It has been days since I have seen my village. I can still hear the screams and cries of the villagers as men invaded. I heard my parents crying out, "Aria, Aiden!" trying to find me and my brother. We were in the local market trying to trade some of the things I had shot for clothes. New clothes, old clothes, anything to keep us warm during the long winters. We were trading for a beautiful dress with the last of our goods when I smelled smoke. At first, I didn't think about it because there was a fire pit right next to us. I was also too busy admiring the dress I bought for the prince's ball. Every time one of the royals sons turns 18, they set up a huge ball for all the 18 year old girls to go to. It's the only time the markets are allowed to sell decent clothing. The ball is hosted at the palace, where the prince dances with all of the girls, chats with them, and the next day, he chooses his queen. As soon as the future queen is chosen, the rest of the girls are returned to their villages and their parents marry them off. So no matter what, I will be married off to some man that I don't know. I had gotten so caught up in my thoughts, I hadn't realized the smoke had gotten thicker until I was struggling for air. Aiden was still holding on to my hand, hacking and coughing from the smoke, tugging at my arm trying to get me to move. I tightened my grip on his hand and tried to get out of the smoke but I tripped and so did my brother. I felt a man's hand grab my arm and I was so weak, I let him guide me out of the fire. I kept looking back to see where my parents were, but I couldn't see them through the smoke. .
Once we got out of the fire and the smoke, I tried and thank the man who saved me and my brother, and that he didn't have to help us anymore, but he kept his grip on my arm and kept dragging me on. I tried struggling but there was no use. He was at least twice my size.
