Little Dawn

Chapter 13

For a few seconds, everything appeared to be still. Not even the wind moved or emitted any sound around Casey.

Then, the low sound of various timpani far away reached her ears. That was the first signal. Her heart started beating faster than ever and her breathing was coming in and out her lungs rapidly. Her fists were opening and tightly closing as she waited for the next signal.

The war scream behind her told her it was time to run.

"RUN AND HIDE," she started screaming to the citizens around her. Other rebels were doing the same. She was fast but a heavy hand grabbed her from behind. She suddenly remembered what she was told to do if that ever happened. She replayed her actions in training one more time. A few seconds later a man's groan indicated he was on the ground.

Casey had memorized the city earlier and ran towards her goal taking every right turn. She stopped a few minutes later. The building in front of her was barely standing. She saw the rebels group already getting inside it. Then, she turned to look around and saw more of her people high up in the roofs surrounding the crooked structure. She took a deep breath and ran into the building.

There was already a lot of blood around her. Lifeless bodies on the ground and the city's soldiers fighting for their life. These rebels were very well trained, professional killers, Casey had once thought in her training as she saw them from afar.

There was no floor beneath her, just dry ground and a few of the building's remains on it. A section of the tall ceiling was gone and she could see the gray sky upon them. In front of her, the hall extended a few meters inside.

Matte, a slim man threw her the cutting laser tool as soon as he saw her.

"Your turn," he screamed to her.

She ran once again and remembered the map she was given to memorize. Far away into the hall was the room the prisoners were kept in.

Casey was also taught how to use the cutting laser she now held. She was amazed at first when it was shown to her. Dyron had grabbed it before to make a demonstration of how to cut the door lock that was now in front of her.

"Hurry!" She heard one of the rebels scream as she was fighting one of the Saints. She noticed more of them were coming from the outside. They had to get out now.

She turned the tool on and with trembling, but careful hands, she started penetrating the padlock. She was focused on that sole metal object, ignoring everything that may be happening around her. The thought of her mother being behind the metal door gave her hope, but it also brought a deep sadness knowing that she might also not be there.

The padlock hitting the ground finally reached her ears. She breathed in and out before pulling the heavy door towards her.

A lot of heavy and tired eyes looked at her. There was no light inside that hell hole.

"GET OUT!" She found herself screaming, "FOLLOW THE REBELS."

She saw all of this figures pass her rapidly. Casey scanned each one of their faces hoping for a miracle, but when the last person got out it soon vanished.

She scanned the room once again and her heart sank at the sight of four figures laying lifeless on the ground. She quickly checked any signs of life, but soon realized that the two old men and two middle aged women had lost their fight. She would forever remember their lifeless stare.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to them before she turned to run away.

As she set foot outside the building the sound of flying arrows reached her hears. Casey saw some of them penetrating their enemies around her. It was time to get out.