White Roses Bloom

Chapter Six

     Down a darkened path walked the small figure of a girl. Her chocolate brown hair fluttered in the breeze behind her. The streets were silent except for the tapping of her shoes against the ground. Light glinted down from the moon, lighting up the girl’s path. The girl reached the edge of the town, and continued down the path into the farmlands. As the girl walked, the grip on her brown pouch tightened. The girl walked slowly, listening to the soft sounds of the animals around her. Cows mooed in the fields. Foals whinnied to their mothers. Chickens softly clucked in their hutch. Sheep bleated at each other from across the field. The girl found peace within the familiar noises of the farm animals. She had been living in these farmlands for as long as she could remember, and knew them as well as she knew the back of her hand.
     Suddenly, the girl froze, hearing the approaching sound of footsteps. Someone was running, their footsteps getting closer and closer. A hand suddenly gripped onto the girl’s shoulder. “Anna, there you are! I've been looking all over for you!” a man's warm voice spoke out. Anna turned slowly, her eyes darting up to stare at the man who had gripped her shoulder. The man was quite a bit older than Anna, though not too much older. His bluish grey eyes almost seemed to glow in the moonlight. There was a shadow of facial hair going across his angular jaw and across his lips. The man's ginger hair was messy, tussled by his run towards Anna. “Jack? Really? Do you really not trust me? I told you I'd be back soon with mother’s medicine!” Anna muttered, raising her voice as she spoke. Jack brushed a strand of brown hair from Anna's face and stared into her crystal blue eyes. “You did say that, about six hours ago!” he yelled. Anna's eyes widened and darted around, worried that her brother may have awoken one of the neighbours. Jack frowned and sighed. He turned around and knelt down in front of his little sister. “Climb on, let's get home before mom goes into hysterics,” he ordered.
     Anna hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around her brother’s neck. He grabbed her legs gently, wrapping them around his waist before starting down the street. Anna rested her head against Jack's shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt safe here, with her brother, the warmth coming off of him soothing her. “Are you sure this stuff will be able to help her?” Jack asked, concern thick in his usually calm voice. Anna felt her throat tighten. Could she really make that promise? Hesitantly, Anna nodded. If anything was going to help in this situation, it was hope, and Anna's faith in herself, and her medical skills. She had to save her mother. She just had to.
     Jack carried Anna down the path, passing the surrounding farmhouses. As Jack’s eyes darted to the river, he frowned, memories flooded his occupied mind. Tears formed in the young man’s eyes for a moment, but he quickly blinked them away. Now was not the time for sadness or reminiscence. Now was time for these two children to save their mother. Jack picked up his pace, practically jogging down the path. Anna bounced up and down on Jack’s back with every movement of his body. This bobbing soon lulled Anna into a light sleep. Jack gripped onto Anna tightly, almost afraid to drop the girl he called his little sister. Looking up at the descending moon one last time, Jack rushed in desperation to reach the farm house in which he and his family called home.