I like the rain. It washes away the stench of death. But the scarred memories are baked into the very stone, an external reminder of what happened here. Every muscle tells me to run like I did then, but I’ll never be free of this place until I put them to rest.

Walking through the torrent of rain, we cross a stone bridge hanging over one of the sewers leading under the city. Bobbing in the water, trapped among the debris, I see the unfortunate souls who thought they could escape. Only to be riddled with arrows, trapping them here.  

This place taught me life's cruelty and what you must do to survive. I can still feel the heat on my face as imperial soldiers slaughtered everyone they could find. Those who didn't meet the sword's edge on the first night were hunted down like rats. 

We hid among the survivors, praying the imperials wouldn't find us. For days, the smell of burning meat choked us as our people dwindled. Memories of a one-armed man hit me; he fed us strange meat. Another time, a woman yelled for us to run as an imperial soldier speared her.

I fall to my knees, the world spinning as I fight to breathe. A pair of hands forces me up, their words little more than a garbled mess. Something wraps around me, calming me. When the haze disappears, I look at Enid, hugging me.

Patting her on the head. “Thanks, Little Light.”

She looks up at me with worry in her eyes. “You don't have to do this.” She plants her head on my chest. “We can go home.”

I hug her, “I can’t.” I tilt her head to look at me. “I have to put them to rest.” Taking her hand, we continue as the rain drips off our cloaks. Even though it has been thirteen years, little has changed. The burnt-out buildings are still black from the inferno, their occupants exactly where they fell all those years ago. Their cries dance with the wind through the street in a crescendo of wails. I fight the memories, but this place won't let me go.

“Aw! Colton! You’re hurting me!” I let go of her hand, scared that I squeezed too tightly. She shakes her hand wildly, but nothing looks broken. Hugging herself, she glares at me as if trying to keep warm. “You’re not well, Colton.” She rubs her arms. “We should go.” 

“I’m fine, Little Light,” I lie. There's enough going on right now that I don't want to burden her with my problems. I offer my hand, but she doesn't take it. She glares at me, though I can't tell if it's the rain or tears. “Enid?”

“No, you're not!” She chokes on her words. “You're cutting people out again.” She hits me in the chest, clenching her fists as she rests her head. “It's ok to ask for help.” She sniffles and looks at me with greying eyes.

“Thank you, Enid.” I pull her into a hug. “I promise I'll lean on you if I have to. But I'm ok.” She allows me to take her hand. “Come on, it shouldn’t be much further.”   

We arrive on the main street, and it's clear of debris now piled into the splintered foundations behind us. Strange, this place was abandoned. Why are the roads cleared? A large fountain, long unused, adorned the path ahead. The memory of a woman humming a tone fills my ears. 

“Why are you smiling?” Enid asks as we stop. Looking into the water, I find a smile on our faces.

“Just remembering something,” I stare at the water, my reflection easier to see now that the rain has slowed to a trickle. “A long time ago, I remember hearing someone sing here.”

Her smile becomes a full-blown grin. “Maybe it was Aunt Iona.” She giggles, forcing the laugh I'm holding to come out. “What's so funny about Aunt Iona singing? She does it for Aunt Luna all the time.”

“Sure she does.” I look around. I'm sure this path leads to the gathering hall. “Come on, it's this way.” I don't take her hand, wanting to give her more independence. But she doesn't move, looking at the ground.

“Mom's worried about you.”

I hold back a grunt. Of course, Giselle would use Enid against me. I've avoided her summons, taking every chance I could to escape the estate. But it will be another empty apology. It always is.

“She wants to talk, Colton.” She looks sorrowful, hugging herself. “Won't you give her a chance to apologize?”

I slump onto the edge of the fountain. Enid wants me to be the better person in all this, but I can't bring myself to do it. I’ve given in so many times, hoping things would be different. “I'm sorry, Little Light, but I'm done giving her chances.”

She pouts, so I gesture at her to join me. Taking a seat, she lays her head on my shoulder. Pulling her into a hug, I rest my head on hers.

“Can you forgive her just one more time?” She puts her hand on my chest. “I don't want you to leave hating her.” Her nails dig into my shirt.

“I don't hate her, Enid; it's just…” I try to find the words, “I don't trust her anymore.”

She stands, hurt by my words. Turning around, she glares at me. “That's not fair, Colton. Mom isn't perfect,” she looks away, clenching her fists at her side. “She wasn't there for us, but she feels bad, especially for her part in this.” She gestures to the ruins. “She wants the chance to atone,” she pulls her fists to her face, taking a deep breath. “But you'd rather make her wallow in guilt like a selfish asshole!”

Her words cut me deeply as they echo through the streets, sending a flock of birds to flight. The flame in her eyes extinguished, and she fights to breathe, her sour expression now one of regret. Refusing to meet my gaze, she rubs her arm in embarrassment. Her eyes dart between me and something else. “I'm…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say…”

I pull her into a hug, rubbing her head like when we were kids. “Enid,” I tilt her chin so she has to look at me. “Maybe I can forgive her absence or the empty promises.” I force a smile, pulling her into my chest. “But I’ll never trust her again.”  

She tensely shakes her head, sniffling into my chest. She looks up with a tearful expression, turning my stomach to lead. 

I promised myself I wouldn't cave to whims, but those eyes whittle away at my will. I take her by the shoulders. “When we get back, I'll talk to Giselle.” With a toothy smile, she leaps into my arms, hanging from my neck.

“I said I'd talk to her, but that doesn't mean I'll forgive her.” I hate shattering her hope, but it's all I’m willing to give Giselle. I don’t wait for Enid to protest; her yelling spooked those birds, and I’m worried someone may have seen them and come to investigate.  

Continuing to the feast hall, the stench of smoke fills the air. This whole district should be empty, and I didn't see any lightning strikes. Fearing that we’re not alone, I push my sister behind me. Adrenaline rushes through my veins, causing my heart to thump like a wardrum. Every shadow and sound sets me off. I have to keep Enid safe.     

The way forward opens into a large square; stalls that once offered a place to gather now lay in ruins. The proud feast hall is now little more than blackened bone sticking out of the ground. Smoke rises from a large bonfire, now extinguished by the heavy rain. Creeping towards the bonfire, the stench of whatever was burning hits us. It's a sickening mixture of trash, making me want to puke.

Worrying for Enid, I look behind me, finding her covering her mouth with both hands. With a trembling hand, she points to the pikes lining the front of the feast hall, each decorated with a skull. I clench my fist, biting my lower lip till the taste of blood enters my mouth. So this is what happened. The sounds of chaos ring in my ears. I fight to breathe, and my skin is on fire. Enid's fingers intertwine with mine, bringing me back.

We walk towards the pikes. At their base, who these people were is now clear. Many of them warriors, their gear rusted and riddled with deep puncture wounds. This place must have been where they made their final stand. I look to the hall, imagining men fighting as the imperials set this place ablaze, screams engulfing the area as the defends were cut down.

A giant sword lies decarded at the base of the nearest pike, the blade splint in two. The hilt is simple, and the grip is little more than worn wrappings. But it hits me with those words, “‘ Find you aunt, and keep Enid safe.’” I pick up the sword, gesturing for Enid to back away. It's heavy. I can barely hold the weapon over my head. I swing the blade with great difficulty, causing the pike to fall, the skull rolling to the pyre. The blade slips through my fingers. I reach for the skull in a haze, fearing I’d lose it to the pyre.

“Is that…” Enid asks.

“Yeah,” is all I can say as I pick up the skull. Sitting on the stairs of the feast hall, I hold my forehead against the skull of my father—the guilt, shame, and despair pile on top of me like a mountain. “I kept her safe, father,” tears threaten to fall. My sister puts her hand on my shoulder, reassuringly smiling and wiping away her tears. We embrace, shielding each other from the truth, but there is one more thing to do. “I need you to stand back, Enid.”

I take our father's sword, ready to chop every pike down. “Wait!” Enid grabs my arm. “If you do that, we’ll never find her.” 

Looking at the skulls, I lower the sword. Enid’s right; we have to figure out which skull belongs to our mother. But there’s nothing to tell us who’s who. Little shadows woosh overhead, followed by a kraa from our new feathered guest. It lands on the ground, hopping around the pikes, looking for food. Enid offers a dry piece of fruit, which it takes. 

Swallowing its prize, it looks to us, “You want more?” crouching, Enid reaches into her sleeve, offering a piece of dried meat. “Here.” The raven takes the offering, flying off to enjoy the meal. Looking at us from its perch, it taps the roof's edge.

“Mom,” it says, sounding like Enid. Tapping the roof again, “Mom,” it flies overhead, landing on one of the pikes and repeating its actions. It's either mocking us or… the thought it's trying to help... well, it's as good a plan as any. Taking our father's sword, I topple the pike, the raven swooshing to the ground. Enid and I look for the skull, finding our Raven companion beside it.

Though the flesh is gone, there's something familiar about the skull. Picking it up, memories of a woman with long blonde hair blowing in the wind strike me. Though her face is hidden from me, I am sure it's her. Like my father, I press my head to my mother's, apologizing for not coming sooner. 

I look at the raven, who stares back at me. “Thank you,” I say, reaching into my sleeve and pulling out a few pieces of meat. Taking its pay, it flies off to enjoy its bounty. 

Now it's time to leave. Our parents deserve a nobler resting place than this. They all do, but finding them all would take a lifetime. I only hope that this gesture will be enough to give them some peace. Wrapping my parent's skulls in a cloth, I hand them to Enid. 

Our feathered friends take flight, warning that we’re not alone. Shielding Enid, I look around the square for anything out of place. I shush Enid, needing to hear as well as see. A shadow leaps out of the darkness, the glint of a crossbow bolt sending my heart racing. 

A wooshing fills the air, sending me to the ground as a sharp pain rips into my shoulder. Panicking, I shoulder my sister, running for dear life. We have to get out of here. I rush through the streets, not knowing where we or our pursuers are. 

Rushing to the outer walls, I look for a way out. Lines of ruined hovels hugging our ten-meter-high jailer. Though most of them are rubble, there is one still standing. “There’s no point in running mongrels. We’ll find you eventually.” A man's voice roars behind us. I know that voice; how could I have been so careless? Running to our only means of escape, I throw debris aside. The only way in is a small hole near the ground. It's too small for me, but Enid should be able to get through it. 

 I pull Enid off my shoulder, “Who are they?” she grabs my chest, fingers twirling around the bolt lodged in my shoulder.  “You’re hurt!” she tries to pull it out, but I stop her when the barbs rip into my flesh. “We have to get you help!” She starts to panic, so I hold her close.                       

Dammit, I can't feel my arm, the numbness spreading from finger to shoulder.  

Once she's calm, we continue. “Enid, remember the game?” Placing my fingers on her forehead. “Hand on my forehead. Middle, index, ring.” 

“Then I know for certain. My brother's in front of me.” 

“If hiding in the darkness, wait a day or two.” 

“Because it could be possible the bad men are hunting you.”

I hold her close, kissing her on the forehead. “Now go.” I usher her into the hole, my vision growing blurry. “Don't come out no matter what happens. Promise me, Enid.” She clings to me for dear life. “Enid! Promise me!”

“I promise.” She whimpers, crawling through the hole with our parent's skulls. “Don’t die.”

I wait, using my body to hide the hole. Half a dozen men around my age creep towards me like rats, looking for scraps. Though they do not wear their armor, their mannerisms mark them as soldiers. At the head of this pack, a man wielding a crossbow throws his hood down. “See what did tell you guys,” Atamus, the younger brother of Atius, said, towering over me with a smug grin. “Dogs always return to their homes.” Kneeling, we lock eyes, “You should have known,” he throws a purple handkerchief with the sigil of the Silent Sin at me.

Of course, Madame would throw me to the wolves. Atamus must have paid through the nose for that information. “So, what's the plan?” I crack a smile. “Are you going to kill me?” 

Atamus’s fist leaves me reeling, flooding my mouth with the taste of iron. “Oh no,” he grins, holding a tiny veil. “I’m going to give you a choice.” He swirls the vial. “I’ll give you the antidote. In exchange, your sister's life is forfeit as payment for my brother’s.”

I spite in his face, “Fuck you.” 

Wiping his face with his sleeve, he drops the vial, planting his foot on the bolt, forcing it deeper into my shoulder. I wince in pain, fighting to hold back a cry, but the pain is unbearable. I let out a blood-curdling scream which echoes through the alley.   

A malevolent grin is etchet across Atamu’s face. He twists his ankle, prolonging the pain. “Pity.” He looks to his compatriots. “Find the girl; she can’t have gotten far.” Pointing out of the alley, two of them leave. He pulls his foot off my wound, kneeling till we’re eye to eye. “If you tell me where she is, I’ll make quick.” Sliding his finger across his neck. 

“She could be halfway across the city by now.” I laugh through the pain. 

Shaking his head, he punches me, working himself into a frenzy. His friends join him, landing a few kicks. I start seeing red blood pouring from my face. One of them ready another kick, but something hits him in the face.

“Leave him alone!” Enid yells from the roof.

“You little bitch!” the thug grips the wound near his eye. “When I get a hold of you, I'll…” Atamus stops him, his attention solely on my sister. I try to stand, but I’m knocked to the ground by one of the thugs.  

 “Young lady, if you don't come down from there.” He pulls out his short sword, pressing it to my throat. “I can't promise your brother will live.”

“No, don’t,” Enid protests. “Please, we only came here to put our parents to rest.”

Enid, I told you to hide no matter what happens. I wince as the numbness spreads to my chest. Closing my eyes, I fight the urge to cry. I’m dead, I’m sure of it. Through the haze of despair, I see our feathered friend perched on the roof with a few friends. If only they could help.

“How about this! You give me those remains, and I promise I won’t kill your brother.”

“You promise?”

Standing, Atamus holds his arms out. “I swear on sky god himself.”

“Enid…” I fight to speak.

“Shut up!” Atamus punches me as he kneels. “You should have taken my deal.”  Grinning, he whispers. “After I smash those bones. I'm going to let my friends enjoy her.” He grabs me by the hair, “Then I’m going to cave her head in, just like you did to my brother.” He growls, hissing through his teeth.   

A shadow towers over us, “Ok, I’m throwing them down.” 

Atamus gestures to his wounded friends to catch our parent's skulls. With one arm out, he waits, but something is off. Judging from the shadow, whatever Enid has over her head is too large to be our parent's skulls. She throws it, but her targets get out of the way. Large chunks of stone hit the ground with a muffled thud.

“Oh, little bitch!” He pulls out a knife, holding it with his teeth, he climbs the outer wall of the building, fragments falling like rain. Making his way to an open broken window, a terrifying cry rings in our ears. 

One of Atamus's friends runs towards us, his arm a mess of meat and bone. He stumbles to the ground, where a pack of large dogs swarms him. He cries a garbled mess as he's torn limb from limb. But these aren’t small alley dogs that litter the streets. These hefty monsters of muscle and fang are war hounds. A finger snap interrupts their meal, their attention drawn to their master. A man with grey hair and an eyepatch emerges, dragging Atamus's other friend by the scruff. 

I chuckle, seeing Hahaku standing with Tristan and several others in tow. Throwing the man to his knees, Hahaku takes a hunting knife sliding it across the man's throat. Blood splattering along his face, Hahaku looks to us like a wolf having found its prey. As he struggles to stop the bleeding, Hahaku lets the poor sod drown in his blood. The group marches towards us, their hounds snarling for their next meal.

Fearing for his life, Atamus puts his sword to my throat. “Get back. I’ll kill him!” His threats fall on deaf ears as his hand trembles. Like cornered rats, Atamus and his two thugs surrender. “Whatever you are being paid, I’ll double it. My family is wealthy, second only to the five great families.” He pleads. 

Without a word, Hahaku takes Atamus by the throat. Panicking, Atamus threatens and pleads for his life. But to no avail, carting him away from view, Hahaku’s men deal with the other two thugs, taking their weapons and letting them fall to the ground with a metallic ting.    

I feel light like my body is a feather. My version is fading, and voices become intangible. Tristan kneels, worrying about me. I point to the roof. He nods, gesturing to a woman to follow him. The woman glances at me; her green eyes put me at ease, “Aunty?” She kneels, kissing me on the forehead, her lips telling me everything is ok. I fight to stay awake, but it's a losing battle. A blonde woman checks on me, but her face is a blur. I reach out. “Mom…” She takes my hand, resting it on her cheek. I’m so tired, unable to fight it, I surrender to the darkness.