Nothing is as it seems

By: Kana

The sun was shining. A couple of white clouds passed by. The blue sky the most present. Outside, on the street, children were running. There were no cars, no danger. It was like a dream, like a fairy land. It was as if nothing could go wrong. And nothing did go wrong.

Just outside the town was a forest. The trees’ green leafs bringing a calm atmosphere to the people living in the village. The singing of the birds a constant reminder of how good life was here.

“Elise… Dinner is ready. Are you coming?”

“Yes mom!”

She ran down the stairs. Whistling the newest hit. She could clearly smell the spaghetti and the tomato sauce. Her favourite food in the world.

-

“Mom, I’m going to play outside with Lisa…”

She didn’t even wait for an answer. Knowing her mother wouldn’t object anyway.

After meeting up just outside the door, the two girls ran towards the forest together, already wearing their swimming suits underneath their clothes. Towel’s swung over their shoulders.

The lake was halfway the forest. The water always at the right temperature. It was like heaven on earth.

Once the two girls arrived there, they saw three other of their friends already in the water.

“Hey! You guys are early!”

Their friends wave enthusiastically at them and without a second hesitation the girls threw off their clothes and dived in the cool water.

Smiling they start splashing water to each other. Soft squeals escape her lips.

Closing her eyes she dives under water. Little bubbles finding their way to the surface.

Coming back above she takes a deep breath.

“I’m going to lay myself down. I want to feel the sun on my skin.”

Crawling out of the water, she marvels at the feeling of the cool, soft grass beneath her feet.

Closing her eyes once more, she listens to the laughter and soft chattering of her friends.

The sun is warm and soon she hears nothing anymore. A peaceful slumber.

After what seems a couple of minutes she looks again.

Her friends are no longer there. The sun has disappeared and it is dark. So dark… Pitch black. She shivers ever so slightly.

She’s not near the lake. There is no soft grass under her small body. She’s lying on the floor. The cold and hard floor… No mattress. No blanket to cover her from the chill air. No pillow to gently rest her head on.

Sitting up she winces slightly. And when she looks down she sees her right arm covered in red, she’s unable to move it…

Her eyes are wide open. A non-understanding gaze.

She doesn’t speak. What can she say? Beside, no one is there.

It must be a nightmare. She was lying on the grass. Did she fall asleep? It must be that.

Slowly she gets up.

There… A window… It is open, yet she still can’t see any daylight.

Walking over to it, she places her hands on the window sill. Leaning forwards to look outside. Where is she? On the second floor of a building. But where?

Her right arm hurts like hell. And she tries to bite back tears that are threatening to spill. What is this?

A loud bang is heard before her and the next thing she knows is a sharp pain in her chest. Her hands lose their grip on the window and she stumbles backwards. Her left hand travels up to her chest. It is wet. A red liquid pours down past her fingers.

Looking back up, still confused, she sees the sun appear from behind the clouds. She smiles.

Waving with her right hand to her best friend, Lisa, who just steps out of the water.

-

A day later a soldier enters a gray building. On the second floor he finds her. The little girl one of his men saw last night.

He had seen her appear in front of the window. Alone, un-guarded. Only a second after that there had been a shot. She had stumbled backwards, one hand clutching her chest.

He grinds his teeth and balls his hands to fists. She was so small. Another innocent victim of this stupid, cruel war. Will people never learn? Haven’t there been enough dead yet?

Innocent. Guilty. Who is what? And what exactly is the difference? This little girl. Was she guilty? Is that why she had to die? If yes, what was it she was accused of? Or was she just another innocent war-victim who was at the wrong place at the wrong time…? No one is safe…

The soldier shakes his head. Tears are shimmering in his eyes. But he will not let them fall. This little one has been so brave. She has survived for so long. Has suffered for such a long time. He would not cry. For her…

Gently he scoops her up in his strong arms. She is so light.

His eyes widen when he takes a closer look at her face. She is smiling…

“You are safe now little one… Be happy…”

&The End&

AN: K: Well, I honestly don't know where the hell that came from. It wouldn't go out of my head... I just had to write it down... Please, tell me what you think of it...