THE CHOSEN ONES ( PART FORTY EIGHT )

As Arvid moved in closer, he noticed that there was
ash everywhere, as if there had been a big fire.

The figure seemed to be rocking back and fourth,
very slowly. Then he noticed blood on the ground,
beside the figure. 'This is not good,' he thought
to himself.

He started to sweat, his heart racing...as he made
the decision to call out. He took a deep breath,
then called out. "Hello!" the figure did not
respond.

Arvid was now getting anxious, he called again,
"hello! who are you?"

The figure stopped rocking and turned to look at
Arvid. It was an old woman, her face was all
wrinkled up, her skin told him, she had seen hard
times.

She was bent over holding a wrap around her, with
one scrawny, wrinkled hand. On her lap was a
wrapped bundle, where blood was oozing from.

Arvid noticed tears in the old woman's eyes. ignoring him, she started to rock again, then she
whispered, "what's the point?" she was crying, as
she pulled the wrap from her head, Arvid noticed
she had hardly any hair, just a few wisps. 'This
lady is very old, she shouldn't be out here alone,' he thought to himself.

"What's happened here?" he said...almost afraid to
ask.

Still the woman cried, "what's the point?"

Arvid approached the woman, he went to put his hand
on the old ladies shoulder, suddenly she turned on
him, "don't touch me!" she put her shaking hand up,
to stop him. "Leave me alone, do you hear?"

"I don't understand," said Arvid, "I don't mean you
any harm old lady."

She looked at him with piercing eyes, she seemed to
be very angry, "leave me alone!" she shouted.

Arvid could not contain himself any longer, he would not leave until he knew why this old lady was
here alone.

To be continued .........