Dark had fallen outside. Only the flame torches carried by watchful Peacekeepers could be seen through the night. Not another living soul moved. None dared to.
Inside, however, was a different matter. In a house not far outside of the beach settlement, a couple scrambled as quietly as they could, hurriedly trying to pack necessities into a rucksack small enough to be carried by a child. Neither spoke for fear of being overhead, but occasionally, they'd exchange a nervous glance, silently second guessing their own judgement.
Just as the man's wife had straightened with shaking hands, turning to her husband with a fearful expression as she mustered the courage to question him, someone knocked sharply on the door. The couple went rigid in fear, and a small whimper slipped the wife's lips. Her husband cleared his throat, lowering a hand onto her shoulder comfortingly. "Wait here," he instructed in a quiet voice.
At the door, a Peacekeeper stood with a stern frown. He was like most Peacekeepers in the town; tall, strong and dressed in armour. A dark hood was pulled over his head, as though he didn't want to be recognised. He gave a gruff snort of recognition. "She ready?" he asked under his breath.
The man gulped hard, shaking his head slowly. "W-We were just about to w-wake her," he mumbled back.
The Peacekeeper scowled. "You were told to have her ready. We don't have much time, and Ione wants her out of here. Tonight."
The mention of Ione sent a shudder down the man's spine and he nodded furiously, his chest tightening. "I'll fetch her now," he rushed, spinning back toward his wife.
She stood with her arms wrapped around her upper half, her eyes shining despite the lack of light. Taking one look at her husband's face, she whimpered and bowed her head, leading the way to the back of their house, where their teenage daughter slept soundlessly.
The wife choked sadly at the sight of the fifteen year old girl, lay on her side and scowling in her sleep. "What are we doing, Jared?" she whispered, her voice catching in the back of her throat. "She's our daughter! How can we just send her away like this?"
Jared's expression flickered uncertainly, but his fists clenched in determination. "We have to, Sherrie" he replied sternly. She blinked, teary eyed, but he stepped forward and shook his daughter awake gently.
The girl groaned irritably, her eyelids fluttering as she brought herself round. Slowly, crystal, ocean blue eyes peered back at them curiously. "Dad?" she asked groggily. "What's wrong?"
"Get up, Blake," he replied sternly. The girl hesitated, her face falling at the stern look on her father's face. Eyes flicking back to her mother, she nodded slowly and clambered reluctantly out of her bed to get dressed.
The moment she stepped out of the room, her father took her by the arm and led her back to the front door, where the Peacekeeper was still waiting. Blake's eyes widened in alarm at the sight of him, and she immediately spun to question her parents, obviously panicked. "What's going on?" she mumbled. "I don't understand."
"It doesn't matter," the Peacekeeper blurted, before her father could answer her. "Right now, you are in danger, and it is my job to keep you safe."
Blake shot a disbelieving look over her shoulder at him. "Danger? How could I be in danger? What from? And why would I trust you of all people to keep me safe?"
"Stop asking questions," the Peacekeeper ordered sharply, sending her parents a warning look.
Her mother sniffed. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," she gulped quietly. "I'm so sorry, but you'll be safe this way."
This only served to make Blake more uncomfortable. "Mum," she pleaded softly. "Tell me-"
Suddenly the Peacekeeper bolted forward and grabbed her by the arm, dragging her back and clamping a hand over her mouth to muffle the yelp of surprise. He glowered. "We're out of time," he growled.
"Oh-" Her mother started to object, but the father held her back with a wince.
The Peacekeeper snorted, snatching the rucksack out of their hands. "Then it's done," he declared. "Never mention this or the girl again. Understand?"
"What-" Again, he cut Blake's protests off with his hand, her arms held behind her back with one hand. The rucksack had been slung over his shoulder.
The couple nodded reluctantly. "We understand," the father answered, his voice weak and hoarse. Blake stopped struggling abruptly, and the hurt, lost expression in her eyes wounded her parents much more than anything else could have done.
And still, there was nothing they could do but watch as the Peacekeeper dragged her away into the darkness.