The Lies We Tell

Prolouge

Running. I was running. I didn't know where I was. All I knew was that I needed to get away from the fight. I could feel the blood on my clothes drying as I ran.

She was dead. The only person I knew could save me was dead. My chest heaved as I finally fell to my knees, my small backpack dropping off my shoulders. My mother was the kindest person anyone could have met, yet they killed her as if she were just like my father. Why would they do that? That guy had been trying to kill me. Why would she have stepped in front of me? I could have taken it. She knew that. She still jumped in front.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard crying nearby. I stood on shaking legs, walking closer to the bush where the sound came from. When I pushed the leaves and twigs from the person hiding inside, I saw a girl. She couldn't have been much younger than I was, but she was bleeding.

"Hello? Are you hurt?"

All I got in response was a louder sob. "C'mon kid- I'm not going to hurt you- I just need to see if you're hurt-"

The girl was hesitant, but she unrolled herself just enough for me to get a look at her. "My name's Niko. Can you tell me yours?"

She looked back at me, her blue eyes filled with tears as she quietly responded "...wynn"
She had an accent. Almost as if she weren't from Seattle. "Wynn's a pretty name... do you know where your family is? It's not safe to be here right now. There's a fight going on."

"I know," Wynn mumbled. "My mom and dad went into the fight... They're gone." My face dropped. I felt horrible. "I'm sorry. Do you want to hide with me?" She nodded hesitantly.

I grabbed the bag I had previously left behind and pulled out a first aid kit. As I worked, she talked quietly. "My mom and pop, an' I lived in Ireland. Came 'ere to visit my dad's mom, We just 'ad to run to the store to get some bread for supper-"

My stomach lurched as I thought of yet another memory of the bloody fighting ground appeared in my mind. I had to turn away from Wynn as my stomach emptied itself into the bush she had just been in. As I wretched, all I could think of was the blood that had dripped from my mom's mouth, the bleeding wound on her stomach, and her eyes rolling back till I could no longer see the green they once were. The same blood that now covered my clothes. It somehow made the black of my jeans darker, and the red of my jacket more intense.

I felt my stomach settle as someone wrapped an arm around me, pulling me from the memories. I looked over and saw Wynn, a knowing and sad look painting her face. It'd be okay. It had to, right?