Piano Keys

Chapter 5

I'm so sorry I haven't updated in ions! My life has been a whirlwind of craziness. Now I'm finally out of school and my life is calming down so I can commit to updating more. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

We landed on the roof with a thud and I tumbled to my side. It hurt and ripped the air from my lungs but there was no time to recover, Harry and I struggled to our feet and continued our escape. I couldn't believe we had made it this far, I never expected to make it out alive. We ran on to someone's rooftop until we reached the edge. A drainage pipe ran down the house and Harry and I used this to our advantage. Sirens blared behind us signaling our escape. Harry was the first to reach the ground and placed his hands on my hips helping me the last bit of the way. The sun was blaring above our heads and it became obvious we were in a desert like place. The houses were like nice shacks and the "roads" were dirt. After looking around in every direction Harry and I began to zigzag between houses toward what we hoped would be the town's square.

Seeing people it became obvious that we didn't fit in. Everyone was wearing cloaks that covered their bodies and heads; the woman wore sheer pieces of cloth that covered their mouths. We needed a change of clothes. We continued trying our best to not be seen.

As Harry and I hid from some soldiers, I was poked on my back. I turned my head to see a beautiful little girl. Although all I could see were her eyes I could tell she was about 13. My brow furrowed and she could see my confusion.

"My mother says to follow me," she whispered. Harry had now turned around too. Nor Harry or I made a sound or moved until she spoke again. "You are who the soldiers are looking for, right?"

"Yes... How'd-" she knew what I was about to ask before I could ask her.

"Your clothes gave it away. Now follow me."

"How do we know your not leading us into a trap?" Harry was right; she could have been paid off to lead us into captivity again.

"Because I hate those soldiers just like you and the rest is up to you to trust me," although I did agree with Harry, there was something about this girl that screamed safety. She began to walk away with me trailing behind.

"Come on, Harry. We can trust her."

"Cali!"

"Harry?" he remained silent and stood up, soon he followed behind the girl and I.

She led us down a couple back alleyways, occasionally stopping when she saw a soldier in the distance. Her fragile figure would never cause you to think she would be smuggling prisoners. Maybe that was why she was the perfect one to do it?

We came to a stop at a back door of a building. The girl looked around for any threat and when she concluded it was safe she opened the door and pulled us in. She called for her mom and her mother entered through the doorway. We stood in what seemed to be a backroom of a shop. The girl and her mother talked in hushed tones for a few minutes and Harry and I exchanged worried looks. I looked down to see Harry's hand on the doorknob, prepared to leave hastily. It only occurred to me now that this boy was once used to being on the run, having to steal for his next meal. The girl's mother left the room and then soon returned with a stack of clothing in her arms.

"These are for you, they should help you get out." The mother had a slight accent only I couldn't pinpoint where she was from. She placed the clothing items on a small table then left us to change.

"Don't look!" Harry snickered at me, obviously amused. He grabbed his clothes and turned around.

I slipped the clothes over my head. I caught a glimpse of Harry's eyes on me then they were torn away and focused on his clothes. I couldn't quite hook the clasp that held my mouth cover and so Harry turned to assist me. I starred into his gorgeous emerald eyes. Silence filled the air until I broke it.

"I saw that by the way." His eyes jerked up to meet mine, confusion written in them. "You peeked." His eyes widen and he drew back from me, his secret, which he tried so hard to hide for the moment, was now spilled on the table.

"I uh... I just..." he was cut off by the girl entering the room.

"These are for you, one is empty and the other one has some food and water for you." She held two bags out to us. We slipped them over our shoulders and put our old clothes in the empty bag. "You can follow me to the end of the city, from there you are on your own."

"Why are you helping us?" Harry questioned, he really didn't trust this girl.

"Because no one should rule over people like this." at her age this girl was filled with defiance and it was surprising to say the least.

We left the room through the back door and began to casually walk through streets. We blended in. The girl led us for a good ten minutes then we could see a path to some form of freedom. Down a long street and over a hill we could see the tree tops of the forest.

"There's your ticket to freedom." She pointed down the street and I felt my feet start to walk and my hopes were soaring. But just as quick as they scored they were crushed. Behind us a guard shouted for us to stop.

"RUN!" The little girl screamed and I turned and saw her take off down a side alley. Just as fast as she took off the sound of a gun sounded and she collapsed to the ground. She was dead.

Everything around me slowed and I suddenly felt all the oxygen I had leave my lungs as I screamed for her. I tried to lurch forward and attack the girl's shooter but the strong arms I've come to know pulled me back and we both turned and ran knowing that our lives depended on it. I still couldn't breathe. The sight I witnessed I could never un-see. Such a small life taken from the world and it was our fault, our fault that she was dead. The sound of shouts became more distant as we ran and ran. We ran down a hill and finally paused at the entrance to the forest. Harry and I looked back before running into the wood. It was quite some time before I couldn't run any further; my own strength surprised me.

I collapsed against a tree and tried desperately to catch my breath. Harry sat beside me, leaning against the same tree. "They shot her."

"Try not to think about it."

"Harry they shot her!"

"I know what happened, Cali! But fact is because they did, you and I are safe so just drop it!" where was this insensitive side coming from? Although I didn't agree with Harry I shut up before I regretted it. But the truth is, I knew the sight of her being shot would haunt me forever.