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In that deep darkness, there was my breathing, a jerky breath and my voice.

“ Don't let go of my hand! “

The sound of a heavy impact on water followed by a sound of gunfire and a cry torn by pain.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! “

Whose blood is this blood on those hands? He seemed to say.

War is born of the desire of the powerful and the weak have no place in it.

“ Welcome to this newspaper of October 3, 2225, we have just learned that a war of provisions has broken out in Korea and that its government has collapsed. “

“ France, for its part, has begun to suffer shortages in certain areas leading to numerous riots and the government has also begun to recruit many soldiers. Presumably with the intention of fighting a war or protecting themselves from any invaders. “

“ Ray turns off the radio! “

“ But Mom, it's the newspaper! “

“ No, it's time to go to bed.“

“ But I'm 15, and you know the schools are closed.“

“ That's not a reason and you don't reassure your sister. “

“ No, i'm not afraid, Mom. I'm grown up now you know. “

“ Charles, please, talk to Mia and Ray.“

“ Children, please and go to bed.  And tomorrow, you will have a surprise.“

“ Is that true, Dad? “

“ Yes.“

“ Come on, let's go to bed, Ray.“

“Well done, Dad!“

“I'm Ray, I'm 15. I live with my family and we are in 2225 in the small village of Lue in France. The Earth and its resources have been exploited by humans for far too long. People were suffering severely from this lack of resources; several wars had already taken place. But right now, it was a total war waiting for us. We had several major energy crises. Renewable energy was no longer sufficient to meet our needs.
Most nuclear weapons have even been dismantled to meet our energy needs, while populations have been growing steadily over the years.“

“ The current distress, which was to be blamed on the lack of food, energy and pollution problems, had given rise in 2220 in Europe to a party which advocated the coming together of all European countries to face this crisis. Very quickly, he came to power and formed the « Empire » after 5 years. France refused to be part of it, but the Empire was really only the work of a family: the Von Kaiser. The man at the head of this family was Gregor Von Kaiser.“

“ Come on, Ray!“

“ All right, i'm coming!“

“ They still have that joy of living and that carefree.“

“ I envy them so much. We are already living with difficulty, and it will get even worse until it becomes a hell. Our little town is also starting to run out of food, the fields that had a bit of a guarantee of survival were looted a week ago.“

“ I'm so scared for them.“

“ Me too, but the worst thing is that we can do nothing but pray that they will be strong. Come on, Emma, let's go to bed.“

“ You are right.“

“ Big brother you think there will be a war?“

“ Men have always struggled for survival at the expense of others. But if i do, i will give my life for you if i have to.“

“ Are you not afraid?“

“ If like everyone else, but when you care about something you are willing to do anything to protect it and you are what I want to protect.“

“ I love you big brother.“

“ Me too. Come on, let's sleep to see what dad has for us tomorrow.“

“ Yes.“

October 4, 2225

The next day, Mia and i had woken up early. At noon, we were done preparing.

“ We're ready.“

“ Ok. Let's go!“

“ So what's the surprise?“

“ Between parents, we organized a small party.“

“ Cool!“

I saw Mia's eyes light up under my eyes. It's been a long time since I've seen those eyes atmy sister's house.   Of course, i went to have fun with everyone.After all, it wasn't every day that this happened. My father and mother had watched us and after a good few hours, i went to sit next to my father who was now alone.
And I was sitting there watching this beautiful sunset, watching my sister, and that's when my father started talking to me.

“ Did you have fun, Ray?“

“ Yeah, that was nice. Mia had a good time too. I think everyone had a good time.“

“ That's right, it was a beautiful day.“

The wind suddenly began to blow.

“ Ray our future is now uncertain. You will be faced with many trials, even after the end. I'm counting on you, you'll have to be strong no matter what and take care of your sister.“

“ I already know, Dad.“

“ I see let's go home.“

A screaming family is a united family.

 

 

October 5, 2225

“ We have just learned that there has been a series of attacks against the Empire claimed by a French extremist group. Madam and Sir, it is with regret that I announce that the Empire is declaring war on us. All men aged 18 and over must enlist. Buses will pick you up across the country tomorrow morning.“

The next day.

“ No, Dad, i don't want you to leave, please! “

“ I'm sorry Mia, but i have to, it's to protect you too.“

“ No, i don't want to, i don't want to!“

“ Honey, please take her to her room.“

“ No, no, dad!“

“ Ray, listen, i want you to be strong, be stronger than the force itself. Protect your sister and mother !Goodbye...“

My father hugged me as hard as he could. What could i tell him?  Then the words came out of all my being.

“ Dad, what is our name?“

“ We are Shafter.“

“ Daddy, i promise you that our name will be recognized by the gods and i will protect Mia and Mama.“

“ You will do more than you think. I love you, son.“

The door closed. Left alone, I could hear my sister and mother sobbing.

“ I love you too, Dad...“

In the days following my father’s departure, France became a real war zone, attacked and invaded by many soldiers of the Empire.
After a few months it fell because of the enemy’s superiority, on 5 February 2226.
But while victory was already achieved, hundreds of thousands of soldiers were sent all over France to ensure the so-called security and to limit the rebellions.

“ What happened next is something that only Man can do!“

War is a cruel game that can only be won with blood.

 

 

February 7, 2226

The sound of an order is heard through the sound of a radio.

“ To all troops launch the Moon eye operation!“

“ Hey make it clean ok.“

“ Yeah, yeah, don't piss me off.“

Suddenly, a door was being beaten :

Boom boom!

Someone was staring at a knife, and then a door opened.

“ What do you want at such an hour?“

“ It's just a friendly visit.“

Suddenly, a person fell into a fracas breaking photo frames. That person was my mother. We were still at the table when my mother opened the door and then collapsed.Now lying in glass debris. A soldier had dealt him a heavy blow.

“ Mom!“

Mia ran to help our mother who was trying to get up again.

“ The whole family is together!“

“ Please, they are only my children.“

“ I'll take care of it don't worry.“

His laughter was terrifying. My mother, no doubt understanding the fate he had in store for us, threw herself at him with all her strength.

“ Run away!“

Deafening gunshots rang out in my ears. I saw my mother collapse against the wall and her clothes soaked with blood, while Mia and me watched in horror.

“ Mom, mom! You killed her, you killed her!“

“ Yes and now it's your turn. But first having a good time under the eyes of your mother.“

The soldier caressed Mia's head with a smile filled with bad intentions, while I was frozen in fear. I'm just a teenager. I can't do anything. I can't kill in cold blood but then why did I take this knife?

“ Ray, Ray, Raayyyy!“

“ Dad?“

“ You made me a promise, didn't you. You must protect your sister, said you.
You told me you were ready !“

“ But I am.“

“ Then why are you shaking? For every thing gained, another must be given up.“

“ You're going to abandon your sister and run away?“

“ Never!“

“ So what are you waiting for!“

That's right, for every thing you win you give up another. Dad used to tell us that. So I’m going to be consumed by anger, that anger imbued with the image of my mother lying on the ground, my sister about to be raped and I’m going to...

“ Become a murderer!“

The blood burst at once. The knife I was holding had crashed right into the soldier's eye, screaming in pain. He fell over, and I rushed at him, stabbing him again and again in front of my sister.

“ Die, die, die, dirty rot!“

They say that man can become the worst of monsters if he wants to protect what he cares about, and at that moment, I had only one thing in mind.

“ Protect my sister!“

The soldier kept shouting to the point that it alerted his colleague.

“ What the hell is going on?“

My hands and face were now covered with blood, and I took the hand of my sister who had witnessed this spectacle, and I walked towards our mother.

“ Mom!“

“ My darlings.“

“ Mom, you need to get up!“

“ Raah... I'm sorry... I'll have to leave you... I love you my little angels.“

My sister and me saw our mother give up her last breath.

“ Mia, we must go fast!“

“ No, no!“

So I slapped her.

“ Listen, I promised to protect you, you want to die that's it ? You want mom to have died for nothing!“

Mia answered me with tears in her eyes and with a sobbing voice.

“ No... no.“

“ So let's go.“

Mia looked at her mother.

“ Goodbye... Mom, I will always love you.“

The other soldier came to the door. He saw the body of his college lying in a pool of blood, then his gaze crossed that of Ray who had turned and looked at him with a black eye, his face covered with blood. The soldier was scared and wondered:

“ This kid did that !“

Then Ray started running holding his sister's hand. The soldier took a few seconds to find his spirits and went after them.

“ Damn come back here you filthy kids!“

Shouts were heard all over the city as it rained continuously for more than three hours. Ray and Mia ran in the rain to escape their pursuer.

“ Don't let go of my hand, and don't stop, Mia!“

After more than 150 meters, Mia fell to the ground.

“ Big brother, I can’t take it anymore!“

“  I know, but we have no choice!“

The soldier was getting dangerously close and Mia was exhausted.

“ We've run out of time. I'll take you.“

Ray was also exhausted. After a hundred yards or so, with his sister on his back, he too fell. They were on a bridge, he got up as fast as he could. But the soldier had caught up with them and now had them in his line of fire.

“ You're really bad kids!“

“ I killed your colleague, kill me, but please, my sister is only 10 years old!“

“ Sorry kid, it's nothing personal.“

The soldier smiled, Ray understood. He was terrified. In an instinctive reflex, he tried to protect his sister.

The soldier opened fire!

Ray and Mia tipped over, sinking into the waters that had swelled sharply with the rain.

“ It's dark, I'm cold so cold. Am i going to die? What about Mia? Ah, Mia, Mia, i have to protect Mia!“

I opened my eyes and realized that i was next to Mia on a sort of bank. The moon was hidden by the clouds.

“ Mia, are you okay?“

“ Yes, i am a big brother.“

Mia's voice reassured me, but the cold I felt had given way to horrific burning sensations. At that point, I understood.

“ So much the better, Mia, i think I'll have to leave you, too.“

“ What a big brother!“

The clouds that hid the moon disappeared and the moom's ligth then let the eyes of Ray's hands and clothes filles with blood glimpse, under Mia's horrified eyes.

“ No, no big brother!“

“ What a bad brother i am to leave you now alone.“

Mia was trying to press my wounds to stop the bleeding. But it caused me more pain than anything else, given the lots of bullets that had touched me.

“ Mia, it's useless, i'm going to die.“

“ You said you were going to protect me!“

“ And i did.“

“ No, I want you to protect me all my life, you hear me.“

“ Unfortunately, it won't be possible, maybe in another life.“

“ No, no, no!“

“ Listen to your older brother's last words. From now on, you will have to fend for yourself. Be discreet, not die just live. If revenge you allows you to move forward, embrace it and become strong, stronger than the force itself it is now our family motto. Mia, my little sister, even though i see you not, even though i am far from you. I will always be with you, i promise you.“

“ I love you little sister...“

“ No big brother no.“

“ Ahhhhhhhh no, it's not possible!“

“ Ahhhh, ahhhh.“

Mia stayed for a few minutes squeezing her brother's lifeless body.

“ Is it over? I will never go home again? Why? “

“ Because i wasn't strong enough? The weak must just cry?“

She then looked at the blood on her hands, her brother's and her tearful face gave way to hatred, distorting the latter.

“ I will eliminate them from this world! Exterminate them ! All the way down to the last, those responsible for my tragedy !“

I hope you liked the first chapter. I'm not English or translator  so I hope the translation was readable. If you want to help, buy the book on Amazon or make a 5 euro donation on PayPal. This will serve to boost the sales of the book.

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