Unbroken

Chapter 1

Annabelle held her daughter against her chest tightly, willing her not to make a sound. The small toddler's sky blue eyes were filled with fear that matched her own as she stared up into her eyes. Trying not to cry, she gently stroked the child's blonde curls that were plastered to her face by a mud.

"Momma what-."

"Hush little one, we need to be silent." She whispered gently into her ear, hoping the child understood the urgency of the situation. No sooner than the words were out of her mouth the door to the bedroom slammed open as two men barged in.

"The boss said there was a woman and child." One of them said, "Find them!"

Annabelle hid in the darkness of the wardrobe, barely managing to squeeze the two of them in. Trembling as fear gripped her heart, she dared to cautiously peek through the crack between the doors. Her heart froze as she caught sight of a man staring at her through the crack.

"Found you." He smiled a toothy grin before ripping the doors open and yanking the two of them out of their hiding spot. She screamed in pain as he gripped her arm hard enough to leave a bruise. She stumbled as he pulled her along, causing her foot to catch an uneven board in the cabin floor. Kansa screamed as her shoulder was twisted, popping loudly as she fell. The man glared over at her before roughly pulling her to her feet. "Get your ass up."

"Please, Why are you doing this?" She gasped as she struggled to keep up with this man. She looked over her shoulder to see the second man pick her child up roughly. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out her daughter's cries filled with pain and fear. She looked back up at the man. His short black hair was accented by the white hat he wore. Annabelle looked up into his dark eyes, burning with hatred and rage. His handlebar mustache framed his mouth that was twisted into a scowl.

"None of your business you damned woman." She snarled as they exited the cabin. He gripped her arm harder before throwing her down the stairs and on the ground. Once she stopped falling, Annabelle lifted her head, only to wish she hadn't. Tears streamed down her face, leaving streaks on her mud covered face as she gazed upon the sight of her husband's dead body.

"William...No." She whimpered as she reached out with a trembling hand to brush his blond hair out of his face. She turned her attention to her toddler as the man threw her onto the ground. She reached out to the sobbing child, who quickly climbed into her arms and sobbed against her chest. She held her daughter while whispering softly in her ear to try and calm her down, as futile as it was. "It's going to be okay, little one."

"Stand up!" The second man commanded as he stormed over to her. His black hair was combed back and his green eyes barring down on her. She tried not to look at the chewing tobacco stains in his beard as he spoke. He didn't give her a chance to get up before pulling her to her feet. Annabelle grabbed for her child, who was ripped out of her arms. He pushed her daughter forcefully at the other man who grabbed shoulders and turned the child to face her.. "Hold her at Point."

"Please, why are you doing this to us?" She asked frantically as the black haired man twisted her arms behind her back and held her.

'We got orders."

"Orders to do what?"

"Stop talking." He ordered before turning to his partner. "Let's get this over with."

"What-." She stopped mid sentence as she felt the cold barrel of a gun press into her back. Annabelle felt her heart start to race as panic filled her body.

"NO!" She screamed as the other man pulled a knife out of the belt wrapped around his hips. She fought against the man holding her as the other raised the blade to her child's throat. She turned to look at the man behind her and pleaded. "She is just a child! Kill me instead!"