OTHERS: Five elements

CHAPTER 4.6: EARTH

22 September 2032, 07:00 AM

I woke to screaming. Not the kind that lives in dreams or echoes inside your head, but the sharp, guttural cry of real fear. It tore through the thin walls of our home, followed by the unmistakable shouts of men—soldiers. A child was crying. Somewhere close, a door slammed. Then another voice barked orders that made my skin crawl. My heart started racing. I sat up. My head still ached from the night before, but the pain was distant now. Then I heard it again. 

-  "Everyone outside! Now!" 

 A rifle butt slammed against our front door.

- "Get up!" I yelled, grabbing my brother and sister. "Mama, we need to go!" 

 They were already awake. Mama was trying to put on her hijab, her hands trembling too much. My little sister, clung to me like she was five again instead of fourteen. She didn't cry, but her eyes were wide and silent. My brother, stood frozen by the window, looking down into the narrow alley below. 

-  "There's... so many of them," he whispered.

I crossed the room and pulled him back. 

- "We'll be okay," I said, not believing it, not for a second. 

 The door burst open.Two soldiers stepped inside, rifles raised. World Safety Organization. 

- "Outside," one of them barked. "Now. All of you."

We were herded out into the sunlight. My eyes stung. People from every building in the neighborhood were being pushed and pulled into the narrow streets—men, women, children, all of them dazed, confused, terrified. There were at least thirty soldiers. Maybe more. Rifles up. Orders sharp and cold. We weren't allowed to speak. I tried to whisper to mama that it would be okay, but the soldier behind us shoved me in the back. I caught myself before I fell. The soildiers brought us to an old soccer field that hadn't seen a real game in years. Dozens of people were already there, surrounded by soldiers, watched like cattle. Mama was breathing heavily beside me. Each step looked harder than the last.Then she stopped.Her legs gave out. She slumped to the ground. 

-  "Get up!" a soldier yelled, stepping toward her. 

-  "She's sick!" I said, stepping between them. "She just needs to rest!" 

The soldier didn't care. He raised his voice, his gun, screaming at her like she was an animal.And that's when I heard it again.The voice. Not from the crowd. Not from the soldier.From inside me. 

- " Get rid of him."  

It was louder than before.

- "You have the power. Protect her."

My hands trembled. The world tilted slightly.And then I moved.I didn't think.I just acted.I pushed the soldier—hard.He flew. Not stumbled. Not fell.He flew back few meters, his rifle clattering to the ground as he landed in the dirt. Gasps. Screams. Guns raised.Time froze.And then I heard another voice—one I recognized.

- "Well, looks like we found our intruder."

I turned. It was Mark's mentor. August.His eyes locked onto mine—sharp, calculating, familiar.He stepped forward, flanked by four soldiers. My heart pounded.I looked at my mother, still on the ground, struggling to breathe. Amal was kneeling beside her, holding her hand. Samir stood frozen, his fists clenched in quiet rage. 

-  "Please," I whispered. 

August stepped closer. 

- "You have two options. Come with us willingly, or we kill your family." 

The voice in my head screamed. 

-  "Run. Fight. Destroy."

But I silenced it. I turned to my family. Dropped to my knees.I hugged Samir first, held him tight. 

- "Be strong, little brother. Take care of mama." 

He didn't speak. Just nodded, holding onto my shirt with white knuckles.I kissed Amal's forehead. 

- "Study hard. Become a great teacher. Make me proud." 

She tried to smile, but her lips quivered. Her eyes flooded.Then I turned to mama. Her eyes were full of tears, her breath shallow. I touched her cheek. 

-  "I'll be okay," I lied. "Don't worry. I'll come back." 

She reached up and cupped my face with both hands. 

- "My boy," she whispered. "My brave boy." 

I kissed her forehead.Then I stood and walked toward August. 

-  "I'm ready," I said.

The soldiers surrounded me. We walked toward the jeeps parked at the edge of the soccer field. As I stepped into the jeep, I turned to look at them one last time. My heart was pounding, as if it might burst from my chest. Our eyes met—and in that moment, I knew. I was willing to give everything for them. Because they were my whole world.