Rebellion

Chapter 12

100 armed soldiers marched towards the place I once called home. They were led by a man called Phoenix, who believed the only way to better our future was to destroy the present and start over, just like the Great Fire in the oldtimes. I walked among those soldiers, clad in armor, gun in hand. Two people walked beside me, people I called friends. And as I walked, I realized this might be the last day they spend alive.

We marched towards the City together, though for different reasons. I didn't know their stories. Nor their reasons for fighting. But I knew mine. Someone precious was taken from me, and I would do anything to get him back.

100 soldiers marched towards almost certain death, and I among them. 100 different people, with 100 different stories, most of which would never get the chance to be told.

I looked at the faces of those around me, and remembered those of who we've lost. There had been so many deaths, and the war hadn't even begun yet. Is it really worth it, for so many people to die? I didn't know the answer.

But then I remembered that word again; martyr. It meant, "A person who suffers or dies for their beliefs." We were all martyrs in our own way. Many of us died because they stood against the Society. Many more would die fighting for their beliefs now. Those who survived would suffer from their loss. But what makes us martyrs isn't the fact that we suffer, it's that we do it willingly, in order to achieve our goals.

There is no "good" or "bad" side. Both sides have good people, as well as bad. Neither is necessarily right or wrong. It isn't as simple as black and white. Both sides are grey. Equal. It all depends on your perspective. Who is to say someone is bad? How do you prove that? What does it mean to be a bad person? To kill? Both sides have done that. I've done that. The truth is, in war, there is no good or bad, no right or wrong side. No winner. All that matters is where you stand, and who survives.

Will I survive? I wondered as I walked. Will Landon still be alive when I get there, if I do? That was something that hadn't really occurred to me until then. What if all of this was in vain, and I was already too late? No... He's alive. I know he is. But I didn't. How could I know? I hadn't seen him in what felt like years, though it had only been a couple months.

The world around me was a blur, and I moved almost mechanically, on autopilot. I was lost in my own thoughts. As my mind wandered, I began thinking about my family. How long has it been since I left them? I couldn't be sure. It was hard to keep track of the days out here. I wondered if my mother had her baby yet, and if it was a boy like she wanted.

A sad smile crossed my face, and I felt something that I can only think to describe as grief. I missed them, and I was sure they probably missed me too. But what if they don't miss me? What if they are happy with their new child? Or glad I'm not making trouble for them anymore? Of course that was ridiculous. I knew my parents loved me, and even if they were finding a way to be happy, of course they missed me.

I felt my eyes sting with tears as a thought crossed my mind, not for the first time. I can never go back to them. Things would never return to normal. I made my choice, and there was no turning back. My family is part of the City, part of the Society. And I am a traitor.

I shook my head, as if that would shake the thoughts away. It didn't.

Apparently my worries were shown on my face, because Bree touched my arm lightly, causing me to jump a little in surprise.

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked, concern in her voice.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just thinking..." I looked over at her. Her blue eyes were full of both worry and curiosity.

"You sure you're good? You need to take a break for a minute?"

"I'm fine. It's okay, Bree. Don't worry about it."

"If you say so. But you shouldn't have so much on your mind when it comes time to fight. We need to focus, or we'll end up dead."

"I know." I sighed as she walked away. I knew she was right. But I couldn't seem to clear my thoughts. I had so much on my mind. But now wasn't the time for "what ifs". We were getting close now. The city was almost in view through the trees.

Focus. I readied my pistol in case of an ambush, and I kept myself alert and aware of my surroundings. Just focus.

100 armed rebels raised their weapons as they approached the City I used to call "home," and I among them. That's when I heard it; the first shot. A young girl in the front of the group dropped to the ground, and my heart jumped into my throat.

Bullets flew and bodies dropped all around me. Time seemed to slow. Or maybe it went faster. The world blurred around me.

A pain in my left shoulder brought me back to reality. I could feel the warmth of blood slowly covering my shoulder. Bree was shouting something at me, but I couldn't comprehend it. My head was spinning. Focus, damnit. Snap out of it, a small voice in the back of my mind told me.

I shook my head and looked around. An Officer was running towards me. I raised my pistol and fired. He dropped to the ground, dead.

My hands were shaking, but I kept fighting. I couldn't stop until it was over. The pain in my shoulder was only getting worse, but I tried to ignore it. You can do this. This is what you've been training for, I told myself.

I don't know how long the battle lasted, but when it was over, that's when it all really hit me. It looked like a massacre. Bodies covered the bloodied grass. Friends I had come to know and love lay among City Officers.

I fell to my knees, in the wet grass, and my weapon dropped from my shaking hands. I think someone held me, but I blacked out, saying only, "Why?"