The Heart of the Dark Rose

Seven years ago

Eva Robert

I am damp, confused,scared and super hungry. My stomach makes a very annoying noise reminding it's owner that it hadn't had food. I scowl with frustration at myself damn my stomach-it just won't behave,and damn John for leaving me alone. I clutch Malory my little sister's hand closer where is Mama?where is Papa?

John Jesus! I move my dirty hands to my hair out of habit,I have short curly hair that sometimes looked too much for my slim face, and big brown eyes that looked too big for my face. John where was he? My fifteen year old brother had gone outside when he heard daddy screams he had immediately woken Malory and I and moved us to father study, the glass is a one way glass only we inside could see others outside.

'Eva' Malory calls my name in her rasping soar throat voice. 'I need my Mama and Papa,I am so scared.'

I turn to her with eyes surprisingly dry. I give her a big smile when all I really want to do is scream. 'John is bringing them.'

She is shaking now,I have no idea if it is because of what I said. Suddenly someone starts knocking the glass and my heart immediately jumps to my mouth.

'Eva open the door,it's me.' I go to the door quickly unbolting it. Aunty Livy walks in carrying a child and at her right side my cousin Quinn.

Mummy is a family woman and loves having people around,when daddy parents refused to accept Aunty Livy with her baby, mummy had quickly insisted she come stay with us. Aunty Livy is a very tall woman with plump lips,bright eyes and a face you would definitely remember in a room full of people.

'Where are my parents' If someone doesn't reply I would scream for real.

'We need to get out of here Eva,we are not save here.' I don't see Sarah until she speaks. She is a petite woman with long straight hair she had been able to stay at my Aunty back unnoticed. Sarah had come into our home seeking shelter she had been heavily pregnant,lost,and stranded mama in her good nature had welcomed her in.

'Did you say leave?my parents and brother are out there and you want us to leave.' I make an attempt to move to the door but she stops me.

'It's dangerous outside.'

'I need to find my brother Sarah. Mama has been so good to you,I am shocked you are asking me to leave them behind.' I had no idea about what was going on outside these doors,and not knowing scared me so much. I hug her thightly and start weeping. 'Please bring them to me.'

Sarah turns to face Aunty Livy when they both remain quiet I move to the door but Sarah is faster. 'No Eva,you can't go outside.'

'Then bring them to me,you love John as much as I do,you cannot leave him outside.' I raise my voice, something I have never done to an older person. The room is silent and the only sound is my heart beating madly in my chest.

'Take my baby Eva, I will go outside.'

No Sarah that is a stupid move,you cannot leave this room.'

Sarah had conceived yesterday,I would never forget holding her small hands in my much bigger ones- it had been fun words of encouragement while Mama and Aunty Livy kept screaming push.

'I will go out and bring them here. Promise me Eva,you will take my baby out of here as soon as you realise it is dangerous. Please take care of my child, promise me you would take care of her even if I don't come back here.' She hands over the sleeping child to me,she looks at her baby and smiles.

For some reasons I don't know,her smile I love and always look forward to seemed so different,her face I always said was too perfect looked older and tired. She turns to my Aunty and whispers something I don't hear and with one last glance she leaves the room.

'What is going on outside.' I say to the atmosphere. My first priority right now is finding my parents and ensuring John is fine. I am too confused to be bothered about the fact that Sarah had just asked me to take care of her child like a mother on her death bed. 'Aunty please tell me why we need to leave here,why did Sarah sound like we might never see her again?why would I need to take care of her child when she is still alive.'

She ignores me again I am pissed off now,if no one would speak,I would go find answers myself. For the third time I move to the door but Aunty Livy beat me to it our eyes meet and I realise for the first time since her entrance that she was crying.

'Get back here Robert.' she only called me that on serious occasion.

''No I need to find my parents and then John,I need to know what the hell is going on here.' The thought of John out there on his own made me sick.