Leonidas finished scything the grass and wiped the sweat from his forehead. When he looked up, Granny Theresa stood by the fence, holding a basket with a loaf of bread and neatly placed berries.
"Would you at least bring home some food in return?" she said, thrusting the basket toward him.
"Really, Granny, there's no need to do this every time I visit." Leonidas smiled, embarrassed, trying to hand it back. "I refuse. Hold onto what you can during these times."
"Ridiculous boy," she scoffed. "You take this as payment for scything my yard, and now away with you." She softened. "I hope all is well at home."
"All is well, thank you," he said, pulling on his coat. "I should be making my way back now. It's almost sunset."
"You get home safe then. Tell your mother I send my regards."
"Of course, Granny. See you 'round." He slipped through the fence and headed down the road.
Halfway home, after darkness had settled in, a figure wearing a black Scandinavian dress and hood walked slowly alongside the road.
"We haven't had any outsiders in town in years…" Leonidas muttered under his breath.
Their footsteps echoed equally against the bricks. The figure sped up as the distance closed. Leonidas felt sweat gather at his neck as he strained to glimpse a face hidden by the dark.
"Easy," he muttered to himself, trying to calm down.
Leonidas turned back, fists tightening.
"Just who are you..?" he asked too quietly for them to hear. He took a step toward the figure, hesitated, then turned and hurried away.
After about twenty minutes, Leonidas turned and walked along the stepping stones, looking up at the door. He slowed down and took a deep breath, his breath visible in the cold air. He reached for the handle and opened the door.
"I'm home, mother!" No one responded.
Leonidas checked the restroom and the living room, his mother absent.
"Mother, I'm home!"
With no response, he opened a bedroom door and saw his mom slumped on the bed. Leonidas went in and sat on the side of the bed
"Mother, wake up." He nudged her.
"I'm not asleep, Leo, I'm just resting." She sat up next to him.
"Why weren't you answering?"
"I didn't hear you, son." She got up from bed and hugged Leo.
"Take your medicine, please."
"You are home late, boy." She made her way to the kitchen. "I haven't finished dinner."
"Your medicine first, dinner after." He slammed the vial on the counter. She turned toward him, knitting her eyebrows.
"I'm sorry." said Leo.
She sighed. "Enough. Set the table." She grabbed the vial and gagged. Uncorking it, she took it in one gulp. Quickly, she covered her mouth and leaned over. Leo smirked at her when she straightened back up.
"You stayed out past the bells again," she said. "It's not safe when the parade is going."
"Sorry mother." He looked down.
"Don't just say sorry, show me you're sorry." She smirked at him. "I love you, Leo, I just want you safe."
The roar outside made Leonidas clench his teeth.
"I hate when they come to our side of town," he said.
She hurried to the window, opening it and peeking outside.
"Mother?" Leo stood up, knees bent inwards as the volume of the crowd increased.
"That's strange," she said, "they don't usually come down our road." She opened the window and stuck her head out. Leonidas tensed up, stepping behind the counter.
"Leo, get under the table, now." She slammed the window shut and locked it, closing the curtain after.
"What's going on, mother?" He said, biting his cheek.
"Now, boy!" She pushed the settle, a long bench, in front of the door.
Leo dropped under the table, blinking back tears as the floor vibrated above him. His mother stood in front of the door. The door began being rammed, the house shook, dust falling from the ceiling.
"Mother?!" Leo cried out.
The door busted open, the settle slid across the floor and hit the table. The noise had died. Leo looked out at his mother, standing off against a group of men from the village. The noise resumed. The group charged Leo's mother, she ran around the table and all of them followed the same way. Circling back, she ended up back against the kitchen window. Leo sprang up and stepped between his mother and the crowd.
"Stop, please!" shouted Leo. He squinted his eyes into focus, a tear ran down his face. His mother cowered behind him.
The crowd went directly for them, Leo braced for impact—and he wasn't where he thought he was.
The window shattered. Then they were gone.
Leo stood by the window long after the noise had died.