ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ The world had been falling apart before my eyes for the last three years. The turmoil of what I had seen was like watching a wild beast tear apart a loved one, limb by limb. The sky was dark by the smoke and ashes, rising to meet the heavens. You could see fire, eating at the buildings full of innocent, or guilty people. My city was in ruins now, and the sidewalks were a graveyard, small memorials of various loved ones. I sat in an underground schoolhouse, the only safe place I had where death wasn’t a constant threat. During the class, I would imagine my years in elementary school, looking out of the window, watching the passing horsemen and wagons. Now I looked at a dirt wall, and the musty, damp smell of the earth filled my head. The room was lit by a small lantern, and we didn’t bother to write or read because we couldn’t see anything except the teacher, she was an older woman, a boring, but a sweet teacher. When she would say something that made no sense, I always rolled my eyes, she couldn’t see me anyways. The mere reason for my existence I could not contemplate. The world around me was crumbling. My life had been fading away, everything I loved getting taken from me, for three years. And to think, all of this was because of power. I took a drink of murky water from a jug and my hand shook while I placed it on my desk as I thought of my parents’ death. Their pleading eyes, looking straight into mine, and the great pain they suffered. I remember my two younger brothers, being taken away to never be seen again. I hope they didn’t suffer. I knew if things kept going on as they had, soon everyone would be dead. One action, one word, one decision, can change the fate of the world. An argument, a treaty, anything, it affects the outcome. Tears ran down my face and I clenched my fists. I was shaken awake by a gentle hand. “Charles,” a soft voice said, “are you alright?” I looked over at a sweet, lovely girl. “I’m fine, Magnolia,” I whispered back, holding her hand. She smiled back at me, and I felt my heart flutter. I strained my eyes to see her, but the only assurance of her presence was her honey-like voice. Our teacher dismissed us and we walked out of the dirt room. Magnolia walked beside me as we strolled through the underground tunnels. We heard the sound of a fire roaring above us, along with occasional battle cries and warning tones. The path under the earth split, and Magnolia grasped my hand, “Bye, Charlie.” I kissed her on her cheek. She walked to the left, and I walked to the right. I felt warm, and whole again. The empty spaces in my soul were filled, temporarily. As I looked ahead of me, I saw nothing but darkness, and chills ran down my spine. I walked until the tunnel reached a dead end, and I looked up. I pushed up of a wooden trapdoor, climbed out of the musty passage, and entered a dark room. I took four steps ahead of me and pushed in front of me. A door swung open and the light blinded my sight. I fished around in my bag and retrieved a black cloak, which I swung over my shoulders. I pulled its hood over my eyes and walked out, into the light. Sound instantly erupted and blasted into my ears. The shouts of men and screams of women and children. I heard the twang of arrows being notched, and the chime of blades being drawn. I heard the noise of swords clashing. I looked to my right, and then to my left, and saw no one. I scurried across a street and went into an alleyway. I walked in the alleyway for half a mile then came out of the alley, entering a small house. I ran to the door, entered the house, and slammed the door behind me. Another day, I had survived. I breathed a sigh of relief as I dragged my feet to the other side of the house. Blankets and pillows were placed on the floor and I plopped myself down onto them. I threw off my cloak and bag and stretched myself over the pillows and blankets. I didn’t have anything, but hope. And Magnolia. She was the light in my darkness. All I had. The world’s one comfort.
In a world where your life is always on the line, in a world where you have lost almost everything. Where the whole world is fighting, and there seems to be no hope in ever united the world. Or is there...?
