Thriving To survive

A broad Daylight, I was Playing With my friends Outside our house.

And then after an hour, A came home.

I entered Our House and I was surprised.

"Happy Birthday Nova!!!"

Everyone in the room shouted as they surprise me with their greetings, It's basically my birthday.

My Mother And My older sister Approached me and said

"Happy 10th Birthday Nova Your sister and I Has a gift for you"

And then my little sister also approached me.

"Hey Brother This is my Gift For you"

My little Sister Gave me a Flower.

I smiled at her and said

"Thank You"

Then I pat her on the head.

That look on her face She was really Happy Giving me this, I felt Joy And Happiness

Because This is the first time they gave me presents and also Just looking at my little sister

It makes me happy.

But...

Every Happiness Comes To an End.

We are Living In a World Where The Commoners Are Just Pigs While The Higher Ups

Are living in luxury.

Knights Appeared In our Village Wearing Full Plated Armor with swords in their Waists

"Where Is the Mayor Of this Town?!"

The commander Yelled.

The Villagers Came Outside on their houses And Also my Mother.

"Wait here I'll go outside to see what's happening"

We nod to our mother as she goes outside our house.

My older sister and my Little sister stayed in our house with me

I ran And peeked at the window, I Overheard what they're saying.

The villagers Gather around outside

"I am the mayor here, What are the Problems sire?"

Mayor Came out Old looking with a long white beard and a Stick.

"We will collect Taxes For this village, You haven't Given us These Past Days And you're overdue!"

"I'm sorry for the trouble, But please give us more time...We are having a hard time Because Strong Monsters are Surrounding the village We only need one week and we will give you our payment"

"One week?! We already gave you a month of extension! Give us the money now or you will take consequences!"

Everyone Was Shocked.

"Everyone...Let's just give what we have to them... For the sake of the village and us"

The Mayor said it to everyone.

"But Mayor! This money we got is for our family... for our food because we can't hunt!"

Villager 1 said.

"Yeah! Those monsters keeping us from hunting!"

Villager 2 said.

"If you want us to pay you taxes! You better Killed those !"

Villager 3 said.

"ENOUGH!!!!"

The commander Yelled.

"If you can't Give Us Money, Then Give Us Women"

The Commander Smirked.

"Huh?! That's Absurd!! We can't do that!"

The Mayor said.

"Yeah! We can't do it!"

Villager 4 said.

"hmm...Okay then... I'm so sorry"

The commander Approached the mayor and Hugged him.

The villagers Saw Blood dripping between the mayor and the Commander.

The villagers Were shocked When They saw the commander Stabbed The mayor.

"W-What did you do!?"

"I did what I want to do! You can't give us Money or women? then we will take it by force!"

"Men! It's time to play dirty! Ha-ha-ha-ha!! kill these sons of bitches! But don't Kill The women We need them for later he-he-he!!"

"Argh!!!!!!!"

The Knights yelled and started to draw their swords.

The villagers scattered And ran as the knights' chase and kill them.

My mother ran towards our house and locked the door.

I was shocked at what I saw My mother and older sister cried as we hide from the knights.

"Nova Go! take your little sister with you!"

"But...But how about you? mother and sister?"

"We will hide... but you go first!"

"O-okay..."

I opened the secret door at our floor and hide with my little sister

Me and my little sister cried But we need to keep quiet so that they can't find us

I had to put my hands on the mouth of my little sister so she won't make a noise.

As we finished closing the door, the knights forcefully opened the door.

"heh?! Look what we got here! Ha-ha-ha-ha! What a stroke of luck!"

"No! Please don't... I'm begging you"

I heard my mother and sister cried while the knights slowly approached them.

I hear Their dress torn, I hear their screams, while I was hiding with my sister I'm helping myself not to cry.

I can't do anything but wait for them to leave the village.

As time passes, The night came and the noise stopped and The Blood Spilled dripping on us, I only hear the knights' voices.

My sister and my mother became silent, That time I knew that the knights already killed them after using them as a plaything.

A moment passes The whole village became silent... I peeked At the very little hole and I saw my mother and sister laying on the floor bathing on their own blood with no dress.

I had to cover my sisters' eyes because it is horrifying.

I Don't even know what to do... I had to take my sister upstairs but while we are going upstairs she asked me a question.

"Brother, What happened? Why do we need to hide? where are mother and sister? why are they screaming and crying?"

I was shocked... I don't even know if I will answer her question or not...But I know that if I told her the truth she can't handle it ... so I told her and smiled

"They were just playing hide and seek, that's why we hid, they just want us to get caught that's why"

After saying that I saw relief in her eyes and she replied.

"Aww.. too bad they didn't catch us, brother! we are the best!!"

"Y-Yeah..."

"Let's beat them again next time brother!!"

I looked at her... and hugged her very tight then I cried.

"Brother? Why are you crying?"

"O-oh... I just...i was just so happy that we beat them in hide and seek!"

I wept my tears and smiled at her.

"Come here Sleep, for now, I'll make your favorite food when you wake up"

"Really?!! Woah!!!! Really brother?!"

She looked very happy when I said that.

"Yes, I will"

"Okay! I'll sleep now Goodnight!"

I Tucked her and left the room.

I slowly Moved Downstairs And approached my dead sister and mothers' Bodies.

I can't cry because I don't want my sister to be disturbed.

all I did was to pick them up and move them outside.

I checked all the villagers' house and I found the same, Torn dresses and dead bodies, the knights also took all the villages' money.

I took all the bodies outside one by one with my small body and hand I gather them all

I got a shovel from one of the villagers' house and I dig and I dig until my arms can't keep up.

after digging the graves I picked them up and started to put inside the grave I dig.

The rain pours my hands became weak... My Sight became blurry, but I kept putting them in their graves until I finished it.

I slowly Approached our house And when I entered, my little sister came down and saw me.

"brother!!! What happened?!"

I smiled at her and said.

"I-It's nothing... I was tripped and fell in the mud..."

"Go back to sleep, It's too early for you to get up.."

I added.

"O-Okay... Where's mother and sist--"

"JUST GO BACK TO YOUR BED!!!!!"

I Accidentally Yelled at her.

She looked at me terrified as she cries.

I ran towards her.

"I-I'm really sorry Jaina... Your brother is just tired... I didn't mean to yell at you... I'm not mad"

She looked at me and said.

"R-really?"

"Yes... So Go back to your bed and sleep some more okay?"

"O-Okay"

She Slowly goes upstairs and entered her room.

My sight became worse and my body became numb.

I fell on the floor and lost consciousness.

After a few hours, The sun rose and I woke up and I found myself dizzy.

'Ah... I think I got cold... I got to check Jaina'

I slowly approached the stair towards the door and knocked.

"Jaina?... Jaina?? Are you awake? Jaina?"

I called her many times but I didn't get a response.

"Jaina? answer me"

After a few calls, I heard a faint voice

"B...brother..."

I was shocked and rushed inside and I found her looking pale, At that time I knew she got a fever.

as a kid, I don't know what to do, so the first thing came into my mind was to feed her.

But I don't know what to cook... there is no food around anymore because the knights took all of it...

I got no choice but to ask for some help.

"Jaina... wait here, ill ask some help okay?"

She looked at me and said.

"B-brother... don't leave me please..."

I was shocked...

'But if I stay here I can't do anything...'

I held her hands and said.

"But Jaina... you need to get treated immediately, I will be very quick okay? I promise I will come back"

"O-Okay... "

I rushed outside and ran covered with dirt and mud all over my body.

"I gotta find someone who can help me... but the town is too far from here... I need to find some travelers"

I ran for hours and I still didn't find travelers, the last option is to get to the town.

I ran towards the town as quickly as possible, I tripped, I tumble and I fall... but it is nothing to me... all I need is someone who can help my sister.

An hour passed and I reached The Town but the town's gate is guarded by knights, so I had to ask the travelers entering the town.

"Please! Someone!! Help me, My sister Is sick... our village was attacked by the knights... please!!!"

I yelled and I screamed so loud But They Don't even look at me.

'is it because I smell? it is because I'm dirty?! Please!! Someone... help me'

I approached and held a fat guy with a caravan, probably a merchant.

"Please!! Mister!! Help me... My sister is---"

He threw me off and said.

"Don't You dare touch me mongrel!!!"

"But... But my sister..."

"I don't give a damn about your family!! So Fuck off!! before I turn you into the knights!!"

My stomach growls... and I looked at him I saw a loaf of bread in his caravan... I let him pass me and I slowly steal the bread, but unfortunately, the other guy in his back saw me.

"HEY!! THERE'S A THIEF!!!!"

The guy shouted.

I ran so fast but the guy used his horse to chase me... I stumbled and fall but I keep holding the bread...

'I won't let go of this bread... it is for Jaina...'

"Hah! Now little thief!!! its time to teach some manners"

The guy grabbed me and beat me up so bad...but I didn't release the bread in my hand.

The guys tried to take it away from me, but I was resisting.

"ho!? You're still holding the bread!?"

He beat me up again and I spit blood.

"Tsk...You're boring... I guess that will teach you some manners not to steal eh?!"

He spits on me and left me on the floor.

The Bread was torn half, the other was dropped on the ground and the other was in my hand.

'The... The... Other... Half... is... already ... dirty... he...he..he..,but...l-luckily the other... was... still.... fine...'

I picked up the dirty half of bread slowly and eat it... my body was so numb and I can't even move because of pain but I need to because Jaina is waiting for me.

I stood up and slowly walked while eating the dirty bread in my left hand while the fine bread was in my left hand.

I walked and I walked and I walked for hours... until the night came.

'Damn it... it's already late... I need to go home...'

as I was walking I smelled burning wood... I saw a huge fire coming from our village.

I was surprised and I ran quick even my body feels like to crumble.

'No...No...No!!! Jaina!!!!!'

as I ran quickly I reached the village... the entire village was burning and I saw the knights who came and slaughtered the villagers from the other day.

'No... this can't be... Jaina!!'

I saw some knights setting our house on fire.

I saw them laughing like an animal.

I hear one of them mentioned a little girl in a room upstairs.

"Hey... what are we gonna do with that girl upstairs?"

Knight 1 said.

"Huh? Of course, as we always do, use her"

Commander said.

"Eh? but she's like 8 or 9 years old!"

"So fucking what? she's still a female"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!! well, you're right... but you already set it on fire!"

A knight came out from the house and said

"No need to worry!"

"What do you mean?"

"I already did it! ha-ha-ha-ha!!"

"You bastard!!! ha-ha-ha-ha!!"

They laughed like it was nothing... while me hiding in the dark waiting for them to leave because I can't do anything...

I cried silently...

the knights set our house on fire and they left...

After the knights left, I approached the water well and soaked myself with water and I rushed inside our house going to Jaina's bedroom and I was shocked when I see her.

Her blood was all over the floor.

Her dress was torn.

There was a dagger on her chest.

Her tears were fresh.

My sight became pitch black as I yell and cry inside a burning house.

'My mother, my older sister ... I endure them... but taking my little sister... making her suffer...'

I cry as I held my sister's body.

'Why is this has to happen to me!!!'

'WHY!!!!!'

I grab my sister and I rushed outside but everything is burning and I am suffocating, the door was blocked by a fiery wood.

'Argh! I got no choice'

My body is burning up I can feel the pain...i got no choice but to ram through the door while holding her.

I ram the door and my body was on fire.

'Why... why I feel no pain... what's happening...'

I successfully got out of our burning house.

I put my dead sister's body and I approached the water well and soaked my body to water again to kill the flames burning my entire body.

I saw the bread that I was supposed to give to my little sister.

I picked it up and approached her dead body.

I smiled while the tears are flowing and said

"Hey... Jaina... Look... Did I promise right? that I will come back right?

"I tried to ask for help but they don't want... sorry if this bread became dirty... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I so sorry!!!!"

I cried... I cried so hard...My tears won't stop...

"I shouldn't left you...It was all my fault!! I'm so sorry !!!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!"

as I was crying... I decided to dig another grave for my sister beside the grave I made for my mother and sister.

But this time there is no shovel.

I dig the soil using my two small hands... I dig and I dig and I dig and I dig while the village is burning up.

after digging my hands bled... my nails were torn off...

I picked up my sister and put her into the grave I made

as I cover her with dirt I made another promise to them...

"Don't worry...Justice will be served...I will promise to all of you that I will make them pay for what they did!!"

I was raging with hate and anger I can't think of anything but revenge.

as I finished covering her up with the dirt... I heard some growling noises.

A Gragnar Has Appeared.

A Big Gray Beast looking wolf with One horn Smelled the blood of my sister.

"No... It can't be... I promised... I won't be food to this creature!!!"

I slowly Back off, then took my opportunity to run... I ran downhill and the Gragnar chased Me... I ran... and I ran... but it seemed that the gragnar know's where am I even if I hide.

I realized that my fingers was covered with blood that's why it can track me.

The gragnar can smell blood, especially of a human, meters away.

I ran... and I ran...

'No... I can't die... I promised to them!!! No...'

As I was running I tripped and stumble again I fell into a slope and started rolling downwards until I reached the cliff, but luckily I was caught in a small tree and I held onto it to prevent me from falling into the cliff.

But the Gragnar still followed Me...

"No... I don't want to be a food of this creature..."

While I was crying... I made a choice whether I will become food or I'll jump and hoping I can survive a fall.

The gragnar slowly approaching me with its fangs ready to tear me apart.

I made up my mind and I suddenly jump into the cliff.

it was do or die for me.

'Woah... I didn't even hesitate to jump... I'm sorry I can't keep my promise... but I think it's okay... we will be together again... mother and my two sisters, wait for me... this world is too cruel for us'

I closed my eyes knowing that I will die in any second.

But I fell into the water and the river current was too strong for me, so I was drifted by it and my head hit onto the rock and I fell unconscious.

'It's so cold...It hurts...The burn in my back..it hurts so much... Maybe I didn't die on jumping the cliff... but maybe I'll die in drowning...Wait for me....'