ruthless games

foreward

ALARA

The night seemed to last longer than usual, as the dark dreary sky above painted a mood of dysphoria across the town. The stars were effortlessly airbrushed over from the cracking gas station lights and continuous working factories.

And it is silent—every night the eerily town is silent, though this is a new silence. To a stranger visiting, it would surely be undecipherable.      

           Though, the ones who stay in the all too creepy closed off areas, can't stop the chills that run down their spine as they lift their heavy blanket to duck under. Even the homeless on the street pack up to move to a more secluded area as fear lurks from the shadows hidden behind brick buildings.

         Even Alara, the courageous girl, stares up at her ceiling, waiting for her bones to relax—but they cannot. And they will not.  

                       The beat coming from her chest sufficiently picks up, almost startled by her little brother who creeps through, tears running down his face. Knowingly moves over and lifts the heavy comforter for the dysphoric boy to crawl in with his ragged toy.

         He rests up against her, leaning into her slender fingers that run throughout his curls. Alara begins to hum a soft tune, wanting nothing more than to hush Haven to a sleep with no worries in mind.

"Can we pray?" he whispers, scared he'll disrupt the too silent town. She nods her head even though he cannot see, "Dear God, we come to you tonight to ask that you send down guardian angels to protect over our family tonight as we fall asleep, Amen."

"Amen." Haven repeats, just as quietly before but this time with a tune of faith. Alara continues to comb her slender fingers through the unruly curls. Humming the same soft tune as before.

Just as the little boy's breathing evens out, a loud sound echoes throughout the once too silent town that now becomes apart of the loudest towns throughout the country. Though, the fingers do not hesitate or pause their comforting touch for .

A sudden drop of wetness falls on her wrist that rests across Haven's chest that still breathes evenly.

And Alara's own tear falls down her face when—not one but five more too loud sounds ring throughout the town, screams impossible to mute out, coming closer to what was their home.