Below

Below, Chapter 1

     Okay, A/N: I made a super cool cover, but it doesn't work! I have no clue what it looks like to you, but to me it's just black! I will try to fix it, but all I can do is show it on here- I hope it works!

    "Hush," Mother whispered. Ara had been silently crying for a few minutes. Fear and terror raced through her like speed trains. "It will be over soon."

"Mama, but what if they find us?" Ara asked.

Mama pulled her closer, rubbing Ara's back, "They won't."

"What are they looking for?" She asked in a hushed voice.

"Us, Ara. The world is at war. They are looking for the survivors."

Ara quietly sobbed again when she heard voices shouting, and Mama cried a little as well. But Mama wiped the tears from Ara's eyes and gave her a sad smile. "Ara, you have to be strong. You have to be strong when others aren't." Mama stood up straight and wrapped Ara up in a blanket. She unclasped a small silver chain necklace that Mama wore everyday. Ara couldn't even recall the last time Mama took it off. She put it in Ara's cupped hands. Ara put it around her neck and clasped it back. "I love you, Ara. Be strong." Mama's lips trembled as she spoke.

Ara's eyes opened wide as Mama dashed outside. She froze in place when Mama locked the cellar door. Ara knew how to unlock it from the inside since she had the key, but she couldn't. Her hands wouldn't move. Her eyes wouldn't cry. She just sat there, curled up in blankets and listening to the sounds of war. She heard Mama yelling, she heard men barking, she heard guns firing, and Mama's yells grew quiet. Now she heard flames. Loud, sparking, crackling flames. She held her breath as loud stomping noises came from right outside the cellar door. She heard raspy whispering, then more stomping. More feet. And more fear and terror made its' way through her.

She hid in the blankets and the creaking sounds of the cellar doors grew loud. She heard grumbling and footsteps climbing down the ladder.

"Look here! I found one!" A man's voice hovered over her. Ara moved the blankets from her face. She saw the man's grin turn into a shocked expression. "It's a girl."

"How old?" Another man asked.

"I don't know, 8 or 9?"

"Uh-"

"What are we supposed to do? Shoot her?"

"Well, technically-"

"I refuse to shoot a little girl!"

Multiple voices spoke back in forth. Ara just sat there, eyes wide in horror.

"Let her go." One man said. Ara's head turned to face a tall man, much bigger than anyone in her small village. "She's just a girl."

Everyone nodded. As soon as she heard this Ara raced for the ladder. She climbed up and once she got to the top, she locked the door. She stuffed the key in her pant's pocket and dashed for the woods. She sobbed as she ran deeper and deeper. She ran and looked behind her, everything was unfamiliar. The trees towered high and the sounds of the night grew louder. She shrieked as she tumbled down a ditch. Right before she hit a tree in her way something grabbed her. Her head shot in front of her to see a boy, holding tight to her hand.

He pulled her up and she struggled to catch her breath. "Are you okay?" He asked.

She gulped and nodded, "Yes, I'm fine."

He smiled and looked at her feet. She hadn't put shoes on before her great escape, and her feet were scratched and dirty. She had to admit she'd been running all night and her feet are sore.

He laughed and said, "Same,"

Ara looked around, "Where were you heading?"

"Same place as you, somewhere better." The boy replied. "There aren't too many people left. The enemies almost got 'em all. About a few thousand people are left.

Ara frowned, "Why are they doing this?

"Who knows? People will be people. Power hungry and all that-"

"Well, do you want to go 'somewhere better' together?" Ara asked.

The boy smiled wider, "Sure, I would like that."

"Let's go, then." Ara looped her arm through his and they walked deeper into the woods, and they walked until they found a better place.

I hope you liked this! I need feed back, ASAP!