I saw all the events outside through the cellar duct. I couldn't see very clearly but when the troop reached my house, the soldier's steel boots blocked my vision completely.
The sound of knocking on my house's door made me fall back into the dimly lit cellar.
My sister's and my brother's dragged me and clasped my mouth with their hands.
I had always been the clumsiness and nosiest of them all, the middle daughter of the impoverished family, the one whose existence had no value. And that is what grandmother had always said about me.
As I struggled within my siblings' grasp, the sound of my father answering the door made us froze. And the voice of the general stopped my heartbeat.
He asked curtly, "you are soldier Gersin, Rank E-9 in cavalry regiment 2369, of Xanthia."
My father replied his voice quivering, "yes master"
The General again spoke but not to my father but to the Mage, "Xanthia was already fighting a losing battle and these regiments full of weak men ensured its defeat better"
The Mage replied, "what more we can except of Xanthian soldiers?"
The General laughed. A cold laugh. Then he ordered the soldiers, "finish the business quick, this is the last house in this area... keep it simple, one shot in the forehead is enough. And don't touch the women."
I could sense my mother and grandmother shuffling in fear at his words.
My elder brother touched my shoulder and brought me closer to my other siblings.
It was going to happen. We had to run.
But then, the Mage spoke.
And we knew our plan was going to fail.
The Mage said in a low tone, but we could hear some of it.
"General" he breathed " don't you think that this soldier would have atleast one child with him?"
General seemed to consider because he asked my father " it seems suspicious. Just you, your wife and mother in such a big house. You do not even have one son?"
My father replied, "master no, none of them are living"
"Yet you seem to make their beds and wash their clothes." The high Mage said, who had seen my sister's bed or one of my brother's clothes somewhere in the hall.
We hadn't hidden everything very well. In the short time we had after the defeat
the General breathed in angrily.
" you are lying aren't you?"
My father hesitated," master, I do have children.. but I sent them away..."
The Geneal laughed, "we would have surely known then, we have guards monitoring all the borders of this town and the next. Nobody could get in or out without our permission. Where are they?"
My father didn't reply.
Then a gunshot was heard. Someone scremed
"Run!" My brother whispered loudly but his voice drowned as the shooting continued.
I was petrified. But my siblings took hold of me and they prepared to escape quietly from the back entrance of the cellar.
But then the Mage ordered," They are below us"
And bullets rained down.
First my younger sister, who was behind me. Then my elder brother who was leading us. Straight in the heads.
And then it became faster and they all died one by one.
I took shelter beneath a crate.
In the darkness of the cellar, I could not see their bodies covered in blood but I began to cry.
Then they set the house in fire.
I tried to get out but I was too hurt.
A bullet had got me.
I saw no hope. Just ash and smoke and the dance of reddish flames succumbing my home.