War Torn: Chapter 1 - Chosen for War

            “Extra! Extra!” the newspaper boy called out. “Britain has declared war on France! Our government has decided to support Britain!”

Hearing this, a black haired girl looking no older than 12 quickly walked over, dropping a quarter into his hand before taking a newspaper from his bag. The boy looked up at the girl, who smiled before walking away. Opening up the newspaper and hearing the boy resume his shouting, the girl looks at the headline on the front page. As her eyes quickly take in the information, she starts to frown. Not liking what it has told her. Folding it up and tucking it under her arm, she swiftly starts to walk the rest of the way home.

Entering the home that she shared with her adoptive brother, she placed the newspaper and the bag she had been carrying on the dusty kitchen table before trudging to her room to change out of her heavy winter gear. Quickly changing, she made her way down the hall, pausing at the door to her brother’s room. She heard him shift around before making for the door and opening it.

“Oh hey,” her brother greeted, smiling warmly. “You got today’s dinner?” The girl grinned back at him.

“Of course, how could I forget? After all, we haven’t eaten all day today.”

“Excellent, whaddya get?”

“Just some bread and soup, hopefully that can last until we have enough money for another meal.” Her brother nodded in agreement.

“I’ll get things set up then.” He turned to leave before he paused and seemed to remember something. “Any news in the newspaper today?” The girl’s face fell.

“Britain declared war on France. Apparently they were arguing over who should be in charge of the World Government. Neither would come to an agreement so they decided to settle it with another war.” The girl sighed. “Looks like this is going to be World War IV.” Her brother sighed as well, but put on a bright smile despite the bad news.

“It’s gonna be alright, Lenni. We’ll get through this, just as we did in the last war when we lost Mom and Dad.” He reached out a hand and ruffled her long black hair. Lenni was unsure but she put on a bright smile anyways, just for him. He withdrew his hand and smiled softly before making his way down the creaky stairs to the kitchen. Lenni was left standing there, clutching her hands to her chest.

“But, Felix, what if they take you for war this time?” She whispered quietly. “You’re turning 18 next week.” With that Lenni turned and walked back into the coziness of her room. She picked up an old, cracked picture frame and looked at it sadly. It depicted how their family used to be, before World War III struck and tore it apart. She was still very young in the picture, just after she had been picked up off the streets and adopted, but Lenni still remembered the moment like it was yesterday.

There were threats of war between the countries then, but the family was still as happy as ever. Their parents had decided to take some family pictures in case they we chosen for war. Setting, the camera on automatic, a four year old Lenni was picked up and placed in the arms of her new adoptive brother. Her adoptive parents stood behind them and tried to keep the ten year old from dropping her. Many pictures were a taken before Felix had finally managed to listen and looked calmly at the camera. But by then, the pictures had already been taken and that ‘perfect picture moment’ lost. They didn’t care though; they all had a good laugh at how the pictures had turned out. The pictures were distributed and Lenni was given the one she thought was the best. It depicted her parents smiling at the camera while Felix tried to place her on his shoulder and was making a face. She was laughing at him all the while.

A month after, her parents had been chosen to participate in the war. Both of them as front line doctors. Lenni still remembered the despair she felt in losing her parents so quickly. She was crying into Felix’s shoulder as they both watched the car with their parents drive away. In the next six years, the war would take their parents away forever and deteriorate their lives until they were so poor that they could barely get a meal a day. Military planes bombed the city until all there was a grey expanse of despair for all the survivors. The once rich city filled with technology was only a poor little town now.

When the war ended, all there was was silence. Nothing was heard from the government and they still lived as they did for another year until they heard word of the formation of the world government. But the war had corrupted some of the larger governments. They took charge of the less powerful ones in their greed for land and money. Their country was unfortunate enough to be taken over by a corrupted United States. Then came the news about another world war, only two years after the one that tore the world apart in the first place. Lenni definitely didn’t like it, but she knew that she couldn’t do anything about it.

Tears leaked out of her eyes and dripped onto the dirty, cracked picture frame. She wiped them away hastily, hearing Felix call her down to dinner. Placing the picture back in its place on the dusty top of her bookshelf, Lenni made her way downstairs and took a seat in one of the grimy chairs that sat at the kitchen table. She smiled brightly at her brother who placed a steaming bowl of soup and a piece of bread in front of her.

“I managed to get the microwave to somewhat work,” He explained happily. “We’ll finally get hot food to eat today!”

“Yay!” Lenni squealed. “It’s been so long!” Felix laughed at her as she dug into her soup. He sat across from her and started to eat his share just as fast as she had. Before they knew it, they had both finished the food and stared at the empty plates sadly.

“Until next time, I guess.” Felix said dejectedly. Lenni nodded sadly in response. She wanted to help her brother improve their lives, but she wasn’t old enough for a job yet. Her brother’s job as a cashier at the tiny grocery store barely supported the both of them. Lenni got up from her chair and walked over to the sink to help Felix with washing the dishes. They washed in silence until Lenni couldn’t take it anymore and blurted out her worries.

“What if they take you away?” Felix was surprised by the question.

“I don’t know, Lenni.” He replied, sighing sadly. “If I do, you have to live, alright? Don’t follow me onto the battlefield.” Lenni frowned.

“But you know I can fight better than any boy my age.”

“I know, but war is a completely different thing. Besides, they’re only taking men this time. So you won’t be coming even if you wanted to. They wouldn’t let you.” Lenni sighed, but decided not to protest. Inside she knew that she could never stand by as her brother fought in the war. Right then and there, while washing dishes, Lenni made a vow to follow her brother wherever he went. She will never lose anyone again.

That night, Lenni stared up at the grey ceiling of her room, thinking about war and all the pain it brings. She hated it for it. Her whole life has been war. Her biological parents apparently abandoned her so they wouldn’t need rumors of them becoming soft, as they were military generals or something of the sort. After finally finding happiness in her adoptive family, her parents were taken away by war after only a month. And now, living in a poverty filled world, caused by war, Lenni doesn’t want to lose any more; especially not the brother that brought her up by himself for most of her life.

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A week passed with almost the same routine every day. Felix would leave early to work and she would go out in search of a present for him and the day’s meal. Some days she would get a newspaper to read and others she would come home empty handed. The day before Felix’s eighteenth birthday, she found the perfect present for him. It was a small key chain, costing only 50 cents, but it was of a happy family that looked eerily like theirs once was. It was unpainted, so Lenni told the maker to paint it like how their family had looked. She even brought the picture on her bookshelf for his reference. When it was complete, Lenni paid the money gratefully and took the items home. Admiring the handiwork of the piece, she patiently waited for the next day when she would give Felix his present. She hadn’t felt so excited in a long time.

The next day, Lenni was feeling especially lucky. Although Felix had left early in the morning for his job, she set off in search of dinner with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. The neighbours all caught her optimism and as poor as they were as well, gave her some food to celebrate Felix’s birthday. Lenni smiled at the fact that her brother was well liked in this small community.

When she got back home from her expedition, Lenni set up the house best she could, with all the food on the kitchen table and some decorations that she had made decorating the living room. Once she was finished, she sat in the middle of the living room, facing the front door in wait for her brother. Soon after, Lenni heard footsteps on the step and her brother’s muttering as he searched for his keys. As the front door slowly opened, Lenni bolted to the door in preparation.

“Happy Birthday Felix!” Lenni shouted when her brother finally poked his head in. His face morphed into a look of pure surprise and Lenni giggled at the sight. Felix walked into the room, admiring the decorations.

“Where did you get these?” he asked in amazement.

“I made them!” Lenni replied proudly.

“Wow! You’re amazing!” He walked over and ruffled her hair before walking into the kitchen to take a look. His eyes widened in surprise as he took in the amount of food on the table.

“Where did you get all this food?”

“The neighbours gave it to celebrate your birthday, Felix.”

“That’s amazing! Thank you so much, Lenni!” Felix walked over and bent down to give Lenni a hug. Lenni happily hugged him back.

“I also have a present for you!” Lenni declared when they parted. She held out her hands and on them was a small box wrapped in a fancy cloth that Lenni had managed to find in the house. Felix smiled warmly as he took the small box from Lenni’s smaller hands. He carefully untied the string binding it and opened the box to reveal the keychain. He gasped when he saw it, holding it up to the light and admiring it.

“It’s awesome! I love it! Thank you so much, Lenni!”

“You’re very welcome!” Lenni answered, happy that her brother likes it. “It should be your lucky charm.” She continues. “I think it symbolizes all the good things in life. If you get chosen, keep it with you even when you fight, alright?”

“I definitely will, Lenni.” Felix replies.

“Promise?”

“I promise.” They sealed the promise with a fist bump. Smiling happily, Lenni pulled Felix into the kitchen, where he attached the keychain to a belt loop on his pants and they dug into the food like they hadn’t eaten for days; which was partially true. The happiness was short-lived, however, when the doorbell rang and Felix answered the door. Lenni was still digging into the food happily so she didn’t notice the horrified look on her brother’s face. But she stopped when she heard an unfamiliar voice.

“Felix Kilburn, you are chosen for war. Pack anything you need, you will be leaving immediately.”

Author's Note

What do you think of this first chapter? ^.^