Legionnaire

Taken

The cherry blossoms were stunning as they fell from the branches like pink rain. Delicately fluttering in the wind before reaching their final destination. Taisia's face was pressed against the cold glass eyes dancing around all over the place with childlike wonder. Galina smiled at her younger sisters antics. Her parents always like Taisia more than her simply because Galina grew up so quickly. She was too mature for a seven year old. Galina had lived through the rough parts of her household. A time where you only ate five times out of an entire week which eventually dwindled to two. A time where there was no heat during the long harsh winters. A time where Galina thought she wouldn't live to see the next day. Yet here she was traveling with her family to Japan.

Their family went through their own Great Depression yet came out on top in the end. This trip was supposed to relax them yet Galina just wanted to go home. She felt out of place and uncomfortable in a place that was completely foreign to her. "Look Gali snow!" Taisia cheered pointing out the window with a huge smile on her face showing her lack of having two front teeth. The flakes were falling lightly getting swept away in the wind. The plane landed roughly people complaining in various languages ranging from Gaelic to Portuguese. Then the lights went out swallowing the plane whole in darkness. It was so very silent that you could have hear a pin drop. Then the screaming started a woman crying and begging for someone to give her child back. Taisia clung to Galina's side as her mother who was sitting in the aisle seat held her breath moving very slowly. Soon a figure was getting closer and closer to their seats taking children and teens of all ages with them the cries shattering Galina's heart. She couldn't imagine being take from Taisia. Her mother was fighting a horrible illness and her father was always busy trying to support them. Galina had always supported her little sister and was more of a mother to her than an older sibling.

Then a large man stopped by them Taisia and Galina held their breaths hoping to appear invisible to him. But a hand darted out quickly Galina avoided it for a few seconds until it eventually latched into her arm trying to wrestle her out of her seat. Her mother fought back but a quick solid punch to the face had badly wounded her. Galina's mother had a blood disease that made her bruise very easily. She could die from a wound like that. But Galina was strong a refused to cry yet Taisia wasn't like her. Galina yet her sobbing against her body the noise being buried under the layers of fabrics that Galina wore. He held her down the rough carpet path towards the door where she was pushed harshly into the grasp of another man then loaded onto a truck like some type of animal that they would sell.

The others stared at them as Galina carried Taisia to a corner where they stayed until the vehicle started moving. It wasn't a huge room but the car was used for transporting large objects. The teens had all grouped up together plotting to escape though in the end they couldn't agree on a plan. The children stayed with their siblings if they had any or else they just tried to make friends but that effort was in vain. The metal walls had various scratches, burns, and some rust on them. The ceiling was the only thing that remained unscathed. Taisia had stopped crying some time during the ride asking Galina to sing to her in Russian until she could fall asleep. And so she did quietly stroking her dark brown hair until her royal blue eyes fluttered shut and her quiet snores were the only thing that she heard over the rattling of the car.

Galina did not sleep she braided and unbraided her dark brown hair. Taisia and Galina look extremely similar the only difference was that Galina had sharp pine green color eyes that were incredibly light in color. Then the car stopped and silence fell over the bunch as the door opened. Taisia was woken with a nudge. Galina observed them. They moved quickly and silently herding the teenagers first into a large courtyard full of pebbles. Her father had told her that they were zen gardens, a Buddhism practice. Then her age group was next. The girls were filed into separate lines the hooded people working swiftly to separate siblings of different gender. Galina was glad that she could stay with Taisia she needed to look after her no matter what.  They were being led into a larger building where you could hear the sounds of a razor at work. When Galina entered a girl was sat on a chair her red locks being shaved off her head leaving her with a buzz cut.

Galina stared until it was her turn a lady motioning for her to take a seat which she did after a few minutes of thought. The buzz of the machine made her shiver her eyes glued to the floor as her hair fell all around her onto the bamboo mats. The cherry wood walls were adorned with beautiful paintings of scenery. Taisia followed Galina's example wanting to be just as strong as her. If she didn't cry then Taisia would try not to. Galina smelled and awful smell. It was the stench of burning flesh. She watched as a symbol of two dragons attempting to eat the other was burning into a boys neck his screams muffled. Before she new it she was next the boy walking off like a zombie. She breathed in heavily standing up strongly bitting down on her lip so hard to bled badly. Taisia watched in horror but she held a hand out for her and she held onto her older sister as they branded her upper left arm. How much more monstrous could these people be. She held onto Taisia's hand. The others were all lined up in the snow as others her age walking pasted gazing at them curiously. They did no wear the brands that Galina had. Could they have been born into this life?

An older woman yelled for silence as she walked out of the building where the last girl joined them. "You all have been sworn into the Shimada clan. Training starts tomorrow." Her gaze turned sharply to the teenagers. "You lot are in charge of the children placed with you in your rooms. Make sure they aren't late." She growled before stalking off chatter rising as she left. Galina shivered pulling Taisia closer to her to preserve body heat. Galina had been taken and she was determined to escape the grasp of her captors.