The System

Prologue

    "Listen to me. We run--don't look back," Shiela whispered coarsely in her son's ears as she peered out from behind the shady trees. 

    "Why not?" the boy asked. His hazel pupils were curious--knowing the emotions that his mother seemed to be juggling with at that moment. He tried to glance out from the trees too, the tip of his head showing from the bark. Immediately, Shiela pulled him back, a stern look across her pale face. Her blue eyes glared at him as she reached for a rubber band on her right wrist. It was rare to see Shiela Darren ever tie her hair up. This was a special exception--a deadly one at that, too. 

    As soon as she got her hair tidied in a tight ponytail, she shoved her strands of hair into the black hood of her sweater, tossing the hood over her head. "Don't ask questions, Josh," she said, "Just do as mommy says, okay?" She shoved something that reflected the light into her pocket, smiling at Josh. Her hands reached for Josh's hood, pulling it over the ten year old's head. The boy gazed up at his mother, feeling the shaking of her hands as she pulled the hood. He didn't ask questions. Instead, he watched as Shiela picked up another pebble--the tenth one today--and tossed it out onto the empty grass. It stayed there, unmoving, and the relief on Shiela's face was as manifest as the upcoming storm. 

    She tiptoed out, standing in the center of the opening, her eyes scanning the forest. Before long, she signaled for Josh to come along. He stepped abruptly onto the crunching leaves and Shiela shot him a deadly glare. At once, his footing lightened as he scurried to his mother's side. She held him tight against her body and listened for any movement. He felt his mother's body flinch at the sound of a snapping twig, not far from where they were standing. A harsh push sent Josh stumbling away from his mother, his body obeying to the call, "Run!" 

    He took off and Shiela followed shortly behind. From the shadows emerged a figure and her hands dug into her pocket, reaching out for the silver pistol in her hands. She shot once. The ringing of the gunshot echoed in Josh's ears as the bullet missed the figure, hitting the bark of a tree. Shiela's fingers tingled from the trigger, but she kept her hands firm on the grip, watching for any other signs of movement. Josh ran head on, without stopping. A movement caught the corner of Shiela's eyes and she pulled the boy back, shooting at the empty space ahead of him, then turning acridly to shoot behind her. Twice, the bullets missed and hit the trees. Josh clung to his mother's arms tightly, then remembering that he wasn't to be a coward. Hesitantly, he let go and watched as his mother stood guard. 

    "I'll help," he told himself, watching his mother's back. It was then that he saw it for the first time--the Unknowns. They had the solid bodies of humans, only their eyes were glassy as if they were dead and their internal bodies had nothing but wires. One of them was a young girl, an odd smile plastered on her face. She walked forwards, aiming for Shiela. Immediately, Josh threw himself at her and alarmed, Shiela missed the shot at the man behind the trees.

    "No, get back, Josh!" Shiela literally spit out. The girl smiled wryly at the boy and before he knew it, he'd taken a hard punch in the stomach. He doubled over, gagging on the floor as the girl kicked him. Sweating bullets, Shiela ignored the Unknown behind the trees and shot at the young girl, watching her body shut down as the bullet penetrated her stomach. She wrestled the girl off of Josh and deftly turned to shoot at the coming Unknowns. Shiela glanced all around her, her son in her arms. They were surrounded. There was too many of them and the only safe sanctuary was at least miles from here. She'll buy time. Her son will survive and she'll do anything in her power to ensure it. 

    Her hands aimed at the closest Unknown as she yelled to be heard. Josh listened intently this time to his mother's words. "Josh, the safest place is outside this forest," she hurriedly explained, "There's a small village in the clearing. Once you get there, you'll be safe. No matter what you do, Josh, don't look back."

    "But what about you, mom?" Josh asked, clenching the end of Shiela's sweater tightly. He was sensitive compared to most other boys in the old village. He knew what Shiela was choosing to do and didn't like it one bit. In a second, an Unknown hurled itself at him and he held back the urge to scream, picking up the rocks, throwing anything he can find at it. Not that it was effective. On his sixth rock, Shiela shot the Unknown and it fell to the floor. 

    She didn't take her eyes off the Unknowns but whenever she spoke, Josh knew it was for him. "Remember the tales about daddy I told you?" she asked.

    Holding back the urge to cry, Josh nodded. "Dad was a brave man," he replied, his own voice wavering by the second, "He was smart, reliable, and kind."

    Shiela smiled at her son, "Do me a favor, Josh." She shot again, this time missing. Without a second to spare, she inspected the bullets she had left. Five. She wouldn't hold up for long. "For me," she took her eyes off the Unknowns for a minute, looking Josh into the eye, "Find your dad. Find out his secrets. When the time comes, remember that I forgave him for everything."

    Josh didn't respond. Had he known that those were among her last words spoken to him, he would've responded. However, he wasn't given the chance. At the exact moment that the gunshot rang out, Shiela shoved her son away from her. "Run, Josh!" she screamed as grey clouds released hard, cold rain, "Don't look back!"

    The boy did as told, running as fast as his feet can take him. His feet pressed against the hard surface of the soil. One gunshot rang out from behind him. Even as his eyes threatened to tear up, he reminded himself that he wouldn't be a coward. His throat was burning and the rain made his clothes heavy against his body. Another shot echoed. Josh's legs grew weary but urged to keep running. He won't look back. The third shot came. He realized with regret that he hadn't told his mom that he loves her. Run back? Yell it out? Shiela reminded him countless times to not look back and to make the least noise as possible while running. Heavy regret continued to tug at his heart. The fourth shot was louder than all the others and rang in his ears. 

    From then on, the forest behind him was silent. Even as he was tempted to, his heart urging for him to, Josh never looked back.