Contest Entries

Even Before

RR3's Final Round Entry.

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Even Before

By Jelly Chronology

The beads of red sweat dripped into Officer Raymundo's blue collar down to his golden badge that bears his name. He released a huge amount of breath before finally collapsing to the ground. He looked at the lavender sky; at the back of his head he thought of the last Autocorp he battled against and how it crumbled leaving its broken gears behind, and he also thought of his lovely Raissa Velasquez and the last night they spent together looking at a starless night sky. He stared at the sky above him, wondering when was the last time he saw a bird fly by.

He raised his right hand, looking at the gun he was holding. He felt its weight and how it seemed like it is looking down at him with pride and superiority. It was his master and he was its slave, and a slave would always follow his master's requests. He placed his master's mouth against his temple and pulled the trigger that would be the end of the ongoing war.

Humans have lost the war, not at that very moment when Officer Raymundo decided to kill himself. He lost the battle even before that.

Even before he searched for birds in the lavender sky, even before he thought of his lovely Raissa Velasquez, even before he thought of the last Autocorp he defeated, even before he exhaled deeply... Even before blood trickled down from his badge to his collar.

They have lost the battle even before that.

***

"Manila is a ruined city and Earth is a dying planet. What you have to understand is that no matter how much we try to save it, we can't if we can't even save ourselves."

Jay Raymundo shook his head. He touched Raissa's trembling hand and felt that it was icy cold compared to his warm fingers. "I beg to disagree."

"You always disagree with me. When will you open your eyes, Jay?"

"It's always open, Rai," he said. "If it wasn't opened then in the first place I won't be here fighting a war with a vision in my mind."

Raissa stroked Jay's cheeks. "I don't wanna lose you, too."

"You won't. I'll always be here."

For a moment, when Jay leaned in to plant a kiss on Raissa's soft lips, time had seemed to stop. But the spell isn't something that would last forever, because Joseph broke away from its spell the moment he heard an explosive noise from the South of the ruins of Sta. Mesa. He held his gun close to him and hid Raissa behind him.

The first Autocorp was a Level 5, followed by at least ten more Level 3s. It trudged as if it owns the place and discharged Ultra Lasers adding up to the pile of debris that is already blocking the road. The Autocorp laid its eyes on a wreck jeepney and read the signage that is still attached to its front: Christine.

"Beep beep... Bzzt... Ki...Ri...S...Tin... Bzzt..."

The Autocorps hovered above road which looked like an aftermath of a massive earthquake and laser beams flashed everywhere they go, oblivious to whatever they might hit. Raissa tugged at the end of Jay's blue uniform. Jay kept his chin up, feigning courage when deep inside he knew what great terror he was about to face and how great fear is stirring inside him once they get to face the enemies.

Jay looked at Raissa one last time, memorizing the details of her face --- taking in every single detail that could impart a lasting image in his mind. He wanted to remember that face but looking at his lover's grim expression, he cannot help but to feel helpless.