Descendants Of War

CHAPTER 4 - Harley Express

All Endings are Beginnings; we just can't distinguish when the actual time was.

The Risenton bound train drudged through the winter rain, beeping loudly to sound its arrival at Cisthorn Station. Emma's keen eyes drifted from person to person; all young faces keen to board the train and escape the cold. The guard was lining them up shoulder to shoulder alongside before boarding it. One by one, the silver haired guard inspected their faces and ensured that none of them were carrying weapons. They said they will help Don, she thought to herself, and she looked upon the seat where her brother was laying curled up in an uneasy slumber, sweating profusely from his fever.

Gradually, he looked up weakly at his little sister after a moment, whose face was unveiled with anguish. He smiled as if everything was going to be okay, but she knew that it wasn't, be brave big brother. He closed his eyes again and he fell back to sleep.

The last memories she had of this train station was her father leaving his family behind to fight in the Great War. Their mother soon left afterwards to join the nursing squad in an outreach campaign. Now she was left with her brother who was barely even nine at the time. They were placed in the hands of an elderly friend of her mother's who not long after, died in the hands of the Enforcers, leaving them to flee to the streets. No one returned even after 4 years has passed. She was afraid more for herself as she couldn't face being alone if her brother dies. The ten year old girl closed her eyes and folded her arms about herself to keep the cold at bay with little success. The raw air was biting her cheeks; she buried her face into her scarf, wishing she could disappear in her winter jacket. In truth she wished for many things: she wished she could feel the warmth of a fire again within the place she used to call home, she wished her brother wasn't ill, she wished Elyria was around to look after them, she wished she was as strong as Elyria was during the war, she wished the world wasn't so cruel, she wished the war never happened, she wished she could see her parents again.

"Get up you two, stand in line like the rest of them," the silver haired man said gruffly.

"Donovan is really sick sir, I don't think he can get up," said Emma in a frightened resonance as she stood up from the bench to face him.

"Don't worry, he will be seen by the doctors soon." A squeak of wheels and plodding of hooves came from the end of the long muddy corridor. The curious vehicle drawn by a mechanical horse moved closer. They lifted Donovan off the bench and placed him in the wooden wagon like a bag of potatoes. Emma quickly climbed atop the wagon to seat herself next to her brother. "What do you think you're doing young lady? Get back in line with the others!" bellowed the guard.

"Please can I stay with him," begged Emma, "He's the only family I have, please don't take him away." She was in near tears when another guard arrived and picked her up by the arm. He shoved her back towards the other children standing in line for the inspection. Emma stumbled to the ground; her right arm throbbed where he finally released her from his strong grip. Tears and rain alike ran down her face as she watched the cart ride off with her helpless brother in the back. Emma didn't know when or if she would ever see him again. Every time she came to this station, someone she loved had to leave her and they never came back. Now she was all alone. Be Brave Emma.

"Don't worry about these okes; they're just doing their job. C'mon sweet girl, get up from the ground. Let me help you, I will keep you safe," a soft hand touched her shoulder and she looked up to a young thin lady her brother's age. She smiled at Emma, her brown eyes curving into a half-moon crescent below her low cut fringe. She brushed a wet strand of light brown hair past her left ear, smoothing it poorly along with the rest of her hair hanging just below her shoulder, "I'm Anya Kingsley."

"Emma Harrington," she sobbed with her mouth shaking from the cold and she permitted Anya to help her stand up and wrap a raincoat around her shoulders.