"The Romonus are approaching!" A woman's screams echoed through my small village.
In the far corners of my mind I knew this day would come. My grandmother, the most powerful witch of The Volusion tribe, had foreseen this event. She saw the horses galloping in the smoke, the crackling of splinters signifying the fire of gunshots.
Somehow they knew of my presence. Even though all the village women swore oath to protect my identity. I was no Volusion girl, I'm Acadian. My grandmother found me as an infant, raised me as her own. As I grew older the other women in the tribe began to notice my appearance. All Acadian females are born with black hair. Volusions have a lighter pigment to their hair but the Romonus had the fairest hair of all, almost white.
In fear, they hid me from the outside world, from The Romonus. They are the most feared worries of our kingdom. Slave merchants, powerful soldiers that conquered my race and the Volusion tribes. Acadian, my race were killed. Thousands of my people were killed in war due to the fact that we are a peaceful race. The older generation knew nothing of violence or war. They were an easy target.
My people stood at the brink of extinction. I never encountered another Acadian in my 20 years of life. I knew I wasn't the last, I could feel their energy. However the Romonus captured the remaining but still searched for the last Acadian female. Only the women are born with our unique powers. Manipulating the weather and plant growth and healing, of course. These abilities are needed by the Romonus due to their ever growing population and their Amazonian size.
My heart burst with fear as I leapt up from my sleeping cloth. My head felt dizzy from my lack of balance. I couldn't sense the presence of my grandmother. My arms stretched out in front of my body to feel for the wooden door.
The cold May breeze sliced through my body. Chaos erupted all around me. I heard explosions followed by the horrid screams of villagers. The strong scent of gunpowder overwhelmed my senses, the smell of thick smoke making me cough painfully.
Load knocks on the ground from galloping horses came directly toward me. I dashed in the opposite direction, avoiding the sting of ice between my naked toes. The galloping increased and so did the shouts of soldiers. I tried to remember my surroundings. Ah yes the lake! I turned a sharp left and felt the steep slope that led to the lake. I slid down the freezing mud, I searched for the ice with my trembling hands. I banged on the ice to see if it could support my weight but I could hear the volume of the approaching soldiers increasing.
Without a second thought, I ran across the frozen lake for dear life. The air becoming too heavy to inhale my lungs stung with pain. I could barely feel my face but I continued running over the ice. My limbs ached, my tongue dry and toes numb. I pushed through not willing to surrender my freedom to the Romonus.
Don't give up. I thought. My body began to shut down as hypothermia sank in. My run turned into a jog, my jog turned into a slow walk until I sank to my knees. I crawled with bare knees on the slick ice. My knees burned from the cold ice which felt like scorching coals against my skin. I refused to give up. I would rather die than be captured by a Romonus soldier!
I slowed catching my breath. Still on my knees I banged against the ice in front of my paled body. I could sense the soldier's coming closer to me. I banged harder against the ice, determined to break it. I banged my numb hands against the ice hearing the faintest sound of cracking. Renewing my efforts to take my own life. Hoping it would shatter and send my body down to the depths of the still lake.
Excruciating pain sliced through my brain as a bullet ripped through my flesh. The bullet shot through the flesh of my thigh and made a small hole into the ice. I fell forward gripping my throbbing thigh. I looked down at my thigh only seeing a blurry image of crimson blotches against my pale skin.
"Don't kill her!" A man shouted with fear.
The energy of strong men surrounded my limp body. I couldn't run, I couldn't break the ice to send myself into the ibis by my own doing. All I could do was sob weakly.
"We have strict orders from the General. She needs to be alive." The first soldier commanded.
The ice vibrated against my skin as the first soldier climbed off his horse. He walked toward my bleeding body. I could tell from his harsh breathing that he was scared. Like a Deer sniffing through the grass, not knowing what lurked.
"Take my hand Acadian." The first soldier said. I pictured him extending his hand.
"Are you deaf little girl?" He laughed. I found nothing amusing in his question. The fact that he thought I was deaf and still asking a question allowed me to question his sanity but his assumption of my age because of my small stature was ignorant.
I spat in his direction hoping my action would give him a clear answer and to show him how little I thought of his intimidation.
"I asked a question." He snapped. Placing his hand on my chin, the soldier tilted my head back. "Open your eyes."
Slowly my lids fluttered open. The brightness making my eyes teary. The first soldier looked blurry but the light bouncing off the ice was too much and I pulled my face out of his grip. My head sank to the ice and tears of pain trickled down my cheek. My eyes burned like the skin on my knees. Like fire.
"My God, she's blind." The first soldier exclaimed. Shocked by his statement the other soldiers gasped.
"Would she be able to perform the ritual?" Another voice asked. "What are we going to do with her?"
"Calm down Rick." The first soldier said. "The General will know what to do. For now we just follow the orders."
The first soldier picked my body from the ice and flung it over his shoulder. I writhed in his hands, trying to free myself. My cheek pressed against warm flesh, I turned my head and sank my teeth into the soldier. I bit down until I tasted a metallic liquid, blood. The first soldier growled at the pain and threw my body away from him. I landed on the hard ice. Pain spread across my body as I could faintly hear the breaking of bones. Not sure where it came from I curled into a ball of pain. Load screams came from my mouth as the excruciating pain only increased. My senses we're overwhelmed. My body only knew one sensation, pain. I opened my eyes and the glowing white snow was sprinkled with black. The sprinkles of black became smudges until total darkness spread.
*
I awoke to the faint humming of a soldier. My hands felt numb but not of the cold, it was warm. I felt the warm caresses of the sun's rays against my face. I opened my eyes but all I could see was dark green blotches moving along. I could barely inflate my lungs with air as I feared my broken ribs would puncture the soft flesh. The pain was faded into a dull ache but it hurt nonetheless.
My tummy felt hollow and my limbs weak. My toes! I remembered the ice. I wiggled each toe and each finger to see if I haven't lost one of them to frostbite. Oh thank the Gods! They are,all there.
My eyelids felt extremely heavy. The darkness of sleep called my name. Who was I to refuse to take the call. I was surely not capable of escaping now. They said their General needed me alive and I doubt one of these men would touch my bloody and mud covered body. Darkness held out her hand and I graciously accepted it falling into a deep sleep.
*
"Time to come inside." Said the sweet voice of my grandma.
I've been playing in the warm water all day long. The pretty rocks tickled the soles of my feat. Mamma always said that all the colours in the world can be found in the lake. Each pebble was unique, you wouldn't find two stones with the same colour, shape or texture.
The water soothed my senses. It made me feel calm. I could relate to the waters. Its energy spoke to me. On the shore, the lake burst with energy. The waves were small but held so much power. But as you swam to the middle of the lake, the water was calm.
That calm feeling deep inside me was always present. Somehow I knew it was because of my deprived sight. I could truly find peace within myself. But on the outside I felt free and powerful.
Just like that lake.
