I sit on the street with my two little sisters. Elise who is eight and Amanda who is four. Amanda is sleeping up against me and Elise is shivering next to me. My arms are wrapped around the two of them. Rain dropped in front of us, making it seem colder from time to time. The roof we were under hardly brought any protection from the rain. It took a while for Elise to fall asleep, but as soon she did, I lay back and prepare myself for a long night of watching. I couldn't let them take my sisters. Never. They were my only family left. At least on our side of the world. They took them from us. It happened about a year ago, we were at the arena watching the duel. When we were leaving two men came and asked if they could talk with my parents. We went with them, when they suddenly brought out their stunners and stunned my parents. The last thing my parents said before they were stunned was, "Take your sisters and run, Will! Do it!" The last thing I saw was their determined faces.
I snap back to reality. A tear slipped from my eye. I let it fall and hit the ground with a splash. Elise opened her eyes and looked at me.
"Will?" Elise said.
I look over at Elise and say, "yeah?"
"I'm thirsty," she said. "Hungry too."
"Okay," I said, picking up Amanda and cradling her in my arms. Elise stood up and started walking with me.
I handed her a sweatshirt. She pulls on the hoodie and zips it up.
I zip up a sweatshirt on Amanda and start walking towards the bakery. We only had two sweatshirts so I didn't wear one.
We walked for a while before we made it to the bakery.
I pushed the door open so Elise could enter. When she did I entered. The baker greeted us with a warm smile. "Hello, Elise and Will!" He said "What can I do for you today?"
"I think we're going to buy some bread and water." I said.
I grabbed my wallet from my pocket and checked how much I had. I had fifty dollars.
I grab a ten out and stuff the wallet back into my pocket.
The baker grabs a loaf of bread stuffs it in a bag. Then he grabs a gallon of water and brings the bread and water to the counter.
I hold out the ten dollars but he pushes my hand away.
"I don't need your money, you need it more than I do." He said and smiled.
"Thank you," I say.
"Will, can you buy some cinnamon rolls too, please?"
"Uh-"
"Of course you can!" He said.
I felt guilty, he was so kind to us. I shouldn't have accepted it, but it would make Elise happy. I could've payed.
The baker put them in a bag for us and placed it on the counter.
"Thank you," I said
"Your welcome," he said.
Elise grabs a bag and a gallon of water and I grab a bag with Amanda in my other hand.
We walk to the door open it and walk outside.
"Wait!" He shouted.
I stop.
"Come in, please."
Elise and I come back into the bakery.
"Do you want to stay the night?" He said.
"Oh yes! Will, can we?"
I didn't know what to say. Every time we came he showed us kindness. Had he known our parents? Did they ask him to help us? I debate on whether to stay or go back to the streets. I did need to stay. I was drenched in rain water and I was cold.
"Alright," I say. "Thank you."
"I'll take you to your room." He said.
He lead us through the hall to a bedroom with a King-sized bed and red carpeted floor. It had a dresser and a desk and a bathroom, too.
"Come warm by the fire when you're settled." He said.
"Okay."I say.
I place what is left of our belongings next to the bed and grab three cinnamon rolls.
Elise and I walk out of the room and head to where the baker was. The baker and his wife were sitting by the fire. There was two other chairs and a table in the middle of the chairs. They were all wood chairs which was strange, they didn't make wood chairs anymore. They made then out of white leather or a woolen-fabric. That was weird.
"Where did you get these?" I said.
"Oh the chairs? We made them ourselves." He said and laughed.
I carefully shake Amanda awake. Then I rip off a piece of the cinnamon roll and hand it to Amanda. She eats hungrily. I wondered how long it had been since I had eaten. Maybe one or two days?
My stomach growled. I hand Elise a cinnamon roll and start eating mine. I hadn't realized how hungry I had been. I wondered how long it had been since I'd slept. All I knew was that I had dark circles under my eyes. I had been protecting my sisters. I needed sleep.
"So, Will, how old are you?" The bakers wife asked.
"Fourteen." I said.
"Well, you are very brave, Will." She said.
"No, I'm afraid. Ending up protecting my sisters on the streets was just a coincidence. We wouldn't even be on the streets if-" I pause knowing I would be telling them what happened.
I pretended I was coughing instead of saying the rest. It seemed to be working because they weren't looking at me. Instead there eyes were on Elise.
"They took our parents." Elise said. "The other side. They stunned them and dragged them away from us."
I look at the ground, avoiding eye contact with the baker and his wife. It was one of the worst days of my life. I could hear the screams of them as I took my sisters to somewhere safe. They chased us but we got away, barely. I should have stayed and helped but I ran. I ran with my sisters. I let them take my parents. But what about Elise and Amanda? What would have happened to them? A stunner would kill Amanda. They would've died if I had stayed. If we hadn't run we would be captured along with our parents. But we can't go back to that day, no. I would save them one day. I would. They would be freed. I would see them again. What if they shot them? Would they killed my parents? Why would they be taken? These questions swirled around in my mind waiting to be answered.
I look up at the bakers. I look into their eyes and say, "I miss them. Someday I will go back for them." My eyes well up. "I will save them."