Confinement

Chapter 1

"The sun is starting to set Sofie, we got to hurry up!" Abby yells as she runs towards the open gate. Some apples that were tucked in Abby's bag start to escape and fall to the ground. I quickly pick them up from the ground and continue to walk at a comfortable pace behind her.

"Abby, you realize that there are people still closing up their shops behind us, we still got an hour," I reply. By then Abby is too far to hear me and has already reached our front door.

I pick up the pace and finally make it inside. The smell of dinner greets me, and it smells like chicken noodle soup. I place my bag on the counter and join Abby and my mom in the kitchen.

"You're late," my mom states.

"And hello to you too," I reply as a give her a quick hug.

"We went over this, now that the season is changing it will start getting dark sooner. I need you both to be back before they close the gate. Once it's closed, they don't open it for anyone."

"Mom, we got back before the gate closed. In fact, I'm pretty sure I could've been out longer and gotten back before they close it. They have new vendors at the market today and-"

"Enough Sofie. If I say to be home two hours before they close the gate, then you get here early. I don't want your carelessness to get both you and your sister in danger."

I glance at Abby as she quietly listens.

"Okay fine," I respond back. "I'll be here on time next time."

"Please," mother responds, and turns back to Abby. "Your father has the night shift tonight, so we are going to hope that there are no incidences while he's on guard."

Abby nods and helps set the table while I head to my room. I take my shoes off and plop onto my bed. When will this end? Nothing has happened in five years. No one in this village even truly knows what happened in those woods. It's all speculation.

Our neighbor says that it's some type of mutated animal that lurks in those woods. In school they would say that it's evil spirits that walk among the living at night. Our village mayor just says that evil lives in the woods and the best way to keep everyone safe is to essentially keep us fenced in. At first, we thought that people were getting lost in the woods. The woods are so dense that you can't really see past the first row of trees because it starts to appear dark. But, once we started noticing more and more people not returning from the woods, especially after dark, they sent our strongest men into the woods. Not one to return.

From then on, it was decided that that the woods were off limits, and to ensure safety, we secured our village with a tall, thick barrier to wrap around the village with a single gate entrance. The gate closes once it begins to get dark and is guarded all throughout the night. Since this new strategy started, we have not had an incident since.

I'm not curious to see what's lurking in the woods, but I do often feel a bit trapped. No one dares to leave the village for fear that it will get dark before they make it to the next village over. No one visits our village. And honestly, I don't want to spend the rest of my life living in fear.

I hear Abby calling my name to join them for dinner. I shout back a quick "coming" before I get up from bed. I pity Abby at times as she's always on high alert. I'm sure it doesn't help with how often mom is drilling in us to be careful. It makes it hard to enjoy the few things we can do, and I just wish to help Abby see the little things that are good and that are fun.

I sit next to Abby at the table, and she gives me a small smile before turning her head to mom. Mom lets out a small sigh before clearing her throat.

"Now, who wants to say grace?"