Chapter Two- A Midnight Surprise
The June that I was sixteen, war struck again. This time, much more severely, much more tragically. This time, my district was the first to be invaded.
It all began on a clear June night around midnight. I shared a room with my sisters, but in my ungodliness, I had my own scruffy palate by our window. I was always first to hear anything outside. Therefore, I was first to hear the Spartan troops parading through our streets.
I woke Mara and then stood by my bedroom window. I peered out through an opening in the gauzy curtains that covered the pane of glass in our window. What I saw sent chills down my spine. The Spartan troops were massive. They crowded down our street, stopping at each door to take hostages. They weren't to our house yet, but they soon would be. Behind me, Mara gasped and ran to tell my mother and father. I quickly changed out of my nightgown and into a comfortably long blue gown. As I did, I hummed a comfort song I had made up as a little girl:
Loose shadows
Fear is at your side, dear
But hold on tight
Because your knight in shining armor
Is coming
Fear not
Fear is what we lose to
It is the light that we should follow
Until we all are swallowed by
Passion
For the world
The troops were almost to our front door. My heart was racing and my breathing ragged. I gasped and stumbled backwards as a few of the troops smashed through my window. I pressed myself against the back wall, trying to steady my breathing and calm myself down. My eyes were wide and my body trembling with fear. I tried to look brave, knowing they wouldn't take pity if I looked scared or innocent. Three of them shot past me and into the rest of the house, where my family was probably scared to death and looking for a place to hide. The remaining soldier came close to me. He was several inches taller than me and looked to be about seventeen, only a year older than I. The Spartans must have recruited younger men this time around. The soldier's face was now inches from mine. He raised the handle of his spear over my head to knock me out. I involuntarily felt tears trickle down my cheeks as my breath got faster and harder. I looked up into the soldier's face. What I saw stopped me cold.
The most piercing, brilliant, beautiful green eyes I had ever seen were now locked with mine. They were like emeralds, shimmering in the dazzling morning sun. Silver flecks swam lazily through the sea of emerald, showing the wisdom behind those beautiful eyes. The eyes were searching mine. I wanted to show them everything inside of my soul. I longed to open up for those amazing eyes and show them everything about myself.
I know you
I saw you in my heart
What seems like forever a time ago
You are mine
I know it, just to show it
I wish you would bring
What I need for love
We both had our breath caught in our throats, simply staring. Our eyes were still locked. The soldier slowly lowered his spear and spoke softly. His voice was strong and coarse, but gentle. "I am sorry." This surprised me. The Spartans were supposed to be merciless and persevering. This was odd. I nodded, our eyes still locked. Our breathing was ragged now, his more steady than mine. How I admired him for that. Oh, those beautiful eyes. They seemed to tell me to stay strong. I realized there was really no reason in being afraid. I disliked my life here anyway. As that thought came to my mind, my heart seemed to blossom in my chest, and I felt the warmth seep throughout my body. It gave me courage, but also wonder. These strange feelings were new to me, and I was not sure how to handle them. I had to hold on to my life without succumbing to these feelings.
I can't let this show
I don't think you'll ever know
How hard this is for me
To pretend to be
Something I am not
He spoke again, "I should not be doing this. But I could not bear to see such a beautiful maiden hurt by my hand or any other." I blushed and said, more steadily than I felt, "No, take me. I, well, I want, really want,to be away from here." It was his turn to look surprised. He bit his lip and raised his spear again, our eyes still locked, his lips moving, silently framing the words 'so sorry' over and over. I concentrated on the emeralds of his eyes, and they gave me reassurance. "I will stay with you. Don't be afraid, please," he whispered. That, too, helped me stand.
He was about to bring the weapon down on my head when we heard a piecing, bloody murder scream from somewhere in the house. It was one of my sisters. My breath got caught up in my throat yet again. As much as I disliked my family for their treatment of me, I still loved them and cared that none of them were injured. He saw the fear in my eyes, I am sure of it. I tore my gaze away from his and rushed to the doorway. I looked out into the sitting room to see my father being pulled away by one of the soldiers. My mother was sobbing, screaming, reaching for my father, restrained by my brothers and my sisters, all frozen with fear at the same time. Mara was nowhere to be seen.
My heart cold, I turned back to the emerald eyes and whispered, "Just do it now. Please." He bit his lip again, and then everything went black.
Well? I hope you are liking it so far…and please feel free to leave suggestions for me, cause I think my writer's block is kickin in! Leave me some love!