Ré's Sacrifice

Chapter 18 If one must live the other must die

I imagined myself floating on the ocean. No waves, just peace. The birds were singing. All was relaxing. The water was warm. Everything was perfect-

"Re"
I felt someone shaking me.
"Re!"
Leave me alone, I don't wanna wake up.
"RE!"
I want to stay in this moment forever!
"RE! You must wake now! Please!"
I opened my eyes just as a loud explosion sounded very close to where I was. I jumped and sat up. "What happened?" I asked. Ebony looked scared. "Ré..they've found us.."

Her words were enough to fill me with fear and dread. I look at where the door of the pub was. I instantly saw a gaping hole in its place. They've bombed us. "Ré, come on petite unité, we must leave, now" Ebony told me. "No! It's not safe!" I said in a panic. "Ré! I don't have time to argue! I must take you away from here!" She insisted. "But where! Where will we go! They will kill us!" I cried "I don't want to loose you!".

Ebony realised what I meant. I had lost so many people. She knelt down in front of me and held my shoulders. "Oh sweetheart..I don't want to loose you either..but we must leave, if we don't, they'll eventually find us and kill us..I am an expert at finding places to hide..you have to trust me.." She whispered gently. "I trust you with all my heart" I told her. She smiled at me and then took my hand and we both ran away from the destroyed pub.

There were gunshots and explosions everywhere. People were huddled together in groups holding each other. People were lying dead on the floor, blood seeping from deep wounds all over their bodies. Poor little defenceless children were screaming and crying with cuts all over them. Some had ripped and burnt clothes. It was a dreadful sight. I wished I could help them. But there was nothing I could do about it. Soldiers started shooting at anyone who crossed their path and me and Ebony did our best to avoid them. I was afraid and was close to tears. I let a few escape my eyes but that was it. I needed to be strong for Ebony.

It was horrible to see the bakery on fire. That was where we got our lifesaving bread.

I was just about to walk over to it when suddenly a bomb exploded right behind us. I was blinded for a while and my head hit the concrete. I felt blood oozing from a cut in my head.
Around me, through my flashing vision, I could see men, women and children in agony. I wailed along with them. My whole body was on fire and I wished to die right then so I didn't have to feel anymore pain.
Then I remembered why I was here. Ebony. Was she dead?. I prayed to heaven that she wasn't. "Ebony?" I said in a whisper. I couldn't talk any louder as I was too weak. I tried again. "EBONY!" I shouted as loud as I could. I felt like I was in a dream. Everything was echoing and the world was spinning. I dragged myself blindly towards anyone I could find. I refused to let go. I refused to die. I couldn't die. I had to be strong. Strong for Ebony, strong for Charlié and strong for my Parents. They all needed me to be alive. I thought I had lost everything when I heard a familiar voice. "Ré! RÉ!" Ebony called. I then saw her. She had no cuts on her face or head but she did on her arm. Most likely from the explosion.

I shook my head a few times and everything came back into focus. I crawled over to Ebony. My throat was raw from the smoke which was all around us. As soon as I reached Ebony I curled up at her feet and sobbed. "Ré? Are you okay?" She asked. I nodded. "Ré, you must stand, please, stand" She said. I wanted her to keep talking to me. It gave me strength. I felt lost when she stopped talking to me. "Ré, its okay, it's alright Ré, please stand, you must stand, It will help you so much!" She said encouragingly. I pulled myself up onto my feet and instantly my head and vision cleared. I swayed a little and Ebony held onto me so I wouldn't fall. My ears were ringing from the explosion. But I felt fine. I was glad to see Ebony was alive and well too. "Ré, come on, we must get to an alley" Ebony told me. I nodded as I was still too weak to talk. I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other as we walked all the way to an alley and hid behind a wall. We hoped no soldiers would find us here.