Wretched And Divine

I Am Bulletproof

            I remember when the world was different.  I long for the days when I didn’t need to be afraid every moment.  A time before F.E.A.R. took over. 

            F.E.A.R. took over the world faster than anyone could imagine.  The day it all began started like any other.  Before nightfall was upon us, the world was enslaved to F.E.A.R.  They claim to be what’s best for the world, but they don’t fool me. 

            All I have left is my cousin.  He’s been there for me throughout my life and he’s like the brother that I never had.  If I’d lost him too... I don’t even want to think about what that would be like.  We only have each other now. 

            I know there are others out there who will fight.  We’re going to find them and take back what belongs to us. 

*****

            The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the barren desert plain. 

            I stood in a crowd of people, I figured there to be at least two hundred of us gathered here today.  We were all waiting for Andy to appear on top of the sand colored rock in front of us. 

            The murmurs of people’s conversations drifted in and out of my ears.  Some people were questioning the sanity of this decision, some were glad to be doing something to stop F.E.A.R., and some spoke of their lives before this had all happened.  No matter what the conversation, none of them spoke much louder than a whisper. 

            I couldn’t believe the amount of people here today.  This had all started out with Andy’s idea of rebellion.  He had come for me that day that this all began. 

            That day when he pulled up outside my house and told me that my parents were dead.  He told me that the world was under siege and we couldn’t stay here. 

            It started with the two of us and a few of Andy’s friends he knew that he could trust.  It didn’t stay that way for long though. 

            We would scavenge for food left in the wastelands of once great cities.  When we were out there we found others; others who would stand and fight if they could.  They came with us and our little group doubled in size. 

            That night around the campfire is when Andy spoke to us of rebellion.  He told us that if we could find more people, we could stand up to F.E.A.R.; we could take back our world. 

            His words had inspired us, and after much discussion we chose to go through with his idea.  And thus, the rebellion was born. 

            Our army grew slowly.  It took months to get just thirty people to join us.  But now just two months later, I stand here in this enormous crowd. 

            I looked at all the faces around me.  Most of them were around my age or a little older.  I saw a boy that only looked to be eleven years old; he looked around with wide eyes.  I knew all of these people had a story similar to mine. 

            F.E.A.R. had destroyed so many lives in such a short period of time.  These people were here because they wouldn’t let F.E.A.R. take anything else from them. 

            The crowd fell silent and Andy’s figure climbed on top of the boulder. 

            “I cannot say that I know what brought all of you are here today.” His voice rang into the silent plain.  “But I do know why you are here.” He paused, taking time to look over the crowd.  “F.E.A.R.”

            “Most of you, if not all of you, have lost loved ones.  I know I have.  Nothing can bring them back, but would you let them die in vain?” He surveyed the crowd as some people shook their heads. 

            “Whether you want revenge, justice, or simply something to fight for, there is one answer.  We may all come from different places, but we all have a common goal.  We all have the same enemy in this war.”

            “F.E.A.R. may have taken over the world, but that doesn’t mean they can keep it.”  I heard a few people around me agreeing with him. 

            “We will not stand by while they try to take everything from us!” I heard various “no’s” in response. 

            “This is our world, and we are taking it back!  They cannot silence us.  I won’t give into them, I won’t surrender!”

            Every one around me started cheering for the idea of restoring our world, for what we wanted our future to hold. 

            “I AM BULLETPROOF!” he shouts as the cries of the crowd echo into the desert.