WCE because why not??

Instructions

Entry for the competition (Doesn't have a title, but I would love it if you guys could help me with that) All by me Let's do this---------------------> Zella bumped her head against the rough wooden table as forceful hands pushed her beneath the table. Shouts and crashes resonated through the marble halls, causing her ears to ring. She looked over at her companion, the one who had pushed her under the table. Damir's face was pale and his hands were shaking. Zella reached over and took his hand. He looked up at her and managed a wavering smile. Zella tried to match his grin, but she knew it was more like a grimace. A creak captured the friend's attention and Zella felt Damir's hand tighten around hers. She squeezed back, willing herself not to squeal as rough leather boots stomped into the room. Footsteps clashed through the silence of the room but all Zella could hear was the beating of her heart. The group of soldiers searched the room, tearing through cupboards and closets. They called to one another with loud voices, each one sounding like death to Zella. "Nothin' in here!" "Who we lookin' for anyway?" "A girl and boy, about 17." Zella felt her heart tighten. "We've tried every house in this block! I'm tellin' you, they ain't here. Probably dead." Zella didn't know how they hadn't found her yet. She held her breath, vowing not to breathe until the soldiers were gone. The soldiers prattled on until the one who seemed to be in charge barked at them to move out into the streets. The second the last pair of boots disappeared through the rotting doorway, Zella let out her breath. Damir let go of her hand and scrambled out from the table. Zella followed, blinking in the sudden light. Their eyes met and they cherished the relief of making through the encounter alive. They knew many weren't as lucky. Damir took her hand and guided her across the room to one of the windows, "Step back," he said picking up a hammer from a side table. Zella listened, covering her face with her hands. A crash pierced the air and the sound of shattering glass followed. Zella slowly removed her hands and looked at the hole in the glass. Sharp bits of glass still rained down from the window. The uneven gap looked ominous despite the sunlight streaming through. Damir looked at her, and held out a hand. She took it and with his help stepped onto the ledge. She turned on her heel and in turn, helped him up. Once he was beside her, Zella looked at the drop. 15 feet at least, onto the cobbled road below. Nausea twisted her stomach and her head swam. Damir touched her arm and she looked at him. "It'll be quick," he reassured her, but she could see that he didn't believe it. Pushing back her white-blonde sheet of hair, she took one last look at her home before collecting her courage and leaping through the hole. Wind whipped her hair around her and whistled in her ears. Her spine stung with pain and her scraped knees buckled, driving her to the ground. She managed to catch herself with her hands, but not without opening several cuts on her palms. Blue eyes watering, she stumbled to her feet, and the world slowly came back into focus. She turned and walked a couple steps, both to test her legs and to give her companion a spot to land on. Zella looked away when he landed, but a groan and muttered words told her he had landed like she had. Turning around, she gave him a hand to help him stand. The two hobbled for a couple yards through the stoned streets before fully regaining their ability to walk. Stopping at every sound, they made slow progress through the crumbling, ransacked town. Zella's eyes welled with tears as she gazed at the crumbling walls and shattered windows. Piles of rubble littered the streets and many marks on the walls and roads spoke of great pain and destruction. Zella shivered as she gazed at the outcome of humanity unleashed. When they made it to a crack in the clay wall that had grown over many years, they slipped through to the lush forest beyond. Crisp air stung Zella's cheeks and messed with Damir's black locks but it was an immediate relief from the carnage of their home. The trees were easy enough to identify, her old teacher had many books on the subject, but many of the shrubs and greenery were unknown. Zella reached for her friend's hand, ignoring the protests from her cuts and squeezed it. Damir responded with a comforting tightening too and the companions took a step forward. Zella looked at Damir's brown eyes. "Where do we go now?" Damir closed his eyes and looked at the overgrown forest. "Wherever we like."