A Different Hero

Continuing the Story...

Two families, one woman. That's who my mother was, and wasn't fair that it happened to her twice. Her story was a sad one, but I've got some questions.

"Mom...what is...was, your brother's name?" I ask, hoping it's not what I think.

She sighs."His name is Simon." she answers.

What? No. Nu-uh.

"Yes, Megan, get over it." Mom says, reading my face.

No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no!

"I'll let you process it." she says, before leaving.

Simon said his parents favored his sisters when they were murdered. He wasn't there! Of course they did! He just might have gone insane from birth. Whatever the reason, we must talk sense into him...and I'm not afraid to kill him trying.

I stand up and meet up with Zoe, Lili, and Mom in the other room. From the looks of my friends' faces, they got a very brief, yet equally shocking tale.

"Megan, I'm sorry." Lili says to me. I can tell. I can see the pity in her eyes. I hate pity.

"We'll get him, right?" Zoe says, trying to stay upbeat.

Mom nods and replies, "Nothing will stop us from doing so."

"I'm going to go get some food." I say, then I step outside...but I immediately rush back in.

"What happened!?" Everyone shrieks.

"Simon. Is. Outside." I say slowly, loading each word with fear.

Because this time, he has a sword, not rope. It looks like the message finally got through to him. Stop sparing the girls. Kill them.

Their eyes widen like plates, and we all run to the emergency exit in the back of my hut...our hut.

"What is he doing here?" Zoe yells, obviously irritated.

"It doesn't matter! Time to run!" Lili orders. She got used to this life pretty quick!

We here Simon shouting our names before he barges into the hut we just left.

"Let's play hide and seek! 12345678910!! I'm coming!" He says.

What the heck is wrong with this guy? Mom was right, he actually did go insane.

"Up here." Mom whispers from on top of the village wall.

I follow her up its side, the rough stone occasionally scraping my feet. Ouch. When I make it to the top, I turn around to see Simon running around looking for us. He's a few feet away, and we all hold our breaths.

"Yow!" someone shrieks.

I officially hate spiders now. Especially the one who gave us away by scaring someone.

Simon whirls around with a flourish, grabs Lili's trim little ankle, and takes out his knife.

"Found you! I win I win I win!" He hollers.

Lili screams as loud as she can, enough to grab the attention of some other villager.

It does.

A...rolling pin...hits the blade and knocks it from Simon's hands!

"Oh my god!" Zoe yells.

I would too, but where did my tongue go?

Nariza steps out. "Come on!" she beckons to us while Simon is shocked about his knife.

Not even thinking, I jump down and follow her, and everyone else did the same.

"Nariza, thank you." Mom says.

I knew they were friends.

"Not now. Move!" she replies.

Sheesh, where'd that kind baker go? Who is this Nariza?

Lili immediately finds Nariza's house, then runs inside, Mom, Zoe, and I following suit.

Her home is as cozy as I remembered: slightly dirty, beds along the walls, and a big fire always going in the center. I remember sleeping here for just one night.

Nariza looks at us all. "Why didn't you say Simon was trying to kill you?"

"Sorry! We didn't think you could help us!" Zoe said, sarcasm obviously there.

She really needs to tone it down.

Lili glares at her. "Thank you, ma'am. I'm Lili." she says.

"I'm Nariza. I'm friends with Bianca and Megan." she replies.

"I'm Zoe."

Nariza smiles at her, but not warmly. Zoe must've really gotten her ticked!

"Nariza, we have to tell them." Mom says.

She nods.

Mom takes a breath. "Remember the man who killed my family I told you about?"

"Simon?" I ask.

"No. The other one."

"Oh"

"Well...Nariza just happens to be...his daughter." Mom finishes.

What?!

"Yes, Megan. Calm yourself! You too, Zoe and Lili." Nariza says.

I turn around to find both their faces as white as marble like mine probably is.

"So..why does this matter?" Zoe says.

"I...feel like I owe it to you." Nariza replies.

"You don't owe any thing. It's not your fault!" Mom says.

She doesn't sound convinced at all, and neither does Nariza. "If you really feel that way, what could you even do?" I say.

"I kept you alive, and just now, I saved you from Simon." she answers.

Mom looks at me like she did?

Yes, Mom, yes.

"Um, what are we going to do with Simon?" Lili asks.

"We have to confront him somehow!" I say.

"Kill him!" Zoe yells.

"Watch it, he's still my brother."

"I don't care."

"ZOE!" we all yell.

"Sorry." she mumbles.

"But, we really do need a plan." Nariza says, bringing us back to the point.

Mom nods.

We talk for a while, and now we have a plan. We must carry it out tomorrow.

Any one of us could die, and it'd be my fault, or Mom's fault, or even Lili's fault. Will my life ever be stable, ever not require me to run, hide, and steal?

"Megan....Megan, wake up!" a voice says.I open up my eyes to see Mom, and she smiles. "Come on, sleepy face. We have a battle to win."

Outside the bedroom, everyone is dashing about like ninja, making sure they have small knives for defense and food in case we must flee on our own. I finished my pack yesterday, so I lift it onto my back. The leather scratches a bit.

"Good morning.." Zoe says, half asleep.

I just nod back.

Everyone is waiting for me outside, except for the two of us. We step out, cueing Lili to unlock the village gates.

"I'm scared." she mumbles.

"I wonder why." Zoe says.

"Zoe, shut up for once!" I say.

We are facing an insane murderer. There is much reason to be scared.