A Time To Rise

Chapter 4

I squeeze into a gap between two houses as the soldiers march by. There is a strict rule that no one can go out after dark. Sure. You could say I am obeying the old rules or breaking the new ones. I reach the edge of the forest and watch for any onlookers. I then merge with the shadows and disappear into the forest. A single tree stands tall and sharp. To others, it may seem like a rare dagger tree, but to me, it is memories and perhaps the start of the dense forest. I was 5 when I first found the dagger tree. My dad's special place. Thinking on the memories, I realise that this could be a trap. I climb the unforgiving branches that I now know how to climb without getting sliced and pull out the bluntest, spiky branch I could find and leap down the tree.

SNAP! I now only hold a quarter of the branch, exposing the sharp end with the blunt end as a handle. I get a stone and peel away the layered, scruffy bark to reveal the smooth, black bark. The strongest bark in the word. It's funny because the bark is stronger than most metals in the world. I finish and step back to admire my handywork. I shove the remains of the branch under a rock and turn around. A person comes out from behind a tree.

"Ah hello?"

"Its a trap."

"Pardon?"

"Its a trap."

"What?"

"The government set you up. The whole thing was a set up from the get go. I am the only one who is left from the resistance on this side of the forest. They came and slaughtered all of us including the traitors and spies they had in our organisation."

"Wait, do you smell smoke?"

"Actually, I do."

I turn and run towards the orphanage. I am so stupid. When I reach the edge of the forest, a terrible sight meets my eyes.

The person catches up with me and stops short when he sees the orphanage laced with smoke and tongues of flames.

"By the way, I'm Bob."

"I'm Jake."

"I know who you are."

"Should we really be doing this now?"

We carefully make our way to the orphanage. The closer we get, the more screaming erupts from the orphanage. What have I done?

I struggle to get Bob to let go of me as he grabbed me when we saw the orphanage.

"Listen! That place is crawling with soldiers. Your going to be walking into a battle ground. You need to be prepared."

"Who said I wasn't prepared?" I say holding up my knife.

"You are definitely your parents son. But if you go in there, I ain't going with you."

"I know.

I run into the orphanage without being spotted by the soldiers. I swear the smoke is trying to suffocate me. I can barely see my feet. Another child screams. I run to the sound but am only greeted by a dead child. I run to the babies rooms. They are all dead. Every single one of them. I am suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to curl up in a ball and cry but then the anger seeps in and I run. I bang open the door and sprint through the corridors hoping to find something other than the walls to take my mind off the sight. Then I see it. A squad of soldiers, around six I think, hauling a girl by the arms. Her head droops down and she looks battered even through the smoke. My grip tightens around the handle of my makeshift knife as I sneak up to the soldiers from behind. I kick the last ones knees only to hear a horrible snapping sound and see the man squirming around the ground in terrible pain. I mover onto the next soldier before they can retaliate. I pull his arm back, feeling that horrible crunching sound again, and fling him over my shoulder. He moves no more. I shrink into the shadows as the remaining four soldiers look around in bewilderment. This is my chance. I go to the front of the group and take them out by snapping their useful limbs. I hate doing this but I have to do it since I was 11. I hated it then and I still hate it four years later. The last two men can't draw their weapons as they are holding the girl. So I grab a piece of rubble and throw it behind them. As expected, they use the girl as a meat shield. I donk one on the head with the hilt of my knife and hit the other one in the face with my fist. They drop the girl. It's Catherine.