Awoken

Run

11-06-2077: Before Car Accident

    A lone siren casts it's wail into the distance. Rows of men, mostly built and strong, with shaved heads fill out a team. And then, there was me. I stood, lanky and unwavering, in the back of the pack. Last row, third to the left.
   The militia officer looks out over his new row of recruits, "Men." He says is a powerful, yet steady, voice. Each man raises his hand against his head, except me— I was day dreaming.
   The officer walks down the line, myself still in a daze, still didn't notice. He stops and stares at me. "Boy." He grunts through his teeth, "Are you trying to make me mad?" Each word was short and wincing, I, of course, was paying attention now.
   "N-no sir.." I say, trembling under the grand stature of this man. He stares at me; I wish I could've told him that my father had forced me into the marine core, but I honestly had no interest anyway. I'd rather write code on a computer.
   The officer leans in close, and he tells me one thing, "You made an ass outta me, son. Now I'm gonna have to repay you," he backs up and looks into my eyes, "Is that clear?!" He yells at me.
   "Y-yes sir." I look down as he begins training. He puts the worst of it on me.
               *                *                 *
   After four weeks of relentless training, day and night, I finally caught myself wishing for.. Freedom? Was I really missing the exact thing I was gonna fight for? So I formulated a plan to break out of training. By this time, I wouldn't've been aloud to leave— but I did.
   When I caught my chance, one late night, I broke out of the training facility and ran for the nearest road to be picked up. When I had gotten out, I could hear sirens behind me. It was a major law that if you signed up for the military, that you couldn't leave until your time was up.
   I caught a ride as soon as I heard the dogs behind me, barking, and saw the handheld lights casting their glow into the night. "Where do you wanna go?" A woman asks,
  "I need a car. Mind taking me to a used car lot, please?" I fumble with my words.
   "Of course, what's your hurry?" She asks, pulling off, zooming down the road.
  "Just got out of work, and my wife took the car in the divorce." I was wondering if she'd buy it, even though I only looked 17.
   "Hmph.." She says, "I know how you feel, my ex husband, Lars," she laughs playfully, "he took the house." She smiles to herself, "But that's okay. I'm making it." I smile at her, she seems positive.
    Moments later we find a car dealership selling older, used cars-- not the best, I would say, but good enough. She helped me pay for the car, and was on her way. I have her a hug, and she gave me her number if I ever needed anything. "The only problem with the car," the dealer says, "is it needs some new brakes." And I was on my way.
   Hours later, while driving down the highway, I was hit by an oncoming vehicle and was rushed to the hospital.    I take a deep breath, pulling as much oxygen I can into my collapsing lungs. Sirens blare on in the background behind murmuring voices and the ringing in my ears. My hands grasp for earth, but instead find the cool cement littered with shards of glass. Lights illuminate the night sky, seemingly getting closer. Red and blue, red and blue flashing vigorously... I moan at the strength of which are contain... None.. My back, against the ground, is stiff.
   I hear more yelling, still murmured, but it's closer than before. I haze, losing my grip on the world, eventually fading to black. I awake into a hospital hours, days, weeks, after?
   And this, is where it all started.