24th August - 3pm.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMnRIpCf1S
The sky was falling. The large rocks had stopped falling, and for a moment all seemed calm. It almost seemed as if it was all over. And then the ash began to fall more heavily, like huge teardrops from the weeping eyes of the gods. The sun was still covered, and it seemed that nothing would penetrate the thick veil of darkness. Fallen oil lamps littered the cobbles and even through her sandals, Livia could feel the sharpened points of their shards as she ran through the streets. She was one of the few running towards the inner city. Many of the citizens she passed were heading either to the city gates or to the docks, carrying their most important possessions and leaving everything else behind. Market vendors had abandoned their wares and the poor and dishonest alike were looting their stalls and taking anything their hands could salvage. Bakers had left their ovens, the loaves still inside, and even the prostitutes in the brothel had closed their doors and were no longer allowing any more customers inside.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi0OcXghVh
Livia dodged upturned carts and empty barrels that had been left in the street, weaving through the crowds of people moving in the opposite direction to her. She looked around frantically, in the darkness and disorientation, she had made a right turn instead of a left and was now in the unfamiliar parts of Pompeii that she did not recognise. The ash was falling thickly; street signs were unrecognisable.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXxtOWGmAO
All she knew was that this was the poor area. Where, had she visited on any other day, the poor would line the streets with their backs against the wall, hands outstretched and begging for coins. There were no grand staircases here, no large columns to hold up their roofs, no fires burning eternally in great bronze dishes beside their front doors. No great artwork was there on their walls, no fountains or pools or long benches for one to recline one whilst eating fresh grapes. And yet there was a dignity here that Livia could not find in the parties and gatherings of the upper classes of society. Here there was pride, not snobbery. There was a sense of community, not competition between neighbouring families. She stopped in the middle of a deserted, darkened street to attempt to find her bearings. She could see faintly the top of the Temple of Apollo ahead of her and slightly to the right. The home of Ariadne’s family was not far from the Temple, being only a few streets away from it. Livia’s spirits picked up a little, at least now she had some idea of which direction to take.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3XklidWhf
She reached the Temple with ease. The footpaths leading to it were well walked by the feet of the downtrodden, and they were all empty. She followed in the footsteps of those wanting forgiveness and salvation, and was surprised to see that a large crowd had formed already outside the steps of the Temple. The fires that were never permitted to die were still burning furiously, bright beacons in the darkness leading all pious souls in the city to the Temple to pray once more for the mercy of the gods. Livia was shocked at how many people had remained in the city. She had struggled against the current of people leaving and had quite forgotten that it was only a small portion that had packed everything up and left as soon as the ash covered the sun.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeinCvy3XTp
In the square before the Temple, there was no rapid movement like there was in the streets elsewhere. Here, people stood motionlessly, or kneeled on the floor beneath the mighty stone statue of Apollo himself. The contrast was striking and unsettling. Whilst only streets away citizens of Pompeii were running and hurrying to leave the city, here they remained silent, except for the whispered murmuring of their prayers. The ash that fell from the sky landed almost serenely, coating the clothes of the people gathered before the columns of the temple and turning them grey. It was almost as if they had turned to statues themselves.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwCPlAn83u
Instead of running, Livia walked past the scene at the Temple. She prayed as she went, looking up to Apollo with wide, hopeful eyes. She believed in all her heart that the gods were only giving them a warning and would not truly harm them. And yet, something in her gut urged her deeply to run as fast as her legs could carry her and get as far away from Pompeii as possible.
Ariadne’s father was a Censor. He was tasked with collecting taxes and maintaining the balance between citizen and senator which was not always easy. As a result, he was paid well, almost as well as Livia’s father Lucius. If one were to add his large income to the inheritance of both himself and his wife, one would find he was one of the wealthiest men in Pompeii - and so, of course, he had a home to match his status. The house he had built for his family was lavish and no expense had been spared. The columns on either side of the large bronze door had bulls and other animals carved at the top and the gardens were meticulously cared for and trimmed. Inside, beautiful frescoes lined the walls, depicting scenes from the landscape around Pompeii.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqItAWjWQeI
Livia knocked on the bronze door with the heavy knocker in the shape of the head of a horse. A slave opened the door tentatively. She opened the door just a crack, just enough to see who it was that was calling when the city was in such disarray. Her look of apprehension and fear changed to relief when she recognised Livia standing on the doorstep. She ushered her in, shutting the door quickly behind her.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVHR0XAP5C
Ariadne was descending the large marble staircase opposite the door as Livia entered.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP4q5JnJSl
“Livia, you cannot comprehend how relieved I am to see you!” She said, pulling her friend into a tight embrace. “Should you not be with your father and your mother?”855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOShFnniRP
Livia shook her head.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALewrXoVEe
“I intend to go straight home after visiting you, but I do not wish to linger long in the city. Maxentius was right, you should leave. We should all leave.”855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Om1yRULGx
Ariadne nodded. Her eyes betrayed her caution. She was wary of leaving.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXLHkei7w8
“My family will not leave with us. They say they must stay here. I do not want to leave them.”855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIMcN6CbPt
Livia patted her friends arm gently.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyVA1FnjdW
“They will all be fine. I am fearful of your…condition. You of all people should leave here. God knows the bad airs that are falling from the sky.” Livia said quietly. “They could harm the child.” She whispered.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LbkZR7PNR
This, it seemed, was Ariadne’s deciding factor. When forced to consider another life besides her own, she no longer cared about the dangers of leaving Pompeii. Her maternal instincts were already strong, and Livia saw that her desire to protect her child was already stronger than anything else, stronger even than her love for her family.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlA9OsHZXY
“You will leave with us?” Ariadne asked, taking Livia’s hands into her own. Livia nodded.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyquswyKF5D
“I shall return later tonight.” Livia said softly. Ariadne nodded, watching as her friend left as quickly as she had came.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0bNP0DFtN
Livia returned to the gladiatorial garrison. Marcus was waiting for her. He took her into his arms the moment she crossed the threshold.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0omhkoc9Ye
“You should have waited inside. It is dangerous out here.” She said softly. He stayed silent, his eyes turned towards the sky. It was the middle of the afternoon, only five o'clock, and yet no light was there reaching the streets of Pompeii.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWBBUtquLM
“Ariadne, is she well?” He asked after his brief period of silence. Livia remained wrapped in his embrace, her head resting on his shoulder.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBuVtiOJqc
“She is leaving with us. I told her we would get her later tonight.” She said, raising her head to look into his eyes. “Is that enough time?”855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdJfvPAo5Z
“It should be, Gods willing.” He muttered. 855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FvEMxtBLV
10pm855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfps4jB1vKL
The ash cloud had finally begun to clear. Livia had returned home and was met with the realisation that her father had not even noticed her absence. He had drunk two more bottles of wine in order to allay his nerves and her mother’s feeble excuses concerning his daughter's whereabouts had been enough to suffice in his drunken stupor. Her mother breathed an audible sigh of relief when Livia entered. She pulled her into a hug.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4153VAlnSH
“I was so worried!”855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstMjH51i5J
“I had to see Ariadne.” Livia whispered. Her mother nodded. “I think we should leave, mother.” She said quietly. She knew her father would never agree to it, but he was so drunk already that all they would have to do was tell him they were going to go to the temple to pray and he would come along and be none the wiser until they were miles and miles away.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQGpmMbsjR
Her mother objected.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYK8aiZIwP
“No. We cannot leave. And besides, the cloud is clearing. I do believe I can even see some stars.” She said gazing out of the window.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskHHYJNXNR
It was true. The black cloud that had blocked the sun was disappearing and small specks of light were appearing - the lights of far off stars bringing the people of Pompeii small rays of hope.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIlgS5Ss3c
“I believe the threat has quite passed.” Aemilia said optimistically. She smiled at her daughter before turning back to the window. “It was a warning, that is all. A warning.”855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu8RNSrHJE
“I still wish to leave mother. Ariadne is leaving, and I want to go with her.” Livia admitted. Her mother nodded stiffly.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMUDcXPkgq
“Then if you must go, at least wait until the morning. It will be safer.”855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwGNyyrGzN
Livia nodded. She left the room quickly, and caught the arm of one of the servants before she climbed the staircase.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeBc2865sQ
“I need you to deliver two notes for me. One to the residence of my close friend Ariadne, and the other to the gladiator’s garrison.”855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DTU0hHpsC
“The garrison, ma’am?” The servant asked with his eyebrows raised.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0AeXEzFcd
“Yes. You will deliver it to a Roman, a man named Marcus.”855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwffZg39uh
The servant nodded. Livia climbed the stairs two at a time and wrote her notes, informing both parties that they would leave the city in the morning. The servant delivered them quickly - the streets were empty - and when he returned, brought with him replies. Ariadne had agreed that leaving in the morning was far safer and a much better idea, and Marcus had sent a reply back in his untidy scrawl. He said he would do whatever she wished, and would call for her at precisely 8am, when the sun was almost full in the sky. Livia had smiled, believing that they were no longer in any danger. She snuffed out her candle and got under her sheets. She slept easily, her dreams secure and safe and above all, free from ash and darkness.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVeo9GF3te
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7:30am
First there was a shaking. The earth began to tremble, almost in fear and anticipation. The sun had only recently risen, but the birds all immediately ceased to sing. Quickly they spread their wings and left the vicinity, wanting to be nowhere near the mountain.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnhQkjmNPh
And then the very sides of the mountain seemed to collapse. A perfect storm of rocks and mud and debris and destruction and heat came rushing to the ground, falling at an alarming pace.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUV8zxuPhpm
Herculaneum was hit first. Sleeping in their beds, they had little chance against the anger of the mountain. They were killed almost instantaneously. The heat alone killed them; their brains boiled in their skulls. And then, for one small, blissful moment, it stopped.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClcGj3o3R4
Silence.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89MhrJ1GEc
And then it rumbled and began again. And this time it wouldn’t stop at Herculaneum. It was heading for Pompeii.855Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM1MWmyU9p
