Vector Double Zero

Fading in and out

This story starts in a small quiet village. Where I lived with my family; Lily age 38 my Mother, James 43 in age my Father, Liam age 17 my older Brother, me the youngest 10 years old. Lily had long silky strawberry blond hair, a pretty smile and a kind heart. She would help anyone who needed it, she was my role model. Father on the other hand was more scruffy. Short brown hair, brown eyes, big beard. He was a strong and reliable man, who had a little bit of a limp from a past injury, he received when he was an Adventurer. I loved hearing his old Adventure story’s, James my Father was my Hero. He worked hard for his family, and would often be out in the fields working on the family’s farm. My mother Lily and I would travel to the village market and sell our crops that Father worked so hard to grow. Then there was my hot headed older brother Liam. He wanted nothing but to become an Adventurer like our father. He had short brown hair like fathers and blue eyes like mothers. He trained everyday with a sword early in the mornings, then help father with the fields. Lastly myself; small petite, strawberry blonde hair with bright blue eyes. I did have one eye that was darker than the other but my family never paid any attention to it.

We lived in small wooden house on the edge of the village, closest to the “Dark Forest”. Everything was perfect, I felt whole, happy.

…

Everything changed that summer. My Father started to get sick, with a small cough. Two weeks later he got worse, he couldn’t move and was sick in bed. He lost weight fast, and had a high fever. We tried everything but there wasn’t anything we could do, but watch him wither away. Sadly he passed in his sleep. Just like that my hero was gone. After that the sparkle in my mother’s eyes had faded and Liam stopped practicing the sword. Instead he worked double time in the field; drowning in drink afterwords.

My mother and I would still go into the market together, when needed. As time passed the less goods we had to sell and the more we had to buy. Our land started to fade quickly and it became harder for my brother to manage. My mother and I would often spend our evenings helping in the field. Visits to the market became more frequent, and I noticed less people out. People even started to avoid mother and I. They would glare when we weren’t looking. It started to really make me feel very uncomfortable. I confronted my mother about this, she just would smile sweetly and say “many people are suffering right now and tend to get fearful. Don’t worry.” ending the conversation.

One evening about 8 months after father’s passing, I heard a loud commotion coming from outside our home. Liam had yet to return, and I had a bad feeling.

My mother and looked outside the window, where Liam along with some villagers were in some sort of argument. A man pushed my brother, Liam fumbles backwards. Using that momentum, Pow! Throws a hard punch at the man.

“Stay here” said my mother as she lightly touched my cheeks. She then stepped outside. I couldn’t exactly hear what they were saying. Everyone looked angry and more villagers came with other men I have never seen before in knight armour. They looked like they were chanting something. Everyone was shouting at each other. One of the knights grabbed a hold of Liam as another man punched Liam’s gut. My mother went to run towards Liam but was grabbed by another guard. I didn’t understand what was on, I was scared but I also didn’t want anyone to get hurt anymore. The sun was starting to set, and I ran towards the front door. As I opened the door I could hear so much screaming.

“Execute the devil! She’s a demon!”

Upon opening the door, I ran towards my mother as to try to save her. As I ran, Liam was struggling in the knights grasp trying to break free. My mother sobbed, getting on her knees and pleaded “please don’t do this, please, please. He doesn’t know anything.”

My eyes went wide, reaching my hand out as I ran and cried towards my mother and brother.

A large man in armour pushed my brother down, stabbed his gut and spitting on his face. Both my mother and I screamed in agony. At that moment attention found me. Mother and I lock eye contact.

“No! Run!!! Get away” she yelled.

A man slaps across her face “stupid bitch.”

Stopping in my tracks, seeing my brother bleeding out on the ground and tear stains running down my mother’s face. I closed my eyes and ran towards the dark forest. As I ran I could hear the making of a fire behind me. I could smell a large amount of smoke. I could feel the heat of a large bonfire and hear screaming from my mother and brother.

…

We all know what happened next.

I ran until I tripped tumbling forwards and pass out. … (read chapter one)

…

“… ke up, … wake up” someone says shaking me awake. Opening my eyes it’s still dark and blurry. There is someone in front of me. Before panic hits me I hear “Are you okay?” My eyes began to water as I recognize the voice. Vision becomes clearer and there he is kneeling in front of me.

“Liam!” … I shout, crashing into his body with a big hug.

“Ouch” he winced. I then remember he was stabbed and sat back. “Shhh, we are not out of the woods yet, little one.” Confusion takes me for a brief moment as I wonder how he escaped. But I was too happy just to see him okay, it didn’t matter who he escaped.

“Liam, what happened. Are you okay? Where’s mom? Did she make it out? I’m so confused, so scared” I whisper. We could still hear the men yelling throughout the woods, still searching for us.

“Don’t worry about me, look at you” Liam says as he wipes blood off my forehead “I have to get you out of here.” He puts his hand on my shoulder as to reassure me.

“But what about mom.” It was too late the regret those words. I could see the hurt, the unbearable pain in Liam’s eyes and I knew I had the answer. But what I didn’t understand was why this happened. I shake my head and force myself to stand up.

“Let’s go” I reach my hand down towards Liam. He smirks grabs my hand, and I try to pull him up.

“Ouch” Liam winces again and grabs the right side of his stomach. His hand, now covered in blood. My eyes widen in horror as I remember seeing him get stabbed.

“Liam!”

“Shhh and I said don’t worry about me. Let’s go.” He tells me while standing up. I follow my brother deeper into the woods.

We come across a small clearing with a cliff. I walk towards the edge and see a huge ravine. In the corner of my eye, I notice a the small bridge held up by rope, from one end of the cliff to the other.

“Liam over here, I know where we are!” I point towards the bridge “look we can cross it.”Liam shakes the bridge noticing how wobbly it is.

“We will have to go one at a time”

Nodding my head, I yawn and realize it has been a whole night since everything happened, yet it feels like it’s been weeks. The sun rises and it’s unfair how beautifully breath taking the scene is.

“You go first” Liam says to me while looking around nervously. “Wait, take this and keep it with you.” He hands me a pretty stone; little did I know the significant value of this stone would be to me later on. I thought I would be scared walking across this shaky bridge. But with what I have been through, walking across this bridge is nothing. As I came to the middle I heard something coming from behind me. Turning around I see 5 holly knights.

“Run! Get across the bridge Izzy” Liam shouts as he swings his sword, clashing against another. Metal against metal they fought. Running to the edge of the bridge, I turn back “Liam! Come on!”

Raising my hand once again for him to come to me. He turns to face me while three men jump him. Liam smiles as tears go down my face, he cuts the rope on the bridge, bringing it down. “Nooooo!” I scream! “Liam!”

Arrows shoot across the sky and head towards me. Just missing me, the men reload their bows.

“Run! I’ll catch up with you later, little sis.” Giving a flashy wink my way he fought. The strength he possessed, I will never forget the skills he showed fighting off those men. Closing my eyes, I turn and run as another set of arrows come crashing down. Dodging and weaving around holding my hands on my head, I run.

I run until I can’t hear anything anymore, until I couldn’t run anymore. Coming to an edge of a stream. I kneel down and take a sip. Looking down into the clear water, I see a weakling, a coward. Screaming, throwing rocks around, throwing a complete tantrum, my energy fades. Curling up into a little ball, I cry myself to sleep

…

Waking up, with puffy eyes, a broken heart. My whole body aches with pain. My stomach rumbles since I haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday. Remembering what I lost I shake my head, stand up, brush the dirt of my knees and take a long breath in. I can do this, I just need to keep going forward, heading towards another village. Maybe I can get help from there.

Filling my water skin first, I take a look around for anything I can carry for food. Seeing some bushes I spot some delicious berries.

Once I picked a good amount I headed toward the Rocky Mountain.

…

Time passes, hours, days I don’t even know anything more. It’s cold, too foggy and when I could see it, dark clouds covered the sky. Thinking if maybe I should turn back, I pursue forwards. I can’t describe it, but I always had a great sense of direction. And something was telling me that this was the right way.

Walking endlessly forwards. Taking breaks whenever possible. Water, food and bits of sleep. Eventually my mind wondered as I walked. Fading in and out of reality. Day dreaming of my brother finding me and my mother surprises me afterwards. All of us sitting in our little home.

A great dream…

My feet begin to burn and ache, sweat drops from my skin. My body feels heavy, while it sways back and forth as I try to keep my balance. Not remembering when was the last time I ate or drank; throat was dry and my stomach empty. Soon enough my body failed and fell forwards, collapsing on the ground. Fading in and out, My body would continue moving and fall forward until I was too exhausted to keep going.

…

I started hearing panicked voices. I couldn’t exactly hear or understand what was going on, but it didn’t matter, I pass into darkness.

…