[ WP ] Make us fall in love with your character , and then immediately kill them off .

`` Shh shh shh, do n't cry, do n't cry now.'' Poppy whispered as she held Alfie in her arms. 
 
 Alfie did n't hear his sister. The boy bawled on, convulsing with tears. 
 
 `` Alf, listen,'' Poppy said gently. When her brother again ignored her, she repeated more sternly, `` listen. Now.'' 
 
 Her brother paused for a moment. He sniffled. 
 
 `` Remember those walks we would take with dad? To the *big* tree outside of town?'' The sister looked her baby brother in the eye and tried her best to smile. 
 
 He nodded. His face was red and his eyes glistened with tears. 
 
 Poppy's heart felt cold. *Gods be good, he's still so small. Still just a baby. * But she put on her brave face, `` well, guess what? We're going there. We'll walk on the pretty road and we'll sing together and we'll have a picnic under the tree...'' She had to stop when she felt tears welling up in her eyes. 
 
 `` Can we play tag afterwards?'' Alfie asked. 
 
 `` Yes, yes'' Poppy nodded, `` we'll play tag. We can play whatever you want. We'll play all your favorite games.'' 
 
 `` Okay,'' Alfie smiled, `` when's mommy and daddy going to come get us?'' 
 
 `` In a little bit, just a little bit,'' Poppy said. `` But you sound sleepy now. Why do n't you take a nap? Mommy and daddy will be there when you wake up. We'll all be there when you wake up and we'll go...'' 
 
 The child's eyelids drooped. Poppy held him tight as the village burned all around. Raiders with bloody axes surrounded them.
