Intrigue {Prologue}

I could hear the joyful screams outside, coming from the children. Everyone was so carefree and friendly in our town of Williston Grove. Okay, well not everyone but there was never a day that went by that a person didn’t smile.

I remember laying in the meadow, my secret meadow, a place I went to for peace and quiet. I could be alone in this sanctuary of mine that only I knew of, that’s how special it was. I felt the warmth of the radiant sunbeams seeping through openings between the grand tree leaves. The fresh outdoorsy scent of pine and roses [and other striking flowers] overflowing my nostrils. I could hear the sound of many gloriously gleeful birds chirping their songs. I was soothed by the sound of the flowing river; my lullaby. Everything in nature was in sync, every one thing needed the other and no animal attacked the other [except for the silly little quarrel over a nut ensued by the squirrels].

This was what I missed the most; my meadow, the calming wonderful scents wafting gaily through the air, flowing rivers and the abundant flowerbeds adjoining them and the slow breezes of the wind that lightly picked up my hair and made it dance to the melodious [pastiche?] music of the meadow.

But no, they had to come. They had to take it all away; the sunshine, the singing birds, happy families, beautiful flowers and the laughing and euphoric children that played in them.

Their laughter, their ghastly cackles of hilarity; the sound will forever be lodged deep within my brain. They were happy, happy that they took the smiles off children’s faces and replaced it with fear; they took away their verve, their life. I am perpetually scarred and distraught by this. Children should not have to live like this, in these conditions! The life of a SLAVE.