Tears escaped the young girl's eyes, trickling down into the pool of blood. Her blood. She watched the red glisten in the candlelight as she prayed to the gods.
Footsteps interrupted her prayers. She shut her eyes and stilled her body. Motionless. If he thought she was dead, maybe he would go away. Maybe…
The steel toe of his boot collided with her back, sending a rush of pain through her spine. She fought not to react. Reaction meant certain death. Stillness welcomed hope.
"Did you kill her?" The new voice startled her. It was a woman. "I've already taken care of her father. Though her brother managed to get away."
No, no, no! She screamed in silence, the water resuming its course down her face.
"She'll bleed to death," the male voice cut in. "No one can survive a wound like that."
She could hear the malice in his voice, his tongue as sharp and cruel as the blade he had driven through her flesh. Anger filled her entire being, forcing the tears to rain down even harder. She couldn't believe he had betrayed them…all for money.
"Maybe we should smash her skull for good measure." The speaker sounded eager.
Her heart raced and she tensed up, bracing for the pain.
"No!" the male yelled. "We don't have time. We've got to find her brother before while he's still traceable."
There was a long silence. She waited until the female muttered a reluctant yes and the sound of their footsteps faded away.
She dared to open her eyes. No sign of them. Moving one hand to cover the wound and the other to press the floor below her, she pushed herself up into a sitting position.
She instantly regretted it. Pain seared through her entire being. She toppled back down into the puddle of blood, writhing through the crimson liquid.
The candle hanging from the wall began to dance in swirls, fading in and out. She couldn't keep her eyes open. Her lids felt like lead weights. She thought hurriedly of her father and her brother. Her father was dead—probably slaughtered in the same way; her brother, on the run. She had failed. Her promise to protect her brother was now a distant lie. She couldn't protect anyone. Not even herself.
Everything went black.