The Village

Chapter 1: Introduction

Wheat. Carrots. Potatoes. Tomatoes.
Wheat. Carrots. Potatoes. Tomatoes.
How do they expect me to remember this?
Wheat. Carrots. Potatoes. Tomatoes.
I grab them all.

I wish I had a sister like Emma does. Or even a brother like Hannah. It's honestly not fair that I have to do all of this work by myself. I don't ever get a break. Working all day except for when I have school.

"Lucy! Did you get the things I asked for? You know we need those things for dinner tonight and tomorrow!"

"Yes, Mom! I know."

I climb up the staircase and place the items on the table, organising them into separate groups as they should be.

"Lucy! Can you ple-" (I can't help but interrupt her)

"Yes, Mom I will!" I know every time I bring up the wheat she asks me to take it to the mill. She really doesn't have to tell me every time, I think she just doesn't like to go out into the village.

Ever since Dad died, she doesn't go out much. Instead she just stays inside sewing clothes. She doesn't even deliver the clothes herself! She'd send a letter to my teacher just to get me out of school to deliver the clothes for her. I can't blame her though.

At least I get out of school. I'm way too smart for it. In my school, they treat me like a fifth grader because I miss so much time in class. I don't really care, though. The work is too easy. The school is small and it doesn't matter how smart you are in there, the only thing that matters is how much time you spend in it.

In fact, my entire village is small. I always wonder what goes on past the border. Obviously the monster lives in the woods, but past that. We seriously can't be the only ones here. Sometimes if I listen closely during the night, I can hear voices past the trees. They sound like one of us.