It was on that day, or more like night, that everything changed.
Everything went perfect while the sun was out, almost too perfect. I managed to do my work fast. It didn't even tire me that much, it hasn't been that hard since I reached puberty. I could swing that axe all day and night if I really needed to. Sir George even praised me for my stamina today, I did manage to fall 7 trees without a break after all. It wasn't the first time I did something like this, but it surely was my record, the record that I put half a year ago on my 17th birthday. It was a somewhat rainy day. It didn't actually rain but there were a couple small raindrops here and there, but it sure was ugly outside, somewhat like today but even darker. As soon as the 7th tree fell to the ground with a loud creek, the sky almost opened like an angel was falling from the sky, letting a strong ray of light hit my uncovered face. In an instant, all my energy went away, maybe it was because the warmth of the sun soothed me, giving me a sense of relaxation that stopped my stride or maybe it was something else.
As soon as afternoon came, his daughter, Ana, and a few other woman and young girls, came with food for us. She brought a large loaf of bread, two jugs, one with milk, the other with green grape wine from their vineyard, some tomatoes, cucumber and green onion, some pieces of pork rind, mostly for her father and a large piece of cow cheese from aunty Maria, her mother. I don't know what she put in it but everyone loved it, me included, for that matter, no one knew her ways and maybe no one will ever know them now.
Ana was a smart and beautiful girl, almost a year older than me. Her face was like that of an angel. Pale skin with red cheeks, yes, red, they always have been red, always. Anyway, many of the people around the village wanted to know her better in more ways than one, even those who were far too old for her, like that jackass Henry from the west. He was a man well in his 30s, almost as old as sir George, he was smart, knowing at least 4 languages, English, Hungarian, French and Romanian, maybe some German and Russian too, but I've never heard him speak in them, just heard rumors. With all that intelligence he was still stuck in this small village, and willingly at that. He appeared almost 10 years ago and he quickly made a name for himself for his quick mind and big mouth. Yes, he always had a big mouth, sometimes bigger than other times. He always bad mouthed others, even in front of them, all while making himself seem even bigger than he was. Maybe he was actually that big, but then again, he came here for some reason, not like I will ever find out from him. Even at work he wasn't that enjoyable to be around, he always slacked off and came with only 2 thirds of the quota or less. Sir George kept him around only because of his linguistic skills, he was the only one around that could talk with the Hungarians, which made trade with them so much easier and better. But his advances towards Ana didn't go unnoticed, sir George almost broke his legs on 2 occasions, last time even threatening him that he would cut his tongue and feed it to him through his open neck. Sir George was a nice man in his early 40s, he usually didn't like violence, even stopping any fights between workers before they could start swinging. But when it came to his family, he would climb down to hell if he needed to, his words not mine.
Sir George always invited me to eat with them, he was good friend with my mother after all and I like to think that he saw me as the son that he never got, he was like a father to me after all, once he even fought a man twice his size to protect me. Ana set a large blanket on the ground and took out all the food before we could even reach her. She was always quick with it, making sure to present our meal in such a way that it made us smile. We ate happily, talking about our day, weather and anything else that came to mind, Ana always keeping our plates filled and our cups overflowing, sitting right next to me whenever she was done. I wasn't complaining about it, even I was attracted to her like everyone else. But I never say it to her face, I was too scared that I might bite off my tongue by accident or that I might meet the wrath of her father, like Henry. All I could do was wait and keep everything bottled up deep inside.
When the sun started to fall with the trees, we would start to get back to the village, helping the tree moving crew with the last trees. If not for the darkness I could have fallen a dozen more trees and still have energy in me, but God made night for sleeping and day for working, best to follow his will with such things.
At home, mother always met me outside giving me a hug before I could enter the house. A hot bowl of stew was prepared in advance. She wasn't a good cook, but she made sure to master her ability to make stews, 'They are nutritious and keep you filled for a long time', as she used to say with her iconic gentle tone, the same tone that made everyone in the village see her as a friend. We prayed before eating and prayed after, making the beds as soon as we finished and washed the dishes. Mother always had the habit of sprinkling a line of salt at the door and the two windows, putting the icon above the door, even though the sun was rising from the other side of the house. I never asked why, not that I need to ask now, I have learned it the hard way already.
I think I slept for 2 hours, maybe 3. A bright light and loud sounds from outside awoke me. Mother wasn't in her bed and the door was wide open, my axe and the bottle of holy water that she always kept by the door, were also gone.
I slowly got out of bed, putting my shoes on and taking a look outside. I couldn't believe my eyes, I even rubbed them and pinched my arms and cheeks, but nothing changed. In front of my eyes, everything was on fire. Every house, every barn, every fence and everything else in sight had a thick blanket of dark red flames above them. Those flames weren't natural, wood, straw and mud wouldn't ever burn in such a color, nothing that I knew would ever burn in such a color.
Still stuck in that thought, I started to slowly move forward, taking a step outside. That was my first mistake. Before I could do anything else, my mother's voice woke me out of my dreams.
"Cristofor, get back in the house!" her usual calm tone was missing, a worried and harsh tone being in its stead.
I looked in the direction her voice came from, almost wondering if she actually was mother or just someone with a similar voice. That was my second mistake. I saw a giant dark beast, like a wolf or maybe a bore made out of darkness. It was running towards me at a speed that not even the best horse in the village could match. Mother was behind him or it, trying to catch up while yelling at me to get back in the house, her tone getting more and more worried.
I stumbled back in the house, falling on my ass and accidentally cutting off the line of salt. As soon as I did that, mother started yelling something else, I couldn't hear her well because of the loud trotting of the beast. But I finally made out the word 'pray' as soon as the creature was a few steps outside of the house. So I did, I closed my eyes and prayed, even though I couldn't bring my hands together in time or get back on my feet, I just knew that I had to do what mother told me too, she must have been right after all.
I waited for the impact, but nothing. I opened my eyes, the beast stopped before it could push in the house. It looked dazed and after a few moments it made a loud shriek, like nothing I've heard before, came out of its wide open mouth. It ended quickly, an axe coming down on its neck and putting an end to its life or whatever you could call it.
"Are you okay?" my mother's tone changed back to her usual one as soon as she said those words, getting me back up while fixing the line of salt.
She looked around for a few moments, more of those shrieks being heard far off into the distance. She looked worried, even more than I've ever seen her before.
"Cristofer, get everything that is in the box under my bed, put them in a bag or anything else that is easier to carry if you need too. Wait in here until you hear more of those shrieks but only in the north."
"Wait what is happening? What are those things? Those beasts?" I finally managed to say, but mother stopped my questioning with a harsh look.
"As soon as you hear those shrieks, but only in the north far away, run towards the south and don't stop until day comes, no matter what you see or hear. After that look at what was in the box and you will know what to do." Mother said while turning away towards the north.
"What about you? Where are you going?" I said, worry almost clogging my neck.
"Don't worry. Just do what I said and everything will be fine." as she said that she started running, running faster than I ever thought she could, all while yelling at the top of her lungs.
I waited and waited, the ground under my feet trembling with the loud stomping from those beasts. I didn't look outside, I did as mother said and took the box, tying it to my back, all while keeping my eyes at the floor.
After about 10 minutes, maybe 5 now that I think about it, those same shrieks came from the north. I'd later guessed that they were about a kilometer and a half away, about as far as the forest was from the village. As soon as I heard those those sounds, my eyes watered with fear and worry. But I didn't look back, I took a step outside and started running as fast as I could, all throughout the village.
I passed by Henry's house, at the entrance I saw a glimpse of him, or what remained. His left side was almost gone and his mouth wide broken, no tongue in sight. I almost barfed at that sight, it was the first time I saw a dead body now that I think about it. He couldn't have had a more ironic death, the poor fool died as he lived.
I managed to get my mind back to work, my legs following right behind with more energy than before. I guess it finally downed on me the weight of what was happening, I later found out that that is what some call maniac strength or fight or flight instinct.
I passed by every other house without looking, but at the end of the village was one house that I couldn't take my eyes away from, sir George's house. Something in me hoped that sir George, Ana and aunty Maria survived. I shouldn't have looked, I wasn't ready. At the gate, Ana was crouched next to the fence, she seemed fine so I stopped next to her. She wasn't moving so I tapped her on the shoulder and lifted her head. The skin on her cheeks was missing, making them redder than ever before. I pushed her away, falling on my ass again. Her body slid on the fence, painting it with a dark red liquid. I guess her back was full opened, but I didn't look to make sure.
My eyes moved towards the opened gate. Aunty Maria was there on the ground or at least half of her was, just the legs that is. I knew it was her because of the apron that my mother gifted to her a few years back, she loved it and always wore it even while sleeping.
Thankfully sir George wasn't around, or at least I didn't see him, maybe the beasts ate him whole, but I preferred to think that he escaped, not that I've seen him since then.
I must have sat on my ass for a few minutes, cause the only thing that brought me back was the shrieks of the beasts. They were maybe a kilometer away this time and they were approaching fast.
I mustered the strength to lift myself up and keep running. I didn't stop again, I don't even remember where I was running or how long I ran for. I just stopped next to a tree, in a large opening surrounded by a dense forest, when the sun was well above me.
I tried to regain my breath for at least half an hour, I must have ran for at least 7 or 8 hours after all. When I finally did, I took off the wooden box from my back and looked inside.
A large stack of money, around 2000 ron if I remember properly, a map, a compass and several letters. I took the letters and opened the one with my name on it.
It read 'Cristofor, if you are reading this, you are in danger. I can't tell you what is happening, it's too much for you at this moment and I don't think you would believe me even if I did. All that you need to know is that you need to get to a man, a man down south, his house is marked on the map. His name is Adam, or that's what he called himself last time I saw him. He is a trustworthy man and he owes me a lot. Show him the letter with his name on it and he will help bring you to safety. I left you enough money to live off of for a while, but you must be quick, you have maybe a day or two before it would be too late. I am sad to say that we might never meet again, but don't worry, I will always look over you with a smile. Please have a happy life and God bless.'
I read it again and again, a dozen times if not more. When the sun hit 12, I put everything back together and took out the map and compass, starting my journey once more.