Rivynn couldn't understand why she and her brother, Rain, were kept chained away from everyone else. They were told it was to keep them safe from the shadows... But what if that was a lie?
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Rain hadn't told her... but the shadows were real...
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Rivynn sat patiently in the warmth of summer's early morning light as her brother, Rain, did his best to tie back her silver locks as they had seen some of the little girls from the nearby village doing. She didn't understand why they couldn't play with the other children. Why were they kept chained in this old, dilapidated building? They never wanted for food or clothing. Someone from the village always left them a generous portion of fresh food and milk every day. The clothes they got were usually a bit oversized and worn. And when Rain had needed a sweater the only one that could be spared had been a girl's. He never complained though. She felt his cold fingers brush the tip of her ear as he fumbled at his task. He was always cold, no matter how warm the weather was... "Did we do something bad?" she asked abruptly. "Is that why we have to stay here?" "Of course not," Rain chided. "Then why?" she demanded. "Brother Ruben said it's to keep us safe from the shadows," he replied dutifully. "But what about everyone else? How are they safe?" "They're safe because they're not special like us." "Are you making this up?" she scowled as he finished. "I swear. You can ask Brother Ruben next time you see him if you don't believe me," he dared, grinning mischievously. She paused for a moment, then asked quietly, "But what if he made it up?"
Rain frowned at the troubled look in his little sister's pale eyes. "Well, if he is lying, we'll for sure find out someday, and then we can throw vegetables at his house." "But how?" she jerked on the chains. "We'll grow up. And then we'll be stronger and we can break free," he replied with a winning smile and with it she felt at ease again. Her worries abated for the time being, she turned to peer at her reflection in the water bucket just outside their little dwelling. A pleased smile crept across her face. Rain had even made the odd strip of black hair look nice. "Like it?" he asked. He too had a strand of black in the exact same spot. She nodded happily.
"My my, you look pretty today, Rivynn," Ella, one of the village women, called pleasantly as she made her way up the path, carrying a couple baskets filled with their rations for the day. Rivynn beamed. "Rain did it for me." "Very nice," the woman smiled, placing the baskets just within their reach and not any further. She did not linger and only turned to wave goodbye once she was many paces back down the trail.
"Is Brother Ruben well enough to visit again yet?" Rain called after her. It had been over a week this time.
"He is doing better today. I'm sure he will come see you soon," she called back before hurriedly taking her leave.
"Does soon mean today?" Rivynn mumbled, helping herself to some fresh baked bread as she rummaged through the baskets to see if they had included any treats this time.
Rain still stood watching the village in the distance as its inhabitants started their daily bustle. 'Maybe," he replied distractedly.
"Oh look, sausages... and cakes!" she said excitedly and brought some to her brother.
The two of them settled down on the hilltop to eat and observe their little corner of the world.
