Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Martyr's Daughter ❯ First ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

What happened to the world, one might ask.

But she knew.  Standing in the empty hole that once held everything that wasn't burned to ash.  A ten foot high wall of packed, solid dirt surrounded her that was only wide enough to fit, comfortably, two people.  Now, it only held her.  Fear slowly swalled her mind as images of what could've happened ravaged her thoughts.  As much as she wanted to scream, she didn't want anyone to know of her hidden home.  The sound of the wind rushed above her as the evening began to set.  Her mind raced as her heart matched it's speed as her eyes looked this way and that, as if finding her in the creeping darkness.  Emilia...  Where had she gone?

The world is no longer a safe place.  Governments were burned to the ground as revolts around the world brought the working man together.  Tired, bloody, bony hands bound together and brought down those who gave raises for themselves.  It was a time of havoc, fear, curiosity, and a Golden Renewal Age for the working class.  Who needed a currency when the working man could share?  Who needed a government when tired hands finally had justice?  It's funny how a dream fades fast when tired hands turn into greedy hands.

After the fall of what the world knew of Democracy, a rise of tyranny ran through countless countries.  Especially what used to be the United States of America, China, Russia, and India.  While their people revolted, slaughtered any government officials, the Americans invaded Canada and massacured anyone who did not aide in their rebellion.  Countless people died..and people still said this was a Renewal Age, a time that would stand alone in all of history.  

Now, all that is left are broken cities about twenty years after the initial revolt.  Those who grew up in the Renewal Age were either dead, in hiding, or leading a few Central Estates.  What used to be the a popular city on the south-east coast of Virginia is a small Estate that handles mostly a fishing industry as well as slight trade with a European Estate across the Atlantic Ocean.  Larkan Bensmen lived in seclusion with her sister Emilia, daughters of a martyr who had intially planted a large enough bomb that sent the White House into pieces that started the Renewal Age.  Neither daughter mentioned their relation to their mother, but it was still a known fact throughout where they lived.

Larkan stirred in the morning sun as she felt the small pricks of light on her face.  A thick, dark brown covering was over the hole she and Emilia had dug just outside the South-East Estate.  She sat up slightly and turned to see Emilia was still sleeping in her fetal position.  The nights were starting to get cold soon, they would have to sleep in the Estate again soon in order to survive another harsh winter.  Larkan began to brush the dirt off of her worn and torn clothes before getting onto her feet to begin the duties for the day.  Leaving Emilia in their hole alone for a few hours, Larkan quietly exited her hole and quickly covered it back up, adding a few leaves to hide it, then made her way towards the Estate.  She kept her light brown hair loose against her tan features as she slipped through a tiny space between two buildings collapsed against each other.  

With her hair starting to become greasy again with lack of a bath, it was harder to recognize Larkan as a martyr's daughter than another street urchin, but one person knew who she was no matter what condition she was in.  She bit the side of her cheek as reluctance settled into her swollen, starving abdomonen.  Neither herself or Emilia were good with the rod and the wheel, so living off of raw vegetables grown in a small, secret garden was barely enough to scrape by.  So, that led Larkan to where she is now, going to the leader of the South-East Estate for food and shelter for the winter months.  

August Bensmen.  Several years older than Larkan, nephew of her martyr mother, and leader of the South-East Estate.  He lived a glamorous life of youth, power, money, women, and drugs.  Larkan walked towards his manor that used to house a used-to-be celebrity where naked woman slept on the landscape, or at least in a drug-stupor high.  Most of them she had grown up with, and more disgusted to see a few she had called her friend at one point.  Then, Larkan entered through the double doors to see August perched on his 'mighty' throne, an old, hand-made couch he had mentioned being the most comfortable chair in the world.  As soon as Larkan approached August, his toothy grin emerged as he chuckled, “Long time no see, August.”

“Jesus, you look like a damn mess,” his chuckle grew as he tried to cover his smile, “When's the last time you actually bathed?  Last year?”

Larkan's quick and spiteful tongue readied for an insult, but knew the transition between her and her cousin.  She lowered her gaze as she bit her upper lip to keep quiet.  Anger rose on her cheeks in a rosey hue color, giving off the expression as if she were embarressed.  This caused August to stifle his chuckle as he staggered to stand, “You know i'm just kidding, I want you and Emilia to live with me.  This isn't fair to either of you.  We're all blood here.”

She followed her gaze to August as he walked over to her to put a hand on her shoulder.  He must've forgotten that statement when he had her father killed for not joining the revolts like her mother.  Larkan nodded as she remained still with his hand on her shoulder, “Emilia and I can stay here during Fall and Winter, but i'll make sure we're out by Spring.  No sense getting in your way and-”

“It's fine, it's fine,” August gave her shoulder a squeeze before turning back towards his couch, “All that I ask is that you two come with me when I go talk to the others.  They like seeing you two.”

Her forest green eyes scanned August's rich, brown eyes in fear of finding deceit.  She hoped that she could be safe another year in his home, but each time she pressed her luck.  Larkan nodded again as she accepted August's offer.  As she turned to leave, August called out to her, “Larkan, wait.”

She stopped and turned to see the same sly grin on his face.  August let out a small laugh as he stated, “Take a bath first, you stink like shit.”

Her quick temper gave rise to another rosey coloring to her cheeks as she stormed towards his bathroom.  After her bath and putting on clean clothes for her, Larkan quickly left August's home to go back to Emilia.  On her way back, she walked through the jungle of tiny homes where people lived and tried to survive this time of bleakness.  She passed people who starved for food, desperate for drugs, and those living in a fantasy.  People would dance and preach how this was how the world is supposed to be, but Larkan couldn't see it that way.  This life was far too unkind to her and her family to make it seem like a new Golden Age.  Larkan's eyes then fell upon one person she could trust besides Emilia, it would be Tristan.  

Her golden curls remained untouched by the mass of people surrounding her.  Tristan silently followed Larkan away from the crowd until they left the Estate to go back to Larkan's hole.  Larkan didn't have to tell Tristan why she was there in the Estate, her only friend outside her family knew.  Tristan linked her arm with Larkan, “It's only for a short time, it's not like you'll be in any danger.”

“I'm not worried about me,” Larkan kept her gaze up, always wary of what was around her, “You know my cousin.  He's extravagent and boasts about nothing.  I just don't want Emilia getting swept up in his pretty words.”

Larkan noticed Tristan lower her head slightly.  She almost forgot that Tristan had once been one of August's 'flavor of the month' about a year ago and had been holding onto that brief moment since.  That title hadn't done much for Tristan's living situation in the street, but it gave her hope that maybe that life of pleasure would come again.  For Larkan, it was something she didn't talk about with Tristan as much as her friend wanted to remember those days.  The two young women approached the hole to see Emilia stirring an old, rusty lobster pot full of boiling water and tomatoes she had grown.  Larkan could tell by the look in Emilia's eyes that she was excited to see her sister bathed with clean clothes on; it meant that she, too, would be bathed and wear something fashionable.  

“The first thing i'm going to do is take a bath with lavender,” Emilia smiled as she quickly took out a tomato from the boiling water, “And i'm going to sleep all day.”

“I'm sure that's not why he wants us there,” Larkan commented as she made a quick reach for the tomato, only to just as quickly pull back when the boiling water was too much for her hand.

“We're his family,” Emilia looked over at Larkan as if she had said something odd, “He wouldn't make us do something we're not allowed to do.”

Larkan hesitated as she soaked in Emilia's words before grabbing her tomato.  As soon as she made her first bite, something didn't taste right.  She stopped chewing as she looked inside to see what was supposed to be a light reddish color was all black.  Larkan spat out the rotten chunk of tomato from her mouth and threw the rest over a small hill.  Tristan tried to hide the small laughter she wanted to emit at her friend's misfortune as Larkan turned to see Emilia concentrating on making sure her tomato was ok to eat.  It seemed good to eat before she had taken a bite.

August had always been full of life, had always been the most handsome, and had always had a way with women giving into his desires without question.  Larkan and Emilia sat at his large table filled with freshly made food and cups of beer, wine, or imported alcohol.  While Emilia happily sipped at her cup and laughed along with August's baudy jokes at other females' expenses, Larkan nibble at a piece of a banana.  Almost all of the other guests, save three other young men around her age, were female.  All of them were around her age, early twenties and still full of youth.  Some, as young as Emilia around 16, were there as well to find August's interests.  Larkan glanced over at August as he chugged down a full pint of beer.  She was glad he didn't have a taste for girls younger than her.

“I want to make a toast,” August's drunken voice emerged from above the crowd's laughter, “to my two cousins that may as well be my own sisters.  Larkan and Emilia, you two will be remembered for your mother's, my aunt, actions and live up to the standards she placed.”

Emilia clapped as Larkan smiled meekly as she raised her own glass towards August as well.  How dare he bring up her mother in such a scene.  She felt hands slap her back lightly to 'congratulate' her on this known fact, but brushed off the ordeal.  It was just another night.  It was just another event to endure.  Within an hour later, it was time for Larkan to take Emilia upstairs so the real party could continue.  Larkan closed the window as Emilia locked the door reluctantly, “I saw him looking at me.  If you would just give him the chance-”

“He'll just get you pregnant and leave you,” Larkan sighed as she took off her shirt and pants before climbing into the king size bed, “You'll meet someone who'll take care of you later.  Don't look for a good man in this Estate or in any Estate, you'll never find them.”

She watched as Emilia looked over her frail, slender shoulder at her.  Emilia's skin was pale enough to make Larkan feel some shame in knowing how weak her sister had gotten over the years of being just the two of them.  If she could just trust August more to help take care of them, then she wouldn't worry so much for her sister.  Larkan offered a sympathetic smile as she reached out to Emilia with one hand, “Let me tell you a story?”

Emilia smiled softly as she turned back around.  She undid the loose braid in her light blonde hair before crawling close to her sister, resting her small head against Larkan's shoulder.  Larkan toyed with Emilia's hair, knowing her younger sister enjoyed the feeling, and recited, “There once lived a young princess with long, long, long hair, her hair went on for miles.  She was locked in a tall tower by her evil cousin who wanted to sell her hair for money.  The princess cried all day and slept all night with very little food, she didn't have anyone to save her from her fate.”

Larkan felt Emilia raise her head to look up at her, “Will someone save you like they'll save me?”

“Of course,” Larkan brushed Emilia's bangs back to look into her sister's bright, baby blue eyes, “You and I will never be apart, even if we find two guys who want to live somewhere else.”

This made Emilia lightly laugh as she rested her head back on Larkan's shoulder and allowed her to continue with the story, “Then, a prince was on a hunt when he heard a woman crying.  He readied his bow, just in case, and slowly followed the sadndening wails until he came upon the tower.  Excited by what he found, the prince called up to the highest window, 'Young woman, I am the Prince, surely I can help you from what brings you pain!'.  The Princess looked down her window, her hair falling down to where the Prince stood, 'I am the Princess, I am forced to remain here by my cousin to sell my hair!'  Now, Emilia, the Prince is a good prince.  He knows that this is very wrong and examines the Princess' beautiful hair.  In each strand of hair, the Prince found specs of gold clusters and knew how precious her hair was.  So, the Prince called up to the Princess, 'I will return tomorrow and climb your hair to see you, Princess.  Shall you be here tomorrow?'  The Princess said she would and began to pull her hair back up to her tiny room while the Prince rode back to his castle to make sure the Princess would live with him after he rescued her.  All the while, the evil cousin heard what the Prince and the Princess said and grew angry.”

Larkan paused for a moment as she grew more tired.  The sound of pleasure filled the halls as August's party grew more rambunctious.  Emilia lightly nudged Larkan and murmured, “You didn't finish, and you're not going along with the original storyline.”

“I'm making it longer so we can look forward to going to bed early in the evenings to let August have fun with his guests,” Larkan closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, “Go to sleep, Emilia, we have a busy day tomorrow.”

“Will you think about letting me get to know Dan?” Emilia asked, Larkan could hear the smile in her voice.

Larkan held in a deep sigh of aggravation before turning on her side, her frontside facing Emilia, “I'll think about it.”

To sleep in a bed compared to the dirt was like sleeping in warm snow.  Larkan's back didn't ache, her hair was still clean, and she didn't have to worry about bugs in her ears.  Sleeping in while the sun was still up in the sky was even better.  It had been a full year since she had asked August to let her and Emilia stay there.  She stirred slightly before opening her eyes, allowing the room to surround her and for her to call it 'her room'.  The room was rather large, about to house five king size beds and a possibility of three bathrooms.  However, it held the bed she and Emilia shared, one large bathroom for them to use privately, and three bay windows for them to look over at the Estate.  There wasn't much of decorations up to call it a decent room, but a few portraits of passed presidents and a picture of the Revolutionary War still hung.  Larkan's eyes scanned what was close to her.  Beside her side of the bed was a nighstand that had a picture she kept there yearly was of her family.  Now, it only show her and Emilia standing in the very front, their mother on Emilia's side and torn part, what used to be their father, on Larkan's side.

She had kept that photo intact for so long, it only seemed right to blame August.  Larkan swooped her legs out of the bed and headed to the bathroom.  The shower could be heard running and walked in.  Squeels of surprise and the shower being turned off abruptly as two figures left the steamed, glassed compartment.  Emilia, covering herself as best as she could scurried towards Larkan as she apologized beneath her breath, “I'm so sorry, i'm so so sorry!”

Larkan pulled Emilia behind her as the man of her sister's affections came out second.  He had the decency to wrap a towel low on his waist before coming into Larkan's view.  Dan's place in August's reign was mainly to scare people with his appearance of being made of muscle and raw power.  Larkan looked him up and down, she understood why Emilia would desire this in a mate...  But not this one.  Dan approached Larkan as if nothing had happened, “Sorry we woke you.”

“You stay away from her.  Do I make myself clear?” Larkan seethed as she kept Emilia right behind her, “Don't come anywhere near her and i'll let this slide.”

The punch to the face sent Larkan to the ground as Emilia screamed.  Larkan scrambled up before Dan could hit her sister to silence her.  She yanked on his fist as she hushed her sister down to a small whimper.  Dan shoved Larkan from his wrist and examined it as if she were infected with AIDs.  She glowered at him angrily as she got back on her feet and held Emilia against her away from Dan.  He chuckled as he saw a small bruise forming on his wrist, “You're kinda strong for a girl who barely survives half a year living outside.  I go outside all the time and some girls are fat enough to be a cow out there.”

“That's all they know is to eat any animal that walks, it's not like what we all have here,” Larkan stated sharply, “Just leave me and my sister alone.  That's all I ask.”

Dan snatched Larkan's wrist and pulled her roughly back to grab her neck.  He forced her close to him as his nose came close to her throat and took a deep whiff.  His eyes gently shut as he forced her against him.  Larkan held back the disgust she held for what she felt against him.  Dan's mouth met her ear as he murmured, “You want it, I can feel that you do.”

“Get off of me!” Larkan shoved her elbows into him, then ducked to the floor and scrambled from his grip, “Get out of here!”

Larkan caught her breath as she watched as Dan, knowing he couldn't try and pin them both down at once, turned and left with just a towel on.  Both sisters listened to the whistles and pats that disgusting oaf received on his way out of their bedroom door.  Larkan turned towards Emilia, gave her a towel, and wrapped her arms around her.  Emilia's face began to crumble as she cried hard against Larkan's shoulder.  For Larkan, she couldn't help but want to cry for her sister as well, for the ordeal she must've went into thinking she was ready.  She could feel her sister's confusion and why certain things didn't work out that way for them.  

It took much time for Larkan to compose Emilia ready for the day.  They couldn't bring what happened in their private lives to the public ones.  Larkan gazed at herself in a mirror for her outfit.  She wore loose jeans and black slip-on shoes while her shirt was a regular, white tank top with a white bra as well.  Most girls outside the Estate didn't wear bra's or panties because of the rarity of the fabric it came by anymore.  Also, it was easier to play a game with a boy or girl if the bare necessities were already ready.  

Larkan's fear was coming off to the outside people as not one of them.  She lived with them for half a year and spend this half of the year inside with her cousin.  Shoving off her necklace, her gaze went back to her mother.  Before her mother's death, Larkan had always joked with her about how they might've been Queen's in a past life.  Larkan sank down to where she was eye-level with the picture to gaze at her mother.  If only that tiny picture could talk back and tell her what to wear when meeting desperate, hungry, angry, drunken, drugged up masses.  Larkan turned back to the mirror and placed her hands on her curvy hips.  Too little clothing suggested that she was like the women in August's bed.  Too much clothing suggested that she barely went outside to be with the outside people.  In the end, Larkan stuck to the original outfit and put on the necklace her uncle, August's father, and a ring made of pure steel, welded by her mother.  

Emilia emerged with a golden sundress on draped over herself.  Before Larkan could admonish that outfit quickly, Emilia put her hands up in defence, “This is the same dress I wore when Mom's bombs were let off on the White House.”

“True people who know of us then wouldn't take anger then,” Larkan thought about the dress as she stared at it quizically, “Good idea, you know a little bit more than me.”

“I try,” Emilia teased as she followed Larkan on the way out.  

The two sisters walked casually down the hall, Emilia snaking her fingers into Larkan's right hand just before they entered the main hall.  August was already smoking a rolled up cigarette as he had his mistresses and concubines hidden in his home.  He had the tables moved, the food and drink out of sight, and all that stood in the large, main room was August's couch.  Larkan and Emilia stood on oneside of his couch as August sat right in the middle as if this was all the four walls surrounding them as only seen.  Dan, and a few other of August's muscle-men went to the three two-doors to allow the masses in.  At first, the people scrambled in as if to find something.  Larkan saw the deceit on their faces as they looked around the newly emptied room.  She looked over at her sister to see that she kept her gaze down.  Either out of fear or shame, Larkan wouldn't know because a pair of hazel eyes caught her attention.  All began to grow silent as the sound of small bells began to jingle randomly.  Then, people turned to see where the noise was coming from.  Even the thick curls in her golden blonde hair held strings of bells as she approached the middle of the room, just facing August.  Larkan's eyes widened as she watched as Tristan slowly bowed down to August, revealing just an inch of her cleavage.  Her bra was trimmed with small bells as did the matching panties.  The anklets she wore had small bells attached to them as did two oritental fans she had painted bells on.

“What's she doing?” Emilia whispered as she tugged on Larkan's hand, keeping her eyes shut.

“Open your eyes and look,” Larkan answered quickly in her berath.

Tristan formed a crowed to give her space as she began to twirl around with her hankles as she reached up high with herh ands.  Then, she made her position large as she glided around in a circle, turning this way and that with such a hurt expression on her face.  Each movement she made was ended by a jerk-movement, where all the bells on her would ring at once.  Tristan then lowered to the floor where people wanted to grab her, to stop her, but August rose a finger to stop them.  He watched intently as Tristan then began to rise taller, and taller.  Her hands reached for the air gently, as if she were trying to find a way out through the sky.  She then looked this way and that to find a way out, then spread her arms wide before acting as if she were floating away from the area.  Her movements were still circular, but her direction turned into a random path.  In one path, she would have 'floated' and continued only to be blocked and having to turn to another direction.  

Larkan placed a hand on her heart as she saw what Tristan was doing.  She knew what Tristan meant while Emilia smiled, feeling that it a love-dance for August.  The ending scene was when Tristan stopped right back in the middle of the circled space for her and faced August.  In a brief moment, Larkan's gaze and Tristan's meant in a battle between fire and ice.  Larkan's calming green eyes froze over when she saw the passionate fire in Trisitan's hazel eyes.  It wouldn't surprise either of them if a cloud of steam came out of no where one day.  Then, Tristan raised her hands to the sky one last time before falling onto her back roughly.  A moment of silence passed as a round of applause was made for Tristan.  Larkan and Emilia clapped as loud as they could in hope that their friend would be heard somewhere.  

“Tristan,” August's voice silenced the crowd, then turned to Larkan, “Bring her to me.”

Emilia released Larkan's hand as she watched Larkan hesistate before getting her newly-populor friend.  Just like Emilia, she let her thick, slightly curly hair remain against her shoulders.  Larkan reached out for Tristan's hand, but only found hair.  Tristan waved and blew kisses at her new fans of just find seconds ago.  When Tristan slid around to blow kisses in another way, she spotted Larkan and smiled before blowing her a soft kiss before winking at her.  Larkan followed Tristan closer before gently grabbing her wrist, “August wants to see you.”

This brought the old Tristan back.  She quickly fixed her hair and bra before pulling Larkan back to make sure she looked good enough.  Larkan examined the trashy-outfit Tristant wore without being too critical.  She then smiled and took her wrist again before leaving towards August, who sat impatiently waiting.  Larkan held onto Tristan's hands all the while August examined Tristan's breasts, her stomach, her thies, and her facial features.  It wasn't hard to tell that, in over a year's time, he had forgotten who she was completely.  Tristan must've been a good liar as she bowed down again, showing him her cleavage 'accidentally', then stood up, “I'm really honored to have met you in person.  I never expected you would watch me dance for you.”

“What are you doing tonight?” August's asked very pointedly.

Tristan looked over at Larkan with worry in her eyes.  Larkan stood up for her friend and answered, “She was going to join me and Emilia tonight.  If you don't mind-”

“The company would be better anyways,” August dismissed the topic fluidly before moving onto the next amusement.  

Tristan stood on the other side of the couch as both Emilia and Larkan stood on the other side as people filed in now.  The dance by Tristan was her way of gaining access to August, but now she was able to do the dance successfully now that Larkan and Emilia were in his household as well.  The rest of the outside people came with grievances that men like Dan were supposed to solve with fair and equal rights to the working man.  It disgusted to see how the people were tolerated here, by younger men who could say what is right and wrong because they had a tiny crown on their head and their noses in August's brown-spot.  For the remainder of the day, Larkan would peer over at Tristan, then to Emilia, and then back to the sights beneath her.  Some of them, mostly mothers came and begged for food to be given or at least take their daughters for payment.  This is when August would send Larkan in to deny the use of their daughters, but give them seeds to grow quick, fertile crops in certain areas.  Though it wasn't much help for the here and now, she could certainly put her two, available daughters to good work in the fields and make them useful.  

The others filed in and continued to ask August for more money to help barter food in the Estate instead of hunting.  August threw the family a few sheckles, possibly enough to buy an egg to support the parents and their two children.  

After that initial event, Larkan was about to take Emilia and Tristan back outside with her until August stopped them.  He blocked their paths from going out with the outside people as he took a long drag of his cigarette, “I heard Dan leaving your room last night.  Might want to tell me what that was about?”

Emilia remained perfectly still, but Larkan held her hand and could feel how tightly Emilia squeezed her hand.  Larkan took a step forward by releasing her hand from Emilia, “I'm sorry, I had too much to drink-”

“I had a feeling it was going to be you anyways,” August poked at her belly, “Maybe you'll finally get a little baby out of there and make your mom proud.  You're making me do all the work with you being like this.”

With that, August turned and went back to his own festivities with his own women.  While he had turned to leave, he grabbed Tristan away from the group.  Larkan looked up at her friend to see a worried mask, but she could see how elated Tristan was to be one of the 'flavors' again.  She turned back around to see Emilia was gone again.  Where had her sister gone to?  Larkan looked this way and that, only to find Emilia smiling and flirting with Dan, who seemed involved in her flirtation.  She watched from a far to see how he offered a chair, something to drink, something to eat, and even waved over at Larkan sympathetically rather than the attitude she had seen earlier.  Larkan's gaze fell over the area around her as she tried to soak in the merry air.  August must've talked to Dan about his behavior, now he was being kind to her dear friend Tristan, and was even allowing her to join or leave without consequences.  At first, Larkan was wary about his trust and whether or not she truly needed him.  However, he looks like he did put his family first and would allow them a small, comfortable place to live until a new tide comes.

The night before, Larkan did her best to join the festivities and go to bed at a later hour.  Next thing she knew, she was woken by vomitting all over the floor of all that she drank last night.  She finally caught a deep breath as she remained perfectly still.  Memories flooded into her mind that she would have rather forgot or at least killed the person so they would forget for her.  The desire to drink water came rapidly as she mustered herself up to go to the bathroom and found the sink.  She stuck her head down as low as she could before turning on the faucet to release the ice-cold water.  Each sip felt like an eternity, and she swore she was in that same position for nearly an hour until she finally lifted the curse of thirst.  

She pulled herself away as she went back to the bedroom to see Emilia wasn't there.  Larkan placed a hand on her head at the image her sister may be in, how could she save her a second time?  So, she slowly paced out of her bedroom and down the hall, glancing in each bedroom in hopes of finding Emilia.  When she reached the main hall, Larkan turned over unconscious bodies that were still sleeping the night off.  None of the faces were Emilia.  Worry started to run it's course with Larkan as panic began to wake her up.  She turned over at least ten more people and none of them were, or above, Emilia.  Dan was in the main hall, but where was her sister?  Larkan went over to him and gently tried to wake up, only to swatted at until she quieted down.  She tried again, only to get the same reaction as he grumbled half threats.  Then, Larkan whispered into his ear, “Where is Emilia?”

“Out,” was all he said, then went back to his deeper sleep.

This wasn't good enough.  Larkan stormed across a messy dining table, splashing the people awake with drink or food until she reached August's couch, “Where is Emilia?”

August groggily woke as he looked up at her in disbelief for a brief moment.  Whatever he saw quickly faded as he rubbed his temples, “There was some communication after you left.  Things got out of hand and I had to deal with them the best I can.”

“Where is my sister?  Where is your cousin!?” Larkan raised her vioce, causing August to actually flinch at the memory, “Where is Emilia?”

“Rivers,” August spoke softly as he kept his gaze low.  

“Rivers...” Larkan murmured as she felt whatever alcohol she had left in her ready to come out.

It did, all on August's shoes.  He remained still as he covered his nose, “Jesus...”

“You sent your own cousin to Rivers...” Larkan murmured sharply as she backed away from him, “No..not Emilia..”

“That little slut had it comin',” Dan apparently had remained awake as he stretched his arms, “They'll teach her how to do some real shit.”

Larkan had had enough.  She turned around to do something to silence Dan, but she noticed that something was already sticking out of his gut.  Whatever it was, it slid right back in and Tristan made her way out from beneath him, “He wasn't a good lover anyways.”

“You can't get her back,” August cautioned as he stood up to glare over at Larkan, who glared right back, “What happens there will make her into something you don't want to see.  Just stay here with me, i'll be good to you.”

“Like you were good to my father as well?” Larkan spat at August's feet, “I'm now your enemy and I will banish myself from this damned town.  May you burn in the pits of Hell.”

Larkan waisted no time leaving the Estate on foot and continued to run from the drunken armies that would've killed her for spitting on August's shoes.  It needed done.  But, before she would go anywhere she needed to make one stop first.  Larkan quickened her speed so no one would've caught her trail and went to where the whole was covered by cloth.  Now that she was truly alone, Larkan felt the tears finally trickle down her eyes.  There was no one to look strong for anymore, it was just her now.  So many years of pain fell from her eyes like a raging river.  

What happened to the world, one might ask.

But she knew.  Standing in the empty hole that once held everything that wasn't burned to ash.  A ten foot high wall of packed, solid dirt surrounded her that was only wide enough to fit, comfortably, two people.  Now, it only held her.  Fear slowly swalled her mind as images of what could've happened ravaged her thoughts.  As much as she wanted to scream, she didn't want anyone to know of her hidden hole.  The sound of the wind rushed above her as the evening began to set.  Her mind raced as her heart matched it's speed as her eyes looked this way and that, as if finding her in the creeping darkness.  Emilia...  

Converting /tmp/phpn7DCs6 to /dev/stdout