Blur

They were supposed to protect their charges, but this morning another one was gone. They had kept a watch all night and were convinced they had succeeded.

Then it happened two hours before dawn, and another of the ones they were protecting was gone, into thin air, into the ether, not leaving a trace.

Where were they going?

This was happening every night, and every day they had new people to look after.

They asked for more help in protecting their charges but were told to do their best. It was almost as though no one cared.

Their charges never talked and just took to a bed when they came in, and their supposed guards knew that they would probably never leave peacefully, just be taken.

It was almost as though whatever was taking the ones in the beds was being fed by whoever the masters were.

There was no reason for this, and no one dared question it.

Every night when the charge was taken, the guards, if they were looking, saw nothing but a blur, and the bed was left empty.

The guards knew that if they raised any questions or concerns, the blur would come for them too.