la douleur exquise

8

Blood everywhere. She walked into the gates of the town. The once lively town now was brought down to ruins. Her throat felt dry. she froze there. "Look for any of those bastards who did this." yelled the leader. She walked slowly, a child's cry filled the air. A young boy covered in blood holding a girl. Her breath hitched as she saw the pink shell necklace on the girl. She ran over to the crying boy, falling to her knees. she started sniveling, but words didn't come out. Her tears made it hard to see but she could see the couldn't unsee blood on her skirt and her face covered in cuts and most of all her half-ripped clothes. She was just a child, she just wanted to see the ocean with her family.  A wish so pure but they ruined her. They hurt a child, and her brother sat there and cried, holding his dead sister's body.  "Ma-mama" his voice was cut off by his crying. The place where they once stood their hut was now on fire. 

"Harmonia!!" She heard Isaac's voice. he ran to her and fell on his face. He had a considerable cut right on his knee. "They... soo many of them... killed everyone..ugh." he clutched his leg in pain.  "Your father... I didn't see him during ... the attack." Her heart sank .she can't afford to lose him. Her mind was running with the thought that maybe her father was safe or maybe he was hurt, she wasn't ready to accept the death of her father.

"Hoist the boy on my horse, we must treat him," said Kalus who appeared on the scene in front of Harmonia. Issac and the boy sat on his horse. "w-who is treating .the-m ?" her voice dry and horse.  "one of our men can help and we are calling back up. You need help?" Kalus asked. Harmonia sat on the ground crying nodding her head no. "You should look for .uhh..your ..f-father," said Issac in pain. She got up slowly wiping her tears.

She walked to the place she called home. Windows were shattered but the house wasn't burned down. She ran inside, her breathing was heavy. Her house, the place she shared memories and the place she felt the happiest was now thrashed. Books on the floor and bottles of medicine spilled and cracked. The paintings on the wall missing ." F-father" she called hoping for his comforting voice to call back to her.   But the cold silence greeted her. she started tearing up again. Heavying tumping of footsteps was behind her, A warm hand placed itself on her shoulder, and she flinched to the touch.

"It's me, Walter." The old man's voice was comforting. "Oh lord, why are you crying? you must be looking for your father, come with me child" she slowly walked where the man led her. He pushed the door of his library and walked into the small room he once showed and there he was her father sitting on the chair sipping on some tea.

"Father, You were here all along?" She ran into his arms and hugged him tightly. "Careful" he laughed and hugged her back . she pulled off to see he was bandaged around his feet." what happened?" she questioned. " well they threw rocks through our window and later came in and thrashed the house." he coughed. 

"Your father had a stroke. they didn't help him, instead, they watched him as he lay there in pain. " hamrnia's eyes widen at this. "I came in just in time, by the time I came they were gone and your father was breathless ." the librarian spoke.

"You're exaggerating it, Walter, anyways did u get the medicine?"  she dug through her bag and handed him the medicine. "It's useless Stephen, the woman was killed in the fire along with her husband., those heartless creatures used that sick woman for their sexual contentment." Harmonia shuts her eyes in disgust. "the whole town is thrashed, they took what they wanted and burned down the place."

"Harmonia I don't think I have much time left." her father whispered in pain. 

"What do u mean by that ?" she questioned. The world around her got quiet, she could hear her heart beating.

"I am getting sicker as the days go by, wouldn't make it for too long."  she couldn't bear the thought of her father dying.

"I am going out to get some fresh air, ill be there when u need me." she walked outside. the smell of death suffocated her lungs . she walked towards the market,  scanning the whole place.

people lay on the ground dead, blood against their skin, clothes ripped, and their shops up in flame. Her eyes landed on a particular girl, she seemed as old as Harmonia. her body shivered in fear, her face covered in dried blood, and a dirty sack covered her bare body. The closer she got the smell got worst. 

"Young lady ? "she called out, and the dirty girl flinched. "I mean no harm " her gentle voice made the ragged girl look up at Harmonia. tears flooded her eyes. Harmonia kneeled fighting back her tears.

"They are monsters .... they...killed every..one " her sentence getting cut off by her sobs . "they raped and killed every woman no matter their age..... THEY BURNED DOWN THE HOUSE" The girl let out a loud cry and fell on the floor, she lifted her head and thrashed her head on the floor. "Why did they keep me alive ." her voice loud. Harmonia held back the girl from bashing her head onto the floor. 

"bring that young lady" a voice spoke behind them, it was one of those knights, the girl now passed out and lay in the knight's arms as they took her to safety.

Rang burned inside her, whoever did will pay.