Victim

I felt her arms tremble as they embraced my frail figure; I felt the ground shiver beneath my bare feet. Come inside she told me, but I already knew we were out of time. We stood, hidden behind the stained window, looking out into the foggy distance and there they were- dozens or maybe hundreds of them. Mama had called them the Saxons, I hadn't come up with a name yet but I was well aware of the damage they could cause. I was told it was just a rumor, but this was reality, there was no way out and all we could do was wait. I heard a faint cry of despair as the first lifeless body fell to the ground, Mama whispered into my ear. I didn’t want to leave but her grip had loosened.  I glanced at her for one last time, and noticed the fear expressed in her eyes, tears had begun to form and I turned away.

I lay in silence beneath the hay; I could hear the rapid beating of my heart as I heard nearing footsteps, I held my breath. There was a violent rustling sound along the side of the barn; I clenched my hands, expecting the worst. Shutting my eyes, I hoped for this to be a dream, just another nightmare but my trance was instantly brought to an end when I heard a scream, and again. I heard my name and then silence, I wanted to break 

into tears but I knew I couldn’t so I sat there, shivering, beneath the hay. I’d hear shuffling and familiar voices or cries through the night, I wanted to fall into a deep sleep and never wake up. The shivering had stopped, and comfortable warmth seemed to have arrogated me. And the silence had turned into a soothing snapping and crackling. There I sat, beneath 

the hay, letting the heat envelope 

me into my deep sleep.