The Crabby Crawfish - A Book of One-shots

R / The Day of Triumph

Renegades one-shot

This is really, really short. Sorry!

Chloe took one shuddering breath after another. She raised her eyes, peeking out nervously from behind her messy brown hair. She was curled into a corner of her family's small house, the walls cold. She was shivering, fearing the worst for her parents, both members of the Sea Lions (IDK), a villain gang. Chloe didn't want them to die, but she knew that anyone who called themselves a hero wouldn't hesitate to kill a villain.

She felt the despair rise in her stomach again, and she covered her face in her hands. How long had it been since her parents left? Were they still alive? What if...?

No. Her mother could create walls in the paths of her enemies, and her father could heal his own bones. They couldn't... die. Could they?

Chloe started to shiver. The sun was streaming in the west windows. Her stomach growled, but she was too afraid to move to the cupboards. She was too afraid even to stand.

An explosion boomed outside the house. Chloe choked back a cry as she imagined the worst. Her legs had gone numb and her back sore, but she didn't stretch. She could only listen, tearfully, as her mind wandered, conjuring nightmarish imaginings. She could run, but she feared she might get caught - or killed. But she if she just stayed here she might be caught in a trap.

Chloe steeled her courage. She had to know what was happening. She might die, but at that moment she didn't care. It didn't matter now, not if no one was left. She hauled herself out of the corner, feeling her joints crack with a painful pop. Walking the six steps to the door felt like an eternity.

Prying open their rose-painted door, she peered out into the streets. Seeing no immediate danger, although her heart still pounded hard in her rib cage, she stepped onto the porch. She was still tense and alert, her hair a rat's nest, no doubt.

She took one breath after another, steadying herself. Maybe she'd be all right. Maybe she would get away.

Just then - BOOM. An explosion shook the ground. She was too shocked to move. Her legs felt like jelly, her knees unable to support her.

Then she was on the ground, buried beneath a pile of cement and wood. The dust cloud filled her lungs, making her cough. Her foot hurt, her legs hurt, her face -

She felt only pain as she lost consciousness, never to find it again. When her parents, staggering and weak, found their house that day, they saw it in ruins, and their daughter dead, crushed by the rubble.

The Day of Triumph, they called it. Though whoever benefited from the fight, no one shall ever know.