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The snow came before they did, almost like a cold white omen, falling from the gray sky.
He could remember how confusing it was.
He and his family survived.
Hopeful mornings devolved into afternoons of scavenging for food, of loud fights and terrifying noises.
Then evenings of numbness from the long hot days.
Sometimes the crazies came, indifferent to day or night.
But his family didnt speak of them.
Not his mother, not his father; certainly not him.
It felt like admitting their existence aloud might summon them, like an incantation calling forth devils.
And she was just a little kid.
The boy knew he should be the one with courage, the one to comfort his little sister.
Dont you worry, Lizzy.
The basement is locked up tight; the lights are off.
The bad people wont even know were here.
But he always found himself speechless.
Hed hug her hard, squeezing her like his own teddy bear for comfort.
And every time, shed pat him on the back.
He loved her so much it made his heart hurt.
That morning, they awoke to a sight of wonder.
It was his mothers voice.
A soft gray light shone down on his mothers face, revealing eyes full of bright awe.
And a smile like he hadnt seen in a very long time lit her up even brighter.
he mumbled, climbing to his feet.
Lizzy rubbed her eyes, yawned, then followed him to where Mum gazed into the daylight.
He could remember several things about that moment.
His father still snored like a beast as the boy looked out, squinting as his eyes adjusted.
The street was empty of crazies, and clouds covered the sky, a rarity these days.
He froze when he saw the white flakes.
What the bloody hell?
he mumbled under his breath, a phrase hed learned from his father.
How can it snow, mummy?
Lizzy asked, her eyes drained of sleep and filled with a joy that pinched his heart.
Oh, you know, Mum replied, all those things the people say.
The whole weather system of the world is shot to bits, thanks to the Flares.
Lets just enjoy it, shall we?
Its quite extraordinary, dont you think?
Lizzy responded with a happy sigh.
He watched, wondering if hed ever see such a thing again.
The flakes drifted, eventually touching down and melting as soon as they met the pavement.
Wet freckles dotted the windowpane.
They were gone as soon as they appeared.
A few seconds later, a heavy knock pounded on the front door above.
His father was on his feet before the sound ended, suddenly wide-awake and alert.
Did you see anyone?
Dad asked, his voice a bit croaky.
No, Dad responded.
We most certainly do not.
Pray they go away, whoever it is.
They might break in, Mum whispered.
I know I would.
They might think its abandoned, maybe a bit of canned food left behind.
Dad looked at her for a long time, his mind working as the silence ticked by.
Then, boom, boom, boom.
Stay here, Dad said carefully.
Stay with the children.
Mum started to speak but stopped, looking down at her daughter and son, her priorities obvious.
The air grew heavy, pressing down.
Lizzy reached over and took her brothers hand.
Finally, he found words of comfort and poured them out to her.
Dont worry, he whispered, barely more than a breath.
Its probably just some people hungry for food.
Dad will share a bit, and then theyll be on their way.
He squeezed her fingers with all the love he knew, not believing a single word hed said.
Next came a rush of noises.
The door slammed open.
Loud, angry voices.
A crash, then a thump that rattled the floorboards.
Heavy, dreadful footsteps.
And then the strangers were pounding down the stairs.
Two men, three, a womanfour people total.
The arrivals were dressed sharply for the times, and they looked neither kind nor menacing.
Merely solemn to the core.
Youve ignored every message weve sent, one of the men stated as he examined the room.
Im sorry, but we need the girl.
Im very sorry, but weve got no choice.
And just like that, the boys world ended.
A world already filled with more sad things than a kid could count.
The strangers approached, cutting through the tense air.
The boy ran forward, beat at the back of a mans shoulders.
A mosquito attacking an elephant.
The look on Lizzys face during the sudden madness.
He let out an enormous scream of his own and threw himself harder at the intruders, swinging wildly.
A hand whipped through the air, slapped the boy in the face, a snakebite sting.
Someone punched his mother right in the head.
And then a sound like the crack of thunder, close and everywhere at once.
His ears chimed with a deafening buzz.
He fell back against the wall and took in the horrors.
One of the men, shot in the leg.
His dad standing in the doorway, gun in his hand.
Dad firing off two more shots.
A ping of metal and the crunch of a bullet hitting concrete.
Mom yanking at the ladys shoulder.
Then the woman threw an elbow, fired, spun, fired three more times.
In the chaos, the air thickened, all sound retreating, time a foreign concept.
The boy watched, emptiness opening below him, as both of his parents fell.
A long moment passed when no one moved, most of all Mum and Dad.
Theyd never move again.
All eyes went to the two orphaned children.
Grab them both, dammit, one of the men finally said.
They can use the other one as a control subject.
He would never forget it.
He scrambled for Lizzy, pulled her into his arms.
And the strangers took them away.
