The hunt for Rose

chapter 1

Bombs went off, more houses blowing up. The flying debris scattered everywhere. The stench of burning flesh poisoned the air, making it hard for the children in hiding to breathe. The North, Odio, was raiding the South, Xena. The war of Earth in 3007 has just begun. In a ditch, covered by a fallen oak tree, hid the children of the village being attacked. They watched as their parents and other elders fought to the death to protect their land.

"Dahlia, I'm hungry.." whispered one of the children as she tugged on her elder sister's shirt. Dahlia's eyes snapped from the war scene towards her one and only little sister, Rose. She slightly smiled down at the 4 year old, horror and concern still lingering in her dark brown eyes. "Don't worry Rose! When mommy and daddy come back we'll eat ham, ok?" Rose smiled brightly and nodded her head, snuggling back up to Dahlia and falling back asleep. There they held each other, the only comfort for now.

 

Dahlia looked around at the other children in hiding. Many of them were sleeping, having been fed wild berries from the jungle they live in by their parents so that they could sleep during the chaos. She was the oldest, 15, and it was her job at the moment to protect these children, armed only with a hunting knife. She kept watch through a small crack in the oak, watching as the very people she grew up with, falling to the ground blood stained and motionless. She bit her lip and tried her best to hold in her tears. After all, she was a warrior, and warriors don't cry. Hours went by, more people dying before her very eyes.

A loud thwak rung through the deathly still air as the oak tree above the children started to crack in half. Dahlia stood up quickly, her knife in hand ready to attack the enemy. "Hey! Are you kids alright!?" the tree cracked more allowing Dahlia to see the face of the speaker, one of her neighbors. Relief filled her as she put down her defense. " Yes we are alright. Is it safe now? "

" Uh yeah, you could say its safe, I guess." The man, along with the help of his comrades broke the tree further. They went down the ditch to retrieve the children and put them in the main house. Fathers wept with joy at the sight of their children peacefully sleeping, leaving streaks on their blood covered faces. Dahlia held the sleeping Rose as she watched the families reunite, some missing a parent. Her eyes searched the wide room of the main house, recognizing faces, but couldn't find her mother or father..

Realization hit her hard. She fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, holding her little sister for dear life. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood so she wouldn't make a noise, tears flowing down her face. She couldn't breathe, she felt as if her chest had been ripped open by a wild animal and had her heart eaten. Her parents had been killed by the North. No, not just her parents. Others have died also. She mustn't act as though she is the only one suffering. She must remain warrior strong.

"Dahlia...are you alright sweetheart? "  the gentle voice of Mrs. Poppy asked. The elder woman put a hand on Dahlia's back and helped her up. " Dahlia, its ok.. they're in a better place now. "

Dahlia looked into the old woman's blue eyes, decades of experience with the loss of a loved one etched in her eyes. She smiled and held the two girls as Dahlia sniffled.

At nightfall, the children, still asleep, were to be placed on the cots in the main house that had been arranged. Dahlia and everyone else older than 14 were upstairs, at the meeting.

" My comrades. Today we have fought well. Many were lost but many of the enemies were also taken down. " the chief of the village announced, Chief Ivy, a tall strong man of old age, but still with the fire in his heart burning for the well being of the village. The people in small room were crowded but still eager to hear what he had to say. " This battle was a victory! We defended our land yet another time from the treacherous North! "

Cheering filled the room as thunks  of wooden cups against each other sounded through out the room. "A toast! To all my brave warriors! The living and the dead, shall their names live on! " More cheering and drinking occurred.  Dahlia sat in the corner, quiet and observant as usual. She watched the happy masks they all put on. Something wasn't right. There is still concern in their eyes. She stood up and ran out of the room to check on the children. The north was never defeated! Perhaps they just disappeared or something, but they weren't defeated!   

She stopped dead in her tracks as soon as she caught sight of the room where the children were supposed to be. It was half empty! Panic jolted her heart as she ran again in the room calling out for her sister. "Rose!? Rose where are you!?" Suddenly someone pounced on her. They tied her hands and tried to quiet her, but she would not give in. " ROSE!? ANSWER ME , WHERE ARE YOU!?"  tears of panic filled her eyes. The only person she had left is being kidnapped ! 

" What's going on down there!?" the chief looked into the room. Once he saw what was happening, he sprung into action. "COMRADES! THE NORTH IS TAKING OUR YOUNG!" As the other villagers ran into the room ready to fight, the children were still disappearing, one by one, by an invisible force. Dahlia's attacker quickly hit her hard on the head, knocking her out. The attacker and his back up fought with the southern villagers to distract them from their plan B mission, to kidnap the children of this village for experiments under command of General Versa