Hidden in Plain Sight

Three

Suddenly, the wolfs head snapped to the side, eyes pointed up and twitched as he was listening. A low growl came from his chest, one last glance at us and he darted off towards to side away from us. I gasped and reached my hand out towards him, not understanding why he left.

My dad quickly grabbed me and started carrying me in his arms. “Run.” He said to my mum and they both sprinted as fast as they could. Before I could even ask what was wrong, I heard the gun shots and shouting. I tucked my head tight against my dads neck and held on as tight as I could.

The gunshots were getting closer, my dad grunted as one hit his arm jolting him and nearly falling but caught his footing at the last second. They jumped over a fallen tree and slid down the ditch and pushed up against the ground while they caught their breath.

“I’m scared.” I couldn’t help but whisper, my whole body trembling.

My mum softly stroked my hair and whispered soft words to me. Then they were running again. Jumping and ducking under trees, they ran with everything they had. I got passed from my dad to my mum as they run.

“I can run.” I whispered to them but got no reply. So I kept quiet while they ran, to save themselves, to save me.

I gasped as a loud shot was heard and Mum fell with a cry and dropped me onto the ground.

“Clara!” My dad shouted and skipped to a stop and ran back over to us, I lifted my head up to see blood coming from her leg where she’d been shot.

“Got one!!” A voice cheered out from the distance, followed by more cheers and claps. Then hurried footsteps coming towards us. More shots in our direction. I started panicking, breaths coming in fast.

“You need to go, take Rosie and run, please.” My mum begged, I shook my head, I couldn’t leave her, I couldn’t leave either of them.

“No. I’m not leaving you, let’s go.” He moved his backpack as he spoke and put it on his front then turned round waiting for her to climb on his back.

“Mark plea-”

“No! Get on now!” He snapped at her plea.

“Please Mumma.” I whispered trying to help, but felt completely useless. Tears started trailing down her cheeks as she moved and climbed on his back.

“Are you okay baby? Are you hurt?” She asked me softly. I shook my head but it was a lie, they didn’t need to know that right now though. We carried on running but I couldn’t keep up like before but kept pushing, not wanted to let them down. I didn’t get far before I felt a shot hit my shoulder and I cried out. Before anyone could react, a loud menacing growl was heard followed by screams and ripping of flesh. I tried to block it all out as my parents shouted for me and ran back over to me and push me along.

“I got you sweetheart, come on.” Dad tried to pick me up as well as carrying mum but I pushed him away.

“No, I’m going to slow you down, I can run.” I sobbed but knew I couldn’t really. They were both going to die because of me.

“Quickly, we need to move.” Mumma was crying again and begging for us to move as there was more shouting and shots getting closer once again. We started running again but at a much slower pace until we got tackled to the ground.

It all became chaos, I couldn’t keep track of what was happening. I shuffled backwards on my bum to get away from the fighting, both my parents fighting whoever had attacked us, until they were no more. They both took a defensive stand in front of me, chests heaving as the looked around for the next threat.

“You killed him! You disgusting creatures! I’ll f*****g end you!!!” An angry voice screamed out, as a group of 5 men surrounded us, all covered in blood and dirt. None of them had guns now, just had large sharp knives. All as one they ran towards my parents with knives at the ready. I couldn’t help but scream as they attacked. My parents fought back with everything they had. A wolf - the one from earlier - appeared out of know where and grabbed one of the guys and ripped him to shreds then moved on the the next. I just sat there shaking, crying. Why was I so useless?! I can’t do anything!

“There’s more coming!” I screeched as I saw another group coming towards us. My dad pushed my mum in my direction.

“Take Rosalie and run!!” he shouted as the last man was dropped to the floor.

“No Daddy-”

“Mark please-”

“I’ll find you, I promise. I love you, both. I-” he choked on his words as he cupped both us faces and hugged both of us, we were all crying. “Please, go. Continue the plan, be brave, I’ll catch up with you. Go. Now!” He hurried his words as the men grew closer. He took his backpack off and pushed into our hands and whispered “go” before he took off running with the wolf towards the men to save us.

Mum grabbed my hand and we both started running as best we could with our injuries. Both of us sobbing as we ran, we didn’t get far when mum cried out and grabbed her chest.

“NO!” She screamed in pain, her steps coming to a stop as she dropped to her knees.

“Mumma?” I grabbed her hand tight and looked at her with wide eyes, thinking she’d been shot. She just sobbed, then gasped as we heard a loud roar coming from the direction of my dad. Her head snapped to the side where it was coming from.

“Rosalie, you need to go and hide right now, -”

“No Mumma, I can’t leave you-”

“You need to baby, I will come back for you. I need to help Daddy. Please, I need to help my mate. You take our bags, go hide in our next stop point, you remember where?” I nodded and sobbed. “Good girl, you are such a good girl Rosalie, I love you so much. We will be together again I promise. I will protect you always. You must stay hidden. Don’t trust anyone but Auntie Maggie or Uncle Roger. You will survive baby girl. Stick to the plan and you will be safe, I love you.” As she spoke, she stuffed all the things from hers and my dads bag into mine and gave me the tightest hug and several kisses along my head. I couldn’t control the sobs coming from me as I held onto to her with everything I had.

“I promise Mumma, I love you. Please come back to me.” I begged. She nodded but sobbed against my head.

“Go, don’t stop until you get to the next stop point. No matter what you hear, you don’t come back this way. Go, I love you.” She sobbed after me as she pushed me into the direction I need to go.

I jogged slowly, tears clouding my vision as I looked back one last time to see my mum shift into her wolf form and run in the other direction. I kept my promise and carried on running, until I heard 3 loud gun shots through all of the noise and everything went quiet. My steps stumbled as I heard the sounds of cheering. I pressed my hand to my mouth as I sobbed, trying not to make noise to bring attention to myself. I knew in that moment that they were gone. My parents, the boy - whose name I never even knew, but protected me anyway- they were all gone.