Us Against The World

Chapter 1

12 Years Later...

        "Farrah, honey, wake up." my eyes jolt open at the sound of my mother's voice. I sit up and look around the darkness of my bedroom. She is nowhere to be found and it is still black outside. I feel a slight breeze through the cracked window and I move to shut it. Instead of going back to bed as I usually do when I wake up during the night, I stare out of the window into the star-filled sky. The moonlight shone on my face and reflected off of my necklace. I haven't looked at it in years.

I take the jewelry between my fingers and examine it. I begin to twist the opening when my bedroom door flies open. I release the ornament and spin around as my heart begins to race. "Farrah, did you hear me calling for you?" I quickly nod and follow her out of the room.

        "Why did you wake me, mom?" I ask as I rub my eyes. She stops walking and waits for me to catch up to her. She grabs my hand and stays silent. "Mom?" My innocent voice repeats. She says nothing and warningly squeezes my hand. We cross through the kitchen, and that's when I know what's going on.

"In the chest, Farrah. They'll be here any minute now." I knowingly nod and climb into the cramped chest with some of my father's old clothes. The small hairs on my body stand as my mother closes the chest and I hear the front door burst open. I bring my fingers to my ears to drown out the sound of yelling.

        "My husband died eight years ago, and my daughter was taken already!" my mother's muffled voice pleads. "Alright, allow us to look around then." a man with a deep voice interjects rudely. I slowly remove my fingers from my ears and look through the tiny key hole. I flinch at the sound of a slap and my mother wincing.

My heart pounds against my chest as I hear heavy boots pound against the hardwood floor of my father's office. My eyes widen as they walk toward the chest I'm in. I beg and pray that they don't open it and find me. They will surely kill my mother and take me away if they do. Relief rushes over me when I hear the steps fade out of the room. 

        When the front door finally slams shut, my mother takes a few mintues to free my from the small space. My cheeks are tear soaked by the time the latch is uncipped and I can breathe in the cool air. My mother lifts me out of the chest from under my arms and I wrap them around her for support. She rubs my back and shushes me as we make our way to the kitchen. "Sit, baby. I'll get you some milk." she says as she lowers me to the ground. I nod and wipe my face before taking a seat at the table.

        I lightly squeeze the gift around my neck that was from my father. I have never met him, but when I touch the necklace, I feel as if I have. I turn my head just as my mother is making her way to the table; a glass of milk in each hand and a small smile on her face. She sets the glasses on the table and slides mine over to me as she takes a seat.

"Why do those men come here?" I ask quietly as I sip from my glass. My mother shrugs and copies my actions.

"Do they want to take me?" I ask and she nods again. "Why?" she shrugs again. I take the pendant of my necklace between my figers once more and examine it for the third time tonight.

"Be careful." my mother instructs and I drop the jewelry. It falls from my fingers and hits my chest with a quiet thud.

"Why don't you let me touch it?" I innocently ask as I peer at her. "Because it was your fathers, and I don't want you to break it." she replies softly. "Mum, I'm not gonna-" "Goodnight, sweetheart." she interrupts and I'm caught off guard. I slowly nod and stand up. I kiss her soft cheek before padding down the hallway back to my bedroom.

        As I lie in bed, I stare at the ceiling. Betraying my mothers instructions, I fiddle with the ornament on my chest. I vacillate between taking it off, but I decide against it. I turn to my side and within minutes I'm asleep.