Accusations

ln little Caroline's eyes, the monsters were bad boys. She did not know why they pursued them. Did not know where they came from. Did not know how they were able to jump on trees. She saw the torn dress her mother wore and wet patch she thought to be blood. All she knew and cared about was that they were evil, wanted to hurt them and as her mother scampered with her for safety, she glared furiously at them.

Somehow they had managed to leave the forest and into the town, where she saw people lying dead in the pool of their blood. Houses were burnt, the whole town was smoking and in ashes. She sighted a man with red eyes like the men running after them. He was dragging a woman on the ground.

Caroline saw him sink those long teeth of his into her neck. Under his strong grip, she watched the woman shrivelled and like paper fell to the ground. She gasped. The woman on the ground was motionless like the many people they passed. Dead.

They would be dead, her mother and her, if caught. They would lay in their pool of blood or without blood. They would...

Her tiny thoughts shattered when her mother's feet gave way and they both landed on the ground. She had noticed her mother's reduced speed earlier but got distracted by the scene of the red-eyed man and the woman. Now on the ground, she saw that the red patch of before had increased and into the uncovered part of her mother's dress where red stains now appeared.

" Mother!! ". The little girl cried out. Her mother's eyes were gradually closing on her. The fear of losing her came and with tremblings hands, she hesitated to lift her mother's head. Blood flowed from her nose and the corner of her lips. Mother, please don't leave me ". Tears fell like streams down her small milk face.

Rosella coughed out blood. Her breathing was pained, the air around her seemed to not be filling her lungs anymore as a tear rolled down her cheek. Her little one was sitting there by her side, guilt stroking her insides. She had been a bad mother, she thought and as she felt her last minutes drawing, she stretched her hand to touch her girl's cheek. " Mother.. please don't leave me here ". Caroline placed her hand over her mother's on her cheeks.

She watched her chest rising and falling at a very slow pace. Colorless fluids fell freely. " Caro.. caroline ". Her mother called her.

" No, no, mother don't say anything ". The little girl beckoned as she shook her head. Few strands of her red hair came falling over her face, but she did not mind it. Her mother was struggling to tell something, but her free hand went to her lips next as she shook her head again to pass the message. She was not going to let her mother use up her strength rather than lay still to regain it.

Rosella felt torn as she look to the left. The men with a few more were closing up on them. " Run Caroline...run little one "

Caroline watched as her mother coughed out more blood. " Run...Caroline ". She shook her head stubbornly. She was not going anywhere without her mother.

The bad boys neared them, yet she stood still. Her mother's life was her priority. She reached for her left hand to raise her, but the hand fell to the side.

" Caro.. ".

" No...mother don't say a word. I am not going anywhere without you, mother '. Her voice trembled as she tried with much effort to lift her mother off the ground. The men leaped one more and landed on a pile of ash, a stone throw from where they were.

" Mother!!! ". She called, her voice echoing in the now quiet town. " Mother, please, let's go ". No answer. No movement. Her lids were shut close, body stilled and cold. She was long gone.

" Catch her. Don't let her go ". The commanding tone came with the air to Caroline's ear as she sat by her mother's body, not moving. To her, her world was gone. To her, life was meaningless. Her mother, her world was gone. What was there to live for.

Caroline sat on the ground as the memory faded to reality. It was a painful memory that she would never risk recalling, but today it came in and she allowed it

She would have been dead that day not for the intervention of the royal army. She was taken by Lord Elvin, promised protection and care, but as the years went by, she got to understand there were all lies. Why did they have to make her believe that staying with them would benefit her a lot as she would be trained as their child? They should have told her the truth back then, maybe it would have lessened the pain a little.

She heard the footsteps in the corridor, two to many, they were coming. The young mistress had reported to her parents, and the consequences were inevitable.

The door opened, Caroline would have squealed out of fear or shock if not that she had expected it. She wiped at her eyes and stood up with shaking legs. The aftermath of the reminiscence was telling on her greatly.

Her Mistress and young Mistress stood at the door, fuming. Primrose's eyes were steamed with tears as she was seen crying by her mother's side. She pitied her.

The red patches were still there and very evident. It will take a while before it heals. The anger in her dissipated as she appraised the miserable state of her young Mistress. That so given, she deserved it for being so careless. Maybe another one would be sufficient.

The slap came. This time, she did not hold her cheeks or fall a tear, she bent her head low. If she had come early this morning, she would have taken a look at the curtain. The opening,

she would have seen it. All these would have been averted.

" You, witch!. You blood-sucking witch!!. You want to kill my daughter. You ingrate!. I know it. I just know it. You are nothing but bad luck. A wench. You want to kill her, then me before you take my husband's life, all so to rip us of our wealth. ". Lady Elvin laid accusation upon accusation on Caroline. Her loud and unguided voice roared in the room. The rest of the servants had gathered at the door.

Caroline shook her head. She knew it would attract more slaps but how was she to accept the many accusations before her.

Another slap and yet another, more on her body before the whip was used. Caroline bit on her lips, trying to contain the tears. The tearing sound of her clothes and the sounds of the whips echoed in the room. She heard a few gasps from the servant, but none interfered. They all feared for their jobs.

The whips kept coming, the hand that shielded her face from the floggings, bore more of it. She could hear the giggling of Primrose. The smell of blood came to her nose, but the Lady did not look ready to stop her wicked acts.

Her knees gave way as she fell to the ground. The beatings still came at her from different angles. Another footstep and from the corner of her eye, Lord Elvin entered the room and to his wife, but it was late.

Darkness surrounded and enveloped her. Her body turned limp.