O Versus A

Prologue

Prologue

Mia ducked as bullets rained all over the abandoned building and the lot around it. Darn, she thought, Why now?

She hid behind one of the walls. In her defense, she was just walking home. Idiotic Olympians. Such great name for useless and hateful people.

She began to calculate the possibilities of her survival. If she tries running from her spot to the way of her apartment, the bullets might hit her. If she walks around pretending she was lost, she might encounter an Olympian soldier or a terrorist. If she stands up, a Nox might kill her instantly. She has so little choice. She has to risk it. If she doesn't reveal herself, she'll get buried in this whole rubbish and her corpse would be that of an unnamed terrorist. The almost-deafening roar of the engines of the Noxes faded in the distance. Everything was silent for a few seconds. She let out a sigh. At last, this is her chance.

She stood up. A searing pain hit her shoulder as a soldier shot her. Every breath she made suddenly became laborious.

"I am an Olympian!" she yelled angrily. That was a lie of course... She snickered inwardly. I'll never be one of them and I'll never wish to become one. She clutched her shoulder to stop the bleeding.

"I-I'm sorry," the soldier stuttered. Mia found the situation ironically funny. Seriously? Have you ever heard a soldier stuttering and apologizing just like that? That's an Olympian soldier for you.

"What seems to be the problem here?" a booming voice behind the soldier asked.

"An Olympian was trapped inside the building, Sir. I accidentally shot her," the soldier said.

"What is your name officer? And your rank?"

The soldier stood tall and saluted-Mia could see his silhouette. "Kevin Redd, Sir. Six thousand, one hundred fifteenth officer."

Mia froze. It's Kev! It's her childhood friend and classmate! She took back all her insults. He was stuttering because he's nervous, she's sure. He's Mia's great friend and in addition to this, an amazing person. Mia can't help but smile in the darkness.

"What are you smiling at?" the other officer-probably the commander-yelled.

How could he even see me smiling in the darkness? Mia thought. She cleared my throat. "Nothing," she replied.

"Why are you here?" his voice resonated. It sent chills down Mia's spine.

"I was on my way home from school and I passed here because this is a shortcut. I never knew there was a raid," Mia said weakly.

"Liar!" the commander said. Mia bit my lip.

"I think she's telling the truth," Kev interjected.

"Your naïveté will be your ultimate weakness, officer," the commander said. "This girl might be going home but she was from a gambling house. We don't need juveniles like her."

There was silence. Mia was stunned that she couldn't speak. The commander knew where she was from. She didn't say anything about a gambling house. He can't know that much, right?

"Shoot her," the commanded said clearly. Mia's heartbeat went fast. Beads of sweat slid down her face.

"B-but-" A trace of strain could be heard in the soldier's voice.

"Now!"

Time seemed to stand still. The next thing Mia knew? Her body went numb because of the pain caused by the impact of the bullet in her head. The worst thing of all, even worse than the wound in her head, is the thought that one of the only important people in her world ended her life.

***

Lights flooded the room as the headlights from the Noxes turned on. The young soldier, Kevin, wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. He felt so much panic when the commander ordered him. She's his first kill. He wanted it to be a guy but at least he has already done one of the hardest parts of his job. He let out a sigh of relief.

He walked to the girl and grimaced once he'd seen the hole where the bullet hit her. She's got beautiful hair that was almost covered with blood now. To think of it, she has the same shade of hair as Mia. Her eyes-

"Holy crap," Kevin managed to say despite the lump on his throat.

It's Mia, his best friend, one of the very few people who matter to him.

He trembled and fell in sheer terror with his sudden realization.

He just killed Mia.