Children's Army

1: Prolouge: The Soldiers

The air raid alarm suddenly blared as I sprinted out of my hiding place. Since people were afraid of air raids most shops were left open, much to my advantage. I was just about to go steal from a jewelry shop when they found me.

"Annalise Layne, can you tell us how long we've been looking for you?" One of them asked.

I immediately froze. Abandoning my trek for free jewelry, I ran in the opposite direction of the soldiers. These guys have been trying to recruit me for the army nine months straight,even though I'm underage. I heard a rumor around town that I'm causing them the most trouble.

I hid in an alleyway and hoped that they wouldn't be able to find me there. Footsteps echoed through the street and I held my breath, trying to be as quiet as possible.

"She's probably in here," one of the soldiers whispered.

"No, that's stupid why would she go in there, it's a dead end," the other soldier replied.

Dead end!! Noo nononono No. It can't be a dead end. I thought frantically as I whirled around to look behind me.

Suddenly the air raid alarm was just a slight hum in the back of my head as I realized the severity of the problem. If those soldiers came into this alleyway, I would be done, they would find me immediately.

"Let's look anyway," the first soldier said.

No they can't find me, I thought This isn't good. The footsteps crept closer and closer to me as I looked around silently for another place to hide.

"Anna we aren't going to hurt you," one of the soldiers said quietly, coaxing me out of my hiding place.

Try as I might I couldn't help but snap at him.

"My name is Annalise!!" I screamed. Then immediately clapped a hand over my mouth. I shouldn't have yelled.

"Grab her," one soldier snapped.

"No!!" I shrieked as the other one picked me up. I struggled to get away for a good five minutes until I finally gave up.