Friends Again

Marcus, son of Petrus, lived in a white villa in the middle of Rome in the year 64 A.D. He was a happy Christian boy who loved his parents and younger siblings. He loved to play sports and a Roman game, like chess, using nuckleboards. He was a tall, broad, thirteen-year-old boy with blond hair and deep blue eyes. He was generous and good-natured and was well liked by his friends, especially by his best friend Antonio.

Antonio was like Marcus in many ways, but in others very different. He lived in a tumbled down shack in the outskirts of the city. He was looked after by his kind old Uncle and mean Aunt, because his Christian parents were killed by the Roman emperor. He was tall and strong with brown hair and coal black eyes. He was a Christian and loved his younger brothers and sisters.

Part 2

Marcus Venicius woke up one night to the voice of his family's servant, Maria, calling urgently. She said that his best friend, Antonio,had told the Roman authorities about his family's Catholicism. She said that the Emporer's soldiers had already taken his mother and father to prison and were coming back to get Marcus and his brothers and sisters.

Marcus and his siblings got dressed, ate a hurried breakfast and packed the most necessary things- food, clothes, and water. They followed Maria, Polynexia, the cook, and the few other servants they had and crept out to Antonio's house. Although Marcus did not want to they had no other choice.

They crept into a underground room that Antonio's father had made in time of danger. The Venicius family stayed hidden there all day and as the day ended they suddenly started to hear screaming, running, and the clanking of armor.

Part 3

Marcus woke in the middle of the night, hurried into his clothes, and crept out of the underground room in which his family was hidden. He found his friend, Antonio, Antonio's father, Palcus, and brother, Agustus. Suddenly, a scream pierced the air! They all froze, then rushed to the door. Marcus' family woke and rushed to the door as well. They gasped in fear. For all the houses were on fire! Then, suddenly a woman came pelting down the street. She fell into Palcus' arms. "They just killed my husband!" she sobbed. Then she died and a look of content came on her face. "She is in heaven" murmured Agustus.

Suddenly a pretorian guard, the name given to the Emperor's guards, caught up a burning torch and threw it onto the thatched roof of their house. The whole roof burst into flames. Everyone ran into the house trying to rescue as much stuff as possible. In the end they got most of it out. Suddenly, Marcus heard crying. He gasped to Antonio and his father, "My youngest sister, Claudio, is still in the underground room." Antonio ran into the house. Antonio's father called him, but his voice could not be heard over the crackling of the flames. The roof began to crack. Antonio reappeared in the doorway holding Claudio and leapt to safety just before the roof caved in. Marcus thanked Antonio, but inwardly he still hated him for telling on his parents.

Part 4

Marucs thanked him, but inwardly he still hated him for telling on his parents.

That night Marcus and his siblings, along with Antonio and his family slept in a cave that the boys had used to play in. Marcus lay awake that night thinking of all the happening of the day. He was just drifting off to sleep when he heard, from the adjoining cave, a low murmer of talking. He got up silently and listened.

"I wonder where that scoundrel Marcus Venicius and his siblings are hiding?", said a voice.

Another voice answered, "It is too bad our soldiers did not take them and lock them in the cave with their parents. That was a good idea to lock there parents up, but you should have taken the children, too."

Then another voice was heard, "Where did you lock them up?"

The first voice was heard to say, "In the caves on the south west side of Gauzer Preatorius's house."

Then the men left and Marcus lay down again. Questions ran through his head, but finally he fell into a troubled sleep. The next day he apologized to Antonio because he fianlly realized that he was innocent. Marcus freed his parents and then he and his siblings were once again reunited with their parents. Marcus and Antonio were once again united as friends.