Every Breath

Chapter 8

Will

 "Someone saw us come here and the guards are on their way, we have to go right now!" I yelled, obviously flustered by the sight of Evolett.

Ofelia's husband, who i learned had a name, John, came running in after me our bags in his hands. Ofelia ran out of the room to grabbed Claudia and May and returned quickly.

"Get dressed." she said, obviously to Evolett who was sitting in a tub with nothing but a towel covering her. I looked away while John and Ofelia ran around their house, grabbing things and throwing them into bags. Claudia and May were crying loudly while Evolett struggled with the corset on her dress. I ran over to her and tied it quickly, after I was done, John came in and threw us our bags.

"We leave. Now." he said roughly. All five of us ran out the back door as quietly as we could. But with the two girls wailing, it was almost impossible.

The town erupted with screams and men shouting orders to one another. Good thing the woods were not far from their house. I looked over to Evolett and who was reaching for Claudia as we ran. Ofelia handed her over quickly and then stopped moving. "Wait! I forgot something!" she yelled.

She turned around and began to run back to the house. "Mama!" Claudia cried, John looked behind us and screamed her name, "What are you doing?!"

He gave Evolett his youngest,  and started to chase after his wife. When Evolett started to turn around i stopped her and said, "Listen, take the girls into the trees and wait for me to come back for you. I promise I will come back for you. " I handed Evolett my blade and kissed her shaking hand, a promise, now sealed.

"But Will!" she cried, frustrated and scared. But everyday ran off, holding the two girls in her arms and the knife in her mouth. I pulled my cloak over my head to hide my face and turned around to the chaos unfolding.

I ran off in the opposite direction, what was so important that Ofelia would risk her life for? Risk her family and husband?

When i reached the house, everything was chaos. There was yelling, screaming, fighting. And in all the mess i spotted John who was fighting a man in armor.

I remembered training with swords at the castle but that was just for practice, this was for real. This time, my life depended on it. Evolett's life too.

I snuck up behind the man that John was struggling against, and slit his throat. Blood shot out and i cringed as it showered the cobble stone beneath us.

I killed someone

I killed a man.

I squished my eye lids shut just for a moment. Enough to push that thought away. When the sound of several horses echoed out of the trees. I scanned them, searching for white amidst their dark armor.

There was no sign of Evolett. Relief flooded me but as the last one left the trees, I saw the little girl Claudia, bloody and bruised on the back of a horse. I couldn't tell if she was dead or still hanging on.

John must of saw too because when i turned to look at him, his eyes were blank. The only thing that brought his attention back was the screams of his wife, Ofelia.

I glanced towards the back door of the house and saw a knight dragging her out by her hair and then throwing her on the ground. She yelled in pain and John screamed as the knight bought a sword to her throat. But the same bearded man that was here ealier stopped him and whispered something in his ear. They picked her up and tied her hands behind her back while dragging her away.

"NO!" John screamed while running towards them with a knife. But before he could even get a good blow in, the man cut through his throat like warm butter.

The cobblestone ground was red with the blood of the dead and when the bearded man whistled, all knights followed him out of sight. His wife's sobs echoing behind them.

I ran to John but I was to late for anything. He was dead and there was nothing I could of done. I shut his eyes and ran to the woods for Evolett and May.

Evolett

   The deeper we go into the woods, the better.

Will promised he would return and I was going to hold him to that promise, but I have to do my part in this too.

I searched for a tall tree and when i found one i set Claudia down. May tired herself out with all the crying she was doing so she was fast asleep and Claudia had reduced to sniffles. 

I whispered to Claudia, "Shhh, listen darling. We are going to play a game ok?" Her sparkling eyes light up at the word game and i continued, grateful for her attention.

"We are going to see which one of us can reach the top of the tree the fastest ok?" She nodded and giggled, "I like this game!" she said in her small hiccup of a voice.

I put her on the highest branch and made sure she got a good head start.  Then  headed for the tree right next to hers.

I set May gently in my bag and tied it to me, making my way up the tree. I reached for the next sturdy branch and glanced at Claudia, she was already at the top playing with leaves.

I put my fingers to my lips and she nodded, doing the same. When i reached a good branch far from the ground, I covered myself in the leaves around me. Not a minute later the sound of horses and men yelling came from the town. The same men whom we saw back in the house were now on horseback, some with blood on their armor. As long as it isn't Will's...

"There's nothing out here Sir!" a blonde man yelled to the bearded one who was obviously the leader. He seemed to sniff the air, striking fear in me.

I buried myself deeper into the tree and looked to Claudia who wasn't even aware of the men.

When all was silent, Claudia hiccuped. Loudly.

I covered my mouth and prayed that they wouldn't notice, but prays would do no good right now.

"Up there Sir! one yelled. All eyes looked upwards at the tree Claudia was in. I closed my eyes, tears pouring out of them like a waterfall I hugged May, hoping she wouldn't awaken.

"No!!!" She screamed loudly. I opened my eyes to see two men climbing the tree to try and reach her. They were already half way to her when one man slipped and fell onto the ground, yelling in pain.

The second man reached for Claudia and got a hold of her small leg. "Ive got her!" he screamed. She kicked the man several times while he dragged her down some branches and eventually, he lost his grip on her.

I covered my mouth as i watched her small body hit each and every branch and fall on the ground, covered in leaves and blood. She screamed once before falling unconscious, the man came down and grabbed her from the ground and threw on his horse like a rag doll.

"Shes young but that fall didnt kill her all the way, maybe she could answer some questions for us." The bearded man said with a chuckle.

"Dont forget the witch!" another said. They all laughed and as they headed out of sight one said, "Tonight sure is going to be fun..."