The Resistance

Prologue

  Screams fill my ears as I run through the forest. Every breath burns with smoke. Exhaustion attacks my lungs, and my feet begin to ache. Thoughts race through my mind. The fear of our discovery makes me run ever faster. My mother's scream rings throughout the trees. I catch sight of the flames. They grow taller than the trees. Our little house is set ablaze. But that's not the worst of it. Men in black surround the house and my family. The duke's guards. 

 Two men hold my father to his knees, while another beats him. One pins my mother down with hold of her hair. My two brothers are fighting just to get to their feet. The blood on their faces is highlighted by the fire. As I approach, one man takes out his sword and the rest follow. Their weapons glow bright against the flame. Then the screams go quiet, and their bodies fall limp to the ground. I let out a bloodcurdling shriek. I fall to my knees, tears run down my face. As I weep, I hear one come closer. I look through my veil of hair and he's smiling. His face beams of triumph. His black eyes shine with the joy of his victory. As he comes closer, my fear grows. The man takes me by the arm. And...

 I wake up to the darkness of my home. I scan the room, knife in hand. It was only a dream.

  I think to myself, "Oh, how the memories all rush back when you're sleeping." I lay back down trying to push those god-awful screams from my head, as I fall into an uneasy sleep.