16
The sound of gunfire seems to have become the eternal wall of this land.
This cursed war dragged on for three full months.
Luckily, the isolated orphanage was tucked deep in the valley–so remote, it felt forgotten by the world. Artillery fire hadn’t yet touched this final patch of peace.
We barely kept the children alive by growing potatoes and pumpkins on the few scraggly plots of land in the yard.
I thought Caleb would leave after that day,
But unexpectedly, like a restless ghost, he lingered near the orphanage each day,
The children sometimes said they saw a strange uncle, bandaged and limping, always watching
them from a distance.-
I knew exactly who it was, but I said nothing.
Then one day, uninvited guests came to the orphanage.
The already crumbling wooden door groaned loudly under pressure-“Boom!”
Splinters flew.
The door burst apart completely,
“Waaah-!”
The children’s screams pierced the air like sirens.
Several ragged, pale, and hollow–eyed refugees, with eyes like starved wolves, locked their gaze on our dwindling food supply.
“Food! Give us all your food!” barked the leader, a man with a scar slashed across his face.
My heart dropped. I quickly pushed the children behind me: “Hide under the bed! Now!”
The children, crying, fled to the corners.
I took a deep breath, stepped between the invaders and the children, and forced my voice to stay steady: “I’ll give you the food–just don’t hurt them.”
Scarface’s eyes scanned me, and when he saw my face clearly, the hunger in his eyes twisted into something more vile.
“Well, well… didn’t think I’d find a beauty like you out here in the wild.” He grinned, showing yellow teeth, his eyes crawling across my body like grease.
The men behind him chuckled, their looks foul with intent.
“Boss, she’s way better than those crusty biscuits.”
“Damn right–jackpot today!”
My heart sank,
“The food is over there,” I said, pointing at a few sacks in the corner. “Take it and go.”
Scarface advanced with a grin: “Oh, we’ll take the food–and you too!”
He suddenly lunged to grab me!
3/3 83.33
3:42 pm D DDD
Without thinking, I whipped out the pistol Lucas had slipped me before leaving!
“Stay back!” I shouted, aiming it straight at him.
Scarface flinched. A flicker of fear, then a sneer: “You dare point that thing at me, bitch?”
Bang! I pulled the trigger without hesitation!
The bullet grazed his arm, spilling red.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
I fired wildly, driven by fear.
Gunpowder and blood filled the air.
Two men dropped, howling in pain, clutching wounds.
But soon the bullets were gone.
Click. The sound of an empty chamber was like a death knell.
“Damn you!” Scarface roared, fury warping his scarred face.
He charged!
I couldn’t dodge in time–he kicked me hard in the stomach!
Pain exploded through me, and my mouth filled with blood.
“Tie her up!” he bellowed.
Men dragged me up and bound me to a wooden post in the yard.
I screamed, hoarse with despair: “Children! Hide! Don’t come out! Listen to Teacher!”
Rough rope dug into my wrists. I was tied tight.
Scarface stepped close, face twisted with lust and cruelty: “You’ve got fight–I like that. Time to teach you a real lesson.”
He reached for my shirt, a filthy hand reeking of sweat-
“STOP!!!”
A roar like thunder split the sky.
Caleb!
He burst from the shadows, eyes red, clutching a heavy iron rod like a berserker.
He was covered in blood–I couldn’t tell whose.
“You wanna die?!” Scarface cursed and charged with a shovel.
Steel clashed–sparks flew.
Crashes, screams, cracking bones, and chaos filled the yard.
Blood splattered. Some warm liquid hit my face.
I couldn’t see. I only knew–Caleb was fighting for me.
He was like a demon, crazed and fearless, trading blow for blow! Thump-
He staggered, coughing blood.
A man lunged behind him with a blade-!
3:42pm D DDD.
“Behind you!” I screamed.
He spun, smashing the rod into the man.
But the motion reopened his wounds. He trembled violently.
He staggered in front of me. The intruders, cowed by his fury, froze.
With bloodied hands, he took off his old whitewashed scarf and gently draped it over my head,
covering my eyes.
“Baby, be good,” he whispered hoarsely, breath ragged yet gentle, “Don’t watch.”
Then came more fighting–groans, bones snapping, metal striking flesh.
The stench of blood engulfed me.
Time dragged unbearably.
Then-
Silence.
A heavy, terrifying silence swallowed everything.
I trembled, blinded by cloth and dread.
I sobbed, voice cracking: “Caleb…?”
No answer.
‘Caleb?! Say something!” I cried out, desperation ripping through me.
Still silence.
Just as I shattered inside-
A faint voice:
‘I’m sorry, Elena… I made you… worry.”
