Smoke. As I open my eyes it consumes my vision. A grey darkness consuming the world. The sound of weapons and shouting coming from outside fills my ears. Each sound ringing in my head. It all becomes distant and unclear as my mind falls away. My chest hurts as I try to breathe, each breath hurting more than the last. I try to force my mind to focus as it attempts to pull me unconscious again. My body aches as I try to move it. Each muscle making its self-known to me with every minute movement. A loud crash rings in my head. I try turn my head to look over at where the sound came from. My door is wide open, and my father's tall figure is illuminated from behind by the orange light of the flames. My eyes strain to focus as he makes his way to the bed where I lay. As he reaches the bed, I can see more clearly how dishevelled he is. His hair falls in long silver wisps around his face. His green eyes are clear and stare deep into mine. Without a word he lifts me from the bed. I let my body fall limp in his arms. My mind falls away as darkness consumes me.

The weapon falls from my hands with a crash as I collapse to my knees amidst the pools of blood. Three bodies lay lifeless before me. Crimson blood. Bright red against my pale skin. Panic begins to set in. The feeling of the weapon entering the body of the man. The feeling of the blade piercing the skin. The feeling of the blood running down from the blade and onto my hand and arms. Blood. The singular word consuming my mind. The colour vivid filling my mind. I try to shake it off, to stand up and move away. The clash of weapons continues outside. The sound rings in my head as I move towards the door. Halfway to the door I trip and fall, hitting the floor with a thud. I turn to look at what I tripped on and freeze. I had tripped on my mother's outstretched arm. A scream wells in my throat but no noise emerged. Pushing myself as far from her as I can get. Into the corner by the door. I curl up into a ball. My hands covering my ears as I rock silently crying as I look at the bodies of my parents who died protecting me.