The Soilders

I twisted hearing a commotion in my sleep, constant footsteps and people shouting to each other. Sitting up my eyes darted around trying to understand what the haste was about, and why everyone was practically scrambling over each other to get to somewhere. People even jumping over me. Pushing up on one foot, I peek from my position behind one of the drums, only to gasp in horror at the men that were busy shoving at the abandoned belongings; while the others checked the fireplace. A hand slipped over my mouth out of nowhere pulling me down forcefully and I kicked at the drum unwilling to be captured. 

This would not be my day. Not after everything.

“Quiet down, idiot!” Hissed Thomas. “It's just me. ” He covered us in some dark material, and we watched as one of the vitamin difficient men ambled over to where I’d previously created the racket, poking at everything. 

The men were dressed in the same black suit that the others at the estate had worn but they were just the meaner. The same rigid walks and eyes of hawks for anything out if place. I forced my heartbeat to quiet down as I held my breath, Thomas’ hand still covering my mouth. I djdnt understand what they were doing here too? I thought they only hunted defectors. But then thinking on our situation, we were the ones living in isolation and destruction. Crumbled buildings and smokey walls with grafetti, told the tales of the starving, ailing and forgotten. The scum beneath the shoes of their perfect society.

We were the defectors now. Menand women who chose not to accept the terms given. The resistance that made them unable to sleep at night.

And these heartless creatures prey.

“They were here at some point,” One said.

The other scanned the area again narrowing his eyes on where we were. 

“Yes,” He agreed in some weird ass accent. My blood ran cold feeling the heat of his gaze on us, unwavering. I'm sure it's the sound of my heart beat that keeps them rooted to the spot. I can't get my heart to slow, that even my head pulses in pain. “But not anymore.”

“Let’s go,” Ordered another that was much taller than the rest of them, his iris the shade of blood. “Let’s not make them wait.”

When they left, Thomas finally released me, throwing the sheet away. It was only then I dared to breathe, flopping backwards as my head spun from the terror of being caught. He helped me up walking back to where we were before the chaos, and everyone peeked out from their hiding places. This almost seemed routine for the refugees, they knew just when to emerge and when to flee. 

My eyes shifted back to my acquaintance that was tugging at my clothes, my hand coming down on his with a slap. Instantly he glanced at me fury burning in his eyes. 

“Why the hell did you do that!” He barked. 

“Why are you trying to get under my skirt!” I shrieked. “I don’t know you!”

“Why the hell would I try to get under your skirt idiot?” Thomas held up some alcohol, swabs and bandages.Where in hell did he even find them? "I was trying to clean your bruises bone head.” 

I felt my face burn from embarrassment and immediately straightened, gnawing my lip. He, however, was enjoying the look on my face. I hated the cheshire grin Thomas carried when he knew he was in the right. He liked making a fool of me and calling me names. When he was through, Thomas lit the drum again, throwing everything he used into the fire before settling back next to me. 

“Why did you do that?” I asked confused with his actions. 

“Because if they saw all that blood, they’d know someone was injured and probably hadn’t gone far. We can’t risk that; we must protect the other members too.”

I nodded. 

"They'll use the blood to track us. The sooner your wound heals, the better. It will only serve to slow you down. "

“Has all the wealthy people agreed to this?” Surely they had to be someone who taught this was less than humane. We were being hunted like dogs. There were children. People were dying.

Thomas handed over a small peg of bread as he began eating. 

“From what we know, yes. It’s a small price to pay compared to death I guess,” He replies. “Though, they did burn that one recently.” 

“The Chancey’s,” I griped. My father got what he deserved. I won't mourn for him. Still to think my father would be heartless with another soul when his reputation as all for him. “They agreed to such a thing?!”

Thomas gazed at me curiously, his eyes traversing my expression slowly. 

“Why do you care?” Thomas mused; somewhat taken aback at the strong emotions I was now displaying.

“Because I’m a Chancey,” I admitted softly. Not that it mattered much now. My bloodline was practically extinct.

“No you’re not! ” He protested, expression twisted as his eyes diverted away from me. “The Chancey’s only have one daughter and…”

“My sister,” I gripped his shirt, now remembering that I did indeed have a sibling. “My sister is alive?” I didn’t know why it mattered if Belle was alive or not. It shouldn’t have really mattered. No one cared about me. But just the thought of seeing a family member…

“Calm down idiot,” Thomas instructed, pulling his shirt from my hand. “Like I said, the Chancey’s only have one daughter, and it was rumoured that she was somewhere with one of those monsters.”

So then maybe she was still alive? I’d have to find her. To let her know, I was still alive, if that even mattered. 

“I am a Chancey though,” I maintained. “I’m the youngest child. I’m Yuuki Chancey”

Thomas looked intently at me in disbelief, mumbling my name to himself before glancing back at me as if trying to confirm it for himself. 

“They don’t have another child,” He stated once more, shaking his head dismissing me. 

“They do,” I replied adamantly, holding onto his hand. “Maybe they didn’t want to, but they did. I was locked away for a very long time.”

“How did you escape then?” He questions and I can still hear the disbelief within his tone.

“The door was unlocked when I woke up, then the fire started. Everyone was already dead,” I explained. “But if the wealthy were spared because they all agreed, why did they demolish the house?”

Thomas scratched his head taking in the information, before sighing heavily. 

“They broke some agreement they had with them. Blood suckers don’t take lightly to betrayal and liars. You’re either with them or against them. And if you’re against them, you die. It’s that simple.”

“But the house burnt a few days ago,”

He shook his head. “The house has been burning for three days previously. They might’ve slaughtered them some time ago though. And once they find out you’re alive, you’ll die too.”

Fear suddenly sized me. Died? I’d die even though I hadn’t a clue about what was going on? 

“But my sister…”

“Don’t count on that,” Thomas discouraged, getting up and giving me a hand. “You’ve got to concentrate on surviving now, Yuuki. That’s our priority from now on, got that?”

Thomas gave me a strict look that fanned my thoughts away. Where does he get off being the boss of me? 

“Come on, we’ve got to get you cleaned up.”

∞

It felt unbelievable good to have a shower. To feel the cold water running along my back, down my butt and even over my aching legs. I almost cried. I was robbed of so many things being locked in that hellhole. Thomas didn’t know, but I wasn’t able to make out every colour, most things seemed a blur, others were fragments or black and white. It’s said that after a while many things lost function of certain organs when they weren’t in use. Most fishes in the darkness couldn’t see, maybe I was slowly going blind, having seen nothing but complete darkness for longer than I cared to remember. 

As I gazed at myself in the shattered mirror, waiting on Thomas who likewise was taking a bath, I didn’t recognize the person staring back. I was pale, almost the colour of the men I’d seen much earlier, and I was meager too. The food they provided was only to keep me through a few hours. There was no nourishment, sometimes there wasn’t even taste, just bland. So much for family. My lips though were pink to my surprise, the only part of me that had a vibrant color.

“Don’t worry about it Yuuki,” Babbled Thomas walking into the room. "You won’t be that small for very long.”

He held a mischievous look in his eyes as he looked me over and immediately my cheeks inflamed. 

“You’re not getting me pregnant!” I yelled throwing the damp towel at him. 

He caught it mid-air staring at me confused. “Who said anything about getting you pregnant?" He sneered, faced cleanly shaved, displaying a sharp jawline and split chin. “I was talking about food. Please. You’re not my type, Chancey.”

We walked back to where we stayed, Thomas's eyes peeled checking our surroundings for anything suspicious. This seemed to be their life. Now it was my life. I couldn’t help staring up at the building thinking of my sister, thinking of maybe escaping this hell hole, I was stuck in again. Thinking maybe Thomas would want to come with me. He didn’t seem ecstatic about being here either, hiding from those men every now and again and wondering where their next meal would come from.

 All my self-loathing had completely vanished into thin hair realizing what we were now faced with. I wasn’t forced to secure my life before, but now I had to, now I had to focus on healing quickly which actually took time, and staying out of harm’s way. I had to make things easier for Thomas since he took it upon himself to keep me safe and to feed me. 

It was supper time when we made it back to camp, an old lady passed us soup as we stepped in, and I glanced at Thomas wondering if it was okay. He nodded and I smiled thanking her. He carried them instead. My feet weren’t hurting like the day before but moving around was still difficult. I sighed heavily staring into my bowl. I wasn’t used to this, feeling helpless and relying on people. 

“You won’t be well for a while, so it's best if I went out alone,” My only friend suggested, turning to me.

“Why?” I asked, taking in a mouthful. 

“Because, if we get caught that’s the end, and you need to get better. Then we’ll move.”

“But I want to help,” I protested. 

“No Yuuki!” Thomas boomed, his voice calling some attention to ourselves. No one has ever heard his voice that high; it even took me by surprise, and I was only there a few days. “No,” He continued lowering his voice. “You’ll stay here and get better and when someone signals that they're coming you go there and hide with the sheet got it?”

I shook my head, and he gripped me tightly in the shoulders staring into my eyes. 

“This isn’t the time to be an idiot Yuuki, I promised I’d keep you alive. You’re important to me.”

He barely knew me. I was important to no one. 

“But what if something happens to you,” I mumbled, my lips trembling at the thought of him being out there all alone. Of me being abandoned. 

He’d taken me everywhere with him since that night we met, now he wanted to leave me on my own. 

Thomas ruffled my hair embracing me like the big brother he acted like. 

“Don’t worry bone head. I’ll be safe. Don’t worry.”