Alive in the Snow

6. Above All

Sitting in a dimly lit, narrow room, it was cramped with boxes all around. In the background was an old air-conditioning unit that whirred. Cobwebs were found in every corner, while dust particles floated in the air. The smell? There was no ventilation and a strong rotting odour of wood filled the room. The window which let light pass through couldn't be opened: it looked rather clean however compared to everything else in the room.

"Hey, Vel...remember not to make any noise ok? You will attract the monsters that live here in the dark." - Luna whispered.

"There must be a lamp or a candle...get off me for a second. I will try to find something while I can slightly see stuff." - Velorra insisted whilst getting up from the floor and looking around for a better light source. "We are lucky that there's a window."

"Hey don't leave!" - Luna urged.

"Shush, you are being too loud. Hey...look what I found!"- Velorra replied, showing Luna a battery-powered, yellow torch gathered from the boxes in the corner. "Catch."

Velorra tosses the torch towards Luna which narrowly misses her head and hits the wall from behind.

"Hey, be careful! Wait...you hear something?" - Luna questioned, pointing to the boxes and crates next to her sister. Velorra remained still for a moment.

A squeaking and movement sound came from the boxes. Walking towards it, Velorra lifts it out of the way which then revealed a family of mice all squirming around. Terrified, she dropped the boxes onto the mice recklessly and sprinted back towards Luna.

"Luna, don't go there! There are many rats!" - Velorra warned, hyperventilating after the incident.

"Eh rats? Oh, I love them, let me go see them!" - Luna beamed, walking towards the boxes and lifting them carefully. "Idiot, it's not rats."

"I don't care...Luna, where's the torch!?" - Velorra panicked, leaping onto the floor in search of it.

"I got it, you need it?" - Luna questioned as she rolled the torch towards Velorra. She turned the torch on and shined it on the ground to check for mice.
"Anyways, these guys in the box are now my best friend. Vel come say hi!"

"Oh my god Luna, no thank you." - Velorra replied whilst dragging herself away from Luna, and laying down beside the window.

Suddenly, gunfire was audible as well as a mother screaming for their children to be spared. Peeping out of the attic window in curiosity, Velorra noticed a small boy running down the road who then suddenly collapses. Following this, patches of crimson swiftly covered his rags as he stiffened. Men dressed in black were then witnessed carrying the boy away with officers behind. Looking no more, she withdraws herself from the window and backs down.

"Luna, do not make a sound. The bad guys are here in our neighbourhood. I hope they pass our house." - Velorra warned for the final time. Luna crouches down and places the crates in front of her which acted as a barrier.

Following this, loud banging and shattering of glass were heard from below.

"Now shut it Luna." - Velorra threatened.

Footsteps and voices increased in volume as they approached Yuvan's bedroom from below:

"No one is here. Out on holiday perhaps? Nah can't be, keep searching. There's always that mother shielding her kids in the corner."

...

Further noises of glass and furniture being broken were heard.

"The place seems clear though. Go downstairs and check again. I'll stay up ere."