The Prophecy

Chapter 2

Josie's POV: I smiled, walking by an old cart as I noticed the lady's back turned. Swiping four apples, I stuffed them into my bag before quickly moving away as the lady turned around. "Score", I grinned excitedly. "Wait til Lizzie hears about this", I smiled, turning down an alley to spot a young blonde leaning against the wall boredly.

"I see you've managed to make it here in one piece", she joked, causing me to glare playfully. "What did you score", she asked.

Opening my bag, I handed her the four apples an a slice of bread that I took from the baker. "I know that it's not much, but at least the bread isn't moldy this time", I said, looking over the items hungrily. "These should last us at least week, right", I questioned.

"If we divide it up properly", she nodded thoughtfully. 

"What did you get", I asked curiously before she took out a bag of coins. 

"It's not nearly enough to buy that castle that you've always wanted, but it should at least get us day old bread", she smiled, before looking around cautiously. "We should head home", she said, looking up into the darkened sky.

Nodding silently, we walked home in silence as we stumbled upon a small makeshift tent with an lantern and a single book inside. "I'll put this with the others", she said, opening the book to reveal a false inside where we kept any money we could get our hands on.

"Do you think that we'll have enough for an actual house soon", I asked, turning an apple in my hands as she put the book away.

"I'm sure that if I take extra shifts, I'll be able to buy us a house by next spring", she assured before sitting down next to me as I bit into the apple anxiously. 

"And if we don't survive the winter", I asked, causing her to move behind me as she wrapped her arms around me securely. 

"Hey, don't talk like that", she scolded. "I know that it's not much, but I'm sure that with a little extra coin-"

"Look around, Lizzie", I said softly, looking around the tent sadly. "We have no pillows, no blankets, no doors", I listed. "We barely even have enough food to feed ourselves", I pointed out. "Let's face it. If the wind doesn't kill us, then starvation will", I sighed, handing over the apple as she silently bit into it. Picking up an old photograph of our mom, I leaned back against my sister with a yawn as I rubbed my thumb across it fondly.

"Do you think mom would be proud of us for leaving", she asked insecurely.

"We had no choice, Liz", I sighed, holding the frame closely as I closed my eyes, listening to her steady heartbeat.

Tears continued to run down my face as Lizzie wrapped her arm around me protectively. "N-no, you...you can't do that", Lizzie cried, before flinching as another item sailed across the room, shattering against the wall. Picking up an old rifle, my eyes widened as Lizzie quickly pulled away from me, grabbing dad's arm almost pleadingly. "Dad, stop", she exclaimed. "Just take a minute, and think about what your doing-"

I jumped awake as I felt Lizzie being snatched out from under me. "Hey! What do you think you're doing", Lizzie yelled. Sitting up in alarm, I noticed Conner dragging Lizzie out of the tent as he picked her up by her arms. "Get your hands off me, you son of a...", she shouted before he quickly covered her mouth.

"Lizzie", Dana greeted, stepping out from the alleyway. "I haven't seen you since you were arrested for murder last spring", she said as I looked between them nervously.

I winced as Lizzie sunk her teeth into Conner's hand, causing him to drop her to the ground. "That's funny", she laughed, getting to her feet. "I could've sworn that I saw you making out with the baker's son last week", Lizzie smirked before her head snapped to the side violently as Dana slapped her across the face.

"What is she talking about, Babe", Conner frowned.

"She doesn't even know herself. Do you, Lizzie", she glared warningly. Getting to my feet, I stepped out of the tent cautiously as Lizzie spit on Dana's expensive shoes.

"Go to Hell", she said, bending over with a groan as Dana threw a punch at her stomach.

"Stop", I shouted, stepping forward as Conner grabbed my arms.

"It's been a while since you've paid a visit to my mom's pharmacy. Maybe you're just delusional because you're off your meds", she suggested, causing Lizzie to shove her away from her angrily. 

"Leave her alone, Dana", I yelled, struggling to pull away from Conner.

"Or you'll what? Drool on me", she mocked, rolling her eyes before glaring up at Lizzie. "You're lucky I didn't turn her in. This nut-job has been picking pockets around the Kingdom", she explained as Conner released my arms.

Hurrying to my sister's side, I took her face in to my hands as I looked her over worriedly. "Are you okay", I asked her in concern.

"I'm fine", she assured, causing me to relax as I pulled away to glare at Dana angrily.

"You can't prove anything", I spat, crossing my arms defensively. 

"Really", Conner challenged, walking over to our tent as I felt my hands begin to sweat nervously.

"What are you...", I got out as he ripped the tent in half before picking up the lantern.

"Hey! Hey! Stop", Lizzie yelled, rushing forward as she grabbed a hold to Conner's arm. 

"Let go of me", he growled, throwing her to the ground before throwing the lantern down as the tent caught fire. My eyes widened as I watched everything that we worked for go up in flames.

"No", I screamed as my sister's eyes widened.

"No. No. What did you...what did you do", Lizzie exclaimed, getting to her feet tearfully.

"Let's go", Conner urged, grabbing Dana's hand as they took off.

"If I ever see you again, I'll kill you", Lizzie yelled after them. "Do you hear me?! I'll kill you", she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Put it out! Lizzie, put it out", I panicked, running forward as Lizzie grabbed my arms. 

"Jo, it's too late", she whispered as I shook my head tearfully.

"N-no. That was everything we had. Everything that...", I choked out as she wrapped her arms around me tearfully.

Grabbing a fistful of her shirt, I buried my face in her chest as sobs wracked my body. "She's gone, Liz. She's really gone", I wailed, sinking to my knees as Lizzie quickly followed after me. 

There's no way we'll be able to survive the winter now. We have no coin, no food, no light, no shelter...

My body shook violently as I thought about the picture. The only thing that we had left of of mother, and now it's gone. 

She's gone.