The Stories of America

The Burn of War

In Order of Appearance:
City of Baltimore: Alexandria "Alex"
State of Maryland: Mama
District of Columbia: Columbia "Collie"

In Order of Mentioned:
City of Annapolis: Anna
City of Philadelphia: Philly
Northern States of America: Alfred
Commonwealth of Virginia: Dad

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June, 1812-Baltimore, State of Maryland

She remembers all of it. She remembers when Mama first found her. Remembers when Mama brought Anna home. Remembers when Mama brought Collie home. Remembers when she and Anna tried to teach Collie how to be a capital. How she laughed when Philly had gotten knocked down by little Collie.

How could she not? They were key memories to her. However, she also remembered the Revolution. Remembered how Mama cried silent tears. Remembered how she was left with babysitters because her parents were fighting against Alfred's former caretaker. She might've been young, but that didn't matter.

Now, there was another war, a war against Britain again. Apparently, Britain couldn't handle not bringing his former colonies to the war HE started. She was mad when she found out after seeing Dad putting on an American military uniform.

She was mad. At least, Mama was staying. Mama reassured her that she wouldn't leave to fight another war unless she absolutely needed to. Mama had left, but returned with candy for all three of them. However, Alex knew that something wasn't right. That something horrible was going to happen during this war.

August 24th, 1814-Baltimore, State of Maryland

She woke up to screaming from her little sister's room. She scrambled out of bed and rushed to Collie's room. When she entered Collie's room, she saw her little sister coughing out blood and live embers.

Alex rushed to her and brushed the embers off the bed, ignoring her fingers being burned in the process. She was horrified when she saw burns on Collie's arms. Collie's screaming must've alerted the babysitter because she heard footsteps running up the stairs.

"Is everything okay?" The babysitter, Elizabeth, asked as she hurried in.

"No! Get the doctors! We need medical attention!" She barked, Elizabeth nodded and rushed downstairs.

"Shhhh. Shhhh." She shushed Collie. Alex's heart broke as she heard Collie crying. She hugged Collie close as a coughing fit took over her body. Collie's body shook violently and Alex could see smoke, embers and blood being coughed up out of Collie's throat.

"Shh...Shh..." She whispered, grabbing her sister's head. Alex realized that her hair was different. It felt different. She grabbed a brush from the table next to Collie's bed and brushed her hair. She realized she couldn't. Collie's black hair had covered the fact that some of her hair had melted and dried with ashes. She jumped away.

"Don't!...Leave!...Me!" Collie choked out when she saw Alex rushing to the door.

"Don't worry. I'm only going to be out for a second. I'll be back." Alex answered as she exited the room.

"Hurry!" Collie shouted back. Alex rushed down to the kitchen. She grabbed a chef's knife and ran back upstairs. Wasn't the most practical, but it would have to do. Rushing into the room, she moved to the back of her sister.

She positioned the knife and cut her hair. Collie's crying intensified as Alex cut her hair. She knew Collie cherished her long hair. She did too, but Collie couldn't keep her hair in that condition. After she cut all her hair, she hugged her again.

"Shh...it's alright. It's going to be okay." Alex didn't believe a word she said.

oOo

She stood in the room as the doctors placed ointment on the burns before they bandaged them. Collie was still crying her lungs out. Elizabeth was pacing outside, waiting for Mama and Anna to come home. Mama and Anna were in Virginia at the moment. There was no way they would be here today.

"Is Collie going to be okay?" Alex asked.

"Of course-"

"Columbia! Alexandria!" Mama cried. Alex was shocked. How did Mama get here within a day?

"Mama!" Collie shouted. She tried to jump off her bed, but Alex caught her. She was in no condition to be standing or walking for that matter. Mama appeared in the doorway. She gasped at the sight of her little girl.

Her once long black hair was cut down to her chin. Blood covered her chin and burns covered her body. One of the doctors approached her and closed the door. Alex placed Collie back on her bed as she started wailing again.

The doctor continued to wrap her burns. Alex could hear muffled words, but she couldn't make them out. After a while, she stopped trying. She held Collie as she cried. Soon, she can't handle her cries and started to cry too. The doctor looked at both of them and sighed. She felt bad for the doctor. Mama slammed the door open and rushed to her children.

"It's okay. Shh...it's okay. Everything'll be alright." Mama told her, but when Alex looks into her eyes, she can tell that she didn't believe it either.

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I hope you enjoy this little one-shot!

Edit: I've edited this and found out a month after this, there was a battle in Baltimore.

Words: 822

-Rose