Annlinn
Chapter One

‘Annlinn!’ my dad shook me gruffly awake. His gentle carefree face contorted in a mixture of urgency…and fear. ‘Get up!’ he whispered urgently, before rushing out of the door.
‘Wasamatter?’ I mumbled. I noted immediately that my bleary-eyed brother, Jack, was stuffing socked feet into his worn brown leather boots while trying to yank on a black sleeveless hoodie. Suddenly I tuned into the noise around me. Clashing of metal? Cries of urgency? Howls of agony?

I bolted upright. I was glad that I had fallen asleep fully dressed. I stuffed my bare feet into my worn trainers and sprinted across the room. I snatched the worn wooden box that held the daggers I’d been found with, I took them out and placed them into my belt. I then rushed to where my mom stood trembling slightly. Jack was by my side - ‘Wha-’ Jack began but my dad burst in. He spoke urgently. ‘Right. Both of you are to go to the dock as fast as you can. Rex and Ericka are trying to round up the others. No matter what you see or hear, do not stop and do not look back.’ My mom gave Jack and me a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. ‘Remember I love you.’ she whispered, her large round, blue eyes were near tears. Before she’d moved away, my dad did something he’d never done before. He hugged both Jack and me tightly. ‘Take care of each other. Everything will be fine.’ he said. ‘But, dad wha-’ Jack began. ‘Look, Jack, we don’t have time. Go. Now.’ he ordered. I saw the pain and sadness in his eyes. Tears were brimming in mom’s eyes, as well as mine. Suddenly I felt very frightened. I wanted to stay with them. I needed them.

Jack grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the back door. We ran - as fast and as hard as we could. Tears streaked down my face. I was slowing as we crossed the bridge down to the last stretch of our village.
‘Come on Annlinn. We - can -DO THIS.’ Jack puffed, more to encourage himself than anything else.
The other kids were ahead of us, all of the kids of the village. Suddenly, they were attacked by four black ninjas. Them- oh dear no… This is serious. The group scattered in every direction. Jack sprinted on ahead like lightening as he spotted his crush, Adraine, who had fallen. One ninja was upon her. Oh, no. Adrenaline pumped through me. Jack was fast, but I’m much faster. I shot past him, gathering speed all the while as the adrenaline fuelled my body. I jumped over Adraine and kicked. Guess where I hit? Bingo! He gasped sharply and crumpled over groaning. Jack had reached us. He grabbed Adraine and we ran. I jumped over still bodies, not daring to look and see was it friend or foe? The noise of the commotion around me, I ignored. The shadows dancing on the walls of the huts, failing, crying, falling- I blocked out. The swinging farmers tools and swords, I avoided.
Finally, we had reached the beach. We were out of the village. Jack, Adraine, Jagger and JD were in front of me. They were following Rex and Ericka. The rest? Who knows?

I noticed the figure I’d kicked was getting up. He started to run - the others reached the dock and hopped onto the boat. He was gaining, and fast. I put on a spurt of speed ran down the dock - I jumped and landed catlike on the boat. It bobbed about as I ducked past JD, who was struggling with the sail; I took out one of my daggers and hacked at the rope keeping us docked. Oh, no way. He’s nearly here. ‘Get a MOVE ON!’ I screamed. The others grabbed oars and began to paddle as fast as they could. The dark figure had reached the water. He thrashed forward. We were a good way out now. He began to swim towards us. God, he’s fast. He went under.

We lost sight of him. Thankfully… Though every muscle in my body was tense. The others were more relaxed. I was watching and waiting. A hand lunged from the water and grabbed hold of the boat. I didn’t even see him coming. I grabbed his hairy tattooed arm and tried to pry it from the boat. His other arm darted out of the water and grabbed mine in a vice grip. He pulled back and I went with him. ‘Annlinn!’ someone screamed. Over the boat and into the icy, heart stopping, merciless, blue sea.
I fought against him, finally a kick landed home. His mouth erupted bubbles as he let go and clutched his stomach. I needed to break the surface. He grabbed at my leg, pulling me further under as he clawed at me, desperate to reach the surface. I lashed out again but missed. I kicked hard as I swam upwards my foot connected with him. I broke the surface. The boat was drifting away! ‘WAI-’ I’d spluttered, barely gasping a breath when, he’d pulled me under again. His hands pushing my head down as he broke the surface of the twisting water. I bit his arm hard. He howled and let go again. I kicked with all of my might away from him. The waves were dragging me back to the beach. To them… No!

Eventually I’d reached the shallows, the waves were gentle here and were lapping around me. I thrashed forward to land. My clothes were sodden and stuck to me, working with gravity, pulling me down. I flopped onto the sandy shore of the beach, gasping for air. Slowly, to my horror, the black figure began to emerge from the crystal blue water. Salty water cascaded down from his face and clothes. He spotted me and began to struggle forward. I sprang up and grabbed for my daggers. One was gone! But at least I had the other. I ran at him and tackled him. Taken by surprise he crashed to the ground. I held the dagger to his throat. ‘Why are you here? And what do you want?’ I snarled. He chuckled, ‘you don’t even know how to use that. Do you girly?’ I did but I knew I couldn’t. Just then I heard an scream of pain. My mom? A mans cry of anguish., dad? My blood boiled. This was happening because of them. I stared at him with icy hatred. He paled slightly and I sliced a nice, long, shallow cut on his left cheek. ‘Wanna bet?’ I asked. I could see fear flashing momentarily in his eyes before an iron gate shut behind them. ‘Now, why are you here?’ I asked, my voice hard. ‘We are looking for a girl called Raven. The locals call her Annlinn.’ I froze. Annlinn!?! I stared at him in horror. He smiled and lunged forward, lashing out, before I could blink - I was out cold.

I shot up. I was cold and clammy. I kicked back the thin handmade quilt, lined with gold hemming. I glanced at the pink silk hangings around me. It’s been nearly three years, since that night. Three long, miserable, lonely years…

I fell back breathing heavily. It was a dream. It’s long over. The familiar feeling of slight disappointment washed over me. I had woken up. Every night I went to bed hoping, I wouldn’t wake up. Not your average twelve year old stuff, yes? Well, I’m not your average twelve year old. Though, I often wish I was. Then again I’d often wished I’d died that night and not gone through with the past three years…Anyway, I’m alive and believe you me, I’m still kicking.

No use lying here all day. I got up and dressed into a strawberry pink and cream, puffy - sounds bad huh, well it gets worse - dress. It had been laid out for me. Don’t get me wrong; it’s just not my personal taste.

I paused, as always, at the portrait of my real father, real mum and real brother, Falk. I stared at Falk’s pale features, blue eyes and semi-long golden hair. He does remind me in some ways of Jack, I don’t know why, he just does. I wonder what happened to Falk. I’ve always wondered if my father had killed him, nah, he couldn’t have. My father definitely loved Falk more than me. That was the reason the ninjas were sent after me, because Falk died. They say it was of natural causes, but I believe he was murdered…