Vermin

Damien

We were so close. Anivana was just behind me, I could only hope her injured leg would hold up for a little longer. But I wasn't stupid, I could tell the limp she had hid today. Her leg wouldn't go for much longer. I lunged for the wall, and then I heard her scream. I turned to see her sprawled in the mud, one of the guards lying over her, forcing her head down. A bullet hole had streaked through her left ear, and now the blood was swirling around in the mud, mixing in together.
"No!" I yelled, I'd rip those bastards to shreds for hurting her.
"Don't!" She shouted. "Keep going!" A second guard jumped her. It was hopeless. So I stared climbing. Her chestnut hair was sprayed out in the dirt. I was five meters high now, when I heard her shout again, not in fear, but a warning. I looked behind me, to see the third wood guard pointing his gun right at me. I panicked, starting to climb faster. But I was an easy target, unable to move quick enough, as he slowly poisoned his gun. Ready to take me down in one shot. Anivana roared and pushed up, kicking and flaying. The gunman turned his attention to her, pointing his blasted rifle between her eyes. For a moment our eyes met, light blue and brown. Before the guard kneeling on her back raised his fist, punching her in the back of her head. I watched in horror as her beautiful, bright eyes rolled back into her head, as she passed out. The gunman turned back to me, taking a wild shot. I watched it bounce off the wall, denting it so pieces of rubble flew into my face. The man swore, he had no more bullets left. I breathed a sigh of relief, climbing faster. I lay flat on the top of the wall, peering over as I watched the guards half carry half drag my greatest friend away. Her eyes were closed now, making her look like she could of been sleeping.
I stayed on top of the wall that night, gently crying my self to sleep. I deserved to die, for letting them take her. I let them take her. I should have fought for her, instead I ran like a coward. I lay there until my sister Talsa came to get me.

I dragged my hand along the wall, utterly defeated. I didn't feel like going home. Not yet anyway. For the first time I looked up from my feet. I could just see a dark figure up ahead. They were lying against the wall, every now and then stabbing an arrow in to the ground. My breath quickened. I knew only one person who owned a bow and arrow.
"Damy?" I called. The figure looked up, and let at a strangled cry. With in a matter of seconds Damien slammed hisself into me, bringing me into a tight embrace. He was sobbing, sobbing. In all the years I had know him, I had never seen him cry. Damien hugged me tighter to him, pulling slightly at back of my shirt, desperate to hold as much of me as he could. I hugged him just as fiercely back, glad of his warmth on this cold night. He looked me all over, examining every bruise on my face.
"I thought they'd killed you." He trembled. "I wanted to wait here for you, even if you never came back, I would have still waited for you." He was shaking all over, I was afraid if I let go of his arm he would slump to the floor.
"I'm so sorry I left you Ani, I'm so sorry."
"You wouldn't have been able to do anything." I whispered. "It would of been suicide."
"I heard what happen to Elfie. I'm so sorry." My voice was barely a whisper as I said.
"He was the payment. Instead of my life. The king said he'd taken one of my possessions. I didn't know it was Elfie until today." I breathed. Today, I saw Elfie taken from me today. It felt like a life time ago.
"I'm sorry Ani." He put a hand on my arm. He had something else to say, I could tell, but he was struggling to say it.
"The guards." He began. "When they came to take Elfie. They-they, I think they recognised her from when she lived in Tiyrin. But when they took Elfie, they left her. With, with a dagger, through her chest." I was silent for a while. I didn't know what to think. I had never been very close to my mother, and it felt awful saying I wouldn't miss her.
"We buried her this morning." He said, wiping away my tears.
"I'm so sorry."
But all I asked was to go home with him instead. He agreed, taking me by the hand and gently guiding me to his home.