Chapter 1

“A long long time ago there was a country where everyone was free. Everyone could do what they wanted. They had some laws, but the laws were for their safety. And they used money. They would buy things with money. Cars, houses, candy. They got to pick their houses and clothes. They got to go to school and be educated. The parents would work for money. But they enjoyed their work. The kids would play and go swimming. They never had to work. This is the future that we want. The future that we should have.” I recalled this story as my mom was lowered into the wet, muddy hole in the earth. She had died with the dream of that life in her eyes. She had fought for that. But now she will not be able to see that vision come true. And I will fight for her. I am Scarlet Azar. And my name means fire.

 

A few hours after the funeral, I was sitting at the small campfire that my dad had made.

“Do you want something to eat Scarlet?” my dad asks A few hours after the funeral I was sitting on a log staring at the small campfire that my dad had conducted.

softly. I didn’t reply. I just stared into the flames.

“Scarlet, you need to eat. Not eating won’t bring her back.” my dad says. The ball of hot anger that had been building up inside of me all day burst out. I jumped up.

“You don’t care! You don’t care if she comes back! You were never there! You were always at the City leaving me and mom at home alone! You left us alone and you weren’t even there when she was dying to tell her you love her! I hate you!” I yelled at him. He blinked, with a shocked look on his face. I turned around and stomped off to my tent. I burrowed into my bedroll and lay there, thinking of my mother. About a half-hour later, someone entered the tent. I immediately started to breath heavily, pretending to be asleep.

“Scarlet? Scarlet? Are you awake?” my dad asked quietly. I didn’t reply. He sat down next to me and started to stroke my hair.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” he says. “I didn’t mean to be gone for so long but the Controllers kept me there. I couldn’t leave. I would’ve come home if I could. And I’m sorry I wasn’t there for your mother. I miss her too. I love her more than anything.” he pauses. “I wish that it was me instead of her.” he says softly. He sits there for a moment and then sighs and gets up. I lay there for a moment and then jump up and hug him before he can exit the tent.

“I love you Dad. And I know you would have been there for her if you could’ve. I was just angry that she had died. I’m sorry.” I say. He hugs me back and squeezes me.

“Well, you were always my little flame, looking innocent and harmless but when you tried to touch it without water, then you get burned.” my dad smiles. I squeeze him tighter and bury my head into his chest. We stand there for some time and then finally let go. I bury myself back into my bedroll and fall asleep immediately, forgetting to wipe away the tears that soak my face.

 

“Wakey wakey! Eggs and bakey!” my dad yells into the tent. I roll over and groan. I stand up and stretch. Then I walk outside and sit on the log. Other people have joined us for breakfast. I say hi to some of the girls my age and walk over to my dad for a plate of eggs. I grab a cup of water and sit down on the log. The campfire from last night is just cold ashes and the sad look of the remnant of such a bright thing brought me down too. I sit there and feel like something is wrong. A loud blast had me dropping to the ground and then I see one of the girls drop down, red blossoming on her chest.

“Scarlet!!!” I hear my dad yell. I run to him and we make way to the back of camp. My dad uses his sonar gun to see if there was anybody hiding and only makes out a rabbit and five mice. We take off through the bushes, leaping over obstacles and cursing when our legs hit something hard. I listen to the gunblasts and screams coming from the direction of camp. I stop and turn towards camp. My dad comes skidding to a stop.

“Scarlet! What are you doing? You are going to get shot!” my dad whispers fiercely.

“Mom.” I reply simply. And then I take off towards the direction of camp.

“Scarlet! No! We can return there later! Come on!” my dad says angrily. I ignore him and my pace picks up more speed. I have to get back to camp and get my moms stuff or the attackers will take it and burn it. I needed at least a picture to remind me of her.

“Scarlet Azar! You get back here right now! I don’t want you to get shot.!” My dad yells, frustrated. I emerge in the clearing and skid to a halt. The whole camp was on fire. I run to my tent and try to get inside. I walk right in and grab Moms’ bag. I come out of the tent grinning widely when my dad emerges into the clearing. I stop and hold up the bag to show him I had gotten it. I knew he would be mad but I didn’t care. I had Mom with me again. I expect him to smile back and then start yelling at me but instead his eyes go wide and he leaps at me. I hear a shot go off and my dad lands on top of me.

“Dad? Dad! No. NOO!” I scream. I get up and start scanning the bushes for more attackers. No more shots go off and I wait to make sure that none of the attackers are still there. Then I go back to my dad.

“Dad. Dad, can you hear me?” I ask quietly, almost pleadingly. He stirs and opens his eyes. I look down at where he is looking. A dark red liquid is slowly soaking his shirt where his abdomen is. I carefully rip the cloth off and inspect the wound. He was shot in a fatal place. There was no way I would be able to save him without City doctors. A sob starts building up inside of me. I just wanted to collapse and cry. But I can’t. I need to be strong. For him. For my Dad.

“I think that if I can salvage any medical supplies from the tents then I could patch this up.” I say too cheerily. I smile widely but can feel the tears pouring down my cheeks.

“Scarlet. Don’t lie to me. I know how hurt I am.” My dad croaks. I take his hand and caress it.

“I love you. You will always be my special little fiery girl.” my dad rasps. He puts his hand up to my face and caresses it.

“I love you too. You will always be my Daddy. I love you so so much. And I’m sorry, I’m so sorry that I ran off.” I say back. His hand touches my face once more and then his eyes close and his hand falls to the ground, never to move again.

“Dad.” I say weakly. And then I collapse. I sob and let all my feelings go. Watching my Mom die from sickness without being able to do anything, watching her being buried, the hatred for her death. And now Dads death. And I will get revenge. They will not get away with this. They had better watch out. Because now I am not just a small harmless flame, I am a roaring wildfire.

Chapter 2

“And how old are you?”

“I  am seventeen, sir.”

“Have you had any experience with fighting?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Ok, you have had all your tests done and I see no reason why you can’t join the army except you don’t have a parent signature on this consent form.” Crap, I think as the official looks at me questioningly.

“Are you trying to run off to the army without your parents permission?” the official asks.

“No sir.” I reply.

“Then why don’t you have a parent signature on this form?” Should I tell him? They would find out anyway by trying to access my personal records.

“I don’t have any parents sir.” I reply warily.

“Oh, sorry. What happened to them?” he asks with false sympathy. Adults. Always thinking that talking about a problem will help solve it.

“They died when I was twelve, in the war. We were at a camp and my mom died from an airborne disease and my dad was shot.” I reply, trying not to sigh in exasperation.

“Well, I’m sorry that you had to live with that. Do you still have the letter?” the official asks. Letter? Oh yes, he thinks that I stayed with a family member when my parents went to war so when they died I would recieve a letter.

“I don’t have a letter, sir. I was with them when they died.” I reply, keeping my voice flat.

“Why would they bring a child to the war with them? You are lucky you weren’t killed, you know.” The officer exclaims.

“I was perfectly capable, sir.” I tell him, almost angrily.

“Ok, anyways, you need to get your guardians signature to go to war.” he says.

“Sir, I don’t have a guardian. I lived in the forest until I was 16 and then came here and stayed in the town home. I waited until I was of age to go to war, because it seems that there is nothing else for me to do.” I say.

“Oh wow. You have had a depressing childhood. Okay, you can become a recruit.” the officer says, shocked.

“Thank you sir.” I say as I take the consent forms and exit the room. I walk towards the main room, where all the new recruits are waiting, and open the double doors. I emerge into a gray-walled room filled with people. I walk over to the nearest officer and hand her my consent forms.

“Scarlet Azar?” she asks.

“That’s me, ma’am.” I reply. She takes my right hand and stamps it with a green 1A.

“You are in the Green Group, troop 1A.” the officer says and points me towards a large group of teens.

“Thank you ma’am.” I say as I walk away. I sit down at the edge of the table, next to a tall, blonde girl.

“Hello, I’m Scarlet.” I say, trying to be friendly.

“Jade.” She replies simply. We sit in silence while watching the other new recruits. And then she surprises me by talking.

“Why are you here?” she asks.

“Me?” I ask.

“Yes you. You weren’t drafted, I can tell you that. If you were then you would be hanging out with a bunch of buddies that you had been with your whole life. Nobody seems to notice you so you haven’t been here for very long which means you couldn’t have been drafted since you are a newbie. So why did you volunteer? You could have been safe at home, sitting by the fire and playing checkers, not even thinking of the people dying for your safety.” Wow. This girl is smart. And she would be a good ally. But I can’t tell her anything. Not until I can trust her. I choose my words carefully.

“I volunteered because I wanted to help my family out by fighting for them.” I reply carefully. Not a lie, but not the whole truth either.

“Okay. I was expecting something else but it doesn’t seem that way.” she says mysteriously. What did she mean? Whatever.

“Ok. Well you obviously didn’t get drafted either so why did you leave?” I ask.

“Why should I tell you?” she asks. I think about that. I lied to her so why should she tell me? But she doesn’t know that I lied. So why did I even talk to her instead of just saying that it was none of her business. I suddenly realized that I had a pull towards this girl. I just felt like I could trust her. Then she got up and walked away to another table to talk to an officer.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 10.01.2015

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Widmung:
To my friend Tatum, for without her this book would not exist.