The Masked War

Chapter 5

I make my way through the hallway, heading for Room 312. Aaron had pointed me in the direction, explaining that Indigo had found Rory during lunch and brought him to the classroom for afternoon learning.

My mind wanders to the morning as I walk. Aaron and Fox had been right, it was torture.

My eyes scan over the room numbers of the third floor, gradually coming closer to Room 312. As I glance at the number "311" I smile, taking a step forward and leaning on the doorway of 312.

"And what was World War 3 fought for?"

The teacher, a black-haired boy's voice floated out into the hallway, triggering my own memories of being taught the five World Wars.

Back in 1914, about two hundred years ago, the first World War began. Though I don't remember what it had been fought over down to the exact detail, I remember that it had something to do with a prince. Only twenty-five years later, World War 2 started. This war, in my opinion, was the cruelest out of all five. This war had been the hell of all the World Wars. Besides, it prompted the making of nuclear weapons, which caused decades of trouble for future generations.

Luckily, the world had a period of peace after that, which lasted about a century. Then the world became a shitshow once more. From 2045 to 2048, World War 3 lasted. This war was the first of two World Wars over nuclear weapons. Though I wasn't sure what had prompted the four year long war, I knew that one of the largest casualties was the capital, Washington D.C., getting obliterated. The result of the war had been that America and Europe were to dismantle all of their weapons, and the victor of the war, Asia, wanting peace, decided to do the same.

World War 4 began only fifteen years later in 2063. The cause of this war was sharp in my brain; Russia had hidden their nuclear weapons when it had come the time to dismantle them, resulting in them becoming the most powerful country in the world. Yet, it was unknown for fifteen years. Until, they began to attack other countries. It took the entire world fighting Russia to defeat them, and dismantle the last of nuclear weapons. Once again, just like in World War 3, the capital then, Phoenix, Arizona, was heavily bombed, and was moved to Boston, Massachusetts, the present day capital.

The final War, happening only twenty years ago, had been a rabid war between America allied with Asia against Europe and Russia. Africa, being extremely technologically advanced at this time, had had no intent to join the war, but had been forced to when the war came to their soils. Africa decided to ally with Europe and Russia, but nearly half the continent was enraged with this decision, resulting in the continent to be split in half between allying with Europe and Russia or America and Asia. But, neither side was able to overpower the other for nearly ten years, resulting in the United Nations to demand the fighting to cease. Despite taking nearly 48 hours of negotiation, the war came to a tie and so the Before ended, and the After began, the birth of a world with no known World Wars. We left that section of history behind in the Before.

But, the After was no better than the Before. Just as shitty, just as ruthless.

"Bryony?"

I flinch, jerked back to the present.

"Fox?" I question, raising an eyebrow at him.

"How come you're here?" he asks, leaning on the wall beside me, his shoulder brushing my own.

"Waiting for Rory's class to end," I respond.

"What are they learning?" he asks, pushing himself off the wall to glance into the classroom.

"World Wars," I sigh.

"So young?" Fox says in surprise.

"I know," I laugh. "We learned it much later."

"It's like they keep teaching it younger and younger each year," he chuckles, relaxing against the wall once more.

I observe him, my eyes tracing over his sun-kissed features. His warm eyes look even brighter in the light, looking like a honey-gold. His black hair cuts through the sun, unchanged by the light. His sharp jawline looks more accented with the sunlight casting light upon it.

"Why are you here?" I finally ask, tearing my attention from his looks.
"I was bored," he sighed.

Grinning, I tease, "Sure you weren't looking for me?"

He turns his face, grinning at me. "Maybe."

I laugh as steps skimper out of the classroom and a small hand tugs at my shirt.

"Rory!" I chuckle, glancing down at him. Slipping my hand into his, I begin to walk down the hall, Fox at my side.

"How was school?" I ask Rory.

"It was good," he responds, a bounce in his step. "We learned about lots of wars."

"I heard," I laugh.

He glances up at Fox and a smile spreads on his face. "Foxy!"

I stifle a laugh as Fox chuckles.

"Yes, Rory?" Fox smiles.

"Bry said you can't turn into a fox," Rory explained. "But you definitely can! Can you show me?"

"Sometime, kid," he laughs.

"I think you'd make a wonderful fox," I smirk, glancing at him. "Foxy."

He gave me a pointed look as we turned a corner, and in response, I grin, "I'm telling Aaron and Leo about this later."

His eyes widen as he yelps, "No!" Groaning, he continues, "I'm never going to be able to live that down."

"Don't worry," I laugh at his reaction. "I'm not that cruel. You owe me now though."

A lopsided smile spreads on his face as he responds.

"Deal."

ALL AMERICAN REJDHBJWEHBD - E