Avian: Alina

Prologue
Mother's point of view
----------------
Ever since she was a little girl, she had just a bit of trouble keeping herself calm when life went the wrong way.

"They are coming, NOW. You have to take her and go."

She heard the words, but she didn't want to believe them.

Her life was coming to its close; she could taste the bitter end, for it was inevitable
.
She had been running for years,  it was the only way to protect the only people she loved in this cruel, cold world. Now her efforts to keep them safe would turn up as futile and her desperate struggle would end, leaving her helpless to do anything about it.

The sound of her heart shattering brought on the fraught denial.

“There must be another way, there has to be! Don’t tell me there is not! I won’t accept it! I just won’t!" She said, burying her face in her hands, trying to hide the beads of water forming in the corners of her eyes.

She shook her head violently, a black blur of hair flinging side to side.

"This can’t be happening!" The woman thought.

The night had started like any other, contently tucked in bed. The stars and moon gleamed in the dusty midnight, shining down on the old little cabin of hers. She slept happily, having just lullied her fussy young girl to sleep.

"It has been so long…"  she continued thinking, "Why can’t they just leave us be.…"

Her husband was spending time out in town, working his night shift at the local industrial factory. Why in the world he would work all night and sleep off most of the day? She would never understand. He spotted them on his way home as they stole towards the cabin, only a mere half hour away. A mere half hour before her life started to breakdown in front of her eyes. Now he, her husband, is here, and so are they.

She felt the familiar sensation of spite flow through her like a raging flame.

"Please, please just listen to me Veronica-"

The moment she heard that name she snapped. No one would ever be allowed call her that despised name, let alone her husband. Never would anyone utter that name to her again.

"NO! Don’t you ever call me Veronica, that’s the name they gave me, you know my real name! You know it!"

Saudia- meaning dark beauty- was her name, not what they gave her to go by. Veronica was no longer her stamp, not then, and not now.

David, on impulse, gripped her shoulders, little buds of sweat rolling down his forehead.

He watched them as they made their way to the house. He knows what he has seen, and he knows what must be done if they are to stand a chance.  They could have him, but not his daughter, nor his wife. He felt the immediate need to try and make her understand this, she has to understand or else nothing can be done to save them. He could already see the words coming up his throat and out of his mouth.

"Just listen to me!” David shouted at her, “I have to go out there. I just have to…You know that! She has to go now, or…you know what will happen." He shivered at old memories. Losing his daughter once was more than enough for him. “Saudia, please. I beg of you. I know you are angry, and frightened, but you have to go. It’s the only way.”

Saudia wanted to fall to her knees, scream at whoever was doing this to her and her family, and let her hot tears escape from their prison. She knew he was right, no matter how much it pained her.

"But...but….David…I don't want to lose you..."

She remembers back on the old days, and who they used to be, at least when they didn’t know any better. No matter how horrible they were, she sometimes finds herself missing those times. The days were filled with simplicity. As it is said, ignorance is bliss, and she misses the bliss.

She sighed heavily, bringing herself out of nostalgia.

"I love you David. I really do."

These words of assurance granted David the bit of strength he needed. He’s frightened too, so very frightened, but someone has to be brave, and it has to be him.

"I love you too, more than you will ever know."

Then, in one swift motion, he surprised her by gently taking her into his arms and giving her a nice, long, tender kiss.
He gazed into her electrifying eyes and grinned.

"See you in Hell, Saudia." He said before he released her, bolting out the door.

"DAVID!" she screamed out knowing all she could do now but save her daughter from this horror.

Nothing she could have said or done would have stopped him.

"Don’t worry, I will." She whispered under her breath, trying to hold a cry in.

She turned, ran to a small closet, and flung it wide open.

"Baby?" she whispered, a sign for her to come out.

A small girl wearing bright blue pajamas crawled out of her hiding place.
Saudia wasted no time.

"Do you remember the tunnel your Father and I showed you in the basement? I want you to go through it, and then run very far away, as fast as you can. Don’t come back, no matter what. You know where to go. Do you understand?" She told her daughter, keeping a brave face.

“We thought they had given up, we let our guard down.” She thought to herself.
WE MADE A MISTAKE.
And now we are paying for it with our daughter.

Her daughter shakily nodded then proceeded to ask her mother,

"Who are they? Why are those people here? Why isn’t Daddy with you?"

The woman bit her bottom lip.

"Just go to the basement, everything will be fine." Saudia managed to get out of her throat, glancing behind her back every few seconds.

"But, why!? I want to stay with you!" cried the girl, tears running down her cheeks.

Saudia looked at her daughter with sorrow, the sweet little girl with big brown eyes, soft wavy hair, smooth chocolate skin, and the brightest smile that she just loved tremendously, but knew would probably never see again.

As long as she is safe....

Saudia unclipped a round pendant necklace from her neck and thrust it into her daughter’s hands.

I do not care what happens to me.

"You see this necklace? It’s magick. Real magick. It will protect you while we are gone. And all you have to do is believe in it. See?"

Her daughter gasped as she saw the stone began to glow a soft, light blue. She smiled sadly and wiped the tears off her daughter's cheeks.

It helped me with my gifts, it will help her too.

She bent down to hug her for one last time, and quietly whispered in her ears

"Oh baby, I’m so sorry….You don’t deserve this…..Please forgive me…."

Not just for leaving you, but for what you are bound to find out about me, your father, and yourself.

"Sorry for what? What’s happening? Whatever it is I forgive you! Please, just let me stay! I can help!"

Hearing her daughter say that stabbed her in the heart and immediately brought out the tears. She embraced her daughter even harder. She remembers the old saying she used to hear so many times.

         If you love something, let it go-

At that moment, fire was thrown through the window of the house
.
         She’s always had us to protect her, but now…

As the little girl screamed, Saudia grabbed her and tossed her into the basement.

         The girl will have to save herself.

"I will always love you!" were the last words her daughter heard from her mother before the door was slammed shut and locked.

She can hold them off for now,  she knows she can.

Saudia turned to face her fears.