I'm a survivor. Chapt, 1.

I could smell the burning flesh.
I could hear the dying screams.
I could see the flames that ripped mercilessly through the houses and I could see the people who were dragging screaming women away and shooting men on the spot with an arrow to the head or chest. If you run you got an arrow in the back. If you stayed to beg for your life you got arrow in the chest. The only reason I had escaped was because I had snuck out just before it began, I hadn't noticed that black shadows creeping through the streets. Now I was crouched in the bushes and mud I could see everything that was happening. My eyes searched frantically for my parents, our house was not alight but I could see them nowhere. I could see no one else escape for these men were precise with an arrow, not a single man missed. I could not see the faces of the men who attacked us and I did not know who they were but it was a massacre from dusk 'till dawn. I could see the men search the bodies as the sun began to rise. I could see that some of the men were quite young and some fairly old but they were all well trained because not a single arrow missed its point. Not a single body lay alive.

And then they left, just after sunrise they left. I wait maybe two hours before I dared to breathe again and they had long disappeared into the distance on their horses. In those two hours not a single person moved from the pile of bodies that now littered the streets, the smell of burning flesh was still strong in the air though most of the fires had dwindled to hot coals and ash. Our house stood tall. When I dared move the first thing I did was throw up, everyone was gone. I could recognize few of the town’s people from this distance but they were there, I knew it. The second thing I did was check myself for wounds. After being pushed and rolling down the hill to fall between these mud and bushes. I had been pushed by the men, who lowered their weapons when they saw me, smiling evilly. They were maybe twenty five years old? I could not see well in the dark. They go to grab me and I slipped down the hill. They send arrows after me (which missed) and after a silence they laughed and went away. I had not been running away, simply going for a late night walk. That was when the men spotted me, laughing. I did not like being a lady, a noblewoman, but I would never run away and leave my family.

I had scrapes on my arms and legs and a cut across my stomach and one somewhere on my face for blood caked my forehead. My breath came out in rugged gasps and I jumped at every forest sound, birds and deer’s, falling twigs. But no sound came from the town square, it was dead empty. Not a single corpse moved, not a single groan escaped any mouth but my own. I could see my three story house in the middle of the town. It had not been burnt but I stared at is for three hours straight.

Not a single curtain fluttered in a breeze, nothing moved. Maybe my parents had escaped! I was fourteen years old, I didn't want to be an orphan. It was after midday before people started to arrive. I could see men shaking their heads, searching for survivors amongst the massacre. As far as I could tell they found none. I could see the mayor from the next village standing next to a cart, face ashen and grim. Men searched amongst the bodies, a few emptied their stomach contents like I had.

They started to identify people, slowly. Mid afternoon when I still had not moved I realized I could not stay in these bushes forever. Crouching in the bushes, a man comes wandering over, checking the bodies that lie mere yards in front of me that I had sat and watched die, helpless. That’s when he spots me, my eyes frightened and my arms curled around my knees. Our eyes meet at the same time, mine filled with tears as my lip wobbled. I bit down on it hard. The man’s eyes went wide.
"Survivor!" He called loudly before slowly stepping over a few people to reach for me. I flinch away.
"It's ok, darling. You're ok now." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me to one of the carts. Someone wrapped a blanket around me and another held a water flask to my lips. I drink eagerly.

I sit on the back of a cart, wrapped in a ball with my arms around my legs and my chin resting on my knees. There was still a blanket around me. My eyes stared forward but they were unseeing, they were remembering the flames shooting through the houses and the screams of both women and men. I shiver and realize someone was walking over to me, the man who first spotted me.
"What's your name, young one?" He asks softly, leaning against the cart and bowing his head to put himself in my line of vision.
"Lady Audra, of Bermington." I mumble, he nods quietly. Bermington was this large town that was now dead and lifeless apart from the search teams. The people that they had identified and recorded as dead they were beginning to pile in the amphitheatre. I watch, mesmerized, as they carry the bodies one by one. The men struggle and a lot look sick.
"I am Harry. Do you have any family that we can take you to?" My attention turns back to the man.
"Oh um..." I frown, the only family I had was an uncle who lived about half a day’s ride from here. "My uncle, Duke Henry, of Seaweed square." I tell him, he nods and walks off. I go back to watching the men, I saw a few people I recognized, the baker and butcher. The town mayor. My best friend, Paulette. I cry when I see her with an arrow in her chest. Of course she would have begged, she was strongly religious, it was the only thing we ever fought about.

I had to find my parents. Letting the blanket fall off me I carefully climb off the cart and run as fast as I can towards my house. I could hear Harry calling out to me but I keep running, tears flowing down my face. A few men turn to watch me run. I wrench the door of my house open and fly up the stairs to my parent’s bedroom. And there they lay, skin cold as ice and pale white. Still lying on their sides and in their night robes. They had not been shot, their throats had been cut and blood soaked the pillows and blankets. I sit on the closest side, next to my mother, and start stroking her hair quietly, sobbing. Harry appears at the door, panting slightly. I look up at him with a tear stained face. He just looks at my parents in shock.
"You'll take me to my uncles?" He nods silently, not taking his eyes off my parents.
"Let me pack."
"I'll wait outside." He leaves quietly. I look around the room only now realizing it had been looted. All of my mother’s jewelry was gone, and my father’s hunting knives. I grab the hidden money that I knew about, gold silver and bronze, out of my parent’s room then head to my own room. Grabbing my own savings and putting them all in a leather purse I then grab a large duffle bag. Sorting through my clothes I take the most practical ones only. Tunics and leggings were my first choice. I had little of these because I was noble and meant to always be in dresses and skirts. I took one long dress, black for mourning, as were most of my clothes. Quickly stripping off my muddy clothes and pulling on a black shirt and leggings, the black shirt had a tight bodice and flare sleeves with white linings. It was the fanciest shirt I packed, the rest were plain. I packed what little jewelry I had and then looked around my room, packing little other things I run a brush through my hair and head downstairs. I take my mum’s oilskin cape off its stand and pull on her best walking shoes. I lock the front and back door, wondering how much good it would do, and slip the key into my pocket.

"Ready?" Harry asks softly. I nod to the dirt ground, my face was clean now, eyes dry, hopefully I look a little more respectable. He leads me to the back of a cart, helping me up. The cart starts to move away in the late afternoon sun. I guessed it was maybe two hours from sunset. They burned the amphitheatre full of bodies, I learnt later.

I did not want to stop and the cart driver obviously did not want to upset me further so we rode through the night, I wanted to sleep. I was so tired. But every time I closed my eyes images of burning flames and the smell of flesh reached my nostrils and I opened them with a gasp. A messenger had apparently ridden ahead earlier in the afternoon to tell my uncle Henry the story, and that I was coming. I curl up in the back of the cart, hugging myself.

I hear a clock strike ten when we enter seaweed square and I try and give directions to the cart driver but we so rarely saw my uncle that I had doubt whether they were accurate or not. I was a noblewoman, or so to be. I had been raised to sit up straight, smile politely and show a little, but not too much, interest in whatever was happening around me. My posture was so forced that my back was straight as I bounced around in the cart but my mind was so far away I barely noticed. My directions must have been half decent because we rolled up in front of a familiar mansion and my uncle was already waiting out front. It was raining, I hadn't noticed. Luckily the oilskin cape had kept me mostly dry. My bag was leather so my things would be dry. My uncle pulls me into a tight hug, which was unusual for him. I had met him only three times, twice that I was old enough to remember. He was my fathers older brother, a duke. He hands me off to one of his man servants who silently show me to a guest room on the third floor. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

I awake late and for one wild moment I could not figure out where I was. Then the memories come flooding back so dress quickly in the dress I had brought as to not seem unladylike to my uncle. Black for mourning. I wash my face and comb my hair before heading downstairs. Uncle appeared to have been waiting for me at the dining able, he was halfway through his breakfast. As soon as I sat down another servant rushed up to tuck in my chair and pace me a napkin.
"Breakfast is served, my lady." He places a steaming bowl full of porridge in front of me, then bring out several sweeteners. I nod to him and he leaves again.
"My dear niece Audra. How do you fare?" Uncle asked when we were finally along. I was not hungry but I knew better than to decline his food, that was a sign of mistrust.
"Not well dear uncle. I gravely mourn for my family and friends." It pleased me to see that he too was dressed in all black. He nods seriously.
"I was told what happened by a messenger an hour before you arrived. I am so sorry to hear of it and so pleased that you have survived." I was getting sick of formal.
"Was I the only one?" I ask as I pour sugar, honey and cinnamon before carefully mixing it in.
"Indeed you were. The gods of luck and fortune have blessed you this very day." With my family dead, it felt more like a curse. I nod and place a spoonful into my mouth.
"I have a visitor coming this afternoon, he is a dedicate at the Sun seed temple. He will be staying with us for a few days."
"Please do not tell him of my ill fate. You can tell him I have no parents but do not tell him how or why. Please uncle, I do not wished to be spied upon and cared after more than I already am." He nods his agreement.
"As you request, my lady."
"You will have my parents furniture and belonging moved to here?" I say, he nods seriously.
"It is left to me until you become of age. It will be moved as soon as the...cleaning up is finished." I take another spoonful and nod.

Later that day I heard an announcement at the door.
"Dedicate Sito of Sun seed Temple has arrived." The door holder announced.
"Henry old chap!"
"Dedicate Sito!"
"Sito, please! It's been too long."
"Indeed it has, what news do you bring?"
"There is only one word of news on the street, Duke. The Bermington Massacre." That’s what they were calling it.
"Oh?"
"Have you not heard? The whole town of Bermington was massacred by a group of rogue pirates who were travelling to a find new ship. Bermington was the only town hit but there was only one survivor."
"Yes. I have heard. My brother and his wife lived there. Who was the survivor?" There was a hard edge to my uncles voice that the dedicate seemed not to notice.
"No one knows. Well obviously some people know but they won't let it public. Poor fellow, I'm sure he is traumatized enough as it is."
"Indeed." Says uncle, his voice a little more calm. Hearing enough I retreat back to my own room where I stay until dinner.

"Lady Audra." Someone announced at dinner. Sito and Henry rise until I was seated before sitting back down for dinner to be served. At fourteen years old I hardly needed to be announced as Lady Audra every time I entered a room. My wavy black hair that usually reached my shoulder was pinned back in a style that allowed strands to hang and frame my face. I had medium dark skin and hazel eyes. My mother had dark skin and my father white so I just looked well tanned. I was wearing a large black hoop skirt dress that uncle had insisted on buying me, my leggings and tunics lay forgotten still in their bag.
"Hello there." Says Dedicate Sito as dinner was served. I look up, surprised.
"Good evening." I say hesitantly. He smiles and I smile a little and look back to my plate. Dinner was quiet and I go to bed early. The night was over too fast and I was surprised I had not dreamt of the 'Bermington massacre' For it had been on my mind all day.
"Good morning." I greet my uncle as I sit down for breakfast.
"Good morning Audra."
"Where is our guest?" I ask politely.
"Gone into town early. I have been meaning to speak to you." He hesitates and I spread butter on my toast.
"I am a Duke, Audra. I will be gone travelling again soon and I do not know when I will be back. An empty mansion with no one but my servants is not the kind of place a Lady should be growing up in." He hesitates again and I realize I had frozen. I keep spreading my toast.
"Dedicate Sito has offered you to board at Sun seed Temple."
"Isn't that a temple where they practice magic?" I ask softly.
"Yes. And I am in no way saying you have to go! I'm merely giving you a better offer. You are welcome to stay here while I am away but..." He trails off. I honestly did not like Seaweed Square. It was just too busy with too many people. And without Uncle here I feared my boredom would only get worse.
"I will go with Sito...for a test run. If I don't like it I will come back?" I ask him, he smiles broadly and nods encouragingly.
"But I will tell him of my experience in my own time." I lie, I had no reason to tell him I was the survivor of a massacre. Uncle sighs.
"Yes, ok. He leaves tomorrow, I will speak with him again tonight."
"I will have dinner delivered to my room." I say, he looks shocked.
"I didn't mean for you to not be there!" I laugh.
"Uncle, be calm. I want to have dinner in my room."

I start packing again that afternoon, my hands numb as I worked, I was always numb now. Ever since...

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Please comment, because I really can't decide if I will continue this or not and i have all these people read it and no comments.

I know everyone says comment but if you have taken the time to read this please take the ten seconds to comment

Honestly