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13-year old Ketzal crept into the bedroom she shared with her older sister Lisa, taking care to be quiet. It was very late, probably around four in the morning, and the sun was already starting to rise. She had been out late, walking around her small village and enjoying the nighttime. This was something she did frequently; she preferred the night to the day. It was calm and quiet, whereas the day was loud and busy.
13-year old Ketzal crept into the bedroom she shared with her older sister Lisa, taking care to be quiet. It was very late, probably around four in the morning, and the sun was already starting to rise. She had been out late, walking around her small village and enjoying the nighttime. This was something she did frequently; she preferred the night to the day. It was calm and quiet, whereas the day was loud and busy.2
Ketzal used the very small amount of light coming through the window to look at herself in the mirror and giggled softly at her eyes. Most people’s eyes would be tired looking at four in the morning but her bright green eyes were lit up happily, no sign of fatigue anywhere.
Ketzal used the very small amount of light coming through the window to look at herself in the mirror and giggled softly at her eyes. Most people’s eyes would be tired looking at four in the morning but her bright green eyes were lit up happily, no sign of fatigue anywhere.3
She turned away from the mirror and, without bothering to comb it, pulled her waist length copper hair into a low ponytail, tying it with a white ribbon. She changed into a bland, white nightgown and crawled into bed.
She turned away from the mirror and, without bothering to comb it, pulled her waist length copper hair into a low ponytail, tying it with a white ribbon. She changed into a bland, white nightgown and crawled into bed.4
Just moments after she had gotten into bed, she heard faint shouts. Her eyes flew open and she saw the silhouette of her sister sitting up.
Just moments after she had gotten into bed, she heard faint shouts. Her eyes flew open and she saw the silhouette of her sister sitting up.9
“I don’t know,” said Lisa. She swung out of bed. “Let’s ask Mother and Father.” Ketzal got out of bed and followed her sister to their parents’ bedroom. Before they could open the door, it flew open and their parents, Martha and Jack, were standing there, looking frightened. “What’s going on?” Lisa asked.
“I don’t know,” said Lisa. She swung out of bed. “Let’s ask Mother and Father.” Ketzal got out of bed and followed her sister to their parents’ bedroom. Before they could open the door, it flew open and their parents, Martha and Jack, were standing there, looking frightened. “What’s going on?” Lisa asked.12
“They say that anyone with green eyes is a witch because the color is so uncommon,” Jack said. Martha and Lisa had blue eyes but Ketzal had inherited her green eyes from her father. Men weren’t considered witches, but Ketzal could be captured. She felt a wave of nausea and fear.
“They say that anyone with green eyes is a witch because the color is so uncommon,” Jack said. Martha and Lisa had blue eyes but Ketzal had inherited her green eyes from her father. Men weren’t considered witches, but Ketzal could be captured. She felt a wave of nausea and fear.13
“They kill everyone in town too,” Martha said, looking slightly green. “They say that the townspeople are guilty of protecting the witches.”
“They kill everyone in town too,” Martha said, looking slightly green. “They say that the townspeople are guilty of protecting the witches.”15
“Horrible, I know,” Martha said. “We must try to escape. Don’t bother changing. Just get a coat. We must run. Now.”
“Horrible, I know,” Martha said. “We must try to escape. Don’t bother changing. Just get a coat. We must run. Now.”16
By the time Ketzal, Lisa, and their parents made it outside, it was chaos. Townspeople were running around, armed men were capturing them, screams were everywhere, and torches were being dropped carelessly, starting fires. Instinctively, Ketzal turned and started to run. People, fire, and even some pools of blood, were everywhere.
By the time Ketzal, Lisa, and their parents made it outside, it was chaos. Townspeople were running around, armed men were capturing them, screams were everywhere, and torches were being dropped carelessly, starting fires. Instinctively, Ketzal turned and started to run. People, fire, and even some pools of blood, were everywhere.17
As she turned a corner, a soldier grabbed her. He looked into her eyes and then looked triumphant.
As she turned a corner, a soldier grabbed her. He looked into her eyes and then looked triumphant.19
“Let-go-of-me!” Ketzal screamed, struggling to get free. A fist came out of nowhere and the soldier holding her crumpled to the ground. The fist belonged to a friend of Lisa’s. “Thanks,” Ketzal said. She didn’t wait for an answer and continued to run. She finally reached the edges of town but didn’t stop until she had sprinted up the tall hill for a full five minutes. She stopped where it leveled out and tried to catch her breath as she looked down on her town in the valley. It was lit up: fires were now burning everywhere. She heard screams, even as far up as she was.
“Let-go-of-me!” Ketzal screamed, struggling to get free. A fist came out of nowhere and the soldier holding her crumpled to the ground. The fist belonged to a friend of Lisa’s. “Thanks,” Ketzal said. She didn’t wait for an answer and continued to run. She finally reached the edges of town but didn’t stop until she had sprinted up the tall hill for a full five minutes. She stopped where it leveled out and tried to catch her breath as she looked down on her town in the valley. It was lit up: fires were now burning everywhere. She heard screams, even as far up as she was.20
Ketzal realized that not many people could possibly escape from this. There was only a very slim chance that her own family would survive, let alone anyone else She fell to the ground and hugged her knees to her chest in a fetal position, suddenly shaking with sobs.
Ketzal realized that not many people could possibly escape from this. There was only a very slim chance that her own family would survive, let alone anyone else She fell to the ground and hugged her knees to her chest in a fetal position, suddenly shaking with sobs.22
She noticed a figure running swiftly out of the lit up town with something in his arms. A soldier, no doubt, carrying something harmful. She stood and, trying to stay balanced, hurried into the forest behind her. She only went a few feet before realizing that any soldier could probably catch her if she stayed on the ground.
She noticed a figure running swiftly out of the lit up town with something in his arms. A soldier, no doubt, carrying something harmful. She stood and, trying to stay balanced, hurried into the forest behind her. She only went a few feet before realizing that any soldier could probably catch her if she stayed on the ground.23
She looked behind her quickly and then pulled herself onto the lowest branch of a tree. She climbed up thirteen branches nimbly and quickly, waiting for the soldier to pass under her.
She looked behind her quickly and then pulled herself onto the lowest branch of a tree. She climbed up thirteen branches nimbly and quickly, waiting for the soldier to pass under her.24
The figure she had seen came up over the top of the hill and started into the forest at a slow, cautious walk.
The figure she had seen came up over the top of the hill and started into the forest at a slow, cautious walk.25
“Hello?” it said. “Is someone up here?” Ketzal noticed the attire of the boy at the same time that he placed the thing he was carrying on the ground. What she had assumed to be a weapon was actually a girl about five years old. They were both wearing sleeping attire and looked very frightened.
“Hello?” it said. “Is someone up here?” Ketzal noticed the attire of the boy at the same time that he placed the thing he was carrying on the ground. What she had assumed to be a weapon was actually a girl about five years old. They were both wearing sleeping attire and looked very frightened.26
Ketzal climbed down the branches and jumped softly in front of them. Almost in the same second as the girl started to scream, the boy clapped a hand over her mouth.
Ketzal climbed down the branches and jumped softly in front of them. Almost in the same second as the girl started to scream, the boy clapped a hand over her mouth.27
“It’s a girl!” he said. “Not a soldier.” He took his hand away from the girl’s mouth and peered at Ketzal. “Who are you?”
“It’s a girl!” he said. “Not a soldier.” He took his hand away from the girl’s mouth and peered at Ketzal. “Who are you?”29
“Will. This is my sister Sally,” he said. “My parents told me to take her and run. I thought I saw someone up here.”
“Will. This is my sister Sally,” he said. “My parents told me to take her and run. I thought I saw someone up here.”32
“Are they going to die?” Sally asked, her bottom lip trembling. Will and Ketzal exchanged a quick glance, though they barely knew each other.
“Are they going to die?” Sally asked, her bottom lip trembling. Will and Ketzal exchanged a quick glance, though they barely knew each other.Tags: Hindmirror