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Chapter 1

Silently, Krina made her way down the disturbed alleyway, everyone around her keeping their guard up. Shards of concrete littered the streets as the troops scavenged for possible threats within the area. General Louvre led a team, far ahead of the 8-10 people in their group. They were in their practiced military formation; which would appear as a Raven from bird's eye view. The atmosphere dusty and grimy as the group explored a narrow alleyway. "Up ahead" General Louvre quietly spoke into the built in helmet radios, "proceed with caution". Simultaneously everyone crouched and stealthily makes their way to the dark corner of the shattered street. The slipshod like area was lined with beggars and sick families. It was unsightly but of course after years of training, the squad did not even flinch. Much worse had been witnessed in the dulled glassy eyes of those chosen for the army. On field, personality didn't exist. After analyzing the area, she finally heard one of the men speak "Clear". Thank god, Krina hated patrolling the alleyways. Despite the years of accepting horrible things, there was still a small glimmering desire for her to save everyone she could. Of course it was a mere delusion but after seeing her family disappear before her eyes, she learned it was a burden she could never really let go. Continuing on, they finally escaped the dark reality walking with haste around the still standing buildings left. Krina looked back at the sad hopeless eyes of the people resting in the shadows. Looking out at the atmosphere through her mask, she saw crumbled buildings with markings of rust and blood. The sky tainted orange, the atmosphere gaseous. Krina looked at the men and women among their squad. they were the privileged ones they have protective gear against the radioactive fumes. Much of the population had died and many still suffering from lack of supplies and food. Halfway dead, children can barely walk as their parents try to support them for the ticking time they all have left. Continuing down the chapped road Krina fell behind of her squad unaware of her slow pace. Their orders were clear. Quarantine specified sectors in downtown Manhattan, monitor the areas to make sure there was no suspicious activity going on. Just as any other day, the same distorted memories of havoc and disaster whispered among the collateral damage in broken people and the decaying buildings. What once was a bustling city now nothing but large rocks and cracked concrete, colorless glass shards, dusty memoirs. This was the reality of things. Krina remembered, once sunlight was white like the reflection off smiling little girls' teeth. The city bustling with overpopulated streets, the smell of exhaust and perspiration; The large buildings reflecting the streets, huge jumbo-trons displaying ads for large businesses, everyone in a hurry to get to where they needed to be. Everything was once at peace, everything had a purpose. Who knew the very people who could build a nation could be the end of one as well. Krina could never fathom what would lead someone to destroy the very pride and joy of a society. Much had to be built just to be destroyed. Why would someone ever want to destroy everything they worked for? Lost in thought Krina found herself alone among the streets of a destroyed city. Thats all it was, just another city.. gone. The people in it forgotten as easily as