at me and veered near to my face, I flinched then withdrew back; my hand instinctively lowered to my boot.
“What is a girl like you doing in the market alone?” A guttural and toneless voice arrived from his mouth. Father had always told me to wear thick attire to hide my youth from outsiders, but the man went too close. I began to tremble. “A girl like you.” Did he imply my adolescence? Or did he suggest something else? I didn’t understand. There were occasional other children here shopping for their parents so why was I distinct? I glimpsed around my shoulder to make sure Klaus was all right then glanced back at the men.
“I am unsure of what you mean. Can I take the food and leave?”
The man on the right of me tossed a load in front and waved me away in dismissal. Truly not as pleasant as I thought he was then. I seized the food and left immediately; discharging a breath I didn’t realise I had carried. I regretted even conversing with the pair. I should have just adhered with the regular butcher I purchased food from to provoke me less trouble. At least they had given me a meal for free. In haste, I intruded on Klaus and scraped his shoulder then spun him around to meet me. His hair was damp from slanting into the well, snatching old coins other children had thrown in there. He glowered at me with his soft, muted almost purple eyes. “Do we have to go yet? You didn’t take long at all. I made new friends” This caused me to escape a sigh beside him as I shook my head when I scowled at the other child, who was originally waving at Klaus until his smile fell when he saw me. “You know what Mother said. We can't make any friends here. Come on we need to go now.” I glanced back at the two strangers who were still analysing:
A shudder vibrated through me.
Our hike back home was followed by a tense silence. I couldn’t stop bringing my thoughts back to those two men and what they had spoken about me. I should have suspected the fact that they wore masks meant some sort of trouble. I halted and spun around swiftly behind me. I glanced backwards and forwards in a motion that surely made me dizzy. Klaus gaped at me in alarm, and he glanced in the same motion, confused. I swear I heard something behind me. Swear I felt someone’s presence, but I have no notion whether it was out of paranoia from earlier or my intuitions were right. I seized Klaus’s hand once more and sped up my walking pace in a hurry to make it back home to mother and father. I repented of my obvious fear almost instantly when I saw Klaus begin to cry beside me. I hefted him up with my feeble frail arms and put him on my back when I hopped over the stream. I cocked my head around and gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay I feared a rabbit. I thought it was something else” In all truthfulness that probably wasn’t a lie. Shortly enough I had seen the smoke from our cottage that trailed out toward the clouds that gave the sign that we were near and that I was certainly just anxious. I flew inside and castigated the door shut. I let out deep heavy puffs of breath to collect myself as my mother welcomed me and my dad made a momentary wave. Klaus hopped from my back and drove to his room; I began to describe what occurred today as I passed over the sack of food. I removed the thick layers I had on from my heaps of clothing and untied my hair. “They were just creepy. I’m not sure why but I won’t be going there again”. I glanced my gaze back at Mother whose face had gone as pale as a pearl. Her usual tinted cheeks had become colourless, and she appeared stunned.
“Did you say they both wore masks?” she murmured to herself more than to me. I shot her a sceptical look. “Yes? They both wore masks. One guy also had this weird scar down his neck.” I indicated to my neck trailing where the scar lived with my finger.
I now was sure that my mother was a walking corpse. She went rigid. The only sole indication that she was alive was the quivers she had in her hands and the tightness of her lips. Mother looked like me. She always had. It was like I was spoiling a future version of myself but with short hair above the ears. Klaus and I both had her appearance however Klaus had our fathers' eyes and sharp jawline. But. For the first time, Our Mother seemed ten times older than she was and didn’t resemble me at all. The warmness she kept had gotten sucked from her face. When I began to reach my hand toward her arm in a comforting motion, my father jolted up from his chair in a rush when he saw the side stare Mother had given him. There was an intense knock at the door.
“What is happening?” I grab onto her arm and shook her gently. “Mum?” Panic had started to rise in me. She finally snapped out of her trance and shoved me toward my bedroom, opened my drawers and began throwing clothing and my essentials to the floor. She pulled out my large leather shoulder bag. I wanted to scream but my voice came out in desperate breaths “Please stop. Please tell me what is happening?” She took a moment to cease with heavy gasps. She rotated to me and set a gentle hand on my shoulder. The same pale expression on her face: eyes wet with the tears she was concealing. And with a poor attempt to sound calm, she stuttered. “You and Klaus need to leave the house. We will follow behind, okay? Finish packing your things and help your brother out.” I shook my head; I didn’t buy any of it. Tears flooded my eyes as I grabbed my mother's hand tightly, fear consumed me whole. “You haven’t told me why or who is at the door! Did the men follow me home? Is this my fault? I knew I shouldn’t have spoken to them I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve caused all of this.”
My Mother held on to her breath and knelt as she drew me close to her body. “This isn’t you’re fault. You need to stop blaming yourself for everything Amelia. I swear it all will be just fine. Now I need you and your brother safe for me. The only way you can do that is to leave before we do. I will tell you everything when we meet you past the stream”. I couldn’t begin to say a single word. I only nodded slightly before trying to collect myself and pack my clothes. I knew she wasn’t telling me everything, I could see it in her eyes that she was lying. She was terrified and I have never seen my mother like this before. “I love you” she spoke in a hushed tone. I never had gotten time to say it in return as she left my room promptly to find Father. I finished cramming both sets of bags and tossed the pair over my shoulder, I managed to tiptoe into the kitchen to grab some snacks when I snuck out through the back door with Klaus’s hand entwined tightly to mine. I froze and spun to the living room when I saw an open book on top of the coffee table near the fireplace. One of the stories Mother read to us maybe. I considered how I may need this to read to Klaus as a distraction. So, after I ushered him to stay near the back door, I crept over to the table and seized the book; I couldn’t help but overhear the discussion at the front with my parents.
“You believed that you could hide your identity for the rest of your life “Lilith?” A fake name does not work as generously as you think.” The same guttered, toneless voice from earlier at the market.
“Look, Rowan. My wife just wants to live the rest of her life in peace. She isn’t what she was anymore. She has children now God dammit. You cannot take that from her just because she made some stupid mistake when she was young” my father demanded.
“Witches do not find peace. They ruined their own lives. They are sadistic, evil and come from hell. If your wife was smart enough, she would know that practising magic is banned in all areas of Arcious”. Witches? That must be the other man who I foolishly had guessed may be nice. I tiptoed closer while crouched to the floor as low down as I could go.
“It was only just banned after I had practised it!” My mother pleaded. I could now catch a glimpse of their positions when I hid behind the couch and poked my head out every few seconds. The two men were outside side by side while Father was defending my mother. He wielded a long sword that I never knew he had. It didn’t seem very sharp or useful, but it was something to utilise if necessary. Both men were armed and still bore their masks from earlier. My father darted in the direction of the man who had just spoke. He threatened. “If you were my brother Kyo. You wouldn’t do this to her. Do this to me.” I gasped. My body trembled in fear and confusion. Brother? Father never mentioned that I had an uncle. But that’s just a small revelation compared to the accusation that my mother was a witch. But they’re just myths, right? That’s what I had always been told. Why was this information never spoken about if this were true? Is it because of how it had been banned? Was my mother in true danger? Questions. Questions. Questions. They had flooded my brain like parasites; clouded my mind like mist. I felt like an idiotic, hopeless child.
I decided to steer back to Klaus as I knew I had to flee and if I had kept eavesdropping, I would have ended up staying for too long and put danger to myself and my brother. I snuck to the back door once more and opened it steadily, I pulled Klaus outside with me and began to walk at a quick pace beyond the stream. After a while of jogging, I found a thick bush we could disguise in about two miles from home. We sat there and waited until our parents returned. I gestured my finger to my lips as a sign to Klaus not to speak but that did not stop him. He whispered a little too loudly. “Why are we hiding in a bush? Where are Mum and Dad? Are we playing a game?” I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, a game, that’s it! We are playing hide and seek. Mother and father will find us soon”.
“Then why do we have bags of our stuff?” he’s too smart for a ten-year-old. I tried to consider something to say as a justification when I heard a loud boom which came from the direction of our cottage. An immense gush of heat swarmed in our direction. I covered Klaus’s ears out of instinct: my own suffered from the impulse force of the sound. Luckily it wasn’t a major explosion. After the impact died down Klaus and I gazed at each other in alarm. Both of us didn’t wish to even peek at where the explosion had struck. Eventually, after I had compiled myself. I darted up from my hiding spot to glance at the source. Devastation. my arms slipped to my sides and my legs quivered. I wanted to faint- give up right here, right now. All I could hear were my rapid heartbeats and a static ringing noise that clouded my senses. I didn’t notice Klaus’s screams as he shook me roughly- crying for help. Or the ash piles that had coated our faces and what once was vibrant hair.
Our home.
Our cottage.
Our family.
Was engulfed by flames.
All we could do was watch as our childhood had been stolen away from us like a flash or a time skip.
