Atomic Crown

Back and forth, back and forth, was the movements that threatened my not nearly enough to call a meal, come back up again, with every turn or bump in the road, it felt as if the carriage threatened to unhook itself from its hinges, it was unsettling for me, and I couldn't bare the thought of the discomfort the horses felt.

As I looked around the inside of our transport carriage, a boy around the same age as me, catches my eye, he looks even more startled and afraid than I. Reaching the maximum length of my chains, I sit next to him, "Hi" I say, giving him a soft smile, "Hi" he replies quickly before looking away again, ok what now?..."Um...I'm Keye" through the rattle of my chains I offer him my hand, he takes it, "Aden" shaking my hand in greeting, he smiles and I smile back at him.

We quickly started confo, a bit about our past life before being captured, a bit about our family and some of our likes and interests, he talked mostly about his sister, of how she would knit him jumpers that were always to small for him, but he'd never minded, he was just grateful for the gift, "So you've never told her that they are too small?" I ask, giggling like a child, he chuckles softly, "No, she works so hard that when she gives me one, I couldn't bare the thought of disappointing her, she always seems so happy", I smile at him, "Whats her name?" I ask, he sighs softly, "Charlie". We talked for what seemed a good hour, but as we had no clock it was hard to tell, but through our conversation, it felt as if we'd shared to each other our whole lives, and I soon found myself leaning my head on his shoulder and falling asleep.

It wasn't long though until the carriage stopped abruptly, and I was quickly unseated, but Aden wrapped his arm around me steadying me, I smiled at him, until the doors of the carriage swung open and I put my hand to my eyes, protecting them from the suns harsh rays. Then these strange men start dragging us out, one by one they grab us harshly and take us to a ring, Aden struggles behind me, he tries to break free but a guard punches him in the gut, sending him to his knees, he's about to take another hit, when I shout to them, "Stop it !!!" I yell, the guard briskly walks up to me and slaps me across the face, "You will not speak here, do I make myself clear" I flinch away, nodding, he walks back over to Aden, roughly picking him up. They position us by a stage, where lots of people stand, I can feel my heart racing as I look around, Aden stands by me and takes my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, "It'll be alright", he says looking at me calmly, "I'm right here", I glance at him with an uncertain look, then back at the stage, where they were now taking people to stand in front of the crowd, numbers were being shouted around me, and I so desperately wanted to flee, to run as far way as possible, but I knew I wouldn't get even a meter away before they caught me, or even worse shoot me!

I'm then suddenly grabbed and thrown up onto the stage, I stumble slightly but regain balance quick, I have no idea what to do, I just stand there, shaking nervously, I wondered if they could see how afraid I was, even if they did, they didn't seem to care, "Next up number 45, young girl, looks healthy, strong, be a good cleaner for your house, any offers? Lots of numbers were shouted at me, and at that moment I just wished that the floor would swallow me up, or that this was all just a bad dream and I'd be back home sitting in my bed listening to my mother read me a story, I can't even hear her voice or my thoughts as the sounds around me were deafening, until a loud gunshot rings out, and all goes silent.

I look out to the crowd, from where I stood an old looking man, with white hair and a thick beard, walks up to the stage, "I said I'd take her", the man stood next to me, stares down at him, "You'd have to pay" he says, the old man, takes out his gun again, and shoots the guy right in the head, blood splats on me and I flinch away, Aden jumps up beside me, but the old man stops him in his tracks, aiming the gun at him, without thinking I quickly shove Aden behind me, "I will only go with you, if you let him come with me too" I say, standing my ground, the whole crowd is quiet, watching us with curiosity in their eyes, the old man puts his gun away, "Very well then."