Sephonia: The Stolen Children

Black Hole

As the carriage drew nearer to their destination, it became more apparent where the girls were being taken. In front of them lay a large wooden gate and on it were four torn, black flags. Along the top were long, sharp, wooden stakes and men stood on each side, as if they were keeping watch. They held heavy rifles, ready to shoot any living thing in sight. It appeared to be a camp of some kind.

Makayla looked up at them, frightened and then gripped Mia's hand tighter. Autumn laid in her lap, not saying a word. Mia wrapped her arm around Autumn's shoulder in a loving type of way.

With a quickness, the same man in all black came around the corner, stomping his boots in the dirt. "Get out. Quickly," He said in a less harsh tone than before as he opened the back. The three girls sat staring at him, too scared to move.

The masked man became agitated quickly. "I said MOVE!" He barked, moving his hand dramatically. But still, no one moved. Mia glared, piercing him with her eyes, as she held onto Autumn protectively.

The man took notice of this. He jumped up onto the back of the carriage, towering over her while she continued glaring. Autumn hid her face while Mak frantically looked between him and her brave sister, not sure what was about to occur. As much as she wanted to, Mia did not bend to this man's will, she refused to show him she was scared. He wasn't going to get that out of her any time soon.

The man suddenly snatched Mia up by the arm, gripping her hard. Autumn and Mak screamed, begging for him to stop. He dragged her to the end of the carriage. "Do not disobey me," He said. He then threw her off the back, down into the cold dirt.

Mia's body hit the ground, making dust fly up around her. All of the wind had been knocked out of her body and she could no longer breathe. She could taste the bitter dirt, feeling it in her teeth. Makayla scrambled to get to her, getting up off the carriage floor. She bounded herself off of the back and landed on her knees.

Makayla looked around. They were entirely surrounded by at least twenty angry men, for reasons unknown to them. "Please...let us go!" Mak cried out to them in an act of bravery. This sent the men into a fit of laughter. They clearly thought that this was hilarious; a little girl, trying to tell them what to do. A man on the right, covered entirely in tattoos, took a swig of some type of liquid in a brown bottle. He leaned down to the two girls, putting his hand under Mia's chin. "Heh...pitiful," He scowled. "Take the small one to the chief. He'll love her."

Mia screamed upon hearing this, "NO! Take me!" But, no one was listening. Not a single soul seemed to have heard her or they just did not care. Mak sobbed, holding herself while a big, bersley man grabbed Autumn. The tiny child cried desperately for her mother, choking on her tears. She screamed and screamed until her throat felt raw.

Mia's blood boiled hot and heavy. Her breathing became hard and fast, ripping at her lungs. She knew that nothing could be done but still, the rage built. The twins watched as that big man took Autumn away and out of sight. But, they could still hear her cries for help. Makayla stood from the ground, pulling Mia up with her. She stared at each one of the men. The fear arose from deep within her; the fear of the unknown.

"What you think we should do wit em, Dom?" A scrawny little man asked the masked. He smiled menacingly, licking his lips. Dom sighed, seemingly tired.

"Take them to the chamber," He commanded. "Take them where they can't see daylight and daylight can't see them." He turned around, beckoning all his other men to come with him. Dom seemed careless with no regard to what happened around him.

The skimpy, toothless man, along with the tattooed, approached the twins, laughing cruelly as they grabbed them.

With loaded rifles pointed to their backs, the girls walked slowly, not sure of where they were going.