Thorn

Prolouge

They came in the night like swooping black crows hunting for prey. Their prey was me. My mother had hidden me for the past seven years but our hiding place had become compromised.

She rushed me upstairs and under my bed and said to me in a hushed voice,
"My beautiful Rose, I love you,mommy loves you. And if I die, I did not die in vain. Do not become like them. Be kind and be gentle. Oh my beautiful Rose."
She kissed me on my forehead and left to keep The Snatchers at bay. But it was me they wanted. It was always me.

Only minutes passed before I heard two gunshots sounded. My mother,my brave and beautiful mother had been murdered. I dared not weep for The Snatchers were down there and I did not want to die shivering under a bedroom or become a slave to the evil and vile King Sisiliss.  I began to find a way out when a figure appeared in the doorway. It was a Snatcher. I panicked and began throwing anything I could find at it. Then something unexpected happened. It spoke.
"Shh! Don't I'm not what you think I am." It took her long black veil off and revealed a young woman. "Im with the Rebels. My name is Allegra Musselia. What's yours?"
"Ro...Rose....Evangeline."I stuttered.
"Come here I must give you something, for I fear I won't make it out tonight." She placed her index fingers on my temples and I began to feel sleepy.
"I am transferring a map to the land of the Just into your memory banks." She explained.
Only seconds later the sleepiness vanished and the room began to feel cold. The Snatchers had found me and in one of their long leathery fingers was a gun. I edged away from them and headed towards the window. Just as I was about to jump out and escape the third shot heard that night sounded. Brave Allegra was dead. I took one look at The Snatchers and jumped onto Baxter, my horse, and rode away into the night promising my self that my mother and Allegra would not die in vain.