Scarred Barks

CHAPTER 4

       As the gate scorched open, the bell chimed its loudest one last time. At this point Bode, Gabriel and Aurora opened their eyes simutaneously as if a shock had passed through them, Bode asked them to remain in the house as he slowly opened up the door, by the time he made it out there he was, standing face to face with the governor of the town and four soldiers behind him. Bode felt his guts rise as his hands clenched, shouting " What do you want?". The governor, with no reason to be in stealth anymore walked a step closer and answered with a grinch " Well that's no way to speak to your governor, now, I've heard from a certain somebody that this tree is no ordinary, is this true?".

   Bode, with no fear in his eyes walked a step closer, at this time it was almost as if they were pawns on a chess board, he answered " It does not concern you, now let my family and our property be!". " Seize him" the governor said with a faint but bold voice as two of the soldiers approached Bode, at this point the door of the house busted open off its hinges as Gabriel came out with the sceptre, pointing it at the soldiers shouting " He said let us be! We will never give in ", with no hesitation, both soldiers brought out their whips, one of them entangled the handle of the sceptre skillfully throwing it backwards, it went straight to the tree slashing into it deeply, as soon as this happened, Aurora screamed from inside the house, coming out with a bleeding scratch on her thigh, the soldiers had no idea what was going on but Gabriel and Bode understood immediately, the tree had to stay. Bode ran up to the soldier that whipped the sceptre, jumping in the air and landing his fists on the soldier's head, he knocked him out.

  The remaining two soldiers from behind hopped to the front of the governor this time, both reaching out for thier gunpowder rifles routinely, the governor shouted in awe " Fire!" as one of them aimed at Bode, firing the shot but missing, It had ricocheted to the tree bark, penetrating even deeper near the hollow. Blood began vigorously squirting out of the holes of the tree, Aurora fell to her knees with her hands on her abdomen, she was dead. The second soldier loaded his rifle and shot Bode, this time with no room for error, straight to the chest, Gabriel layed on the floor pretending to be hit, continuously praying they would buy it, they did. The governor approached the tree , covered in blood, he pulled his right hand out of his cowhide glove grazing the tree, he put his finger in his mouth, obtusely saying " It's blood". At this point he put in his mind that they were misinformed, this tree indeed was a mystery, but nothing they could benefit from, no water, nothing. He commanded his remaining three soldiers " Carry your colleague, our business is done", looking at the corpses around, faintly repeating " It's a pity ". They left.

  

   Gabriel waited for about five minutes to make sure they were gone well, he stood up to his knees, crawling up to his dead parents, crying. His tears dropping from his cheeks, rippling into the pool of blood surrounding him, he felt as empty as a used vessel, emotions beyond sadness and tears, he could barely stand up as his knees became weak. Gabriel went into the house, took his biggest leather bag packing all the valuables scattered around the house, with a pot of water, he came out and hugged the tree, wiping his wet eyes and face on the strong, yet soft bark whispering " I'll be back ".

   Writers note: Update coming soon as we transide into the present times, carrying all we have left, the tree.