The 13 girls

1. They're coming back, aren't they?

Family | fám·məl·ee | n.

a group of people, each a unique masterpiece, sharing unconditional love, hugs and support · one of life's greatest blessings · cherish always

It's Sunday and everyone is scared.

Exactly three weeks ago the royal guard came to our village and took seven girls from their homes without any explanation. The week after that they came again, but this time they took five girls. The villagers are expecting they will come again today and me too...

Emily, my neighbour, was taken last week, her mother told me that when the royal guard rushed into their house she heard one of them say Emily would be the last one for this week and they would come back for more.

I haven't told that to Eden yet, I didn't want him to worry. He's my little brother. He's scared they'll take me too, but I won't let that happen. I'm all the family Eden has got left, our mother died and our father ran off. He needs me and if I'm honest... I need him to. I wouldn't last two days without him, he always makes my day with his silly jokes.

Our life isn't perfect, we live with Mrs. Parker. She has a clothes repair shop and we live above it. She was my mother's boss when she was still alive, so when Eden and I had nowhere to go to she took us in. But not without a price, I would have to work in her shop six days a week and she didn't want to be bothered with all of Eden's and my so called "troubles". She said she wasn't waiting for some eighteen year old girl and a ten year old boy who needed love and hugs and other childish stuff.

There's one thing my mother thaught me, love is strong and needed by every single one. So childish wouldn't be the word I would use to descibe the word love.

But Eden and I have each other. That's where we get our love from.

I'm sitting at the table in the shop working on a purple dress which was brought in yesterday morning. Mrs. Parker said my stitching wasn't tidy enough, so now I have to do it all over and work over time. This was supposed to be my day off to do something fun with Eden.

When I told him I had to work this Sunday I could see the disappointment in his eyes... But instead of being mad at me he said: 'Oh.. Well I guess I can keep you company in the shop, I like to see you work and then you don't have to be alone.'

The sweetheart. I don't deserve him.

So here we are, eleven O'clock in the morning, I'm stitching some ruffles on the purple dress while Eden sits besides me. He's been quiet the whole time, but suddenly he asks me a question: 'The guards are coming back today, aren't they?'

I stop with my work. I look at him and see tears in his beautiful blue eyes.

'I don't know for sure, but yes... I guess they are.'

'They won't take you right? Because I don't want to lose you Ileana...'

He doesn't want to lose me. I know he loves me and I love him but it is always nice to hear from his mouth.

'You don't have to worry about that, you will never lose me. We'll always stick together, okay?' and I quickly run my hand through his brown hair.

'Okay.' He says with an awkward smile on his pretty little face.

But I can see he's not satisfied with that answer. I take him in my arms and whisper in his ear: 'The guards have already been in this part of the village, they won't come again. And if we just stay inside and do nothing unusual they won't even know we're here. You rea-.'

'Come on now! No time for hugs or whatever you two are doing. That dress has to be ready in an hour!' Mrs. Parker shouts.

She's standing at the top of the stairs looking very unsatisfied and grumpy. Like always...

Eden makes his way out of my embrace and goes back to just sitting and saying nothing.

'But you said the dress had to be ready this evening! I can't put all of this togather in one hour!' I say to Mrs. Parker with an angry voice.

She doesn't respond for a short while. Eventually she walks downstairs and comes to the table. 'If I say one hour I mean one hour, young lady! You're not the one in charge!' and she slaps me in the face. I can already feel my cheek getting red.

Slowy looking up to her I say: 'Then what changed, ma'am? Why does the dress suddenly has to be ready in one hour?' She hates it when I use the word ma'am, it makes her feel old.

She gives me a nasty look and then responds: 'We're having visitors toningt.'

'Visitors? But we never get visitors. Who are they?' I tell her in disbelief.

'You'll see...' She says with an odd smile and she leaves the room.

I look at Eden, the tears are back in his eyes. 'Are you okay?' he asks me with a little voice.

I stare at him for a little while. 'Yes, I'm okay. I'm used to it you know that.'

He wipes his tears away. 'Why do you always have to make her angry like that? If you'll stop, she'll stop slapping you.'

Eden is right. If I was smart I would keep my mouth shut, but I can't just sit here and let her get away with everything. So instead of keeping my mouth shut, I keep it open.  'You know why, Eden. I told you before.' I look at him and he looks at me... Until I break the silence. 'Can you get another needle? If you help me the dress will be ready sooner and you and I can do something fun.'

When Eden comes back with the needle I tell him what he can do and if he needs help he just has to ask me. But I know he doesn't need help, he's a quick learner. So we work along in silence until the dress is done.

Hi readers! I hope you liked this first chapter of my book. It's the first book I'm going to write so give mee feedback if you have some!

I'm not really sure if the title: the 13 girls, is going to stay that way but you'll find out!

It will probably take some time before the second chapter comes up, but I was so excited about my idea for this book that I wanted to share the first chapter already!

I'll see you again at chapter 2! Don't forget to vote and comment, I would love to hear your opinions!

xoxo- Carmen