women were gone in a flurry of dirt and dust, chased after by all the raiders but one, and soon to be cut down by
the same. The leader’s deep voice somehow reached her ears above the sound of terror.
“
How beautiful you are, clearly it must have been fate that brought me here today, brought me here to
you. I must take you back with me, and I will let no man harm you! We must be together! How truly lucky we
are today! Come now, we must go I shall call my men back, we must go back I must show you everything...”
Niu watched as her sister followed mutely. She tried to call out but her vision was fading, and soon all she could
hear was he rhythmic beat of her own heart. Then the darkness pressed against her and she was gone.
A soft melody invaded her sleep and she turned over to see a man dressed in the yellows and browns of
a monk. He hummed under his breath as he moved through the town, stepping far away from the left over
corpses and delicately covering his nose against the stench.
“
Water” She cried weakly, trying to get the man’s attention. He was old, old but tall, his back straight
and his eyes alight with intelligence. There seemed to be something else about him that Niu could not quite
explain, almost as though the air itself was different where it touched the holy man.
The monk looked over, taking in Niu’s state. Her hair matted with dried blood, her clothes torn and
dirtied, her face scarred. “You are very lucky indeed, I thought all were dead here.” He handed her a small flask
from his waist band, careful not to touch her. Niu drank half almost immediately before slowing to a more
reasonable pace. “Heaven must have a reason for keeping you alive. I hope you see it through in one piece.”
She dragged her knees beneath her and bowed to her savior before handing him back his flask. “Goodbye little
girl, and good luck with your destiny.” The monk moved on, chanting under his breath once more, his prayer
ringing through the graveyard, a peaceful song for vengeful souls.
Niu moved slowly, her head throbbing painfully, the dull thumping trying to remind her of something
that her tired mind would not let her remember. Moving through the bodies of the dead she made her way into
the town, hoping that the lack of smoke meant that some supplies would be left in the ruins. She dared not look
at the ground, worrying about whose eyes she would see staring up at her, only keeping one hand against the
wall and pushing her tired body forward.
‘
Half way there, two thirds of the way there, almost there, almost there.” She could feel silent tears
running down her face but, she did not acknowledge them, her mind was dull and her face numb, she felt no
pain and the only sound in the small town now was the thudding of her feet against the ground as she tried her
best not to step on those who had resented her for all the years she had stayed here.
The village was empty; everybody had either fled or was lying dead on the ground outside. Her body
carried her towards the small hut that had been the home she shared with her sister and their aunt and uncle. A
small bucket lay in the corner, half-full of fresh water. Niu took the dipper, hands trembling and took small sips.
Everything tasted salty.
The image of her sister following meekly behind that man, burned through her. How could she just go!
Such a stupid girl, all she truly has is her looks. Niu touched her scar, only to find her face wet with tears. What
was she supposed to do? She could leave. But where would she go?
It was a long time before she could gather the courage to pick herself off the dirt floor, wash the blood
off her face and hands and walk out of that godforsaken place. The raiders had not bothered to cover their tracks
and it was not hard to follow them, but they were on horseback and she on foot, and soon she lost them. And
then she lost herself. All her energy, all her focus had been set on walking, and she did just that for days and
days straight, not stopping, but for the shortest of naps and the smallest sips of water, and then the day came,
when her body that was fueled purely by anger could no longer keep up and then the shock wore off and all that
was left was a poor, ugly girl, alone and lost in the forest.
Her feet were swollen and bleeding, and her legs trembled as she tried to force herself to move forward,
a sort of strangled gasp escaped her lips as she turned around in circles not knowing which direction to go
anymore, not knowing where her sister was, not knowing which place was home. That gasp turned into a sob
and then a scream, and soon she was lying on the ground, her head buried beneath her arms, the forest silent
against her cries. “I am her sister; I am supposed to protect her. Aren’t I? Can I protect her? Do I have to protect
her?” She thought back to all the times that her sister had been chosen over her. All the comparisons made
between the two of them. Gently she traced the scar on her face.
She could just leave her. That man didn’t look like he would hurt her. She would finally have
everything her beauty deserved. Everything could be different. No one would know…
It was dark by the time Niu wandered across it. The Wall rose high above the trees dominating the
landscape. She put her fingers out and touched the stone, warm even in the night. And as she leaned against it,
more images came to mind, not that of her beautiful sister, but those of her little sister.