Into the light

I used to stare up at the perfect circle of the pit and wonder what the world above was like. I was born in this pit and hidden away by my mother and a doctor. She made sure my hair was shaven and my face was hidden. Even at the age of eight my face took the shape of a girl you couldn't deny her gender. I only had my eyes shown and my hands that stuck out of my blue tatter shirt. When she'd leave, I remained locked inside my cell. But he would come sometimes, my protector and walk with me so I could see the sun. He's five years older than me, still a boy himself, yet he took it upon himself to see me safely out and back into my cell. My mother trusted him.

"What's your name?" I remember asking him from behind the rusty bars of my cell when I had first met him. He had been watching me a lot and finally came to see me. He slowly shook his head.

"It's best we don't ask those kinds of questions. We don't want people to know we are familiar with each other." he said as he sat by the bars. He can show his face more, he's a boy with pale skin and chapped lips. I have water, hidden away in a small pouch that's only for my mother and I.

"You thirsty?" I asked and he looked at me with begging eyes. He nodded and I moved over to the small bed I shared with my mother and removed the pouch and handed it to him. He took two big gulps and handed it back to me.

"Thank you." he said. The pouch is lighter now and my mother would surely notice. But I didn't care at the time.

I stood against the wall wrapped up and hidden as the taller boy stood beside me covered as well.

"I wonder what kind of world is up there." I said and he shook his head.

"It can't be any worse than down here." he said. I wanted to stick my hand out in the light and feel its warmth on my dark skin. But he held his hand over mine and shook his head.

"You mustn't." he said. I did not know his name, but he was my… friend.

One day, the two of us were walking back to my cell. More prisoners were out and they were inspecting me too much for my friend's comfort. With a rock in one hand and my hand in his other we began to move back into the darkness. But there was a loud sound, a whirring noise that caught everyone attention. It was coming from the sky. Long ropes fell over the edges of the pit and inside and men were coming inside. They are dressed in all black and firing loud weapons. This made everyone flee and my friend and I moved against the closest wall remaining still and silent.

After the prisoners were cleared out, the men in black now casted lights around the walls of the pit. Who were they? Why were they here? Their lights finally hit us and we looked away from the blinding flashes. The men landed on the ground formed a circle around one of them. Their weapons are raised and pointing everywhere as the man in the middle has his weapon lowered. My hearts beating fast as I feel my hand squeeze my friends. He makes a motion to move but the firing blasts the wall in front of him causing him to move back. We huddle together as we notice the man approach us. They are all wearing masks and goggles and so we cannot see their face.

Two of the men in the circle comes right up and grabs us both, separating us. I scream as he is pushed to the ground and the men bring their attention to me.

"No!" I shouted as I am dragged toward the man in the center. He gets up with his rock, but one of the men points their gun at him and prepares to fire causing him to run away. I wanted my mom. But she was nowhere to be found. The men who have me drag me over to the man in the center who is now removing his helmet revealing smooth streams of snot white hair. He rubs his hair back with his gloved hand and the men hold me in front of him and remove the covering from my head exposing me to everyone. His piercing blue eyes look at me with a white arched brow as he leans in and rests his head on my head. Tears streamed down my face as I shive at the man's touch. His hand slides down over my face and he massages my cheek with his thick gloved thumb.

"Is this her?" he asks, his voice is crisp and professional.

"Yes. The only African-Native in the pit." One of the men holding me says. The snow haired man smiled victoriously as his hand rests under my chin and raises me higher to look at him.

"Tell me little girl, would you like to leave this horrible place?" he asks, his voice laced with concern and I swallow some. To leave this place forever? To be in the sun? I slowly nodded my hand and his smiles grows wicked, but I am not afraid of it. He leans over and picks me up from the ground and holds me in his arms. He's strong and powerful. Yet I do not know who he is. He gives my nose a light tap as he turns around. "Come." And the circle of gunman follows him out and I just stare at his eyes as he takes me. He grabs on to a rope and now we are being lifted into the air. I look down suddenly to see my protector looking up at me in the middle of the pit staring at me with wide eyes. I am saddened that he is not coming with me. Saddened that I will never see him again.

I lift my hand gently curling it at him as I say good bye. I can see his lips as he is whispering to me.

"Good bye."