When I grow up, I'll go on an adventure-thought Elias as he lay down on a tall grass in his homeland Parahill. One day I'll become a sailor and see the whole world.
Little did he know that a great adventure was awaiting him. Yet he could never imag...
They threw him into a dark room and slammed the door shut behind him, locking it. Elias crawled into the corner and hugged his knees.
It's okay Elias. You'll be okay.
His body was shivering and despite wanting to be strong for himself and them, he couldn't hold back his tears any longer.
It's okay. They can't see you here. It's okay.
You'll be okay.
At least you're alive.
The scene of his parents dying came to him again. The yawning slash across mother's neck. Her terrified eyes as she fell to the ground, her still twitching body, the thick, treacly blood oozing out of her wound. Father's briefest, kindest smile before he dropped down like a ragdoll. The blood, so much blood, that surrounded them, their lifeless bodies.
Their lifeless bodies.
They were dead.
In a nick of time, Elias lost everything. It happened so quickly. How can you, in such little time, lose so much – home, parents, warmth, safety and freedom? Elias reached to his side to make sure father's dagger was still there. With relief, he clutched it in his hands and held it tight to his chest.
I'm sorry ma, pa.
He lowered his head between his knees, trying to stop the trembling of his body. Trying to quiet down the sobs and the tears escaping his eyes.
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Elias didn't know when he drifted off to sleep or for how long he was asleep. The dagger was still firmly fixed between his fingers, tightly pressed to his chest his eyelids felt sticky from the dried tears and his throat was sore. He pulled himself into a sitting position, looking around the dark cabin.
He could tell the ship had already set sail, for it was rocking about. Elias got on his knees and walked towards the door. He tried to open it, hoping that while he was asleep someone might've unlocked it. But to his misfortune, the door wouldn't budge.
He then looked around the small cabin for any crevice, so he could at least know if it was day or night. But no luck with that either. The room was sealed shut from all around. Helpless, he sat down and leaned against a column. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in a while.
What he wouldn't do to have some Vomlies from the market or his mother's orange pie. His mouth started to water and his stomach crescendoed when Elias just imagined the sweetness of the berries and the soft bitterness of the pie.
Yet, his vision quickly changed to the bloodied hand by the market stall and his mother's body on the ground.
Elias tried to suppress the tears forcing their way out of his eyes as the realisation hit him - he would never again stroll around the market, munching on little fruit berries. He would never get to taste his mother's pie while she would hold him on her lap. He would never walk the woods with his father talking about whatever they had on their mind. He would never be able to idly lie down in the grass by the cliffs and just breathe in the fresh air.
