Trapped ( Zarobljena prevedeno na engleski jezik )

4. So close yet so far

The carriage was passing through the forest that stretched near the small town they had left behind. They were drifting further away from the place where their entire life had been shaped. They were heading into the unknown.

In the eyes of Evangelia and Matej there was nothing but emptiness. Yet the landscape around them was beautiful. The sun was setting, painting the forest in a reddish hue. The sky was a shade of purple, streaked with ribbons of red from the setting sun. In Evangelia's eyes, the colors of amber reflected the redness of the sunset, making it seem as if her eyes held a separate sun that was setting within them. If someone could have seen her eyes at that moment, they would have held their breath in awe. But alongside the raw beauty, the girl's eyes were empty from pain.

In the sunset, the girl saw fire and blood. The sky shifted from purple to red. How symbolic, she bitterly thought, this day departs in crimson, gathering all the blood that has been shed. As if all the blood from the town had pooled and spilled across the sky. As if the fire still burned. And it would burn forever in my memories.

Matej and Evangelia were squeezed between baskets and expensive pieces of furniture. She thought that, besides themselves, those things were probably the spoils of these villains.

The rope that bound them was so tight that if it were tied any tighter, it would cut off their blood supply. The rough rope was creating wounds on their skin. Matej's usually tender and pink skin was now white and marked with scratches. They didn't move because even the slightest motion would dig the rope deeper into their skin. Even worse was the fact that they were in an awkward position. Their limbs had gone numb. Evangelia leaned her brother's body against hers, trying to provide him with some comfort. But even little Matej was becoming an increasing burden.

The girl gently turned her head towards the kidnappers. Every movement caused her pain. She noticed that two more had joined them. Her gaze fell on the Turk whom her brother Bogdan had injured. His leg was wrapped in a cloth through which bloodstains were seeping.

My brother paid for that wound with his life. May you bleed to death! - thought Evangelia. She had never cast curses before, but now she did it with great pleasure.

Matej was sleeping restlessly, constantly twitching. Evangelia was tempted to wake him, she knew what he was dreaming about, which is why she was also struggling with sleep. She never wanted to fall asleep again, knowing that after everything, she would not have normal dreams, but only nightmares. She felt that the boy had stopped twitching. He had woken up. The nightmare had awakened him.

- I dreamed all of that. It was as if I was there again - Matej said in a tearful voice.

- I know, sweetheart. I am here. I won't let bad dreams enter your little head. Let's pray for a peaceful sleep. Mom used to do that, and we always had nice dreams, remember?

The sister said to her helpless brother, hoping to awaken a pleasant memory in him. She didn't know what else to do. She relied on God and His mercy, and on their mother. She hoped that she was up in heaven. Can she see how they are suffering?

- Mom, help us, wherever you are now.

- She's no longer here - the boy said after a long silence - There's no one left.

- You have me - said Evangelia gently, running her fingers through his now tangled and dirty hair. - We still have each other. You know, they are still here, beside us. Even though we can no longer see them, they see us. And they will always protect us. The one who truly loves you can never leave you. Not even death is an obstacle. Remember that.

She held Matej's head against her chest and whispered a prayer for a peaceful sleep in his ear. She tried to make her voice sound like a mother's. The boy finally fell asleep. He no longer twitched.