Before

There I sat looking at a fire glowing in the fireplace. I listen to orchestral music playing in the background. I heard my children running and playing. I had seven children in total, and a lovely wife and home. We lived deep in a forest where nobody could find us, but little did we know that it would all become flames. I stood up at the knock on the front door. It's sound a familiar nightmare that recurred every night. I turned around at the innocent eyes of my wife looking at me with worry. I ushered her to grab the children and get out of here and ordered the butler to make sure the royal treasures were protected and made it out safe. The house was a silent frantic that was fitting for that night. I opened the door as four gentlemen stood patiently waiting for my answer.

"Hello James, how are you this lovely night?" The first man asked.

He wore a large black trench-coat and tall top-hat. His face was pale white such as the other men were. Though the first one's face was narrow, almost like a hawk, the second's face was skinny, the third's face was pudgy, and the fourth face was nubble. Each one had a scar. The first man had his scar across one of his eyes, second had him across his mouth, third had his nose, and fourth had his scar across his cheek.

"Do you remember giving these scars to us?" The second one asked in a deep cruel voice.

"What do you say we return the favor?" The third one inquired.

"Or would you rather join us finally? We already told you we would leave you alone if you supported us financially. Come on, if you give us a little money we could buy the bombs and firepower we need to complete the plan against your kingdom. You must have known fleeing wouldn't have stopped us, so join us or die!" He the fourths said as he became more vulgar.

They were all smiling as they offered the option. I turned around and walked towards the living space and welcomed the four into my home. I walked back to the fire as they stood behind me. The night seemed to become darker in those few seconds of them standing there. I turned facing them. Though I could only see the silhouette of each. They were waiting for my response, but I could still hear the rummaging of the children in the halls. I had planned to ignite the building, but the plan couldn't go into effect until they were out of the building.

"So James? What's it goin' to be?" The first man queried.

"I… I'm not sure," I answer terrified.

I then heard the front door slam and I figured my family had left. I looked at them with pride as I pulled out a gun and shot towards the roof. The fire sprinkler system was engaged though I had replaced the water with gasoline to ignite the building as quickly as possible. I ran for the exit as the four men shot at me with their firearms, but in the dark they were poor-shots. I ran outside smiling greatly as my plan was a success. I heard the raging flames as the building was engulfed in the fire. Massive explosions followed with familiar cries we now deafening.

I turned around to see my wife in the upper part of the house climbing out of the window holding two of my children. She looked at me as she attempted to throw one of them down at me. I reached out and caught her. I then frantically prepare to catch the next one. She threw him down and it was another successful catch. I raised my arms preparing for another, but before she could even reach back for more a massive explosion tore the room they were in apart. I fell to my knees knowing this was all my fault. I had killed my family. I looked for the butler, but it was him that had slammed the door. He was alive and my family was mostly. I turned with tears consuming my face at Margrett who sat away from the flames crying harshly. The younger brother was sitting beside her too young to understand anything. I grabbed them and fled through the forest till I came upon a small village where I built a home for my only children left from the disaster, but soon I would even have to leave them.