Glass Heart Boy

Pause

"S..stop.." I pulled her down behind a cluster of rocks as the enemy walked down the forest path. The beer leaked from their lips with a vulgar stench.

"Who are they?" She shivered in my arms with thin fingers locked between my own. I could not tell her that they were the ones hunting her.

"Bad men...we need to stay low and quiet," I could smell her fear screaming at me. She screamed for normality, but her face stayed frozen calm. War makes fear turn blank I guess. Looking at her, I was responsible for everything. Her innocence had been torn from her and now...now it was I risking her for a daring escape.

"What's your name?" I could hear a small crack in her voice. I met her fluorescent grey eyes and smiled. I

"Koda," it was a gesture I had hoped would calm her down slightly.

"Koda." She whispered my name a few times on her breath. For the first time, I loved how it sounded. She went over it a few more times before we set off running again through the woods. The hunters had their back turned to us, so now we could make a quick bolt through the trees and to the cemetery close by.

"What is your name?" It was in fact true that I had no idea what her name in fact was.

"Noemi," she panted. A name like that was uncommon. A stick cracked and they were after us again. The hounds barked and guns fired in our direction. "Koda!" She screamed, holding onto my hand tighter as we ran. I broke us through the gate of the graveyard and weaved her through the endless gravestones and fancier memorial buildings.

"FIRE!" I slammed her into a stone wall, my back taking a bullet that was specially crafted to kill her. She shook violently in front of me. I stood strong, my hands cracking the sturdy wall as I pressed them into it to deal with the pain. Four more were fired off, rendering me weak. I took the reload opportunity and started running with her again. Blood drenched my clothes and leaked from my mouth when I coughed. I would keep her safe.

"Hide here," I dropped her into a hole underneath a large oak tree. It stood strong even though it was long pass dead.

"Don't leave me!" She gripped my hand.

"I will be back, I promise," I separated from her and ran off. I had to lead them far from her on last time. She would not be back in their custody. They gave chase and I ran. I ran for miles. One by one killing each of the men off before returning to her just as the sun rose. She had fell asleep in the little hole. I lifted her out and carried her slowly. My body was tense with pain. Each step became a hassle, but I saved her. I could live for her. I knew now that she was free and I would ensure nothing would ever take her again.

Her life was no longer on pause.