-I Had A Dream-

Chapter 11: Flashback 1957

She ran on and on. The branches of the trees slapped her face and her lungs ached from the need to breathe. Behind her she could hear the loud shouting of the men who were chasing her. Isolated shots could be heard again and again and she was always glad not to be hit by them. Although they weren't Americans, she could understand what the men yelled. Everything hurt and she was terrified. She didn't even know if she was the only survivor. Her only thought was the race, the urge to escape from here, just...
She stumbled, hit the floor and had to suppress a cry of pain. Suddenly she had no strength to stand up and remained silent. She heard gunshots and the screams of the men who had been following her. However, there were other voices, voices from people she didn't know. It sounded like a massacre until suddenly it stopped. Ruby held her breath for a while, silent, and listened. It was suddenly so quiet that she thought anyone could hear her heartbeat. Then she heard steps. They came closer and closer and she crawled backwards, frightened and panicked. The voices came closer, Ruby could hear that it had to be Americans this time. However, she didn't want to answer. She was lying back left on the ground when a few men emerged from the undergrowth. Heavily armed, dirty and with serious faces. One of them raised his gun and aimed at Ruby.
Who are you?! Where are you from ?!
His voice was deep and serious, but Ruby couldn't answer. She was trembling with fear and couldn't utter a word as she crawled a little further away.
If you have nothing to say, then you are one of them !
The soldier was about to pull the trigger and Ruby lifted her arms above her face.
Stop !
A loud voice came from behind him and another man emerged. He looked at Ruby, pensively stroking his dark brown hair, which had been shaved off the sides. Ruby stared at him in silence. After a while he looked at his buddies and made a quick wave of the hand.
Come on, take her with you !
Ruby felt two arms come under her shoulders and roughly pull her up. She shook herself and made a few scared noises. But the troop ignored her and finally, with Ruby, made their way back to their camp point.

Ruby was kneeling on the floor of the, in contrast to the other, relatively small tent on her knees, her hands were tied together on her legs. She trembled with fear as she heard the voices of the strangers arguing outside. What exactly they were saying, however, she couldn't understand. While she was still wondering whether she would die in the next few minutes or not, one of the men came into the tent. It was the guy with the dark brown hair who had told the others to take Ruby with them. He came slowly up to her and looked at her seriously until he knelt down next to her. Ruby bowed her head a little so as not to look at him and pinched her fingers together. There was silence for a while.
Where are you from ? Where are the others ?
He finally asked. Ruby said nothing.
You have to talk to us, maybe we can help if we know you.
Ruby shook her head and slowly looked at him.
Not...anymore.
He looked a little confused.
What do you mean ?
Ruby looked away, her voice trembling.  The...men. They were...Mexicans...they...attacked us. And...they...murdered them and...captured them and...I don't know what else they have done.
The man sighed.
And where do you come from ?
Ruby was silent for a while before answering quietly.
A-America ...
He nodded a little.
We're Americans too. I was out with my group when we saw the others. They're dead. And then we found you.
Ruby kept getting smaller.
Are you going to kill me too ?
She sounded scared.
I don't know. Maybe you're lucky.
Ruby stared at him, still afraid he might just kill her at any moment. He was about to get up when he looked at her again.
What is your name ?
Ruby shifted a little in her place.
R-Ruby.
The man stroked his hair again.
Nice name.
He almost sounded a little cautious.
Well...I'm Fernando. Just...that you at least know one person by name here.
He looked at her in silence for a while, then stood up. He made a few small noises, and Ruby could hear that he must be in pain.
Injured ?,
she asked softly. He looked at her and nodded a little.
Yes, well...happened in the fight beforehand. A stab wound. But it's not that bad.
But you seem to be...in pain ?
Fernando sighed deeply and shrugged his shoulders.
Yes...Yes, maybe a little.
Ruby looked up at him.
Someone...Someone should look at this. Well...the wound could become infected...
The man looked at her in silence, but the seriousness in his look turned to curiosity.
How do you know ?
Ruby bowed her head in embarrassment and ran her fists over her knees.
I...know about it...I...had to help out there with the injured.
Fernando stroked his chin thoughtfully and nodded a little.
Hmmm...interesting. I should tell the others about it.
Then he made his way out of the tent.
And afterwards you can maybe take a look at it,
he said quietly and disappeared outside.