Annabelle

I have never been able to sleep through the night, I stare up at the ceiling, light from outside dance across the walls. It's just me and my brother. We are currently sleeping under the roof of complete strangers. Who knows they could be huge supporters of The One. I don't know what to do, i’m so scared. 

I look at Cyrus, he sits up and stares at me. “Can't sleep either?” I said quietly. He nods and lays back down. "I miss mom and mamma.”he mumbled his voice choked and he started to cry quietly. “Cyrus, promise me something.” “Yeah” he said not moving. “Don’t do anything stupid, you can’t change what happened to Mom and Momma but we still have each other. “He roles over and hugs my waist, and begins to drift off.

Suddenly the formally dim light exploded into outside our window. Cyrus sat up to look at me. His face was stained with panic. Sirens blared. The noise crashed over me like waves. I keeled over and pushed my hands over my ears. Cyrus cried out and pressed this hands to his ears as well. Marie ran into our room with her hand pressed over her ears, Blood dripping out of her nose and the corner of her mouth. “Get under your beds and put a pillow over your head.” She yelled then ran out of the room. We both did as we were told and tucking our bodies under the small bed. I pressed a pillow over Cyrus's head making sure to conceal his ears. I prayed that this pain would stop, but more waves of sound crashed over us the next one more intense then the last.  The sirens finally stopped and the lights dimmed after about 20 minutes. I rolled out from under the bed and gasped. My ears rang as blood trickled down my face. “Cyrus get from under the bed, it’s over.” I whispered while slowly standing up. He groaned holding his head. Once we were both off the floor I grabbed his small hand and walked to Marie's room. My head pounded to the point that it was near impossible to walk in a straight line. We both knew that being alone after all of that was a bad idea. I pushed open the door and found her on the floor, Blood poured out of her nose and mouth. The smell burned my nose “Cyrus go get Marie's mother... quickly!” I said as I hurry to the bathroom to grab towels. My heart quickens when I hear Marie cough. Her voice was scratchy. I turn to leave the bathroom Marie was at the bathroom door. A slight scream escapes my mouth as she chuckled. “Stop overreacting I'm fine, It’s just a little bit of blood.” Her face and clothing were completely drenched, I was surprised she wasn’t dead. She turned on the water started to washed her face. I watched as the water turned a light red as the blood rinsed from her face. Her mother appeared at the bathroom door pushing past me and looked at Marie. Then she snatched the towel from my arms from my hands and proceed to clean her face. “Momma, I’m all good, thank you” she said as she tried to push away the towel. But her mother silently persisted at cleaning her daughter's face. “Someone tried to escape” I said somberly, “ I'm going to assume there is going to be a meeting tomorrow.” “No need to assume, after the meeting we will restart your lessons. Ill have to grab some more books from the unmasked men tomorrow.” Marie said as she took her mother's hand and lead her back to room. I look down at Cyrus and he smiles weakly. “Come on, let's go back to bed.”