Verrader

PROLOGUE

I was being shaken, roughly; the sound of someone shouting my name came from somewhere near, yet far away. Go away, I wanted to say. Leave me to sleep. The shaking continued. I opened my eyes, looking into my mother's pale face. It took me only a moment to realise something was wrong. I could smell the smoke, all around me, my world was on fire. The flames fighting to consume us. But beneath the smoke, there was a metallic smell too.

"Mummy?" I asked, terrified. "What's going on?" She put a finger to her lips, shushing me. Mum pulled me from my covers, putting shoes on my feet, and a jumper over my head. Then she picked me up before placing me on the ground. I watched as she ducked down in front of me, placing both of her hands on my shoulders.

"Annie," she began, "you need to follow me, okay? Don't ask questions darling just be quick." Then she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the hallway; closing my bedroom door behind me. I had one last glance at my bedroom, memorising everything. My pink doona and sheets pulled back, the princess canopy, last night's clothes strewn from one side of my room to the other, my favourite teddy underneath my pillow, I could just see its leg.

"Mummy!" I exclaimed, pulling hard on her hand in a desperate attempt to get to my teddy bear. "Cuddles! Mummy, I want cuddles, please." I said, starting to sob. Mum didn't appear to hear me, downstairs there was a crash and the screaming began. Mum was shaking, practically ripping her hair out. That's when I could see it, the fire. The front doors were open wide, and the windows were smashed out. And all over the floor... blood soaked the carpet, all over the floorboards, the walls, everywhere. Downstairs, I could hear the metallic whine as swords clashed. A maid went running from the house, I watched in horror as a knife flew through the air, embedding itself deeply into her back, blood sprayed. I couldn't help it, I screamed.

"August!" Mum shouted, watching as my father ran up the staircase. He ran towards us, grabbing me as he sprinted down the hallway of the manor. When we came to a dead end with nothing more than a bookshelf I watched as my father lifted his tan hand, fingers running along the spines of the books until it stopped above a particular one. He pulled it out unlocking something behind the book before stepping back; the whole section of the wall came out, offering a doorway into a dark abyss. Dad put me down, turning to my Mum.

"Margot, you know what you need to do. Listen to me," he said, dark eyes fierce, making sure he had Mum's attention, "she lives, no matter what, do you understand me?"

"But-" She began before Dad cut her off.

"You both leave now! They found us Margot; they won't stop. This will never stop. Get Annie out, you know the way." Mum began sobbing, flinging her arms around my father. He held her tightly and released her. "Get out as fast as you can, they've set fire to the grounds. I love you Margot. I always have, I always will." Dad bobbed down in front of me, taking the necklace off his neck before dropping it over my head. Its silver chain shining despite the darkness, the deep purple jewel in the centre gleaming too. Dad closed my small fingers around the jewel, his hands enveloping mine.

"Annie darling, you need to promise me something," I nodded, even though I was young and confused, "fight Annie. You need to fight, for what you believe in. Fight for your loved ones. It doesn't matter what it is but you must fight. The time will come when you need to make some difficult decisions, all of which I am confident you will be able to make. I love you Annie. Goodbye sweetheart." My eyebrows pulled together, trying to mull over his words. They were so strange. It was the middle of the night but saying all this to a seven-year-old didn't make sense to me. He squeezed Mum's hand one last time. Screams filled the hallway we were standing in and I didn't get to see anything else as I was pushed through the doorway, Mum slamming the door behind us. We were together in an office of some description. There were no windows, no other exits aside from the door we had just come through. Bookshelves lined the walls, and papers were stacked neatly on the large oak desk. In a separate corner sat a drawing table, and on the opposite wall was a piano. In the centre of the floorboards was a dark purple carpet.  Running over to the desk I watched Mum drop to her knees, rip out the chair as she pulled up some of the carpet, then she removed a section of the floorboard, pulling up a trapdoor. There was nothing save darkness on the other side. I stood, shocked.

"Annie, this is a tunnel. It leads to the town of Coalsmore. When you get to Coalsmore you need to find Liesel Dunn. She will send you to your Aunt."

"Mummy I don't understand," I said, I could feel the warm tears sliding down my cheeks. Mum wiped them all away before she kissed my cheek. Mum was crying too.

"In time you will. I love you Annie, more than you will ever know." She pulled me in for a hug. The door of the study blasted open, smashing into the wall. Mum shrieked. I got a view of the men barging through the door before Mum shoved me under the desk and down the trapdoor. One of the men grabbed for me but my Mum fought so bravely, screaming at them as she launched herself at the men closest to her. I was trying to pull the trapdoor shut, but I wasn't quick enough, I didn't miss as my mother fell to the floor, nor the blood that was now underneath her, spreading towards me. I wasn't fast enough to miss her take her last breath or the light finally leave her eyes. All because of me. The man standing over my Mum, the one that had obviously taken the killing blow, watched me. Just as I slammed the trapdoor shut completely, finally able to lock it. Though my hands shook as I did. I slid down, to a pile on the floor. Even though I knew I should be running, my small body shuddered as the sobs tore from me. I would make my way to Coalsmore, and find this Liesel Dunn. And thus, began my journey into darkness.