Snippet #1813698

Daiyu shook her head, tears in her eyes. The flames behind her were dying, the shadows crept closer. Why hadn't the Porter's come looking for her? She had heard Helen crying but there was just no way for her to get there. They just left her, the entire town just left her standing there with whatever was out there in the dark.

Daiyu faced the dying fire. Getting onto her hands and knees her hands sought out a piece of wood to light from the last of the flames. It was all she could do. Fingers slid in the dirt and she crawled frantically in the small circle of dying light. Her hand bumped something. It felt like wood, wasn't very big but it would light. Holding it into the embers, Daiyu waited until it caught on fire. Holding it before her, the frightened girl made a quick run for the closest building.

Once inside, her small torch illuminated the interior of the small home. Daiyu slammed the door behind her. She had seen them, the figures in the shadows that appeared as she ran. Her eyes searched the floor for the root cellar door. She spotted it and lifted the heavy thing open. She extinguished her flame, knowing that she couldnt' take it down with her, lest she set the house on fire. Daiyu crawled down into the cramped, dank room. It was small but the slim girl managed to slip in and under the floor boards. The family who had owned the home must have stored very little down here. Daiyu lay on her stomach listened. It was only a matter of time before the things came looking for her. She swallowed and dirt inched into her nose as she tried to breathe. Daiyu thought of her family, of Patrick and Helen. She closed her eyes and waited.

In the caravan, guilt was eating at Nathan. They were not that far from the town, he could turn back but every time Melanie thought her husband looked to be folding and about to turn back she would snap at him. Finally, he could take no more. "Jesse?" Nathan called out to the man on his horse. "I....we lost Daiyu. I think she was by the fire still when we all pulled out of there in our fear. I can't go back but I feel...." Nathan looked at his wife. Melanie's eyes were full of anger. Nathan cast his gaze back forward, unable now to look at the man or his wife. "Never mind." It was all the man managed to mumble out. In the back Helen was crying, "Yui? Where is Yui?" Her brother was hugging her. Patrick knew that his parents had left her there and hatred for them began to seep into him. How could they have just left her behind to the darkness?

Melanie looked at Jesse, "Can't be helped. The children are more important that some girl who almost got them killed."