Store of Shorts

The Never Ending Cycle

The ground quivered under my cold feet, and my black hair was knotted. Their sounds of gunfire could be heard in the distance. All around us was the fires of war, silhouetted by the opposing army. We stood in the shadows on the other side of the city that never slept. Now, everyone sleeps as their last breaths are torn from their lips. "Miss Jackline, the captain wishes to see you." A young man, mid-teens, with straggly blond hair stood above me. A flash back of a boy and me his age holding hands as a plane flew over us entered by memories. I stood up from the wobbly chair I had been sitting on and patted the boy on the shoulder. He gave a small smile, but I did not return it. With no thought of my own I turned towards the alpha's tent.

"Sir you asked for my presence." A rough man turned in his chair to reach my blue eyes with his own black ones. His hair was black with streaks of silver, and his shoulders were broad. The uniform he wore matched my silver suit except for the red badge on his shoulder. I held a green badge on my shoulder.

"We need you to infiltrate the enemy's base. It is known that you used to be in connection with the Shadow Army's alpha." My alpha's voice was scratchy and smelled of vodka.

I did not quiver at his unknown knowledge. The alpha of the opposing army had been a very good friend of mine, "That is correct sir."

He smiled and I swore his teeth had a tint of red on them. Still I did not move from where I stood. My alpha looked at me with desire, "Then, it is the board's decision that you will lead us to the Shadow Army's camp." He handed me a bracelet and I put it on without complaint. "Are you up to do this task?"

My voice did not quiver, "Yes, sir." The commander said nothing more, and I turned out of his metal tent.

There were no questions to be asked of what my alpha wished me to do. I always knew only time would tell for when this plan would be set into motion. My own metal tent held Apple Co. technology. Some of the tech was as simple as an inbuilt touch screen and others as complicated as a wardrobe that would make any clothing at the command of my voice. "Request for clothing material."

ReQuEsT gRaNtEd To JaCkLiNe FoStEr. StAtE cLoThInG mAtErIaL.

"Commoner suit of the country Union de York," I would need something to infiltrate into the Shadow Army without question. Playing survivor of the capital city would get me an easy entrance into the camp. The wardrobe gave a ring and then opened with my requested material. The suit was purple and white. Each shoulder of the white blouse had purple stripes and the slacks were a deep shade of purple. I changed into the uniform quickly and with a miniature gun hidden between my breasts, I headed down the rubble roads through New York City.

I remember when this city used to be lit up with the lights of the people. Now the city was in heaps of rubble. Town square used to have bright LED screens that would show different images. It reminded me of my own city. The boy with blond hair re-entered my mind. We stood underneath the city's screens holding hands. Suddenly a plane flew over. He and I had been filled with such curiosity. Then suddenly sirens, and a scream. We were torn away from each other as people stampeded past us. "Jackline...!"

Not long after my daydream a Shadow platoon found me walking through the city grounds. The three kids, okay kids to me, but they were nearly adults in their physical features, stopped me on the road. "State your name," said the female with a bright red bob.

"Gabby. Gabby Taylor," I lied to the platoon. One of them took out what looked like an old iPhone. It was only a 10th edition. After a few minutes the male looked up from the device and nodded his head with some hand motions. Sign language. Their commander had taught them well. They walked me quietly into the raggedy area of their camp. The building had old relics of stuffed bears, and creatures that had gone extinct decades ago. It was then I was met by a friendly face. He was a blond with green eyes. Again I was caught up in a flash back of the boy from my memory earlier.

"My name is Charles, leader of the Shadows." My voice caught in my throat. I had to stay calm, and make sure that he did not recognize me. The boy from my teens was here leading against me, and my only hope was that I could survive long enough for my troops to reach me. I had walked into a trap. There would be no pretending who I was, "You of course already know this, Jackie." My eyes held onto the leader and lover I once had. His voice sent shivers down my spine.

"Let me show you what you fight against," Charles took me by my hand as he had when we were kids and kissed the back of my hand. My feet no longer were frozen for this boy brought me warmth of a summer eve. A plane flew over our heads and then there were screams from across the camp. Charles held on tight to my hand. We were torn apart from each other as people rushed off to guard their home. "Jackline...!"

I had become the never ending cycle.