Heroes Within (Novel)

Chapter 1

The Great Arkos War finally ended between the Arkos--the highest level of government power-- and those who rebelled against its oppressive ways -- the Rebel Army. Although the Rebel Army were victorious, the region once known as Magnala collapsed and became known as "No Man's Land," a territory with no rules, no laws and no government. The Rebel Army's power continues to diminish due to conflicting opinions of political leadership. As a result, without authoritative guidance, crime rates increased tenfold and bandits, thugs, and organized crime syndicates have gone wild in a couple of weeks. Stealing money, raiding homes, killing one another -- the region has become a violent shell of malice and animosity. The civilians who were privileged enough fled to other safer locations, but those who stayed behind were either poor or sickly. Despite the Rebel Army's attempt to resolve the problem and bring back justice, chaos in the land continues.

"But that's not my problem," a shadow spoke to themselves as they finished their internal monologue.

Waiting on the roof of a house in the small desert village of Zraks, one could see a suspicious olive drab truck drive recklessly into the central plaza. As if the villagers collectively sensed danger, they immediately started running into their simple brick homes. Curious children were led in by their worried mothers, and men ran amuck while warning the rest of the villagers. Bandits had come to raid the area -- whether in search for valuables or just for the thrill of killing, only the bandits would know. Savage men of various sizes flowed out from the vehicle holding standard, cheap assault rifles. Only one big burly man carried a different type of rifle: a bigger and much more powerful battle rifle manufactured in the North. Most likely it was stolen off a soldier or shipping container from the Rebel Army.

"Let 'er rip," the big man ordered in a deep, booming voice.

And thus, the screaming began. The bandits dispersed and wildly shot at anything that moved. There were no negotiations; in this land, it was kill or be killed. For the bandits, money and destruction were their only desires. Laws and treaties were simply just words on paper and no longer had any effect on society. Only the powerful could triumph, and the Rebel Army was simply not enough anymore.

As the gunfire rang through the plaza, the bandits destroyed the wooden doors and windows of houses, barging in and mercilessly killing those inside. Bullets burst through flesh and knives tore off skin as blood seeped into the dirt roads. Cackling loudly, the men pillaged all the food and valuables they could find, placing them in bags and leaving them in the truck.

"Hahaha! There's nothing better than this!" A bandit laughed as many more joined in.

~~

Nearby the centre plaza, a young girl was about to wash her lunch plate in the kitchen sink before becoming alarmed by distant gunshots. Immediately after, distressed stomping was fast approaching.

"Kizu! Hurry, we must hide!"

The girl named Kizu turned to face the kitchen doorway to see a short, thin woman with long black hair wearing a ghastly expression on her face.

"Mom-!" yelped the girl.

The mother rushed towards her daughter, taking her by the hand, and led her upstairs. The two entered a storage room at the back of the house and made a feeble attempt to block the door with large miscellaneous items they had lying around. Afterwards, they hid in the corner behind the door adjacent to a single window.

Almost as soon as they crouched down, the front door was kicked violently opened followed by a shower of gunfire. Frozen in fear, the red-haired girl sat clutching her mother and attempting to control her own breathing.

"Damn this is going better than I thought! Feels good to be out in the sun, doing what bandits do best! Stealin' and killin'!," sniggered a bandit before blowing off the smoke of his gun.