Welcome To The Nightmare (Book 2)

Chapter 72: As If It's Your Last

"Okay, we'll stop here for the night. Ladies, set up the perimeter." JiU commanded her team.

The rest of the refugees started taking their rest after the long walk the whole day. With children and the injured in their group, they did not even covered half the distance.

She did suggested to get some vehicles, but Roberto; the appointed leader of the refugees advised not to. The Empire had set up roadblocks and heavy patrols along the main road, and ordered to shoot them on sight as each city is locked down. The only way to move is either by foot or using the countryside roads.

After looking at the map, JiU found a town in between. According to him, the town is a ghost town ever since Empire forced their rule in the country. She had planned to reach the town before night time, but sadly the refugees are exhausted. So here they are.

"We can get to the town before midday tomorrow, if we start early." Yoohyeon said as she checked the map on her AR.

"I hope there's some transports there. I pity the kids." SuA sighed, eyes wandering on the half asleep children in front of her.

"Dami, you've been silent for the entire journey. Are you okay?" Siyeon asked her. Dami just sat in silent, eyes not leaving the refugees. Siyeon walked towards her, flicking her ear. Dami jerked up, flashing her knife at Siyeon, her eyes glowing. The rest of them was shocked by her reaction, of course.

"Whoa! Relax! It's me." Seeing it was her own teammates, she relaxed and sheathed her knife back.

"Panda, are you okay?" Siyeon asked her in a gentle tone. Dami brushed back her hair, lighting her cigarette.

"I thought I made a different. Yet, here I am again. In the same predicament." Dami sniffed, scratching her head. The others just listened to her, giving her their full attention.

"I was just a teenager back then. Barely 17, volunteering for the UN in Somalia. It was just like any other day, giving out rations to the refugees. Smiles and laughter filled the air, you know? I swore to God that it felt just like there is no war surrounding them, with the way they acted.

Then, they came. Trucks and trucks of them. Without warning, they opened fire on the masses. Just like that, you know?" Dami chuckled, shaking her head. She took out a thin card holder from her breast compartment, flipped it open and took out a picture. It was a picture of Young Dami and a black boy. She gave the picture to Siyeon for her to see.

"There was a kid that always sticking with me. Farhan. Cute and cheeky Somali boy, around 10 years old. Young, but very mature for his age. He saw me crying one night, came by my side to calm me down. He asked me why I was crying, told him it was because of what happened on that land. How it affected the innocents when the idiots kill in the name of ideology. You know what he said to me?"

"What did he say?" JiU asked her.

"That's no reason to cry, he said. 'Look at us, we're here. Yet we still smile. It hard, or course. But it's the way of life. But there will be a happy ending in the end.' Trust me, I cried my heart out that night.

Since then, he stuck with me like glue. Taught him a little Korean, enough for him to converse. Bright kid, did not take long for him to curse at me in Korean after that." Tears unknowingly fell from her eyes as she reminisced.

"Dami..."

"When those fucking militia attacked, I went to their direction to search for Farhan. To take him out of there. I found him, taking cover behind a truck. I tried to pull him out, but he shoved me aside.

'Run! They are not here for you! They're here for us! Leave!' He shouted, pushing me away. I struggled with him, trying to pull him away, you know? Until a round went clean through here." Dami pointed at her left collar.