" Get back up! “

  My grandfather sternly proclaimed.

  “ If you want to survive and utilize all the power your clan has to offer, you must hone your combat and mental fortitude. It does not spring to life from weakness “.

  With every leaping punch I throw at him he grabs my first and flips me across the grass. He may look old, with his long silver hair that reaches the middle of his back, you'd think he's a gardener.

  “ Your fa-. . . C'mon boy, time we eat now, it's getting late “.

  “ What were you going to say grandad? “

  Asking sheepishly.

  “ Nothing a twelve year old like you needs to hear fer now, when you’re older and become a man, you can understand “.

  He sounds rough when saying it, yet has a pure smile on his face.

  “ Okay, if you say so . . . “.

  “ Almost there boy, grandmas making a good meal tonight! Those vegetables she had to buy from the market aren’t fer nothing my young one “.

  Yes! Whenever she gets a bunch of vegetables it's always an amazing mix of noodles and meat! I start to run off to the house. A loving warm brick home with a maroon bronze smoke stack, enveloped by the woods that surround it. The red leaves pave the way home, and lay upon every inch of the house and its yard. My grandpa, while old, still keeps up with me even though he was at least twenty yards behind me! He picks me up and puts me on his shoulders and runs with me all the way home.

  Opening the door we’re pleasantly bombarded by the aroma of amazing spices and prepared food. The beef and vegetables scent swirling in the dining room. Finally getting sorted into our seats. The steam from the pots fill up the kitchen. The cherry glossed wooden table has never looked so worthy for this amazing meal on it till now!

  While my grandpa was hanging up his jacket he talks to my grandma

  “ Dear, the young one has started to become so much more proficient in his martial arts. He really is turning out to be like him, don't you think? “.

  He gently moves the chair to get into his seat making a slight squeak on this wooden floor.

  She smiles with a small tear in her eye.

  “ I have been thinking the exact same. “

  She comes over and squishes my cheek, maybe a little too hard. My grandpa notices, and leans towards me as she goes to the pot to get the stew. He whispers.

  “ She just gets a little sentimental, she's got a bigger heart than most. It's up to us men to make sure the gentle ones we love are safe. “.

  He smiles broadly and lightly hits at my shoulder. I smile, nod and whisper back to him

  “ I’m going to be a strong man like you one day Grandpa. “.

  She heads back with two bowls of noodles and sets them down for my Grandpa, and one for myself before returning to get one herself. She sits down. Grandpa speaks softly

  “ Let us pray for a moment “.

  We all bow our heads for a moment in silence. We raise our heads again, Grandma speaks fast and her hands are talking just as much as she is.

  “ I hope you all like it! Sorry Aelios but I couldn’t find that spice we we’re looking for the other day and-”.

  Grandpa kindly interrupts her

  “ Honey It’s okay! Haha I love it! You always make the best there could be! “.

  He reaches over to her hand that was once frantically waving around in the air as she was explaining and lightly holds her hand, before summoning it back to his fork. After a few bites I can say that this is one of her best!

  “ Grandma, I love it! Anyone out there is immune to saying anything bad about your cooking because it's impossible! “.

  She smiles

  “ Oh dear there you two go again “.

  She rolls her eyes in a playful way. She speaks up again

  “ So boys, what are we thinking of doing after dinner? “.

  The food was so good I didn't even think about it. We hear a sharp crack sound. Like glass breaking.

  We all look around and see it was the large mirror next to the door attached to the wall. The mirror wears a jagged crack down the middle now. Grandpa speaks

  “ Odd, I don't know how that could’ve-”. Grandpa drops his fork and it makes a small bang on the wooden table. Grandma looks worried

  “ Honey? “.

  Suddenly we all hear yelling from the right of our home, through the window. Kio’s father Pallius is screaming.

  “ Aelios! Protect your family NOW! There are intruders here! “.

  Sitting at the table, my grandpa's face gets stern, he looks up, his eyes have a glowing orange hue to them

  I’m shocked by the sudden yelling, “ Gra- Grand- “.

  “ Honey! It’s happening, take Valen now, get the book, head into the basement and summon him NOW! “.

  He shouts with a sense of dread and seriousness I've never seen before. My throat hurts and all I can shakily ask is,

  “ What's going on!? “.

  “ Come with me now dear, it's going to be okay! “.

  She grabs my hand, nearly ripping me away from the seat and to the ground as I shakily stumble onto my feet.

  She runs out the kitchen through the hallway to the basement door and she turns the knob and swings the door open so hard it slams into the wall creating a dent. Pushing me forward she whips back and rips the door knob out of the wall, small debris falls out of the indent. She rushes me downstairs. I look at her, I thought she was following me.

  “ Grandma, come with me I'm scared! “.

  My voice is shakier than I’ve ever heard it before.

  A tear drops from each of her eyes slowly, they glisten from the moonlight through the window. Her face sullen, cries in between words.

  “ I-I'm sorry my dear, I love you, no-, we both do very much. When he comes here, trust him. He’s going to help you. I-. . . No, we both love you so much, Valen. “

  “ You must be quiet dear! Please! Just be calm! It's all going to be okay! “.

  I can hear tears in between her breaths still. She kisses me on the forehead and turns around, walking with haste up the stairs and out of the basement. As she reaches the top of the stairs she turns around, pauses, then walks away shutting the door behind her. I run downstairs and hear the front door open and shut forcefully. I find a stool to prop myself on, there is a small window that lets me see the front yard from there.

  My grandfather stands there with his his jacket on, a formal one that only the temple soldiers wear. He said he was once a warrior for the temple years ago, why wear it now? He looks at Pallius who is out of my eyesight

  “ Do not let these people near your family! Stay on guard we don’t know how many are here! Warn the whole neighborhood! “.

  I can’t see him anymore as he sprints with incredible speed down the road, delving into pitch black nothingness. The sound of the leaves drowns away. I hear more screaming from Kio’s house, I have to go over there. I can help! I get off the stool and look around the basement, searching fervently for a weapon. An old cherry wood crate is at the base of the stairs, I open it to see a single dagger. An ebony handled knife with a silver crossguard. Not too big, but not small, a hunting knife.

  I pick it up and hold it close making my way upstairs, I quietly open the door. I hear my grandma upstairs shuffling around doing something. To my right there is a window that leads outside, and directly to Kio’s home. I budge it and pry it open, then smoothly slide it fully open. Climbing out as quiet as I can be, I step foot on the grass and start to crouch walk to their family’s kitchen window. I can't see anything, I can faintly hear yelling and the sounds of metal clanging on metal.

  Finally reaching the window, I slide my knife under the seal and pop it open. I try to look inside but can't see anything, damn it! I open the window and I feel off suddenly. I realize it now. I’m shaking badly, my hand on the breach of the window and the hand clutching the blade are violently shaking. I can't help but clatter my teeth, as much as I don't want to be heard, I can't stop. Taking a deep breath I can stop the teeth clattering, but not my hands shaking. I feel like puking.

  I swallow my fear and try to produce any amount of courage I can, and climb through the window. Grandpa ran out without hesitation to protect others, and I’ll be like him one day, I have to do this. I sneak around the kitchen and can see the front door wide open.

  I can hear some slight shuffling sounds coming from their basement directly under me. They did always have random pets for a while, Kio loved taking in strays. It’s just likely another family of bunnies. The noise has me on high alert though, my head on a swivel.

  I catch something with my eyes. Slightly out of the corner of the doorway, I can see someone’s foot. A brown boot is barely visible enough. A brown boot, with a forger's insignia on them. . . Kio’s father, Pallius’ boots. Touting the insignia of his family business on them.

  I’m sure Kio and Penn are okay! He’s just likely unconscious. I have been in this house many times before, and I know they share a room down this hallway from the kitchen, the room on the right. Making my way out of the kitchen and down the hallway I can see the door to the Kio’s room slightly open. The sense of dread approaching the door is nothing but unbearable. Sweating, shaking, and feeling sick, I pry the door open slowly. Never before has this wooden door felt like an immovable gate.

  The door opens and it's too dark to see anything. The window curtain has a sliver of moonlight poking through it.

  “ Kio? Penn? “

  I ask quietly. In the moonlight I can finally notice it, two barely lit up faces. I nearly collapse fully on the ground and walk on all fours to them. . . Now that I’m closer I can see it, they are hugging each other.

  It feels like the pressure of a boulder slams into my gut, and the sensation of acidic rocks sliding through my throat in an instant. Kio on the left and Penn on the right, hugging each other. One of Kio’s arms around her brother, one on the underside of her neck.

  Penn has both arms around his big sister. Their mouths are gaping open, blood spilling everywhere, dried tears down their innocent and scared faces.

  “ Are- Are you two o-okay? “

  I ask, crying between each word. No response.

  I can't bring myself to touch them. But in a sudden rush of panic like floodgates breaking, I slightly nudged Penn to check him over and get a better look at the two, maybe they’re okay. I’m sure they are. His body falls limp to the side and his arms fall down, no longer hugging his older sister. His arm around Kio falls above her head now on the floor, and when his left arm falls to his side I notice a deep wound to his left side. Blood soaked clothing, so much the carpet is downing in red underneath him.

  H-how. How could this happen? . . . I try to put my hand over the wound and put pressure, but not even a little droplet of blood is coming out. It’s all gone. I hear slight gurgling from my left side. I turn so quickly my head feels dizzy. Kio’s okay!

  Her eyes meet mine and I gently put my left hand behind her head. I can see now that she’s turned her head, a gigantic slash across her throat. Creator, what is this I’m seeing. . . I gently put one hand under her head, and the other I apply pressure on her neck. She puts her hand on my arm around her head, she's trying to speak.

  Her mouth is attempting to move, but only desperate squeaks erupt. I try to speak as calmly as possible.

  “ It’s okay Kio, you and Penn will be okay, Grandpa and Grandma will take care of you two don't worry. You’re gonna be safe now! “

  I can’t help but start crying as her hand slips off my arm and her eyes shut halfway, looking directly into mine with a level of desperation that an entire generation couldn’t express. I can do nothing. I take both of their heads and bring them to my chest and sob quietly and heavily, my tears seeping atop their hair.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  I cry so hard and try to keep quiet, my lungs feel like they're being squeezed by an invisible force, and the air in my throat is converted into an airtight vacuum. My heart is beating so fast it could stop right now. I'm trembling so badly, I feel guilty for shaking their heads, I don't want them to feel uncomfortable. Finally being able to get a breath, I look around. I see a cloth wrapped object next to Kio’s nightstand, with a tag on it.

  “ TO VALEN, From Our Family. “.

  I can tell the address to me was written by Kio, since she always wrote in all capitals. And her father wrote the last part as he always wrote with his unique style of capitalizing the first word in any sentence. I gently lay them down, their heads slightly ragdoll to the side. I have to find Grandpa. I slowly and steadily stand up and exit the room. My legs feel like hardened clay and my lungs have been filled with lead, somehow my head is lighter than paper. Walking down the hallway I hear another person's footsteps in the kitchen. Is it their mother? Maybe, but she was supposed to be out of town this week.

  I have to remain hidden just in case. I crouch against the hallway, and creep down the path against the wall. If I stay hidden I can run out the door and get to my grandpa immediately. I keep walking slowly on the right side of the hallway towards the front getting closer now. Peering into the dim kitchen, a man wearing all black armor with a black draping cloak standing back towards me, looking out the window. His helmet off and on the counter.

  My heart beat feels like it's disappeared into my veins and has gone silent. My eyes wider than ever, the air drying them. My breaths are shaky and slow. I look to my right and see the front door. I can make it. Just then a hand is on the back of my neck. The cold of the metal gauntlets and fear makes my skin crawl and hair stand up. A hand grabs me by my face squeezing my cheeks together shutting my mouth, causing me to bite the tip of my tongue and taste zinc immediately.

  The hand pushes me off the wall a bit then forcefully shoves the back of my head against the wall, making me face him in the eyes. He stares directly into my eyes, it's hard to breathe, his hands are covering my mouth and nearly my nose. He has short black hair, yellowish eyes, and a scar going from the bridge of his nose to the bottom of his left cheek. He speaks angrily at me.

  “ Shit colored brown hair and eyes, and bears a striking resemblance. Yeah, you must be the one “.

  He removes his hand off my face and now to my hair and starts to drag me through the dining room towards the front door. No! I don’t want to go anywhere with this man! I gain balance on my feet and go for the knife at my side. I swing it wildly at the man clinking as it hits his armor repeatedly.

  He pushes my head back with his hand in my hair and punches me in the face with his spare hand. Then throws me to the floor knocking me down fully. The air in my lungs is violently thrown out of my throat. He yells now

  “ Fucking runt! Guess you don’t gotta be in perfect condition huh? “.

  Face stinging and shocked, I sit there for a moment before standing to my feet rapidly with fear being my only motivation. I take a stance with my left arm up as a parry and guard, and my right upwards but closer to my body as my attacking limb, clutching the blade.

  He walks over fast and menacingly, I throw a punch with my left arm. He swats it away and the force drags the right side of my body with it. I take the opportunity to swing with my knife with the momentum to his chest in a desperate fashion. It collides with his armor as a spark is created.

  “ Little idiot “. He spouts under his breath

  He raises his leg but I can't move out of the way in time. He kicks me into the right side of my ribs causing my fly back onto the hard wood floors.

  I lay flat with my arms stretched out to the side. He walks over and kneels down, putting one knee on my right arm so I can’t swing my knife. I use my free hand to punch his kneecap on the side to get it off me. He budges a bit, but the metal armor makes the skin on my knuckles crack and bleed.

  He doesn't attempt to remove my free hand, he just fiercely punches me in the left side of my face. Forcing my head to turn down the hallway, looking at the door to Kio and Penn’s room. That room, where my friends lay murdered. He puts his hand on the side of my head holding it down and yells at me.

  “ Yeah look at that room you pig, they are like that because of you. All of this is because of you. Do you know the risk I’m in because of all this!? The possible consequences to my family and fellow man!? “.

  I haven’t a single clue what he’s talking about!. . . I’m just a kid who likes to enjoy his Grandma's best meals, and hangout with my Grandpa. . .

  I don't understand any of this, could it be that I passed out during dinner? I was pretty tired after all. I’m sure Grandma is freaking out about it right now, speaking loudly with her mouth and hands, ha, and Grandpa is reassuring her it's normal. I can't wait to tell Kio and Penn about this funny time I passed out mid dinner. A delusional half smile stretches painfully across my face. My vision going in and out. That’s okay, let this nightmare be over.

  All of a sudden there's yelling from other voices outside, the man hurriedly gets up and runs out the door. I sit up slowly, in pain, and disbelief. No, this is reality. I stand up and walk towards the front door. The pain all sets in and I collapse halfway out the front door. I look to my right and see my Grandpa fighting hordes of men. His body is engulfed in an orange hue. I gotta get to Grandma. Turning my head to the left, I can see Kio’s father, laying on his stomach with a knife sticking out of the middle of his back. His eyes meet mine, and they look dull. My face scrunches, but I can't even produce more tears. My eyes feel gouged.

  I sputter something in disbelief and blood spurts out onto the gravel in front of me. I hadn't realised till now I had a mouthful of blood. I force myself to stand up, propping myself with my arms to get onto my feet. Running towards our house now I look back at my Grandpa. There's less men standing now and he is still moving faster than I could’ve imagined him to.

  I make it to the side of the house and see there are more of these mysterious ‘soldiers’ near the pathway to the front of the house, so I crawl into the side window. Inside I can still hear my Grandma upstairs. I’m so frightened by it all, I run upstairs to find my Grandma. The stairs pounding as I run up them.

  “ Valen? “

  A shrill voice creaks beyond the door to their room. I sniffle my tears and try to speak normally

  “ It’s me Grandma “.

  The door swings open and she reaches for my shoulders to drag me in.

  “ I told you to stay in the basement my dear! “

  She is shocked for a moment looking over my face, she softly gasps and hugs me quickly.

  “It’s okay, It’s okay, you can stay up here with me honey. “.

  She brings me into the room and shuts the door. She walks over to the bed and there's a small pocket sized mirror laying there. She picks it up and places it on her nightstand, wiping a tear away.

  “ Thank you, Grandma “.

  She can sense the sadness in my voice, and can see the despair in my eyes. Like an empty well pulling her in. She speaks again.

  “ I’m sorry for whatever you saw honey, I-I’m sorry. “

  I start to cry again. She has teary eyes as she wipes mine away.

  “ It’s all going to get better darling, believe me, Grandpa will sort this out. Now look Valen, I’m going to go downstairs, that's all, stay here and just keep quiet okay? “.

  I nod and she wipes my tears away one last time before exiting the room.

  I hunker down and peek out the window so my head is barely visible. The moon is fully out now, and the carnage has light shed upon it and its ugliness. Grandpa is there outside the front of the house now. There seems to be blood on his hands and lower sleeves, but it doesn't seem to be his. Bodies of men lay where they were fighting him from before. The orange glow is still upon his body.

  I see him look towards the front door and mouth something, but I can't hear it. I slightly open the window so I can hear now. He must be talking to my Grandma, I can hear him now

  “ Hide now, do not come out, please. I love you, dear. Everything's gonna be okay “.

  He smiles at her, then quickly drops it, and turns back to face the darkness.

  Grandpa Yells this time towards the nothingness of light.

  “ Did you come here because they told you to? Or are you off your leash for once? You’re not a man, you’re a pet. “.

  A man finally comes into view. What is he. . . It's dark so I can't make out his face, but he has dark long hair, and stands slightly tilted. He has dark armor that shines in the moon, and a cape that flows behind him. His sword is drawn already, a longsword that he wields with one hand, the blade shimmers a cold blue color. He waves his left hand like a signal to go and shadows move in different directions. Must be his soldiers, he has more of them?!

  His voice, so cold, so sharp

  “ No, I came to purge an animal. A swine that breeds outside of its own kind is a disgrace, nevertheless it’s creation. “.

  “ A coward's words never cease to amaze me. . . “

  My grandfather spoke with such anger. The man responds rapidly like he knew the response was waiting for him.

  “ Step aside, and I’ll spare you, Aelios. It’s a shame to see a man like yourself die like this “.

  With such speed the man in armor dashes to my grandpa, now they are shoulder to shoulder.

  “ You don't intimidate me, and you will never compare to him. “.

  With haste my grandpa puts his hand on the man's neck and pushes him into a tree at least thirty yards away! How?!

  Grandpa slightly braces himself then takes off after the man, the sheer force of his leap leaves a small crater in the ground and dust kicks everywhere. I can’t track their movements, only blurs of orange and the figure of a cape. They both knock each other away, and run at each other again! When they meet a shockwave is torn through the air and the whole house shakes! Pictures and decorations on the wall smash to the ground. The man quickly rises to the air and a gigantic lightning bolt comes crashing down near my grandpa. The impact makes me fall backwards and I hit my head on the back of the nightstand near the bed.

  My eyes open, my head feels fuzzy, still laying on the ground. Loud clashes that ring like thunder reverberate the house from outside. Too weak to get up and too afraid to look out the window, I listen for only moments but feeling like hours. Eventually there are no more sounds of fighting. After a pause, I hear something crumple onto the leaves. Soon after the thud I can hear the front door swing open loudly and my grandma screaming and running outside. Her voice cuts off in an instant. Then there is no more yelling. Another soft fall on the ground.

  What. . . They have to be okay! I start running downstairs. No time to ponder. I run downstairs and through the house towards the door, knocking into the table making the plates fall as I run through the kitchen to the door.

  “ Grandpa! Grandma! Please! Please tell me you’re okay! “.

  My breathing is short and I can’t speak, my tears and crying are uncontrollable. I push the door open hastily, the air is so cold, it hits me like a monsoon. Then I see it.

  In the dark he stands there, down the road, My grandpa and grandma, laying down at his feet. No no no! My mouth is open, shallow breaths, I can't breathe, I can’t speak, I can’t think. I'm trying so hard to breathe! My body feels heavy and sickly like I'm going to throw up, a searing burning in my core. That heat turns to ice. I’m. . . I'm scared. Grandpa, please help me. I’ve never felt so scared. He walks over their bodies and towards me slowly. I-, I don't want to die. Without thinking, my body moves with dead legs towards my grandparents bodies, motions without thought. He swings his sword at me and it slices me on the top of my eyebrow and forehead, making me fall over backwards.

  I need to check on them, once Grandpa is awake he can fight again! This time I can help him, I promise Grandpa I’ll help you this time! I crawl closer and crumble next to their bodies. I want to touch them but I recoil when I get close. The blood. Everywhere. When I inhale it feels like the air is ripped right back out with rough invisible hands from within my gut through my throat. I can’t breathe or think straight.

  The temple bells ring throughout the air, and the distant sounds of screaming echo through the frigid air. The man walks over to me standing above me and now I can finally make him out more. He has a deepened scar across his face, his hair long and dark, his eyes gray. Blood on his blade, no expression. He looks over at his men, their armor resembling his, and tells them to get rid of the dead soldiers they’ve lost, along with the other bodies.

  I look over to my neighbors house, some of their soldiers lay dead in his yard. Kio’s father still lies there with a sword in his back.

  “ Kio, Penn. . . “

  I can hardly say anything. I’m so disgusted and distraught I can’t think of anything except a swirl of fear and grief. My face hurts from crying. My stomach is in knots. My body is nothing short of an eruption of nerves and trembling. But it can’t do anything else, not even raise a hand to fight. I can't do anything. I haven’t done a single thing.

  A couple of these soldiers come out from their house. One carrying Kio and Penn over each shoulder, they aren’t moving. They toss their bodies down near their father. They fall limp like a bag of sand, then take off into the night. Only the man remains here.

  Kio. . . Penn. . . I’m so sorry! You don't deserve this! Why is this happening!? Please if there is a divine being please tell me why!

  He mutters under his breath, sounding irritated.

  “ Look at what you’ve made me do. . . “.

  My head keeps snapping back and forth to my grandparents, and my friends. We were all laughing and talking today. Penn I’m sorry my lessons were useless. . . Kio, I promised you we were going to climb that tree, please forgive me, I hope we still can one day. . . My grandparents, we were about to share a meal together. Where food should be there's nothing but dark, almost black blood. Their eyes still open but no light.

  “ I’m- I’m so sorry! “.

  If I die here, let it be with them.

  One glance around, and I can see bodies in front of all my neighbors' houses. No . . . They killed them all. Why! Is it because they wanted me!? Then why punish everyone too! My mind is racing so fast it feels like it's going to burst. The man sighs, and he raises his blade swiftly, the edge cuts the thin night air. A droplet of blood lands on my cheek. He speaks this time

  “ There’s enough moonlight this time for me to do that, and if you won’t tell me. Then I’ll just get it out of you. I’m sure you pigs know where he is, since he loved you all oh so much “.

  I look up at him, the glint of the moonlight shining off his sword becomes piercing into my eyes. The bright white light seems to envelop my whole vision like a tunnel. I can't see anything but a blinding white tunnel all around me, and a blaring sound like gusting winds takes over my eardrums. Soon the bright tunnel turns to dark black and red, and the gusting wind turns to sounds of tormented screaming all around me. I'm losing my mind! What is happening to me! A voice that resembles the man comes through to me amongst the screaming.

  “ Where is he? Surely you’ve all been visited by him throughout these years. “.

  How is he speaking to me?! Where am I? Who is he talking about! I'm going insane! In an instant I'm pulled away from it all, I’m back to just staring up at him, the glint on his sword is now a normal shine. He turns his head towards the roof of the house, and lowers his sword.

  A silent but noticeable sound comes from the shingles on the roof. A man stands there on top of the house. He has a dark blue jacket with a deep purple, nearly black cloak on, and an oak wooden looking staff. He has a mask on, a scary and discernable mask. In an instant he throws two knives with one hand at the man behind me *Clink*. The knives stick out from his breast plate. His voice comes through distorted from the mask, not even sounding human.

  “ Killing you will only make these lands bleed more. Under a different moonlight, I will eventually kill you “.

  The man behind me gnarls slightly from anger.

  “ You again huh. . . “.

  His body becomes surrounded by dark birds in a circular motion, and he's gone, just like that. The masked man somehow is now right beside me, knelt down, his hand on my shoulder.

  “ The warriors from the temple will be here soon, and the townspeople will know. We should pay our respect, then leave. I’m sorry Valen. “.

  How does he know my name?

  “ I-. . . I just want them back! “.

  “ I’m sorry, I’m afraid that can't happen. Know this, they will always be watching over you. It’s because of them that I was sent here. Just because they're not here physically doesn't mean they don't protect you still. Honor them with this. “

  He gently points his index finger on my chest. His voice had changed from before, just now he spoke to me with such a kind manner.

  He tells me to look away. When I look back at my grandparents they now have their eyes closed, and he is on both knees in a praying type of position. I can't help but cry. How could I let this happen? It’s my fault. Did they die because of me?! My head hanging down, tears flood onto my legs and hands. He stands up

  “ Now we should pray for them, and walks over to Kio and her family. Before getting up, I look at my grandparents.

  “ I’m sorry. . . I love you both so much. . . “ Is all I can say.

  He is already kneeling beside them, and I join him. He silently prays, and I want to as well but I can't take my eyes off their bodies.

  “ Someday I’m going to see you all again, and we’re going to-. . . To be together under a different tree, and when the time comes, please, please wait for me. I’ll be there soon! “.

  How could they all be so happy and alive, only moments ago. I can't understand. The sound of people rushing over to the house becomes louder. He stands up, and brings me along so we aren’t so close to them anymore.

  “ We will let them rest now. “.

  The masked man looks at me, I can truly see the mask now. It’s dark bronze color and has mechanical parts all over it, you can't make out his eyes, it's just dark circles.

  He picks me up and puts me on his shoulders, then starts to take off running with incredible speed. As we leave. I only fixate on my grandparents. I should be with them. If I couldn’t live that life with them, then I should at least be granted death with them as a family. . .

  We finally made it to a safe area, in the woods.

  The masked man speaks.

  “ A horse or train would probably be more relaxing, but too slow. I can get us to Clearwater faster ”.

  Clearwater? Before getting time to think about it he picks me up and puts me on his back.

  “ Hold on tight “.

  He takes deep breaths, and exhales slowly.

  He sprints off with such speed I almost forgot to breathe. Leaping from branch to branch. I can hear the tree limbs break from the impact of his landings and take offs. The sounds of the village become less and less, till there isn't anymore. I can see he has the satchel of things my Grandma must’ve packed for me. Clearwater. I have only briefly heard of that city. There are areas and clans my Grandparents simply wouldn't let me even think about visiting.

  I can still hear his voice

  “ Don’t worry son, in time you’ll come to know everything you need too. “.

  And I can hear yours too, Grandma. . .

  “ I'm sorry my dear, I love you, no, we both do very much.- “.