A Civilian
It was getting closer to my mother's death. Everyday that passes by. I just feel more and more hatred towards the government, the royal family. I've been doing everything I can to keep my mother alive. I've even been making homemade medicines since we were too poor to get professional medication. I probably spend several hours a day searching for cheap or even better free material, chemicals, plants, food... anything I can use to potentially cure my mother. Her illness was killing her from the inside out. She is not unable to move and she can barely see.
Today all I was able to gather were: three strings, a head of cabbage, a bag of ginger, a metal plate, and a few sticks to keep our fireplace in use at night.
"Hello mother I'm back. I'm sorry, but today wasn't the best day. I didn't get much."
"I appreciate everything you do my child." I kissed my mother on the forehead after she shared her appreciation for me and what I do for her.
I went to the kitchen to cook some onion soup for my mother and I. We didn't have much, but we made the best of everything we had. We only had two rooms in our house: the bathroom and the every other room was shoved into the other room. It was a decent size room though. We did live in a cabin in the plains in the middle of nowhere after all. We had a mini farm, but we only had a couple plants, a pen of five chickens, and a horse.
I went outside to check on our horse Lucas and the chickens. Lucas was always a friendly horse; who enjoyed my company. I ride Lucas everyday when I search for things. The chickens are... well chickens. I fed all the animals, and then went back inside to checkup on my mother.
"Mother... you will make it through this... mother..."
"I know I will..." Mother whispered to me.
"I promise... I promise you will."
Emma Derrick
Ezekiel returned to my manor, but this time he brought an whole army with him. "It's been four days..." I heard the dissatisfaction in Ezekiel's voice. "Hand us over what has been promised," Ezekiel added.
"I'm sorry... we don't have your wishes ready yet," I told him.
"I want twenty-five trucks of food and supplies by tomorrow morning... NO EXCEPTIONS!" Ezekiel furiously bellowed attempting to cause angst to get us to do what he wants. Him and his army turned back around, and started heading home after he shouted at me.
Sanjay seemed a little unsettled. He began talking to me; "Duchess... he's not going to break. It's either give him what he wants... or war."
"Sanjay... I think he wants war," I said with nervous confidence. Just saying that gave me the chills. I watched Ezekiel and his army march away like dogs begging for food. "Get the supply trucks ready. We'll play along for now," I commanded.
Sanjay Porsche
I was watching the recruits become enervated from the intense training I've put them through. However, one stood out among the rest, Graham Radcliffe. Graham was giving it his all while having a broken knee. He knew he already officially became a soldier the night Claudia broke his knee, but he still cane to training camp everyday until he was assigned a role in the army. I didn't want to give him a role that was too arduous, because he was still injured.
I've been pondering about what Graham's first mission or task should he. Someone as dedicated as him shouldn't be neglected. We should use him as efficiently as possible at all times.
I was observing Graham very thoroughly. He was doing stretches and he was springing onto the climbing frames that dangled from the ceiling. I could tell he was trying to force his knee to heal. He rested for a very brief moment; he was pushing himself too far.
I decided to go have a conversation with Graham. "Graham, it's nice seeing you again. I see you're already back to training."
"Yeah, Commander Sanjay, I want to put in all my effort. I want to be the best soldier you've ever seen."
"Luckily for you... it won't take that much."
"What do you mean, commander?"
"Graham... you've already shown me the dedication, skills, and intelligence of a true warrior. You are special. It's like you're a natural born warrior."
"Thank you commander!... that really means a lot to me."
"How about you go relax for the remainder of the day," I suggested to Graham. He shook his head, and headed towards the medical center.
I was laying back, enjoying the view of the future troops. Some were a little more enthusiastic than others. I could see that most of the recruits were giving a decent effort, but a decent effort won't be enough to make it to the next level.
Claudia Thorne
"You're never going to be enough, Claudia... quit now... quit before you embarrass yourself," My mother suggested.
"But... m- ma... I want to be just like you and dad," I replied to my mother. I felt like a disappointment to my mother. I felt as if I was never meant to be born. I never asked for this... I didn't ask for any of it.
"Claudia put down that staff. Go back into the kitchen and help Polly scrub the walls," Mother commanded.
I put down the staff, and sluggishly dragged myself into the kitchen. "Hello, there's my beautiful girl, Claudia!" Polly shouted with so much blithesome in her voice. I actually started to believe someone loved me... but in my mind I couldn't believe it was true. I grabbed a washcloth, and started washing the stainless white walls, without saying a word to Polly.
Shortly after that my mother came into the kitchen. It feels like I've been cleaning the most microscopic stains for hours. Polly whispered in my ear, "scrub more briskly."
"What's this?" My mother questioned me pointing her finger at the stainless wall.
"What's what momma?"
For the first time ever my mother raised her hand above her head, and swung at my face with exuberant force. Leaving the mark of her hand on my cheeks for what seemed like hours.
"You can't even clean without making mistakes. You literally can't do anything right," My mother informed me. Belittling me, making me believe that I was worthless.
"I-... I'm sorry ma! I'll stay up all night to clean!"
"You will stay up as long as you need to make this kitchen spotless. Now go make me a smoothie, and bring it to me, I'll be waiting in my balcony... don't keep me waiting."
"Y-Yes, ma," I stuttered. I immediately began gathering the ingredients for a banana-peach smoothie.
