Huntress

What is a normal life? I used to think it was going to college, starting a career, getting married and starting a family, these days though I question what a normal life really is. “Hide!” was all I heard my father shout as he smashed my bedroom door open. Startled, I jumped awake. I could hear voices, shouting downstairs maybe? I thought to myself, I scurried towards my door peering out. “Bang” the noises downstairs began to sound violent and I suddenly became fully aware of what my father had said, hide. I ran for the attic, the thudding and screaming getting more frequent. My brother emerged from his room, eyes full of fear I grabbed his hand and continued running, reaching up. I pulled the stairs down and rushed us both up pulling the stairs and the rope underneath. I could feel tears welling in my eyes but I couldn’t cry, we weren't hidden yet my father always said if anything ever happened we were to climb inside the crawl space in the back that it was protected and we’d always be safe there. “Come on, we have to hide.” I whispered to my brother, his hands clenched so tightly his knuckle became white. I grabbed his arm and said, “Jason, we have to hide.” He began to move with me and we crawled inside and shut the door. We waited in there silently holding back the urge to cry for what felt like forever, waiting and hoping our parents would soon come to tell us everything was okay. I drifted off to sleep after what must have been hours of waiting. The next morning I woke my neck and back both stiff from sleeping in the cramped space, Jason was asleep with his head on my shoulder. I gently nudged him awake and motioned for him to stay quiet. I slowly slipped out of the crawl space and closed the door behind me, tip-toeing over to the door on the floor. I laid down and pressed my ear to the ground straining to hear any noise, as I went to stand the door containing the stairs was pulled open. I prepared myself to fight. I'd keep my brother safe no matter what I heard. “Parker? Parker sweetie is that you.” He ran up the stairs and pulled me into a hug. “Joey?” I squeaked out, tears fully flowing from eyes now, where are my parents, why was Joey here. I was about to ask when Jason emerged from the crawl space his face puzzled as he stared at Joey, our long lost uncle. “Jason, Parker...we need to leave now, I know you kids are confused. I promise I’ll explain it all when we're somewhere safe.” He held his hand out towards Jason and together we slowly left our home, our memories. I stared at the floor as we left. I just couldn’t bear to see the damage. If Joey was here it meant our parents were gone.