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The smell of death reeked in the room.
After the old man in uniform left, no one came in to clean up the mess I had caused.
I sat on the floor, farthest as I could, away from the foul-smelling body. Not daring to peer above my knees.
The image of him bleeding out played over and over again causing situations of 'what if' to come to mind.
What if the old man hadn't of given me away? Would we be living together? Would I have gone to the town to look for my mom?
What if I had never left home to begin with?
Or what if the whole event at home never had happened in the first place?
Right now, instead of being locked in a room with the body of a person I killed, I would be having dinner with my mom and my little sister. Then we'd watch a film, quietly so no one would notice.
Sobs came out of my mouth and tears out of my eyes.
None of this would have happened.
After some days, my guess was five, the door finally opened yet I was still afraid to look.
The scraping of a chair rang throughout the room and stopped in front of me. Someone sat down, I could feel their stare burning holes into my head as I cowered.
"He was my friend."
My blood went cold.
"And you killed him."
My head whipped up. "No- I didn't mean to!"
"He has two kids. And a poor wife." The man stared at me, his eyes were unforgiving and aggrieved. "Now who's going to protect them?"
I felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs. "No- I-"
"Who's going to protect them?!" He leaned forward as he shouted in my face.
"I- I'm sorry!" I choked.
"Are you really?"
My head nodded furiously as tears streamed down my cheeks.
He leaned back. "If you're really sorry, then you'll do as I ask right?"
I nodded again.
A wicked smile crossed his lips. "Good. I am Captain Levite, you shall answer my questions." When I didn't respond with words he repeated his words in a chillier tone."Respond."
"Y-Yes sir."
"Do you have family?"
"M-My dad left about s-seven years ago and has-hasn't returned." I stuttered. "My m-mom was taken, and my sister is- is-"
"Dead." He finished for me.
I bit my lip and hiccuped at the word.
"Were your parents elementalists?"
My head bobbed up and down. "My father was an ice elementalist, m-mom was a fire elementalist."
"How peculiar. They were complete opposites." He smirked. "I'm surprised you came out with any power at all. You'll be very useful."
My body froze. "What- What do you mean?"
"You said you'd do whatever I asked right?"
My eyes widened.
"Well, there are some bad people that are targeting us, and I need your help." He stood up, his eyes peered down at me from an even greater height.
"Bad people?"
"Yes. Rebels. We need your help to fight against them."
"But I can't use my element correctly." I protested.
He smiled eerily, sending chills down my spine. "We can help with that!"
There was a sudden pounding at the door.
The man clicked his tongue in annoyance but allowed them to enter anyway.
A man ran in, looking distraught. He quickly covered his nose and glanced at the dead body with a terrified look.
"What's so important that you interrupted our conversation?" The old man snapped.
"S-sir, we're being under attack."
"What?!"
"They came in through the barracks and are currently making their way here." The soldier reported.
"Damn it." The old man growled and glanced at me. "I'm going to leave for a moment. If anyone comes up to you with guns, or claiming they're your friend, they're bad. Understand?"
I nodded.
"Understand?"
"Y-Yes sir." I stuttered.
He narrowed his eyes. "You want forgiveness. This is the only way to obtain it."
My hands began to shake. "Yes sir."
He turned to leave and I reached to him to stop him but my words wouldn't come out.
I hugged my knees again.
I wish they would have cleaned up that man's body...
The drowning feeling of remorse and guilt caused me to gather my courage and walked towards the body.
The stench grew too much to handle so I quickly covered my nose to alleviate the nausea.
With my other hand, I grabbed the dead man's back collar and attempted to pull him off the bed. He wouldn't budge.
Okay, I can do this. I have to do this.
Holding my breath, seized his collar again only with both my hands this time. I pulled him off the bed and onto the ground, grunting along the way.
His body landed with a thud.
For the first time since he died, I saw his face. It was twisted in horror and dried blood seeped out of his mouth and down his fat throat.
My stomach twisted as I gagged. My stomach pumped and pumped but nothing came out due to the lack of food.
Once my stomach calmed down, I reached over his face and quickly closed his eyes.
I'm- I'm so sorry.
I couldn't do anything about the stench but as I thought about it some more, I figured it was retribution.
After murdering him, the least I can do is put up with his body.
I can- No, I will do anything for him. It's the least I can do.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently, causing the objects and me to jumble. A short yelp escaped my lips.
What was that?
It happened frequently after the first one. Each one growing steadily worse and louder.
My heart to raced violently and my body shook alongside it.
Then suddenly it stopped. The fierce shaking was followed by a calm and unsettling silence
Gathering my courage, I dragged myself over to the door and propped my ear against it.
At first, I heard nothing, but then screaming came from afar. Gunshots echoed them.
My body froze in fear.
What is happening?
Is this where I die?
I- I don't wanna die.
There was an anxious jingling of keys outside the door.
Scrambling, I moved as far away as possible, flinching when the door swung open.
"I've been ordered to take you out!" A young man with a uniform stood at the door frame. Blood dripped from his head as he held a gun in the other.
As I stumbled towards the door, another voice rang out.
"Hands up!"
I watch as the soldier in front of me refused by raising him own gun. However, before he could retaliate, gun shots rang out. His body jerked as it took in the bullets, then he fell down, dead.
A scream escaped my lips.
"We'll check it out. You guys move on ahead. Let us know if you've found him."
My body wouldn't move.
"Who's in here?"
A couple barged in, they're eyes looking for me. Though they were the same length, it was easy to distinguish that one was female, as she was beautiful and her curly red hair reminded me of my mother. Her partner, also having curly red hair caught sight of me first.
Their attention was pulled by the dead body. Their eyes widened in surprise.
"Vice-Captain Fernard." I heard them mumble to each other.
"Do you have a weapon?" The man asked.
"N-no." I stuttered but quickly stopped, remembering the knife in my shoe that had yet to be found. "W-wait! I- I do!"
"Toss it on the ground by our feet." He ordered.
My eyes glanced over at the flame that danced along his fingertips.
A fire elementalist.
There was no doubt his partner was also one. Therefore, I had no chance of survival, especially with this little pocket knife.
Quickly fishing it out of my shoe, I tossed it at their feet with trembling hands.
"Please- Please don't kill me! I don't want to die!"
Saying nothing, they observed me quietly. Only giving glances to each other and whispering.
"Are you not a soldier under Captain Levite?" The woman asked.
"T-that man?" I blinked. "I... I killed his friend."
The woman glanced to the dead man. "You killed him?"
"H-He was going to-" I couldn't finish my sentence.
They glanced at each other before the woman began to walk up to me.
Flinching, I cried out.
She froze and crouched down instead. "We're not going to hurt you."
"T-that man told me he was fighting rebels. Bad people. A- And you- you killed that man..." I glanced behind them, the soldier's dead fallen hand was the only thing in view.
My words put the woman in an awkward position, as she glanced at her partner awkwardly.
"We-we're actually the good guys." Her partner stuttered. "We had to kill that guy."
I shifted on the ground slightly.
Then- who is telling the truth?
Maybe it's better to not trust either of them?
A guilty feeling engulfed my being.
But what about the man I killed? Doesn't he deserve justice?
Seeing my expression, the woman quickly jumped in after giving the man a stinky look. "Sweetie."
Her words made me remember my mom, and my heart stirred with yearning.
"This place isn't safe and I don't want you to get hurt okay? So, I'm going to ask that you come with us."
My eyes widened and I shrunk back.
Could I trust them?
The old man came into mind.
I trusted him, but he gave me away... Would they do the same?
"I promise, that if you don't want to stay with us, we'll let you leave."
I pursed my lips, Do adults keep their promises?
When my parents hid me from the world, they had promised I would go out soon. Seven years passed and it took the death of my sister and kidnapping of my mother for me to go out. My father promised he'd be back but he never did.
He never came back.
"We swear on our connection to the fire element." The man spouted recklessly and the woman nodded.
My eyes widened.
To swear on your element, is the ultimate promise. If broken, the cower can easily lose their connection and become elementless. How could they give such a promise so easily?
I- I think I can trust them.
"You- you promise?" I muttered carefully.
They nodded. "We promise."
I lifted up my pinkie, starring at them with cautious eyes.
The both of them walked closer to me, and at the same time linked fingers with me.
A rush of relief filled in me.
"Before we leave, I'll check if everything is done." The man said with a reassuring smile. "Will you stay dear?"
"Was already planning on it." The woman grinned at plopped down in the space next to me.
I shifted away from her uncomfortably.
He nodded, "I'll see you in a bit then. Love ya!"
We watched as he exited the room, wisely closing the door behind him.
The woman looked over to me. "I haven't introduced myself have I? My name's Adelaide and my partner's name is August Small. He's also my husband." She said cheekily.
"I'm- My name is Snow."
She smiled gently, avoiding the probing. "What a beautiful name! Because I'm a fire elementalist it was a bit hard to go outside but I always loved seeing it outside my window."
I nodded quietly.
I prefer summer.
My mother had always called me a heavy talker. Said I loved to chatter without end. However, at the moment, I wanted to do anything but.
My eyes suddenly felt heavy.
When was the last time I slept?
"You know, you remind me a lot of my son. I think he's your age as well!"
I glanced over at her. "Son?"
She gleamed, her eyes curving like moons. "A lot of people say he looks like me, I personally think he's a lot more gorgeous."
"Where is he?"
"Right now my brother-in-law is keeping him safe. I'll be able to see him soon though. What about you, where's your family?"
My fingers began to pick on each other. "I'm looking for my mom."
"Your mom? Maybe I've seen her! What's her name? What's she look like?"
I looked at the wall. "Her name is Joice. She has red curly hair like you too but always has it short. She's Calakan."
Calakians were known for their stunning black skin and glowing eyes. Without a doubt I'd be hard to miss someone like her in a crowd. I personally never visited her hometown, as it was oceans away but she had always told me stories.
"I see." The woman, Mrs. Adelaide, nodded slowly.
Her expression had given me a sense of hope which was quickly brought down with the following words.
"Well... I haven't met her yet," Her tone changed when she saw my face into a gentler one, "But I'm sure we'll find her one day."
In response, I nodded.
In each passing moment, I could feel my body grow heavier and my breathing grow slower.
Mrs. Adelaide must have noticed as she scooted closer to me. "Here, lay on my shoulder."
I stared at her catiously.
"Come one, I won't bite." She chuckled, reaching for my head and laying it against her shoulder. "Just rest. Everything will be over soon, trust me."
It was as though her shoulder was the perfect mold for my head, as all I felt was comfort.
Soon my eyes closed and I fell asleep.
When I came to, my body swayed in comforting way. Back and forth. Back and forth.
I came to realize that I was being carried, by the man from earlier, to some destination.
My eyes were greeted by the surrounding forest. Rays of sunlight poured into the forest like water as the chirping of birds rang out in harmony. The leaves rustled slightly because of the wind. The steps of several people added into the concert of noise.
I thought I'd never see the outside again.
Small drops decorated my eyes.
It's so peaceful.
The lull of his walking put me back to sleep and I felt peace.