CHAPTER 1: Found ( Melanie)

I have lived with my little brother Carlos Erickson ever since mom and dad died in World War 4 two years ago. We live in Harlytown, North Oblivia which was North Carolina before the war. I avoid being grabbed by royals who are guards that come to draft young men into the army and also take girls to be sold as slaves. I was able to protect my little brother from the royals because I am smarter than they think.

I sit beside Carlos as we wait in line for food and water so that we are stocked up to last a long time. I hold Carlos's hand and as we slide forward in the line I spot a royal and we lock eyes. I lean down and whisper in Carlos' s ear.

"We have to run now Carlos so when I tell you to you run" I say

He whispers back to me "I told you that we were gonna be caught someday."

I grab his hand tight and we run off into the alley to our house. It's when the shot goes off do I really feel it. I look down and see that I have a rip in my pants where the bullet went thru. We keep going until we come to a dead end.

"Put your hands in the air!" a guy shouts

"Not a chance in hell!" I shout back

He holds his gun at my head as another royal attempts to grab Carlos but I hold him to my chest. Then a voice shouts out in the alley way.

"Let me see them" it turns out to be a guy with black hair and tan skin and a piercing on his nose. I keep holding Carlos as he stares at us. He takes a step closer and I step back and my back hits the wall. As I stare back at him he laughs and I get confused. Why is he laughing in this situation? He stops laughing and looks down at Carlos.

"How old is he?" he asks

I frown "10 years old"

He nods "So your the girl who knows how to hide. It's over now so you can let him go without a fight" he steps closer and it's all he can do to not touch me. He goes to grab his weapon and as I am about to defend Carlos, he grabs Carlos from me and has the other royals hold him back. The guy turns to me and smiles.

"You know, I could punish you right now if I wanted to. Except your little brother would be sad. Max and Tom go take the boy to the infirmary" he orders the royals and they leave. He steps closer to me until his chest hits my shoulder. He trails a finger down my throat and says "I wonder what this would taste like to my brother back home, he likes young woman his own age. I will take you to my younger brother" he grabs my hand and drags me to a horse. He ties my arms together with rope and then my legs and then he ties the main lead to his own horse and we trot along the road with more trees so people don't see us. I struggle against the rope and try and breathe but with the tape on my mouth I can't.