Order Of Confessions

Chapter 2: Dead or Alive

Roux's POV

Roux had never been to this part of the woods, mom always said there were goblins that ate children there. With a group of people who were after her with shiny knives and guns, she had no choice but to run for her life.

"Find that kid and bring her! Alive or dead!" shouted one of the men far away. They were getting closer and her tiny legs weren't helping.

Her eyes spotted a cave close by, a place where she assumed goblins stayed. She would ask them if she could stay, she thought to herself. She bolted towards the cave and quickly hid among the shadows, breathing heavily and hoping they won't find her here. That's something she was good at, hiding in plain sight.

The murmurs and footsteps of the men faded away later.

About 30 mins ago, it was her bedtime and Mom had told her something exciting was to happen tomorrow but it was a secret. She couldn't wait to find out what it was.

"Sleep my little angel, dream of rainbows and unicorns, okay?" Mom said.

"Okay," Roux replied, giggling.

Roux pretended to be asleep and when mom left, she crawled her way out of bed to listen to what her parents were taking about. She knew it was about the surprise tomorrow. Was she going to get new clothes? Maybe a new toy?

"Hey, look I'm trying to find a better job. Its just with the recession, its even harder" Dad assured, comforting Mom on the living room couch.

 "I understand. It's just that Roux is growing and she needs better education, if anything martial arts, to be part of Fier's army. That'll ensure a better pay and future" said Mom.

"Yes and-" 

Before she could hear anything else, a roar of loud noises erupted outside. A series of heavy footsteps and gunshots got closer to her living room door. Why were these people here? Did they want the rent money again? Roux hugged her stuffed bear closer to her chest. 

When it was the end of the month, a group of men always came to the house to demand the rent money. They were always a bit short on it so they had to give something valuable. Last time it was a set of ceramic crockery, today could either be the couch or a wardrobe.

She looked through the keyhole of her bedroom and spotted a crimson flame from the living room window. Just as she was about to alert her parents, the living room door crashed down sending spikes of wood all over the room. A group of big burly men enter with one of them pointing a rifle at her Dad.

"You think you could escape that?! Your wretched bloodline ends with you, you Merizons!" announced one of the guys, getting closer and holding her Moms neck.

"Leave her alone, you bastard! Keep her out of this" Dad said, trying to separate the guy from his wife.

" Who-Meri...zon?We--are-Fl-am..uhgh--ans" Mom said, barely able to get her words out.

"SHUT UP!!" 

The rest of the men trashed the whole house, sounds of smashing crockery and furniture and more gunshots. A man was just about to smash her bedroom door open when she ran and hid under her cot, one of her favorite places to hide when she played hide and seek.

"Nobody here, just an old cot," he said, closing the door.

Roux spotted a butterfly on the window sill and slowly made her way towards it. This was her chance, she could escape without alerting anyone. But what about Mom and Dad? Roux knew she couldn't fight the bad guys but she could call for help. 

She opened the window latch, and looked back to check if anyone was at the door. The ground was close enough for her to jump out to but it was dark and she couldn't see anything. A sharp pain went through the leg she landed on.

A high pitched scream filled the air. Roux instantly covered her mouth with her hand but to no avail. The men had already heard her and she had to run as fast as her legs could take her.

"She's running away!" announced one of the men. Roux took one final look at her house. It was on fire. The rooftop had collapsed mere seconds after she'd leapt out.

Calling for help would mean finding her way out of this maze of a forest. Roux could do nothing except sit still in the cave. A series of shadows passed by but none of them attentive enough to see her. Warm tears trickled down Rouxs' face as she hugged her toy close to her.