title yet to come

the twist of hurt

POSTS ECHO OUT THE LIGHT FROM THE STARS I'VE NEVER SEEN. Instead, brightness from tall lights that shine over a slum, disregarding the humanity, illuminating the dirt from a singular castle window. The rich and poor; divided into two. The powerful and powerless; one forgotten. As we were all ignorant of the future that was to come, the one no seer could see. Five sat in a tent, singing songs, clinging to each other during the cold winter; trying to gather what warmth they could. Too poor for shelter, too poor for food. Instead, weaving what they could, using the dying grass and twigs to make items to sell; for whatever food they could resource. In the spring, my family would grow a small farm of wheat, corn and strawberries, but during colder months, in the freeze, they would slowly wither.

A sound hits the slum, sound waves echoing through ears; forcing them to run. The bell.

As the first bell echoes, people start running to tents, huts, and whatever small amount of shelter which would suffice. When the second rings, small fires get blown out, scrapes of meat are thrown outside as a sacrifice, small children are hushed. Then the third goes, doors are shut, tents are zipped, families huddled together. When the final fourth bell goes, the lights shut off, and a howl is heard in the distance, slowly coming closer. Eyes shut, and breathing becomes hitched, a will for no babies and small children to cry out into the night.

My family is pitch quiet in the darkness, nothing heard except the breathing of each other. My mother, holding Leonie in her hands, my two brothers' aside. Nothing could break the eerie silence of the purlieu. My mother grips my hand, her warm eyes baring into mine, trying to be as brave as she could for the both of us.

Maybe tonight we would not be savaged.

My eldest brother flinches as something bumps our roof, and his hands tighten around a handmade wooden knife. Even though weaponry is not allowed, fear can make a terrifying enemy.

Suddenly, our door swings open.

Leonie screams, her baby-like wail haunting the night. My mother holds her closer, as my brothers lurch forward, with what weaponry they could find to use. I stand frozen, next to my mother, never moving as I take in the appearance of the beast which called nothing but mythical, understanding why we would hide at the given darkness.

It almost seemed human; but wore a dark green robe, almost the colour of the darkness. Its eyes were empty; weightless. Its mouth was dripping with blood; as if it just came back from a feast. The scale-like skin was haunting to look at, but had a desire to touch. It reached out a hand, the rotten, bitten fingernails turning its way towards us. It opened its mouth in excitement- or was it hunger? It seemed enjoyed at the sight of a feast, enjoyed at the site of us. It had sharp razoured teeth, dozens of them. Whatever this thing would be, would be the haunting of my nightmares.

As my brothers' wooden knives met the beasts chest, its' hollow laugh echoed through the small room.

"You think you can kill me?"

My brothers faces froze with fear, eyes wide, unthought screams.

"I think, I'll start with you." He pointed a bony finger to Nicolas, and with a single bite, I saw my brothers head disappear.

My mother turned to me, her fearful tears brimming her face. A morose look came over her face; before she whispered to me.

"Take Leonie and go."

She shoved her into my hands, and pointed towards the back entrance. Then she made a broken promise.

"I'll see you again. I promise."

I left them behind.

They needed me. I left.