[C O M P L E T E D]
Finished on 1 Jan 2019
It is now the 22th Century and the year is 2112. Times are extremely different from the 21st Century. Now, the world is divided into only four continents- and Alara Berrera resides in Excidium.
In Excidium...
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ALARA
Whatever Maren had ordered her to do left her mind when the sounds of blasts erupting took over every one of her senses. At every corner of the street was something happening- arson, vandalism, fights- it was obvious that the protests had escalated to a new high.
The ground rocked but just as everyone began running, the explosions eclipsed their futile attempts and their world- including hers- turned black.
The last thing Alara remembered was a boy, who somehow impossibly looked both familiar and unfamiliar, screaming her name.
___
Wait, why is there smoke everywhere...?
Who is he? He looks so familiar...
Something, someone, was shaking her vigorously, making her feel like punching the life out of that person. A piercing sound was invading her ears, giving her a blistering headache.
OW. Stop shaking at my throbbing arm, if you do that again, it WILL SWELL and oww...
Open your eyes, Alara, you've got to defend your poor arm... come on, lift those double-eyelids!
One, two.
She regretted doing that as brightness invaded her eyes and she blinked furiously.
"You're alive, you're alive!"
Gathering all her strength, she sat up and focused on her attacker. Instead of punching, she was stunned to tears when she saw him. She knew that face anywhere in an instant.
Her little brother. Renald.
Ren.
Renegade tears flowed freely down the curve of her cheeks as she embraced her brother tightly. Her main focus was now on the boy in her arms.
When she tasted the saltiness of her tears, she gingerly pulled him apart and assessed her brother. "Ren," her voice croaked as she stroked his cheek, which was sallow and rough. Hugging him close to her, she smelt the heady scent of smoke. Worried, she pulled apart and cupped his face. "Are you injured anywhere? Are you hurt by the blasts?"
"No, I'm not, Lara, I'm not. I just want to hug you again and never let you go."
Lara. It's been so long since I last heard that.
His voice was octaves lower than before and her heart ached as she realised that she would never hear the high-pitched version of Ren's voice again. She had once loathed that annoying pitch, and yet now she missed it.
But she was beyond grateful that he was alive. Somehow, her brother had made his way to her and found her.
I just hope that he didn't have to go through Hell to do so.
