It was blinding white, he couldn't see where the sky ended and the ground began. Arthur's bare feet crunched against the snow. It was hard and slick, at first it felt like he could almost skate over the top, but as his pale foot would lean its weight against the iced surface, his feet would fall down in the enveloping crushed snow. Despite the chill, the only thing that bothered him was the fact that he was alone. A tremor unwillingly ran through his small frame, and tears leaked out of his eyes. Sniffling, he desperately searched for his mother. Arthur was certain that his mother would not just leave him alone, she had to be here somewhere. Wherever his sister was, his mother would be there with her.
His sister.
For some reason, the mere thought of his sister sent another chill running up his spine. His breath hitched in his throat, the loneliness was suffocating. Although his chest heaved up and down, Arthur felt no breath escape his throat. For a moment he thought he was dying. Dying of panic.
Dying of fear. Fear that he would always be alone.
Brown appeared in the distance, blotting out the brightness. Brown shirts. He tried turning around to flee, somehow he knew what would happen if they reached him. He closed his eyes and willed them away. All he wanted was to see his mother again. Trepidation crept in his body, Arthur's heart pounded. He might have cried if the anxiety didn't have him gripped in its talons. He closed his eyes and willed them away. They came anyway. Surprisingly, he let them drag her away. Arthur knew what was next, what always happened next. He watched his limp, bloodless feet drag over the broken snow, as the brown shirts firmly carried him along. But once he saw the train appear, he started squirming. This train. This train, where he last saw his sister alive. He knew what was waiting, he didn't want to walk in, but he had no choice. With almost gentle hands, Arthur was pressed up into the train. Maybe mama was inside, he tried reassuring himself. But he wasn't. He never was. A prickling climbed up his neck. It was too silent, no one was here anymore to guide him. One small step forward, another shaking step forward.
Even if he screamed loud enough for it to reach the surrounding miles, still no one would hear. He was truly alone. The worn rug burned underneath Arthur's feet. The door leading to their compartment was open. The sunlight streamed in through the window, creating an almost heavenly picture. He walked in the compartment, looking down at the faded red carpeting.
There was a soft noise. As if something had fallen onto a soft pillow and made the quietest of sounds. Involuntarily, he looked up. She was lying down. Fragile limbs limply hung off the end of the seat. Slow, Arthur approached his sister's dead body. He saw her bloodless face, where there was nothing left anymore. No life. Her eyes were open. Staring at him, staring through him, and yet seeing nothing. She didn't see, she didn't feel anymore, and yet her features were permanently etched in an accusing glare, directed at him. "Mama." he whimpered, reaching his hand out to his absent mother. Closing his eyes, Arthur tried to make himself disappear. But of course, when he opened her eyes, his dead sister was still there, staring with sightless eyes. He knew that if he tried closing her eyes again, he would only see his sister. The image would forever be burned in his mind. There was nothing left to do but scream.
