Sephonia: The Stolen Children

Mind of a Warrior, Heart of a Lion

        The twins spent days in the dark, damp hole in the ground. Their stomachs ached and ached until they couldn't anymore. Their bodies were weak, tired and emaciated. There didn't seem to be any hope of getting out any time soon, no hope of finding Autumn and returning home.

        But, while in the hole, the young girls had found ways to entertain themselves, to distract their selves from the deep hunger in their bellies.

       Mia drew a six squares in the dirt with a stick, sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth as she concentrated. "What are you doing?" Mak questioned, scooting over towards her sister.

       Mia smiled. "It's called tic tac toe. You draw X's. I'll draw O's. Whoever gets three boxes in a row, horizontally or vertically, wins." She drew an O with her finger in the dirt in the first box on the right. "Now it's your turn. May the universe be on your side. Muahaha!" She cackled childishly.

       Makayla sighed, exhausted. She ran her finger in the dirt, drawing an X right in the middle. She didn't want to play this game. She didn't have the energy to strategize. The voice had kept her up all night, refusing to allow her to sleep no matter how much she tried to.

       Mia knew this but she wanted to cheer her sister up. She continued back to the game, drawing an O below the first. "Alright! Choose wisely, the wrong move and you lose" She said with a smirk.

      Makayla rolled her eyes. She was sick of being in the dark, sick of starving, sick of being filthy. She wanted to go home. She drew another X, second row to the farthest right.

     Mia shouted, "Aha! I won." She drew her last O below the second. "You stink. I'm epic!" Makayla knew that Mia was doing this intentionally. She was desperate for things to feel normal. But they weren't.    

     Mak stood up and walked over towards the corner, wanting to be alone, even though that was literally impossible. The hole was only 8 feet wide. Mia continued messing around in the dirt, drawing small pictures out of pure boredom.      

    Several minutes passed and then suddenly, a light beamed down onto the cold dirt beneath them. It was the sun. They were seeing the sun for the first time in several days. It was blinding in the most beautiful way. A bandit popped his head out, blocking the light. He did not look happy.     

    "The Chief has requested to see you," He said in a scratchy, cockney accent. Mia looked at Mak in shock. They were really being let out.       

    The bandit rolled his eyes. "Hurry up! He doesn't like to wait! And don't try anything tricky, or there will be consequences."       

    This was their chance to see Autumn, to find out if she was okay. Mia grabbed onto the ladder quickly, climbing as fast as she could. She didn't care about what the chief wanted. She needed to find her sister.      

     But Makayla was hesitant. She was scared to know the truth. What if the voice was right? What if Autumn had been dead for days? Mak teared up. She began climbing the ladder slowly, stalling the truth.     

      Mia reached her hand out, pulling Makayla up the rest of the way.     

      "Come on, I'll lead you to Chief Kayoni," The bandit stated, less pushy than before. He placed his knife on the table and walked in front of the twins, leading the way. He had put down his only source of defense. He was trusting them.      

      Makayla grabbed Mia's hand hard as the two of them walked into a rather large tent. "Ow! Stop! That hurts!" Mia yelped, pulling away. Mak looked to the ground, frowning, hearing the voices speak again.