Screams echoed throughout the burning village. Fire reached out like giant hands, reducing once grand houses to ash. The village people fled, seeking safety away from the fire and the merciless pirates. They attacked so suddenly, so swiftly and with such chilling hostility, that left the villagers devastated.

A young girl shrieked in trepidation, as she was roughly thrown over a burly pirates shoulder. Her pale, tiny fists beating on his back. Tears ran down her porcelain cheeks, as she was separated from her twin brother.

“Joshua!” The blonde girl hollered, as his image faded into background, blending into the angry fire that had consumed their home. Giving up her fight for freedom, she hung limply against her captor’s shoulder, her vision becoming vacant.

-x-

A young boy sprinted, weaving between the few flustered people that remained in the destroyed village. “Nancy! Nancy! Where are you?” He slowed down, panting lightly, worriedly searching for his twin sister. Coming to a stop, he roughly wiped his eyes. Big boys didn’t cry. That’s what his father had told him. But he couldn’t stop the tears from flowing; he’d lost everyone and everything he cared for in one day.

Joshua recoiled, as a cool hand lightly squeezed his shoulder. Gazing up at the black-clad, masked wearing stranger, he took a few steps back. “Who are you...what do you want?” He asked, whimpering.

The mysterious man took slow steps forward, crouching in front of Joshua. “Do not be alarmed...Everything will be made clear to you soon...” Clothed hands encircled around the frightened child’s knees and back, lifting him from the ground firmly.
Realising he had no other option; Joshua did not struggle and let his heavy eyelids slide shut. Gently, the shadowy stood up, disappearing in the sudden, thick mist with the exhausted young boy.

-x-

The twins had been separated. Both had been taken away from the land that once was their home. But of course, they would meet again.