The Night Raiders

The Silhouettes in the monnlight

The earth beneath me crumbled as I ran down towards the cove. Small oil lamps lit the way down the track.
The dirt track was steep and pebbly. I had never noticed before how loose the rocks were under my feet as I walked.
Voices grew louder as I reached the end of the path which separates the land from the sand and beach.

Silhouettes danced in the moonlight. The hazy figures pulled a small rowing boat from the water onto the damp sand and up to the cliff face at the top of the cove where they walked into the cave systems underneath the cliffs.

Carefully I clambered onto the sand.
With my back tightly against the wall I watched.

"Come on Boy!" A rough voice called from the cave.
A figure was still pulling the boat ashore as the group all followed the leader into the cave. He was young not many moons older than me and he had a youthful spring in his step as he threw the ores into the boat and he walked to join the men in the caves. I watched as he plodded along the sand. Then he stopped and gazed into the infinite deep blue ocean. His pale skin glistened in the light of the moon.

Suddenly he turned and his eyes met mine. A smug smile spread across his face like he knew I was here all along and he had a fate for me already planned.

I froze. Silent. Still.

He tilted his head his face half visible from the shadows cast on it by the poor light.

Then he ran towards me. Quickly I tried to run but I was not quick enough.
He grasped my arm and soon I was held against the cliff .

I felt helpless as I struggled under the fierce grip.

"Who are you?" I asked as I gritted my teeth,

He said nothing. From close up his eyes where clear and misty almost transparent and his hair a mousy brown.
Just inches away from his eye was a scar.. a battle wound?

"Who are you?" I asked again.
"Im your worst nightmare." He replied.
I laughed he seemed like a teenage boy how could he be the nightmare he claimed to be.
At my laugh his expression changed. His eyes became mean and his mouth changed from a smug smile into a frown.
"Why are you here?" He asked demandingly.
I shrugged.
"Answer me!" He yelled. For the first time all night I felt scared and feared for my life as his grip tightened on my shoulder.

"I..I wanted to know what was happening.... I heard voices and I was curious.." I searched for words between my stutter.
My fear brings happiness to his face and his smug smile returns.
"Well Princess you better return to your home and never speak of this again." The faint smell of rum probably from hours ago hung on his breath as he spoke.

"You are criminals," I spat,
"You should rot in jail!" I pushed of the wall this all my body weight causing him to fall to the floor and letting me escape. I stumbled on the sand but regained my footing once I was on the even sand.

I heard his shout behind me as I ran.
Then something hit me in the back and I fell onto the sand.
The world around me became hazy and the darkness crept into view and everything became blurry.

A face looked on.. one I recognised but not enough to know.. then it all was gone..