A man from behind me grabs my shoulders and gives them a firm squeeze.
“No, I’m not leaving them,” I say.
The man drags me and brings me back into the building. We walk into a room full of people. Their eyes all on me. I stiffen. What do they want? I see Jade; her eyes are full of sympathy. Then I realise. I’m covered in blood.
The President stands on his platform looking at me with a smile.
“Have a good time, Mark? How is your sister? Alice, wasn’t it? Is she still alive?” he says.
I feel like someone has punched me and kicked me. Like they ripped my heart out. I want to scream at him. But what good is that? Instead, I run at him. I charge into him. I knock him to the ground and I’m on top of him, pinning him to the ground. I claw at his face.
“You fucking bastard!” I shout at him. I punch him multiple times. Arms cling around mine as I swing back to punch him again. They pull me off. I scream at him. I try to release myself but I can’t.
They take me to a room and lock the door. They can’t let my sister or brother die. If they do, I’ll kill them. Mark my words, I will kill them.
Hours later the door opens. Jade comes in and wraps her arms around me. I’m not in the mood for this. I push her off. I hope she understands why but she has a look of sadness in her eyes.
“They are dead and I didn’t do anything,” I say, breathing heavily.
Everything that happened seems like a blur. The President walks in and Jade keeps me still. I look up into his vile face, hiding my emotions.
“Without training, you will be going into war. Today. Have a nice trip,” he says, chuckling to himself as he leaves.
What? I didn’t hear him. Jade lets out a scream.
An hour later, I dress in an army suit armed and have two AK47’s and a sniper. I look at myself for a moment. I look very different. I don’t look like the boy I was yesterday. Orphaned and lonely.
Many boys my age board the truck. I sigh. We will be dead soon. Within no time we arrive in the trenches. Bombs exploding, guns firing and people screaming.
I run and take cover. I miss three bullets. I dive and roll in different directions. Anything to stay alive. I see a soldier from the other side run over. He is an enemy, his clothes are different. I can’t see their face. Without a second thought, I fire my gun. They fall in the sand with a thud. Who was it? Something urges me to look. I sneak over and look at the corpse. My jaw drops. Tears well in my eyes.
I’m looking into the eyes of my brother.
