MAGDALA

Prologue

I rushed into our home, searching and searching for her. I then went into our bedroom.

"Isabel!" I finally reached my wife. She had sweat everywhere on her body.

Isabel slowly looked up at me and gave me a very small smile. I saw something under a blanket by her breasts. Isabel saw me stare, and pulled the blanket away from her, showing our beautiful baby girls soft and innocent face.

I smiled, lightly brushing my thumb on the baby's skin. Somehow this all distracted me from what was happening just outside across the fields.

"Oh, honey... I am so sorry I couldn't be here for this special moment." I kissed her sweaty forehead, apologizing many times.

"Stop it. It is okay. I know you would've been here if you could have." She reassured me.

I smiled. "What a beauty. What shall we be naming our girl?" I can't stop looking at her eyes.

"Hmm... maybe Agnes, Beatrice, Christina..." My wife said looking into my eyes.

We heard a voice coming into our bedroom. "How about... Magdala?"

Our nine year-old son smiled and rushed into our bedroom. "Well, Benjamin, I happen to think that is a beautiful name." Isabel whispered while feeding our daughter.

Suddenly, we heard little footsteps coming from somewhere in the house. "Mama!!! Mama!!!" Our other two sons ran into our bedroom.

"I thought you said we were going to be leaving soon!" William ran into the room, with his twin brother, Walter.

Walter then noticed I was here and ran at me sobbing. "I'm so glad you're h-home."

I hugged him and smiled. Walter loves me the most. I noticed William in the door-frame, rolling his eyes.

"Will. What is the matter, son?" I asked, still hugging a sobbing Walter.

William turned his head to look at me. "Oh father, it is nothing. It's just that... well, Walter is a baby. There is a war outside and he is crying like a child."

I glared at him. "That because my dear boy, he is a child. Don't be disrespectful, son."

William was about to say something, but Isabel changed the subject. "Well, we best be on our way. Benjamin, please come and hold your sister while I get up."

Benjamin grabbed Magdala and rushed out of the room to head out the back way. We all then followed.

As we got outside, Walter stopped in his steps. "What's the matter, Walter? We have to go now." I rushed.

"Do you believe we will all be okay?" Walter looked at his feet.

"Let's go, son." I walked towards him and picked his small self up. We then ran towards the mountains.