Short Story Competition Entries

Stronger

An Entry for the August Contest: Flash Fiction contest by _Once_Upon . (Word Count~ 491 words)

I grit my teeth and try not to scream as the pain comes. The electricity is shocked through my body and my professors watch as I try to remain conscious.
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*One month earlier*

"Aariana, we have some news." My father called me into the sitting room where my mother sat agitated. My eyes moved to my brother in the corner of the sofa, draped in multiple blankets and barely holding himself up.
"What is it father?" I asked, knowing that whatever it was, it must have be life changing for him to be there.

"Our government is building an army. They're taking a member from each family, and turning them into super soldiers." He stood up tall and looked to my twin. It was the first time I had ever seen him look at Aaden with something other than disgust. "Aaden will be the one from our family, as my job is too important for me to leave. He will make this family proud." My mother stifled a sob, and Aaden turned his gaze to me with panic in his eyes. My poor brother. He had never been well. All of his life, he had remained at home and had been taken care of by the many nurses and governesses throughout the years.

Aaden is the person I was closest to, and I was certain that he would not survive what they put him through. My father left after discussing the subject. Once he had gone, I took my brother to his bedroom and helped him lay down in bed. Aaden was to leave the next day, but I knew otherwise.

I did not sleep that night. When I was certain my mother had gone to sleep, I carefully left my bed and moved to the dressing table where I turned on the small lamp. I grabbed a pair of scissors, and before long, my long locks surrounded me on the floor, and my hair was short and messy. I moved towards my brothers room, and left him a note holding my farewells and giving him my love. I took the address of the place I was to sign up off the kitchen counter, grabbed the bag full of all that I would need and left my house, possibly for the last time.
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A month later, I grit my teeth and try not to scream as the pain comes. The electricity is shocked through my body and my professors watch as I try to remain conscious. I have been beaten and tortured. Aaden would never have survived this program, I am certain of it. I am stronger now than I have ever been, one of the best in the army, but the soldiers around me have no mercy. They are ruthless, cold, killing machines. They kill for power, I kill for the survival of myself and my brother. I believe I still have my love and morals because of my sacrifice.

This was so hard to write as I would have loved to have it written in more detail, with a more obvious plot. It was fun to write and definitely a challenge to write with such a small word limit. I may in the future write a full version, but I do not know.
I'd also like to thank allyriadayne for the awesome cover!