Moonlight - Pause

Chapter 1

Alex Pov

Capital - Ilwon 2245

I was recruited. Finally. Due to the rotten peace, or cold war, that we were living ,the minimum age for recruitment fell from 18 to 16. All young people are called to an initial phase, then only those who really want to belong to the army are recruited to the second phase. Everyone begins their training in the capital, and then they are distributed throughout several cities. My brother is currently a captain and has always told me his experiences, which made me enthusiastic since I was just a kid. My goal hasn't changed. Djev's nation has to pay. It's not revenge, it is justice. Nothing and no one will get in the way.
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Day 1 - 8:30 Am (Ilwon)

The presentation starts in 15 minutes. I predict a lot of annoyance, we have to say stupid things like our age, homeland and name, and also we have to listen sets of rules that in a few days no one will remember.

The training center is huge, it is in a mountainous area of the capital and for that reason they built it widely; its divided into indoor space: where we have all the conditions to develop fighting skills and learn how use weapons; then we have the outdoor space that is focused on physical capabilities such as speed and endurance .There is also a camouflage part and the shooting range is outside too . About 20 minutes away (on foot) is the building-dormitory, that's where we will have meals, sleep and supposedly live together. It's a shame the room be shared but the reality is "It could be much worse".

8:45 Am

We're all lined up in ten rows. The sergeant (whom I don't know the name yet) approaches and begins to teach a history class in which

the main theme is: context of the war we are about to face .

Useless. At least for recruits from the North who lived the first attacks closely. I quickly look at those close to me.

Anura is a very heterogeneous nation. Southerners mostly have dark skin and dark eyes. They say that the South is quite hot, it has breathtaking beaches ... i mean tourism has managed to make this part of the country almost as rich as the capital. Northerners are completely the opposite, white skin like snow, and light eyes. When we were younger, Isaac used to say my beauty was a gift, I distracted the people,he stole. In Kolov I was ordinary: greenish blue eyes, pale and thin. The only thing that stood out was my deeply black hair, like my mother's. Isaac has light hair, almost blond, just like Alan and my father had. One of the things that has changed in these years was my physique. I went from thin to muscular, so to speak. Since my brother joining the army, he forced me every morning to train with him. I was 12 years old. I know, he was crazy, forcing a child to train is unconstitutional but he did it because it was necessary for my survival.

I looked ahead again. The sergeant was still babbling the rules. I roll my eyes.

B-O-R-I-N-G

9:20 Am

Finally the sergeant got to the interesting part: the kind of activities and missions we would have. But, of course, to increase my irritation, he was interrupted. Apparently an emergency arose and now we have to wait for someone come to replace.

It was a pleasant silence that didn't last long. On my left side were two silly laughing. A boy of my height with dark skin and a short girl, she is a southerner, without a doubt. I didn't know they were recruiting dwarfs... Anura is really a desperate nation.

They looked like two hyenas that didn't shut up!

- We are in the army, not in the preschool - The laughter ceased.

- Do you have problems, Mr. Annoyed? - Replied the boy

- Yes, are you both kids by any chance? Shut the fuck up!

- Chill a bit man! Are you trying to get into the conversation in that way? You could just ask- said the girl, or rather, prototype person. She used a very ironic tone but if she wants to play this way, then so it will be.

- I wasn't talking to you little shit.

- What did you said? - She got up and stood in front of me.

- Li - ttle - Sh - it

- You're about to meet the devil                        

- Uhhh I'm full of fear - As if I hadn't already gone through hell.

Does this spoiled girl really think that she can be the devil?

When she pushed me, two superiors arrived, the captain and the substitute. As there was a wheel around me and little shit, they soon realized what was going on. They told us to go back to our seats, in screams obviously.

- We're not done yet - I said quietly.

- I haven't even started - She smiled maliciously and went back to her seat.

When we were dismissed I went to the room assigned to me. On the door was written "Alexzander Lorenzo Pierce" and underneath "Ethan Miles Wallock". I honestly hope he doesn't upset me too much, I need peace to sleep. I went in and started tidying up my belongings, which were not many. A photograph of my family, hygiene things, some clothes and books. One of the best teachings Isaac gave me was to teach how to read and write. Books take me out of this shitty world. Some use drugs, others drink, I read it. I spent a good few minutes on that task and then lay myself in bed. I closed my eyes and at that very moment the door opens with enormous force. Who the fuck opens the doors like that? I look and saw a tall boy, with light brown skin, dark eyes and a muscular body.

- Didn't anyone teach you how to open doors decently?

- I'm sorry - Said the boy - I'm Ethan by the way.

- Alex.

- Oh, you're that guy who messed up with the girl.

- Yes, it's me - I roll my eyes

- You have to be calmer bro.

- I don't remember asking for an opinion - he laughed.

- I've seen that I'm going to have a lot of work ahead of me - he started tidying his things and telling details about his life. As if I was interested.

In short, he was born in Ilwon, had a very boring life, seems to me a cool guy but too outgoing for my taste.

At dinner time I went to the cafeteria and saw my brother next to other captains. He came to me and told that wanted talk in private. When we got outside he pulled my ear, literally.

– Heeeeeey, are you fucking kidding?

- First of all, be careful with language, I hate your dirty mouth; secondly do you have a potato instead of a brain? Setting up confusion on the first day? Do you want be expelled?

- No but... - He interrupted - Alex, I won't always be there to save your ass. I hope it's first and last. You know I hate being hard on you but it's time to understand that this is not a joke and that not everything in life is solved with a beating.

- I know... - I replied, I know he's right but sometimes it's stronger than me. It's not like I've done therapy to learn how to manage my anger issues.

- Now come here - I hug him back then I head towards my room, fell into bed and fell asleep.