[the Year 2093 – September 19th, Speranta – Lands of Elpida]

"ALEXIS, ASTA!"

A young woman in her mid-30s was leaning over the wall, discreetly observing a chaotic scene that was happening outside her window. Her blond messy hair was glued to a large stain of blood that covered half of her face while slowly sipping down.

A young boy between 8 and 9 years old entered the room.

"What?" He asked his mother.

"Where is Asta?"

"I don't know...Playing in his room...? Should I car...?" He asked.

"Go get him, I need to talk to both of you about something important."

"What is going on...? Huh, what's the noise outside?."

The boy tried to get closer to the window in order to see where are all these screams are coming from but his mother blocked his way with her hand.

"ALEXIS, GO GET HIM, NOW!" Shouted his mother

"Mom, are you okay?"

"It would be even better if you'd do what I ask you!" Said mother with a serious tone.

"Okay, fine!" Replied Alexis with an irritating tone.

A couple of minutes later, the old brother brought up his younger sibling who looked around 5-6 years old. Both brothers entered the room and stood immobile next to each other, waiting for what their mother has to say. As soon as she saw them she jumped towards them and made them sit on the floor.

"So...? What is going on?" Alexis impatiently asked.

"Soon, some bad people will come here and try to hurt us... We cannot stay here anymore." Whispered mother.

Her breath came in small spurts, hot and nervous.

"What?! We can't just leave now? Who are these people? What is going on outside."

"I will explain everything once we get out of here, I promise! Go to the kitchen, grab as much of food and water you can. Actually... you know what, take everything you can carry in your bag, I am counting on you! I will take care of your little brother. Once you are finished, meet me at the backdoor." She said.

"Mommy but I like it here, why can't we stay?" Asked Asta.

"Because it is dangerous if we stay." She replied.

"But that is our home..." Mumbled Alexis.

"We will find a better one." Said their mother full of positivity.

"And all of my friends, are they coming with us?" Asked Asta as he grabbed his mother by her hand.

"Asta, sweetie, I am sure that everyone is doing fine, for now, I need you to pay attention to what I am about to tell you; When your brother will come back I will count to three and... Remember how I taught you to count to five? This time we will count only until three."

The mother used Asta's finger to remind him how to use them for counting.

"One, two and three. When I say "three" I will open the backdoor and as soon as it opens I need you to run as fast as you can in the direction of the forest, I know it is a little bit far, but I am sure that you will make it in no time. Your big brother and I will help you." she explained.

"I will do my best! Can I take "Mister Bear" with me?" Asked Asta.

"Yes, of course, you can." She patted him.

Five minutes later, everyone gathered at the backdoor.

"Alexis, you are ready to go? You got some food as well, right?" Asked mother.

"We have only one bottle of water left...", he showed his backpack full of bread and occasional metal cans.

Mother noticed Alexis acting differently compared to a few minutes ago.

"Honey, what is it?" Asked the mother

"I saw them..." Sobbed Alexis.

"Saw who?" She asked.

"I looked into the window downstairs...The same people from the last year..."

"Argh...Come here, we will be all right, we went through that before and this time... This time we are prepared!", she hugged Alexis.

"Why won't they leave us alone..."

"I know...There nothing we can do at this point, that's why we cannot stay".

"Un...", Alexis made a tiny sound of acknowledgment.

"Asta, sweetie, come over here, I need you to wear this." Whispered mother and tied Asta's eyes with a black ribbon over his eyes.

"What is that for?" Asked Alexis?

"I need you to wear this for a little while, okay?" Said mother to Asta.

"Okay, but why?" Asked Asta.

"There are some bad things happened outside, it is better that you don't look at it until we arrive in the forest".

"Mommy, I can't run if I can't see anything." Explained Asta.

"Don't worry, myself and your big brother will help you" Said mother while patting his head.

"That's kind of cool." Alexis pulled Asta's cheek.

There was the noise of the front door being opened or rather busted away as something heavy fell on the floor and made a blistering sound that resonated everywhere. Multiple foot-steps entered the house, the old wooden floor was making unusually irritating squeaks as each of the intruders crossed the door entrance.

"Let him in." Said a male with a rough voice.

"PIPOLA FORGIVE MEI HAD NO OTHER CHOICE! THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL FREE ALINA IF I COOPERATE.

"That's uncle Sandu!" Whispered Alexis.

"PIPOLA, I KNOW YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE, COME OUT. I AM SURE WE CAN FIND A WAY WITHOUT ANYONE TO GET HURT. THE LIFE OF MY LITTLE GIRL DEPENDS ON YOU!" Begged Sandu.

"Mom, we should help him!" Alexis said, putting his bag on the ground.

"Don't! We can't help him..." Said Pipola.

"But if we don't, what is going to happen to Alina? She may be dangerous!" Argued Alexis.

"If you go up there, all three of us will be in danger!" Replied Pipola.

"Then what should we do?"

"Nothing...We cannot help him." Said Pipola.

"He is your brother!!" Said Alexis

"If you go up there, you won't be able to come back...I don't want to lose you, do you understand me?!" Said Pipola.

"We didn't do anything wrong, didn't we." Asked Asta.

"Honey, we did nothing wrong, nothing wrong at all." Whispered Pipola to Asta.

"Then, why?! Why are they doing this?" Said Alexis while getting nervous.

"Because we are...Different." Slowly whispered Pipola.

The door that leads to the cellar where the mother and her sons were hiding got suddenly opened.

"What is in there?" Asked another male voice.

"That's the cellar." Said Sandu.

"PIPOLA IF CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE, HELP ME OUT! I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GET HURT, I AM SURE WE CAN FIND A WAY! I AM DOING THIS FOR ALINA SAKE, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND MY FEELINGS! PLEASE, HELP MY DAUGHTER..." Cried Sandu.

"How dare you to come here and asking me to understand your feelings..." Mumbled Pipola

Mother grabbed both Alexis and Asta and moved in front of the backdoor.

"Once I open the door, whatever happens, keep running, do not stop!"

One of the intruders was slowly going down the stairs.

"Asta, are you ready to go?" Asked Pipola

"Are we going to come back?" Asked Alexis

"We have no time for this! I need you to focus and do as I say!" Nervously whispered mother.

"Why does it have to end that way..." Sobbed Alexis.

"Alexis! Look at me! We will get through this like we always did it before! Come on, help your little brother." Said Pipola.

"Let's go..." Emotionlessly pronounced Alexis to his brother.

"Don't forget what I told you; Whatever happens, do not look back!" said Pipola. "Almighty Father, please, protect us." Prayed Pipola before throwing themselves forward with a greater abandon of everything that they ever had. Tanned fingers curled into their sweaty fists, swinging forward as if it would make them faster.

"I SEE THEM! A WOMEN WITH TWO KIDS, RUNNING IN THE DIRECTION OF WOODS" Shouted a male voice coming from the backdoor.

"Don't need her, get the kids!" Said another voice.

"Father be with us, Father within us, Father behind us, Father before us, Father beside us, Father to protect us, Father, protect us because we take refuge in You. I beg you apart from my children..." Pipola prayed while running.

Her lungs and heart were pumping, the air didn't seem to be enough as she sprinted forward.

Behind them, they could hear the people screaming from pain and agony, baying howls of the dogs and jeering laughter of their aggressors. Dirt smeared Pipola's sweaty face as muddy water dripped from her blond hair.

"DO NOT STOP!" She shouted.

Protect her children by creating as much distance as they could, that was all that mattered. Pipola wasn't stopping for anything. Eyes glued to Alexis and Asta as they were running in front of her.

Chaos was the only word that could describe everything that was going on at that moment. Death was everywhere, familiar faces lied silently on the ground bathing in their own blood, some of them were treated in a much brutal way, limbs cut apart others crucified and then burned alive.

"Somebody...Anybody...Help...Me..." Cried a female voice nearby.

The familiar voice made Pipola suddenly stop, terrified, she slowly moved her head to the direction of the incoming voice. Her childhood friend Celia was lying on the ground, she could barely breathe because her stomach was stabbed with a large metallic fork.

"Who... is there? Please... help me..." Said Celia while coughing her own blood.

"Heavenly Father! What did they do to you..." Said shocked Pipola while covering her mouth.

"Who is there? Pipola? Is that...you?" Asked Celia.

The sorrow begins to consume Pipola's heart as she knew that she must not stay here any longer or she would be treated the same way they did to Celia; Realisation of that she could not save her childhood friend was tearing her apart, tears streamed silently down her face.

"I am sorry...I am so sorry..." Said Pipola while moving backward from her dying companion.

"Help...me..." Breather Celia.

"I can't...I just can't...I am so sorry!"

Pipola turned her back to her helpless friend and started accelerating while covering her ears so she could not hear Celia's voice crying for help. Old memories of her friend played like a desolation melody in her head repeating itself for what seemed like an eternity, eight years of friendship flashed back within a couple of seconds. Small pieces of her life were falling apart or being taken away, Pipola knew that she will never get that back.

"MOM! HURRY!" Shouted Alexis from in distance.

In mere minutes three silhouettes were rapidly making their way through the dark forest. Blackened corpses on the ground with the steam coming from their bodies, the smell of blood and humid grass reigned over the area.

"Mommy, I am scared." Said Asta.

"I promise you, it will be over soon. Just hold on a little bit more..."

Pipola could not get off the feeling of guilt of leaving her friend like that as she could barely keep herself from crying in front of her sons. Deep down she realized that all of these efforts of running away is nothing more than trying to escape the unavoidable despair. She gazed out at the burning village far in the distance for the last time before they disappeared in the dark wood.

"FIND THEM!" Screamed a distant voice.

The mud and icy water poured into their boots making them heavier to lift from the ground.

"What now?" Asked Alexis.

"Can I remove this, my forehead hurts." Complained Asta.

"Yes, you can remove it now." Replied Pipola while gasping for air. "Alexis! Listen to me...If I fall...take your brother and run straight ahead, I will buy some time for you to escape!"

"WHAT?! There is no way in the world we will leave you here!" Said Alexis.

"Maybe we can rest a little bit? My leg is really sore..." Groaned Asta.

"Listen to me..." Said Pipola.

"NO! Out of the question!" shouted Alexis.

"Mommy, I can't run anymore..." Said Asta.

"I am sorry we can't stop just yet, we are almost there." Said Pipola while genuinely slowing down.

"We will get out of this together!" Said Alexis while giving his mother a shoulder.

"You know that I will only slow you down, your safety is my priority." Said Pipola.

"Don't say that! You have no rights to say that!"

"I am your mother! If I need to offer my life to protect you...You must understand that I won't..." Said Pipola, but got interrupted by Alexis.

"Say no more! Don't you dare to say it!" Screamed Alexis while bursting in tears.

Exhausted of constant running, all three of them stopped in without saying a word to each other, the voices from behind were getting closer and closer.

"COME BACK! YOU FILTH! YOU HAVE NOWHERE TO RUN."

"You are bleeding" Said Alexis.

"I am fine, we must make more distance...Let's get going" Said Pipola.

"Okay, but just stop moving for a second!" Said Alexis while using his sleeve to wipe the blood from his mother's face.

"You are all grown up now, taking care of your mother. I am so proud of you!" Said Pipola.

"That's because you were always here for me, you made me what I am today..." Mumbled Alexis while crying.

"I don't want to lose you, you two are the whole world for me, I love you so much." Said Pipola while bursting in tears.

"Me too" Said Alexis while hugging his mother and his little brother as hard as he could.

The red-orange sunlight was making its way to the ground. Some sun rays were reflecting on Pipola's white pale skin. Exhausted she made one step backward and then crumbled like a puppet as if her bones could not care her own weight anymore.

"We are going to force our way through the border!" Said Pipola.

"But you always said that we should never go there!" Argued Alexis.

"I know, but that was before our life was in danger... I understand your feelings, I really do, but I still need your word that if anything happens to me you will take care of your little brother."

"I told you that I can't!" Yelled Alexis

"I will never forgive myself if something happens to neither of you because of me! Please, understand my feelings too!" Mother said in a hysterical voice.

"I..."

"Nobody is going to follow us if we get through the borderline, that's our only chance, there are no other options left. If the worse will happen "I need you to live!" Said Pipola.

"I promise..." Said Alexis with a hollow voice.

"Kiddo, get up...We must go." Alexis tried to grab his little brother's arm but failed to do so.

"I am staying here, I am tired, and I am not happy!" Said Asta.

"Cut the shit out! Do you understand the current situation?!" Shouted Alexis.

"What is wrong my heart?" Asked Pipola

"You are always treating me like a baby, I have eyes too!" Painfully squeaked Asta

"ASTA, if you don't stand I swear I will..." Yelled Alexis on his brother.

"Calm down both of you! Asta, sweetie I know it is painful, I didn't mean to ignore you, I am sorry. We are all very tired, but we need to leave this place, please!" Begged Pipola.

"Mom, they are getting closer, we must go!" Warned Alexis.

Multiple men wearing dark hooded outfits were approaching from all sides. All of them weighed down with their electrical batons that were generating so much electricity the whole forest was flashing with light-blue colors.

"JUST STAY THERE FUCKEN BITCH! I HAVE ENOUGH OF CHASING YOU."

Group of masked men begin surrounding their victims, they were so close that Pipola could clearly hear them panting with the effort.

"SURROUND THEM!!"

"We must leave, now!" Yelled Alexis.

Three dark shapes tied with their hands rushed towards the end of the forest that was visible within 800 meters away.

"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!"

Each second the distance grew in between them and pursuers, the salty sweat stinging eyes, ankle shackled out of fear, they had to advance towards the only possible hope she could have counted on at that very moment.

"THAT BITCH IS GOING FOR THE BORDERLINE!

"STOP HER BEFORE SHE CROSSES THE BORDER."

Forest was closing in, bloody sky pressing down. Half blinded by the glare of the sunset they kept running.

"No matter what happens, keep running!" Screamed mother to her boys.

The blood from her wound on her face coming all the way down to her hand was squirting on Asta's face with each shoulder movement she was doing.

The trees that once offered a shelter so many with their spreading canopy are now lifeless sticks of charcoal beating down the face of Pipola as she advanced forward. The old, yellow and brown leaves hustled in the wind like the sound of the dead that was slowly approaching them. Far in the distance, somewhere on the other side, Pipola hoped to find the salvation, that was driving her over the edge of the physical limit she could bear as her feet follow the narrow strip that stretched towards the last rays of the sun hidden behind the metal...