Ch. 3

A sharp snap to my left woke me from my dream. I spun around, my still half-lidded eyes misjudging the width of the branch. I lost my balance and quickly grabbed the trunk to keep from falling to my death. I looked about, having been awoken completely by the near death experience.

About two inches from my neck was a glinting silver blade, buried deep into the bark. I almost lost my balance for a second time. I quickly scanned the surrounding area before grabbing the blade, my belongings, and swinging to the branch below me.

My sneakers made too much noise so I removed them and my socks to shove them into my bag. Barefooted and as silent as a shadow, I dropped to the ground to make my way through the trees. I knew something was wrong as soon as I heard it. Or rather, what I didn't hear. Nature was silent. At that moment I panicked ran as fast as I could away from this place. Too late I realized I was running the opposite way home.

As I turned my head to look behind me, my foot hit a rock and I tripped. The last thing I remember before blacking out was how cold the stone I had hit my head on was.

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I woke with a start, my head throbbing from the quick movement. My eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness. I was leaned up against a tree. As I woke completely, I realized that my hands and feet were numb. I tried to move them and found something blocking my way. "Who the heck tied my hands together?" I muttered angrily. My bag was about three feet away from me.

I tried to stand but managed to fall on my face. With great difficulty I returned to my sitting position. "Oh, funny guys. My legs are tied too." I was getting very angry by this time. "Please don't tell me that you took the knife too?" I was talking to myself but that was the least of my problems. My head was past aching now, which was a great relief. I crawled over to my bag as well as I could.

I almost laughed at the stupidity of it all. Why tie me up if I still have a chance to escape? The cold silver blade was sitting in the bottom of my bag. After about five minutes of maneuvering, my hands were free. I studied the knife for a moment before tucking it back into my bag. On the handle sat a red jewel, as red as blood.

My wrists were burned from the rope and I spent another few minutes absent-mindedly rubbing them. The sky through the trees was an odd gray color. I sniffed the air, and found the smell of smoke. I quickly cut the rope on my legs and stood. The rush of blood caused my head to spin but I pushed on. My bag seemed to grow heavier as I ran. I finally decided to leave it by the tree I had slept in last night.

"Oh my God, no please. This can not be happening." I screamed into the air as I came into view of my only home. Red flames licked the sky and an overpowering cloud of smoke hung in the air. I walked in a daze through ash and destroyed buildings. To my right was where I had bought toys in a store. To my left was the building where I had looked at the sweet foods in the Pastry Shop's window.

A sob threatened to tear itself from my throat. I pushed forward, one thought on my mind. Charlie. Now I ran faster than I had ever before in my life. "Charlie!" I screamed until I was hoarse. No one seemed to be alive. I didn't waste times looking for survivors.

In the farthest part of our destroyed village sat a burnt building. My running slowed to a jog as I saw Charlie's prized home in ashes. I ran into the rubble, desperate to find him. "Charlie! Where are you?" I shouted to the sky. My lungs burned and I soughed from inhaling smoke. I heard crumbling and spun around, searching. I saw a pink hand flash from the destruction. I ran to the fallen form covered with pieces of burnt roof.

I pulled frantically at him. I managed to uncover most of his body but his legs were still crushed under one of the beams from our ceiling. Charlie's face looked peaceful. The tears that had threatened earlier spilled over now, blurring my vision. "No, no, no, no!" I whispered. I stood and screamed. "Just take! Just take me whatever did this! I can't go on any more! Take everything from me but leave others out of it!" My head was growing dizzy so I sank down in the ash next to my father.

"Oh, Dad. How did it come to this? If I hadn't have left you alone, you would no have died. It's all my fault. It's all my fault that you died. It was my fault that Mom died and now I have killed you too." I didn't even recognize the voice that leaked from my body. I sounded so hopeless. The tears had grown fewer and my eyes burned as did my lungs. "I have to leave soon Dad, but I will be back to kill whoever did this. I swear to you."