It was a cold damp night. The air was filled with tiny water droplets. The overwhelming stench of blood lingered in the air. Behind the well, a little girl crouched, her vest soaked with tears. The courtyard was eerily quiet and all seemed quiet. However that was far from the truth. A fierce battle had just taken place, a whole family slaughtered like they were mere animals. The only indication of people living there were the countless lifeless bodies on the ground, in every corner of the house.
"It has all come to this" she sighed, eyes filled with sorrow. . Her white robes were stained with blood. Her blood and that of her enemies. The large gaping wound on her back continued to bleed. The woman looked up at the cloud filled sky. She was extremely beautiful. Her phoenix eyes dusted with a vibrant red eye shadow, a blooming red peony on her glabella. Her beauty was like none ever seen before. She surveyed the courtyard for any signs of survivors, enemy or not.
Hick- She turned slowly, looking in the direction of the well. She approached it slowly, her body taut with tension. She descended the staircase and walked towards the well. Then she heard it clearly. It was the sound of someone whimpering, a child. Her eyes lit up with joy."Mei'er, Mei'er, is that you?" Her heart beat erratically, praying for a positive answer. "A-A-Auntieee~", the child broke into loud sobs. Her cries echoing throw the night. The white-robed lady quickly bundled her crying niece into her arms. The child's loud wails gradually faded into whimpers.
"Don't cry child, Auntie's here." she said softly, her fingers caressing the girl's supple cheeks. This left a smudge of blood on the girl's face. "A-a-aunt" the girl whimpered. Her tears flowing more freely than before. She arms opened wide to embrace her aunt, the only living family member she seemed to have left. Her back was cold and wet. It was sticky too. The tears pooled in her eyes once more. Her auntie was hurt. Her aunt was really hurt, badly even. "Listen to me child", her aunt said softly pulling her out of her embrace, "Get as far away from here as you can. Protect yourself. Tell no one your origins. You will speak of it to no one. Don't look back. And most importantly" she gritted her teeth in pain, forehead drenched in sweat, her eyes gleaming with a fiery rage, "Trust no one. Now leave."
Her aunt stood abruptly. The little girl grabbed her aunt's robe, "Let's leave together. I can't leave you here to die. I have no one auntie. Please." She bawled her eyes out, her mouth letting out loud cries. Her aunt quickly clammed her hand over her mouth, silencing her cries. Her eyes were alert and wary. She stared intently at her aunt's face.
This was a face she was very familiar with. Her aunt who would always smile at her, teach her how to ride horses and wield a sword. Her aunt was the most heroic yet elegant person she knew. She was always filled with bravery. Yet here she was, struggling to breathe and stand properly. Mei'er was still in shock from the day's events. Ta ta ta. The sound of people running on the roofs moving towards them. Her aunt panicked,"Now leave!"
The girl wasted no time in running as far as her little legs could carry her. When she got to the wall she hid behind the Abelia bush close to the dog hole and watched her aunt fight from afar.
Five men clothed in black attacked her from all sides with their swords. Her aunt left defenseless and injured had no choice but to fight with her hands. She struggled but gradually gained an advantage against these warriors. However, the blood loss seemed to take a toll on her body. She eventually grew weaker and weaker, her moves becoming more and more sluggish.
Her aunt looked in her direction before she was mercilessly slashed on the back by one of the men. She smiled to her niece and mouthed "Be safe dearest one.", before falling to ground with a thump. The thunder roared and the rain fell heavily, washing away the blood. ' At least Mei'er is safe. Brother, I protected her. I've done well haven't I?'She smiled. Her beautiful eyes gradually dulled, her body went totally limp.
The little girl trembled as tears started to pool in her eyes, but she held them back. She had to get away from here as fast as she could. Her aunt protected her with her life. She couldn't let her down. She took one last look at her dead aunt and crawled into the dog hole and run into the forest without looking back. She run with all her might. Into the darkness. Uncertainty and fear clouded her heart, but she still run, never stopping, never looking back. She would never let this go. She would find who did this to her family and pay them back a thousand times over! Not knowing where she was headed to, she run until her feet bled and her head spun. Promising to live,heading towards a future with no certainty and no promises.
-to be continued-