Crossing The Mental Line

Chapter 1: A New Chance

Chapter 1:
A New Chance

"This day is like any other one, it's boring and utterly a waste of our time." Her comrades chatted amongst themselves. 

"Patrolling the borders is necessary. Everyone has to do it. Annually, for one day only. We cannot have intruders entering our borders. That would start World War 4, as if the globe has recovered from the third one." John, one of the comrades stated. 

"That's true. Every country has closed their borders after that World War. I honestly think that Britain could have defended themselves better, but it's not as if that would change history. No one would ever remember the life before World War 3. Since we were born after it, I can only fantasise about what it used to be. I imagine children living without fear of the future, adults going about their normal routines, without having suicides happening 10 million times a day. Not exaggerating at all about the suicide thing." Camila told them. 

"Shut up, Cam. We are competing for the chance to travel to other countries freely. No one would allow us to if we don't work harder. We need to patrol this place properly. Think of it as a blessing from God that we're even drawing breath from this polluted earth." She shut Camila up for once. 

And by she, I mean Valerie. Valerie, is... well, temperamental. A down to earth and angsty 21 year old, still figuring out why the borders were still closed after 700 years. It was 3847 and only once in two hundred years could one exit their country because their academic level was good enough. 

"Valerie, you are the smartest of Britain. We know it, and don't shut me up like that ever again. We are Team JMVC patrolling the borders!" 

"John, Max, Valerie, Camila. I can see that acronym becoming huge next time." Sarcasm riqued in Max's voice. 

"As if! Val…" 

Out of the blue, a bolt of lightning shone across Britain. What ensued quickly were torrents of rain battering furiously on their helmets.

"Team Penguin! Retr… Re…." Static filled their walkie-talkies. 

"Sir? Sir?" They all tried to contact their sergeant but to no avail. 

"I think we should head back to base. We are soaked to the brim already. Mind the mines and grenades. Anything could happen. We set off now!" John made his order as the captain as the rest went to pick up  their things.

"No, we should not! Intruders will then have the chance to to invade!" Valerie tried to explain but got cut off by John.

"Val, anything could happen out here in the pitch black darkness. We need to head back!"
Though, fate would not have them go back.

Suddenly, the two of them heard a scream, a scream so loud it snapped them out of their mild argument.

Before them, kneeled a wounded Camila and a broken shard of glass. Her blood was flowing gruesomely, and Max had a gun in his hand, pointing to the right.

"I'm looking for Valerie Bevalia Recheta. Ask her to visit me at your camp. Your friend will live, it's just the broken spare blood bag each of you carry in your uniforms. Hurry, each of you do not have time." The voice shouted over the deafening rain and they could hear its footsteps trailing away. Max, Valerie and John hurried over to Camila.