The night started like any other. But I have learned over the years that what is now will not necessarily be the same tomorrow. Times are like ocean tides, rough, changing and at times, unpredictable. The roughest wave in my life happened when I was merely eight years old...
"Tătic," I called out, jumping on my bed. I was eager to start the bed time story, which had ended at a cliffhanger the night before.
My dad looked into my room, seeing me jumping on the bed.
"Ready for the story, Little Lexi?" He asked, smiling at the eager look I knew was shining from my face.
"Uh huh!" I shrieked, jumping even higher.
"Careful now, you'll break your bed." My dad chuckled. Then he moved from my doorway, walking down the hall that led into our kitchen and living room. I heard him grab the book from the bookshelf our family kept on display against right wall, adjacent to the television.
While jumping, I happened to notice a strange movement in the woods surrounding our home.
"Tătic?" I yelled, staring out my window. "I-"
A loud crashing sound came from the living room, where the front door was located.
"Tătic? Mamaí?" I cried out, launching myself off the bed. I ran down the hall to the living room, where I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Go back to your room, Alexius." My dad said calmly. I saw my mother's eyes pleading with me from the kitchen.
"Listen to your father, Lexi." She breathed, barely audible.
But I was unable to move. I was rooted to the spot, staring at six men wearing all black with the exception of the red Insurgo Grand Council insignia on their shirts. My eyes went wide as I took them in. Though my parents tried to keep their leadership positions in the Resistance, the largest Democracy-supporting rebellion against the tyrant Insurgo Grand Council in Insurgo history, from interfering with our lives, my older brother and I both knew that there were hard feelings between the Council and our parents.
Seeing them would not have been nearly as frightening, if it were not for my parents' faces. My father looked pained, and my mother, horrified. They continued to try to subtly urge me back to my room, but I was a stone pillar with my feet attached to the floor.
The largest man, clearly the leader, spoke to my father.
"You have been found guilty of treason and disturbing the peace in the Insurgo community." He boomed. I wasn't sure what that meant, but my father's face darkened in anticipation. He moved slowly towards my mother and me.
"Tătic..." I whispered.
"Shh, Lexi, head back to bed. Your tătic and I will take care of this." My mom whispered back.
"Aislinn, you know what this means." My dad said under his breath. "They never come in the night without the main purpose. Keep Alexius close. She'll be in the same amount of danger as us, whether she's in her room or not."
My eyes were snapped from the men as I heard my father's words. I looked between my parents in confusion. What had they meant, the main purpose? Surely they were not referring to what had been happening to the other families. The Council was known for slaughtering the families of those who spoke out against them, but Mamaí and Tătic had been very careful to not only keep my brother, Kory, and me out of the spotlight, but to also keep extra safety measures on the house.
"Alex," My mom said, whispering back to my dad. "We have to get her out of here. Kory should be safe at Ryan's house. Thank the heavens he wanted to stay the night there."
"Take Lexi and go. I'll meet you out back." My dad said, glaring at the men in front of us.
"I'm staying with you." My mom grounded out, gritting her teeth.
"We can't risk Lexi. Please, Ash." My dad pleaded.
"Take Lexi. They'll be more likely to underestimate me."
"No. Please, Ash."
My mother, sensing our time was running out, picked me up and started to ease backwards as my father eased forward.
Seeing my mother trying to run with me, the men began to close in on us. My mother and I never made it to the back door. One of the men attacked, and then all hell broke loose.
"Hide." Was the only command I received from my mother. The urgency in her voice left no room for questions. I slid to the back of the kitchen, watching my parents try to fight off the men and protect each other.
As I sat there, tears ran down my face. My parents were outnumbered six to two. Watching them, I remembered my godfather Ryan's words. If you ever need me, call. I'll always be here for you and your family.
I reached out for the phone we kept in the kitchen. As quietly as I could, I dialed Ryan's number.
"Hello?" Ryan said on the other end of the line.
"Ryan," I sobbed.
"Alexius?" Ryan sounded stunned at the tears in my voice. "What's wrong?"
"Ryan, the Council. They're here. Six of them. Tătic and Mamaí are outnumbered."
"I'm on my way." Ryan's voice was hard, but I could hear the slight strands of panic laced through it.
"Don't bring Kory. Mamaí was glad he wasn't here to see this." I breathed.
"Lexi, just stay with me. I'm getting in the car now, Kory's staying behind with Sophia." I could hear his engine roar to life, and then him hit the accelerator.
A loud crash from the living room brought my attention back to the fight. My parents were good, very good, and they had already taken three out of the fight.
Just then one of the men pulled out a gun, and shot my mother in the chest, merely inches away from her. I screamed and dropped the phone.
"Aislinn!" My dad screamed.
In the brief moment that my father was distracted trying to help my mother, he was attacked and taken down.
I felt like I was watching one of those movies were the slow motion amplified everything. I was screaming at the top of my lungs, Mamaí and Tătic’s blank staring eyes were looking right at me, and Ryan was shouting on the phone that was still connected. I could faintly make out what Ryan was yelling.
"I'm almost there, Lexi." He shouted. "I'm almost there."
The two men that survived the entire encounter with my parents began to advance on me. One hit me, and I fell into the bliss of unconsciousness.
When I woke up I was in a hospital bed with Ryan and Kory sitting beside me. Both of their eyes were tear rimmed.
"They're gone." Kory mumbled through his tears. But this was not news to me. I had seen it.
Now I am sixteen, and the memories of my parents and the cause they died for always burns in the back of my mind. They did not die in vain. Now I lead the Resistance, and our international group has nearly tripled in membership. Soon the Insurgo Grand Council will meet its end. It's the start of a new era.
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