Among the Hidden [隠しの中]

Chapter 3

        That night, I went back to my cold dark home, where I lived alone. My parents died when I was 9 and I don't have contact with my other relatives. I always tell Tasuki and Aya that I will be fine, but in reality, I am never fine. But hey, that's what makes me, me.

        When I went to bed, I found myself by a waterfall. I somewhat remember being by this waterfall, but it is a hazy and foggy memory. I see people all around me. All with black hair and beautiful green eyes, some have pale blue-green eyes, like seafoam, some have emerald shade, some have piercing shades of green, but the most unique was this foresty shade of green, with specks of other shades of green. What's up with the green, who knows.

        I look around at my surroundings and spot my parents in the crowd of people, tearing my eyes up. They look so real. I wonder if they are real, I thought as I started walking towards their tear blurred images. Suddenly, a young boy, who looked around the age of 9, came

up to me and gave me a hug which soon turned into a group hug since all the children his age came too, startling me.

        "Miko!" The boy called me. Miko, what. That means all these people that are around me must be relatives. How I didn't figure out earlier, I have no clue. Only my relatives call me Miko. It is an inside joke.

        Suddenly, everything clicked. I know this surrounding. I know what happened here. I tried screaming but my vocal chords wouldn't work. It was too late. The sound of rustling bushes overpowered the peaceful lullaby of the waterfall, a fire appeared. Enclosing the area around everyone. I saw big scary men on the other side of the ring of fire, with rifles pointed at us. My voice finally decided to work, and as my scream was let free, the bullets started firing as my parents and other adults jumped in front of the all the children, including me, and took the bullets for us. Not even half a second later, the world went dark. And I can't remember anything else.