The Third War

Chapter One: Zoe

Kristy and I were hiding under the bed, the explosions shook the house and I help in a squeal every time the monitor t.v. screen said the bombings were getting closer to our house. I prayed my family would be ok. Kristy was keeping a very close eye on me, she's protective that way. It's my job to protect our family and her's to protect me.

Her brown hair was plastered all over face and my own black hair streaked over my eyes. I have our Grandma's black hair and Kristy and Dad have brown. Kristy is a darker skin color like our part Cherokee dad but I am as pale as a white board like our mother. Suddenly, there was silence. All the rumblings stopped and the recorded voice on the t.v. said they had left the area. I immediately scrambled out from under the bed and shot outside,

"Please please..."

I quietly begged, Kristy was right behind me muttering the same plea. I saw the bomb shelter doors swing open and my dad climbed out then helped my shaking mother up with Gabe in her hands. Gabe is the baby; he is only a year old. He is the only one with blonde curly hair like my mother and he shares her blue eyes with me; Kristy and Dad have brown eyes and brown hair.

My hair is black my grandfather. I ran and tackled my dad. My dad is the best man I know. He taught me how to sing and play music. He gave me my first instrument, a flute, and taught me the piano. I can't count all the instruments I know how to play on my fingers because of him. He says music is the key to explaining your soul.

"You girls need to be a bit faster next time, huh?"

I love him, he always jokes, I mean, even after a bombing. My mom is quiet. She doesn't talk much anymore, which isn't that different from before. She only speaks when absolutely necessary. I have my dad's loudness but only around our family, with strangers I take my mother's quietness and barely speak at all. The war scares her, I think because she lost her dad and grandpa to the second war.

My dad enveloped me into a hug and then I went and took Gabe from my mother. She quickly took her place by my dad's side after he hugged Kristy. My dad tried to comfort,

"Milly why don't you and Kristy make breakfast."

Kristy and I take turns helping with breakfast and dishes. With Mom a little scared we sort of have to take over, Kristy honestly is the better cook and I like taking care of Gabe. I stared out into the woods and remembered all the secrets hid in there and I wanted to go retrieve them so badly.

It's been three years since we've been there... 

I remembered me and Kristy racing through the woods pelting our dad with nerf bullets. I'd never had many friends; it was hard for me so Kristy basically took over. Maybe it would have been easier but before the war at school I'd been bullied and pulled out so I was home-schooled. When the war began, all public school's shut down and basically every one became home schooled. My dad called,

"Zo-zo? You awake over there?"

His voice was joking but it has a slight edge in it, I turned and saw is eyes clouded. I'm very good at noticing these things. I can read people's expressions. Kristy always tries to hide hers and I try to figure it out, it's an unspoken challenge between us. I shook my head; there was no time for playing anymore,

"Ya, I'm coming."

I turned and followed my dad back to the house. When we got inside the house, Mom and Kristy were clattering around in the kitchen and Mom was quietly fussing over Kristy's messy sleeves. If one thing could get mom talking it was being messy, for whatever reason she absolutely hated it. I walked upstairs to change Gabe and put him down for a nap since he was rudely awoken by the alarms. I changed him into a clean diaper and put him down, then I sang his song.

Go to sleep dear Gabe,

Lay down your little head,

You've had a long day so close your eyes,

And I'll be here when you rise.

Go to sleep dear babe,

Close your little eyes,

Sleep will come, I swear on my soul,

You will be alright.

I made it for him one night when he wouldn't sleep and now it always helps when he's upset. I'm very good at making music. I learned forever ago that it really does always make you feel better. Music makes the pain fade. I stood up, walked out, and closed the door.

"Zoe breakfast is ready!"

"Coming!"

I called and went down stairs.