The sirens in the town of khalid blared as its people grabbed their children and took shelter within their house.
Men in uniform marched down the dirt roads, rifling for any person who may be left out side.
The sound of the boots hitting down on the roads echoed through the alleys and into the ears of a new born child who rested on her mothers chest.
She twitched and her mother slowly caressed her head and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"What shall we name her?" the father questioned. He put his arms around the mothers shoulders and the other on the child's rosy cheeks.
"Isn't she beautiful. She looks just like a moon princess, with her lovely white skin."
"Hmm." the father agreed as he kept his sharp eyes on his first new born daughter.
The mothers eyes glowed as she turned to face her husband, "Let's name her Arabella."
The father smiled gently as he mouthed the name 'Arabella' but slowly began to cringe as saying his beautiful daughters name bought about the thoughts of the future she would be face with.
"It's remorseful that my baby Arabella has to grow up in this town, this era." He spoke while looking at the symbol tattooed on his arm.
"And we can't leave because of this. The Evermore Serfs." his eyes became teary.
"But she hasn't the mark yet! We...We must hide her. She mustn't get the mark." She hugged the baby as close to her as possible. She cradled Arabella in her lap as the father began to pace back and forth.
"They will be doing rounds tomorrow. We must do something by then."
"Sweet heart. I know you may not like it but it's the only way," she sighed, " there is a opening at the palace in Talon."
"Yes, so I've heard. Its an opening for any male. But what does that have to do with our daughter?"
There was a moments pause until he spoke again, " No, we are not doing that. What if we get caught?! She's fine now but what'll happen when she's older? Her body will change to that of a women, and we cannot go against nature."
The mother put the baby down into a hand carved wooden cradle near her side. She walked up to the Father and leaned against his chest.
"I-I know. The risk is great, but this is a chance. We could move out during the break of dawn. We have to do something."
The Father nodded his head and rested it on the mothers shoulder while in embrace. He couldn't help worry for his precious baby girl who couldn't even stand in her own two feet.
The break of dawn arrived early and the Three member family departed from their little home in Khalid to the inner city of Talon. They somehow managed to evade the Talions, Army of the bustling town Talon, at the entrance. They were much to busy with the grand party for the King new born twins, a beautiful princess and a handsome young prince to care for some new comers.
They quietly road on their cart loaded with their belongings, trying not to look out of place.
"Lance, sweet heart, I have a friend that lives in these parts. She told if I ever needed anything, to call upon her. And I think we need her now." The wife whispered to her husband. Arabella wriggled in her mothers arm as they rode off into an almost desolate part of the town.
___________________
Knock, knock.
"Coming!" A young, short haired lady called out, "Anaese, finish washing the dishes for me!"
She wiped her soapy hands on the apron hanging around her waist and fast walked towards the door.
"Ah! I can't believe it! Elinore, is that you!" She chirped after opening the door to reveal her childhood friend.
"It's been a long time Sara." Elinore said as she gave her a tight hug.
"This is my daughter, Arabella, and my husband, Lance." Elinore continued to say, introducing the two people with her.
Sara's face light up with excitment as she didn't expect her friend to be married and with a child.
"Ah! Why am I making you stand at the door. Please, come inside!" Sara becked Elinore and her company, leading them to a spacious livingroom.
"Actually, Sara, there is something I wanted to ask you." Elinore tentively asked.
"Yeah?" Sara responded.
"You see this symbol," Elinore began explaining, "This means Evermore Serfs. We are enslaved for a life time and so are our generations by our own city, so to escape, we came to this one, especially for her. Arabella hasn't recived the mark yet. Sara, please, can you help us find a place to stay?"
"Well that should be easy. You can stay here, with me and Anaese. We have plenty of rooms available."
"Sara.... Thank you. And could you please help me keep this secret? Of where we are from?"
"Anthing for you, Elinore. And your beautiful daughter."
Sara stood and began guiding the family to a hidden entrance for the rooms they would be staying in. It was best they stayed somewhere that wasn't easy to locate since they would be somthing along the line as fugatives.
Just as the family settled in their new room, heavy knocking was heard coming from Sara's front door.
"Shh, keep quiet. I'll see this." Sara said before she locked the hidden door.
With every step Sara took, the wooden boards beneath her feet creaked, making Sara anxious. She finally reached her door and swung it open.
"Excuse me, by the upper's request from Khalid, we need to search your home."
