Chapter 2. A Taste for War

My eyes snapped open the inayofuata morning to the loud popping of... Gunfire? "Mark! C'mon, We're leaving!" Shouted Jordan, throwing on his shati as he reached the living room. I had blinked a few times, disoriented and tired.

"The heck's going on?" I asked, just as Gwen entered the room. She had a gun in her hand, and was even inapakia it. "Will somebody tell me what's going on!?" I shouted out of confusion, before stumbling off the couch.

"A fucking military coup that's what's going on, and the Resistance is fighting back." Jordan nodded, taking my hand quickly.

"We need to leave the city!" Gwen told the two of us, stuffing her revolver into her kanzu, koti pocket.

"Mark, this is one of those times I need wewe to back me up, okay?" Jordan asked, starting Gwen's car. He knew we would always look out for each other, but when he'd say that... Well, that meant things were really going to hell.

"I know... Don't worry, we'll be fine." My voice wavered slightly, full of unease. "Did wewe two sleep in the same room last night?" I had asked innocently, after several antagonizing moments of silence.

"Um... Yeah, why?" My brother had chuckled uneasily at the topic.

"Weirdos." I had uttered, trying to lighten the mood. All when the truth was far from good. Out of the side window, I could see smoke trails from the direction of the Capital. The sound of shouting and the distinctive popping of spurratic gunfire in the background, was this the sound of war? Funny how video games could never truly prepare one for such a terrible sight. Though I hated D.C, a part of me was horrified that this could happen here. When you'd hear about stuff on the news with other nations going to war, you'd never think in a million years it would hit home...

"Where are we going?" I spoke up. The two looked at each other for just a moment.

"Mark, we're joining the Resistance." Gwen told me, nodding subtly towards Jordan.

"What?! What about Mom?" My voice cracked as I had shouted.

"She'll be fine!" Jordan turned the car, just as a mortar round destroyed the building to our right. "Gwe..." Jordan managed, just as another round explodes in front of our car, sending the hatchback flipping end over end.

When I awoke, Jordan was sitting beside me, a certain look of fear in his eyes. "Stay still." My brother finally alisema upon the sight of me making an attempt to rise.

"What happened?" My mouth was dry and a loud buzzing could be heard, which nearly drowned out Jordan's words.

"... National guard, they're bombing streets where known rebels are hiding out in... Hang tight, I'm gonna check on Gwen." Jordan nodded with a forced smile, trying to ease my worry.

"Alright, I'll just sit here and wonder what the fuck I'm doing in this fucking mess in the first place!" I screamed as he ran off to assist his girl. My head felt really numb for some reason and my legs were hurting pretty damn bad too. "Jordan?!" I called out, in the hopes that he could hear me, only no response came.

"Get down, get down now!" I heard from the direction of where Jordan had went. "Drop the gun and get down on the ground!"

"Jordan!?" I cried out once more, now fearing that he was being taken away from me. At the time, my worst fear was to be alone, that and of the dark...

Suddenly a gunshot rang out, causing my moyo to skip a beat. "Jordan!!!" I screamed in terror, afraid that the worse had come to pass and they had shot him. Then another shot, and another, causing me to cover my ears whilst crying.

It all went silent, and a hand went over my mouth, startling me. To my surprise it was Gwen, sending me a concerned and terrified look. "Are wewe okay, you're bleeding!" She cried out, setting her hand against my leg.

"Where's Jordan!" I began to weep, tears rushing down my ash covered cheeks.

"Mark, it's okay, I'm here buddy, look, I'm okay." He said, rushing into view. "No worries Marky, we're all gonna be okay." His voice shook, full of worry. Then I saw the pistol in his hands. A Beretta, military issue, like I'd seen in my video games.

"What... What did wewe do...?"