The Night They Came

Running into the night… without a place to go just running…
Blindly falling into a ditch, heart pounding… willing it to stop.
Everyone? Did they get everyone? Screams in the distance… the screams of a child…it could be Ana… little Ana.
I need to control my breathing… stop my fear… they can smell fear.
Why did you run? You should have died stopping them…. Why did you run?
Reavers were everywhere… all at once… hadn’t spotted me yet… I had no weapon…
But you should have fought!

Laughter, giggling. Bright sunlight pours through the window.
“Shen, will you make me some coffee?” Sarah asked.
Shen Jiutai rolled over reaching for Sarah’s neck, hoping to distract her and postpone the inevitable rising.
“Can I have some too?” Ana asked as Shen’s hand fell on her instead.
“What are you doing here?”
“Had a nightmare…you said I could come in…”
“Oh yeah…I remember now, Little One. Ask your mother about the coffee though…” Shen murmured as she sat up.
“Little One! I’m taller than you!! I should call you Litteler One! Mommy, can I have coffee?”
“No.”
“Please?
“No coffee until you’re at least twelve and can appreciate what a rare treat it is.”
“Awww…. Shen?”
“You heard your mother…”
That was this morning… a lifetime ago.

Heart slowing… panic ebbing….
I need to access the situation, like they trained me to.
Your training? Where was that? You panicked!
Did I?
You could have saved them if you had kept your head!
No, wait, I couldn’t have… they were here before I noticed anything…
in the house… on the roof… climbing into the second story window…Ana’s window…I was in the privy… in the yard… they didn’t see me… I hid.
You hid like a coward until you could run! Run away from the screams of those you love!
THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE!!!
Are you sure?

Bright sunlight burns her eyes as she stepped down the ramp and into the dust. This is a dry world, half made up.
Whitefall. She wonders where they got that name.
So far away from anything…this is the edge of the ‘verse. They’ll never find her here. Perhaps now she can finally find some peace.

Slower breathing now… concentrate on not making any noise… blend into the shadows…slowly the training returns… movement like a wisp of smoke becomes second nature again. The shock and fear receding… time to evaluate options… must hide until they’re gone… it will be light soon, where? The mine. Make your way there and wait until they leave… the mine. Worry about getting off this ball of dust later.