The Flower That Runs Away

 The Flower That Runs Away

They were trying to escape.

"Who are you?" the younger one, the girl, asked fearfully. Her cheeks were stained with the tracks of tears, and her eyes were bloodshot and wide open. Her violet eyes were lit up by the flickering orange flames, turning them pale as whitefire.

The masked men didn't respond verbally; rather, the one closest to the girl shot out his hand and clasped her throat, pushing her to the wall. She struggled against him, kicking and screaming hoarsely, but he was far stronger than her. The girl's brother, the elder sibling, tried to run to her, but another man grabbed him from behind and wrapped an arm around his throat.

"Ceirn!" the girl gasped. She was still struggling, but her efforts were growing weaker.

"It'll be alright, Wysteria," the boy managed to choke out. The desperation in his eyes sharply contrasted the brave manner in which he spoke. "I swear I'll get us out of here."

Simultaneously, the masked men let out a low, gutteral, coughing laugh. The men were laughing at them! The thought put an extra burst of energy and determination into Ceirn's limbs.

He wrestled the man's arm away from his throat and sprinted straight towards Wysteria. With a yell, he threw himself at the man holding his sister, determined to get him away from Wysteria. He wouldn't let these people hurt her!

Two other men came out of nowhere. One of them stood directly in Ceirn's path, bringing the boy to a halt, while the other one hit Ceirn straight across the face. He stumbled backwards, collapsing onto the floor.

"Ceirn!" Wysteria cried, sobbing. "Please don't hurt him," she begged. "We've been good kids!"

A choked sob came out of Ceirn's mouth, and tears started running down his cheeks before he knew it. His sister was being so brave, but she was so young....