FLING!

     An arrow the size of a small tree shoots past the little boy. Just barely missing him.

     Through the corner of his eye, Alonso can feel the power these arrows have. If these arrows were put side-by-side they would at least reach Alonso's shoulders. The width of it makes it impossible to crack with bare hands, not even a knee could break them in two. These arrows if planted into the earth could be mistaken for blooming trees, of course, these weapons are meant to do quite the opposite of giving life. 

     Alonso keeps his eyes set on the savages, who reload their weapons and seem to be cursing at themselves. Shaken, the little boy just stands there unable to do anything at the moment.

     BOOM!

     Alonso instinctively protects himself. Through the small cracks in his hands, he can see that another explosion has disrupted their daily lives. Just like before the savages from another village come out of the smoke and begin to shoot without asking any questions. Those savages from before seem to be caught off guard by their own explosion.

     "Alonso!" Mr. Castro shouts from the door, "Quick, come inside!"

     The young boy glances over his shoulder, but instead of heading into safety he wraps both hands around the trunk of the arrow and attempts to pull it out. 

     "What are you doing!? Just come inside!"

     "Thanks for the offer", Alonso says without even giving him the time of day, "But I don't need it!"

     With a shout, the young boy pulls out the arrow that had embedded itself into the wooden foundation. The clerk attempts to chase after him, but when he sees arrows flying in his direction he sprints back to safety.

     As Alonso runs one way, running the opposite way are Knights who carry steel shields and massive silver swords. Despite the tense situation, they run in sync and don't show any emotion of fear even when the arrows bury into their comrades. 

     Scared and in pain Alonso rushes into an alleyway to rest. He rests on the bricks to gather his thoughts. He looks down at the arrow.

     "Why did I bring this with me?" he says out loud, then with a scoff, he realizes why, "Because you're a scavenger at heart, you piece-of-actual-trash!"

     From his safe haven in the alleyway, the sounds of conflict can still be heard vividly. The shouts from the warriors and the sizzling noise that comes from the burning fires. The little boy can see arrows fly and bodies drop from his spot in the alleyway.

     Alonso grips the arrow even tighter and looks up at the sun---beyond the sun, "C'mon, dude. Give me a break".

      ***

     Agacia spreads out the bedsheets and pulls on any creases. Afterward, she begins to lay out the pillows and everything that makes a bed comfortable. The room needs no candle as the massive window lets in plenty of light. The room she cleans is very exquisite and whomever this belongs to is obviously very wealthy.

     "Pshh! Agacia".

      She looks over her shoulder, "Yeah, what's up?"

     With the light illuminating her, anybody could see Agacia was a beauty. The woman has pitch-black hair tied into a bun, streaks of it run down her face. Her soft, but battle-worn eyes give of both the aura of intimidation and kindness. The woman's figure isn't the beefiest, but the muscle she does have can be seen underneath the maid outfit. 

     "Woah", her co-worker, Sasha, says, "You look amazing".

     "Uhm, thanks?" she says, "But really, did you need something?"

     "The Master was calling for you".

     Agacia frowns, "Why?"

     Sasha shrugs, "If I were to guess, It'd be to confess once again. I really don't see why you don't accept his offer. He's not a bad person".

     "I already loved once", Agacia grabs her cap, "And that's enough for me".

     "If you say so", Sasha opens the door for her friend, "Anyways, I was sent here to tell you that. After you talk to him you can leave".

     "Thank God", she walks out the door and pokes Sasha at her forehead.

     The hallways of the esteemed mansion are as expected. With ceilings that reach towards the sky and walls that are decorated with fancy pots and pans. Rugs that cost more than Agacia will ever make and small tables that are the same. 

     After walking through the countless hallways she finally reaches his room. Outside his room, two guards stand high and mighty.

     "Hi there", she says.

     They don't respond, but they do grab the handles and pull the doors outwards. They give her a nod and she smiles back. 

     Agacia reluctantly walks into the room.

     The Master, Connor, sits on one of his many elegant couches. He wears loose clothing and with the windows open, the soft wind waves his long, red hair. Despite the fact he's only reading a book, with the light and the atmosphere, one could mistake him for a god.

     "You called, Master Connor?'

     Connor closes the book, "I told you, you don't need to say Master. None of you do, really".

     Agacia keeps her arms behind her back and doesn't say a word. Connor sighs at her lack of emotion.

     "I just wanted to say hello", he kindly says, "It was a busy day for me so I wasn't able to greet my fellow workers in the morning".

     "That's very kind of you, Master", Agacia now locks eyes with him, "Was there anything else?"

     Connor frowns, "...Yes", he gets up from his domain and walks her way, "Here, this is for your son".

     Agacia's eyes harden.

     "Right, I'm sorry that was rude", he holds out the book he was reading, "I remember your telling me that if only he had a proper education, your son would strive".

     "Even if he doesn't, I know he can figure something out".

     "Do you think I could ever---".

     "Is there anything else, Master?"

     Agacia, eager to end this conversation cuts him off, her tone is stone-cold. Her eyes just the same. 

     Connor realizes this and stops, "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for", he finally says, "You can leave".

     Agacia bows, "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow", she turns around and stomps out of the room. Fists clenched and her shoulders stiff she huffs the entire way towards one of the woman's restroom. She enters with her maid outfit on and exits with a different set of clothes. Now she wears boring, loose clothes that hide her body. Her hair hangs loose, some sticks to her skin due to the sweat.

     She sighs, "Onto the next one".

     ***

     Agacia cuts the vegetables with a bit of vigor. Each slice of the knife embeds itself onto the wooden cutting board, she practically has to yank it out to start again. Her eyes tunneled-vision at those damn carrots.

     "What'd those carrots ever do to you?"

     Agacia doesn't respond, she doesn't even acknowledge the person who speaks. 

     Violet, a young woman with plenty of "personality", sneaks up behind the stressed woman. With a mischievous grin, she suddenly stabs her co-worker in the ribs with her index fingers.

     Agacia slightly jumps and for a split-second, she wears an emotion besides stress, but when she looks over her shoulder the eyes have reverted to their previous form. She frowns.

     "Whoops", Violet giggles, "My bad".

     "I thought you had the day off?"

     Violet scoffs, "What's a day off? I have money for a month at most. Barely enough to be called a savings".

     "...I think it's good you're working at a young age", Agacia lets out a long, sad sigh, "Unfortunately, the world runs on the green".

     "Amen sister", Violet moves beside her co-worker, "But I don't work hard as much as you do. Didn't you just get off the night-shift at the Mansion?"

     Agacia nods, "It's not too bad, the hardest part 'bout that job is fighting off the sleep...and that one guy".

     Violet smiles, "Ohoho, there's a guy that has your attention?"

     "More like I am all he pays attention, too", Agacia says, "I'm almost in my 40's, I have no time for relationships. All I want to do is get enough money to bring my son over here".

      After a moment of silence, Violet says, "How long have you been here for?"

     "In one month I'll be going on four years", Agacia stabs the knife into the cutting board, "Four. Long. Years".

     Violet stares at the knife as it wobbles. Then towards her co-worker who does the same. Agacia's eyes are lost in space. It's not until Violet gives her a nudge that she comes back to reality.

     "I'm sure you can do it", Violet says, then in an attempt to cheer her up, "If your son came here and I liked him, could I marry him?"

     "No", Agacia says, "I told him I forbid him from marrying until he's at least thirty".

     "Thirty!? What are you", Violet looks at her with a smug smile, "His mom?"

     Agacia is caught off guard by the idiotic remark, so much that her first reaction isn't to laugh but to begin to punch the table. In a barrage of punches, each strike becomes steadily heavier than the last and finally, after all that, a sound of laughter escapes her lips.

     The laughter that erupts from her mouth comes straight from the gut. As the joyful, but somehow desperate sound leaks out from her Violet can only watch as a barrage of emotions come out of her. From genuine happiness to the utter depths of despair.

      After it's all over Agacia grabs her friend's shoulders, "Thank you, I needed that".

      "It didn't play exactly how I wanted, but well I guess the ends justify the means", Violet says with a confused smile.

     Agacia, for the first time in a long time, wears a sincere smile, "If my son were to marry someone, I'd hope it's somebody like you".

      "Ahh", Violet smiles back, "That means a lot...What do you think your son is doing right now?"

     Agacia, still wearing a smile, says, "I don't know, but whatever it is. I'm sure he's giving it his all".

     ***

     "Please, you don't need to do this",  Alonso holds his hands up, the arrow still in his right one, he looks straight ahead at his assaulter. The predator, one of the savages, rears his string back. He doesn't even hesitate, even if his target is a mere child. 

     Alonso cowers underneath the presence of death. 

     I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die I don't want to die. Am I going to die? I don't want to---

     Then do something about it.

     Like an intruder in the night, that single thought makes itself known for a second and disappears as fast as it came.

     In a split-second, Alonso grips the arrow and at the moment the predator lets go of his string, he rushes forward. The only thing that is on his mind being the lone word: FIGHT.