Ashes and Blood

[Note: Mentions of blood, gore, violence, and minor swearing. Please read with caution.]

**

Carnage riddled the streets, and screams of agony pierced the air as I numbly wandered through the billowing smoke, my little brother clinging to me desperately, confused and scared.

I am taken aback as my eyes flick to the right and then the left, taking in the mangled bodies and the flames that lick at the sky as if attempting to burn the heavens with their fiery tendrils, and I flinch when another explosion rings in my ears, shattering the nearby building windows. Victor, my brother, whimpers in reaction, smushing himself into my side as his grip on my hand tightens, and I squeeze his hand in hopes of reassuring him, even though I am lost to the destruction happening around us.

They came in the night.

Storming our homes and wreaking havoc on the people of the lower city and towns.

Soldiers dressed in blood-red uniforms and helmets that covered their faces took control of the ones who fought back, lit their barely livable houses on fire, and dragged them through the streets as if they were animals.

And those soldiers took great pleasure in doing so.

“Phoenix, I’m scared,” Victor murmured into my shirt, shivering uncontrollably beside me.

“I know. I am too, Vic,” I whispered, knowing my words would not hold much weight, so I simply brought my arm around my brother, pulling him into my side, and I tried my best to protect him from the horrors being enacted around us.

More soldiers raided homes and shops, fighting with those who rebelled.

Screams of children as they’re yanked away from their mothers and fathers consumed the atmosphere, muffled gunshots silencing the parents who did their best to save their babies, and I swiftly tugged Victor along, slipping into an alleyway to hide ourselves from the violence overtaking our—once—somewhat peaceful home.

Why?

Why was this happening?

Dad said the Raiders—soldiers who enforced their laws over our city—wouldn’t bother us anymore. Mentioned a deal had been struck to keep them from unlawfully attacking our homes, but something must have gone wrong.

Would there be an end to the destruction and violence?

Bullets whizzed past us, startling me and causing Victor to scream in terror, tears spilling down his soot-covered, ruddy cheeks. Holding him close, I rocked our bodies back and forth to soothe him, my eyes wide with fear and uncertainty while witnessing the bloodshed happening.

Hushing my brother gently, I combed my fingers through his dark hair, using my frame to shield him from harm, and I peered around the dumpster we were hiding behind, and I watched as several raiders marched onward.

“Gather any rebels you find and keep them contained! The Commission wants them arrested and locked away!”

“Yes, Sheriff!”

I heard a collective agreement from the Sheriff’s subordinates; they then fanned out with their weapons poised, and the Sheriff started to stride along the center lane, vigilant in their search for rebels. With a finger to Victor’s lips, I whisper for him to be quiet, not wanting our hideout to be discovered, and my gaze stays trained on the scene in front of me.

Distant gunshots reverberated through the ash-filled air as the Sheriff’s imposing form waded past the scattered, bleeding rebels, head on a swivel, and I jolt when a war cry penetrated my eardrums, and Maverick, Dad’s right-hand man, is barreling down the center lane towards the Sheriff at full speed, gripping a metal pipe in both of his hands.

With the upper hand, Maverick swiftly swung the pipe at the Sheriff, the sickening crack of metal snapping bone permeated the battlefield, making my eyes widen in shock as I was taken aback by the sight of the man injuring the officer of the law, and I embrace Victor even tighter, covering his ears with my palms to block out the sound of the Sheriff’s agonized shout.

“You traitor! You promised the Outlands would be safe from your Raiders! You’re a damn liar!”

Maverick snarled, reeling the pipe back to take another hit, but before he could, a gun was fired, and my dad’s best friend balked, his voice caught in his throat as his gaze flicked down to stare at the barrel of the Sheriff’s rifle that was pointed at his chest.

My breath caught in my lungs at the sight, tears blurring my vision as I witnessed one of my only protectors collapse to his knees, spluttering and choking on the crimson liquid that gives all humans life, and I had to seal my mouth shut to avoid giving up mine and my brother’s location.

“I have my orders from the Commission, Maverick. Regardless of the arrangement we had.”

The Sheriff spat, kicking the dying man to the side, stepping over Maverick’s body as if he were dirt beneath her boots, and I released a soft whimper, forcing myself to stay still while the head Raider held her left arm to her chest, the bone hanging limply after Maverick had crushed it with his metal weapon.

Another explosion detonated behind the alleyway that Victor and I are shadowed within, the violence of it shaking the ground beneath us, causing my brother to release a terrified shriek, and I gasped, slapping a hand over his mouth to muffle his cries.

My actions proved to be futile when I looked up to discover that the Sheriff was making her way towards the alley, my heart hammering in my chest as anxiety fed itself into my nerves, and I did my best to shrink into the darkness, praying that we would stay out of her sight.

The woman’s heavy breathing approached my brother and me, the noise causing the bile to rise up my esophagus, but I pushed the sensation down, and I frantically searched our surroundings for some way to escape what might be inevitable.

Before I have time to assess the situation fully, the Sheriff is towering above us, and as she lifts her rifle, Victor whimpers. My eyes widened at that moment, the life I could have lived flashing across my vision, and I did my best to shield my brother with my body while the click of the trigger occupied the space, and the deep boom of the rifle resonated through the alleyway, scaring my brother and me.

There was no pain to my surprise.

However, a loud thud followed the gunfire, along with a muted grunt, and I finally peaked my eyes open to discover a broad, mountainous figure standing before me.

“Time's up, Sheriff. No more second chances. You failed,” Dad’s labored panting, and low, menacing voice made me perk up, relief rushing straight into my veins, and I peered between the gap of his legs due to his wide stance, wondering what had transpired when I had my eyes closed. As I did so, I noticed the Sheriff sprawled out on the concrete, her mask shattered, and her nose bleeding from what I assume was dad punching her and she struggled to inhale deep breaths.

“We had a deal, Lucius! You promised not to attack the Raiders or the Upper City!”

“Well, that changed when you broke it by killing my people, Fallon. The deal no longer holds any weight, especially since you chose to point a gun at my children’s heads,” Dad snarled, his boot colliding with Fallon’s chest, sending the leader of the Raiders across the gravel lane, making her gasp and wince, but dad merely sneered at her, not needing to engage with her further.

Instead, the huge man swiveled on his heels, crouching to Victor’s and my level, and he scooped us both up into his strong arms, keeping us close to his chest.

“This is a warning, Fallon! Attack the Outlands again and there will be a significant increase in death, and you will be the first on my list.”

Dad’s menacing demeanor renders me speechless, but I am not afraid of him. His intimidation is admirable, and I can’t stop the smile from gracing my face as I look at him in awe.

“Let’s go, Phoenix. We need to get your brother to a safe place.”

“Okay, Dad,” I whispered after finding my voice, the events I had just been a part of now catching up to me, and I clung to the only dad I have ever known, burying my face in his shoulder as he carried Victor and me away from the destruction and horrors behind us.