Dec 18 2008
Imperialism, Book One, Chapter Two (Continued)
Arielle, Johnny’s little sister, was playing on the beach when she saw the Imperials exit their giant midship. Marching towards her town like a wave of death, she felt her heart beating faster at the mere sight of them. Cowering in the sand, she realized that there was no place to hide, and these men seemed impossibly quick, moving more rapidly than her ten year old legs could ever run. Still, she took off sprinting towards Silverage, hoping to warn her family and the others of the incoming soldiers.
She had not gone thirty yards when they caught up with her. Strong hands grasped her arms roughly, and coarse voices shouted at her. Sobbing, she kicked at the hands holding her feet together. Arielle heard a satisfying crunch as she broke the Impe-rial’s nose. Swearing violently, he tossed her to the ground, where she lay still, breathing shallowly.
“What’s going on?” came a grating voice. “Why did we stop?”
“Sorry, sergeant, but this commoner got in the way.”
Even Arielle, only ten, noticed the way in which the Imperial spat out the word commoner, as if it tasted revolting in his mouth.
“Who is she?”
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
“Very well. Girl, what is your name?”
“A-Arielle,” she stuttered.
“Why were you running from us?”
“B-because you’re s-scary.”
“No, we’re not. We’re the government, girl! We’re the only reason your family can put food on the table, though not much food, judging by the look of you. Without us, you would be nothing!”
“My brother says you just steal what is ours.” Her voice was growing in strength, now, as she gained more confidence. “You don’t do anything but hurt us.”
Silence fell among the tall figures standing above her. Their heads formed a strange veil of darkness, but she could make out the sky behind them, still bright and sunny, a ring of hope near the Imperials.
“Who is your brother?” asked the man, and his voice was low, menacing.
“I…I don’t know.”
A fist came out of nowhere and, seconds after she registered it, searing pain shot up her right cheek. Arielle felt something wet running down from her nose. Gingerly, she reached up to touch her face.
“Calm down, sergeant, it doesn’t really matter.”
“But it does, soldier! People like her brother are the reason these insidious rebel-lions are even happening. We need to eradicate them!”
“Just let her go. It won’t help our standing with the commoners if she comes back bloody and bruised.”
“Since when have we cared about the commoners?”
Still, the one called Lixon seemed to relent, and he let her go.
“Before you go, girl, know this: the Imperials are not bad people. Your brother is a bad person. He’s trying to undermine our government. Now go.”
Arielle ran, wiping her face as she ran, not knowing what were tears and what was blood.
