Shin Sorame

Set in Japan years after a nuclear war devastated the globe.

Shin Sorame

死�"空目

 

            In the year 2081, a world war began. On one side of the war were the United Democratic Union of America, the European Union, and the United Pacific Provinces. On the other side were the United Communist Conglomerate of Asia, and the empires that ruled the oil industry. In 2087, the war escalated as nuclear weapons and bio-weapons were used. The world’s population of 9.3 billion people was wiped down to an estimated 300 million to 1 billion. Twenty-five percent of the world became uninhabitable.

 

45 Years Later

四十�"年後

 

            “Shorai…I said no!” A gruff man of about 37 years, presumably Shorai’s father, yelled at Shorai. “But otosan! Kyodai Hiroki is sick and he needs help. The ruins of Fukuoka would surely have something to help him!” Shorai responded insistently. “He may be your brother…but I will not lose both my sons!” The man responded. “Why can’t I just go in and come back? I’d be back tomorrow!” Shorai replied, on the verge of tears. “You know why! There are… mutations, and gangs of people who wouldn’t hesitate to kill you. Now that is final! Now go to your roo-.” The man was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Come in.” The man said. A woman walked in. “Hisashi-sama, I have a report on your Hiroki’s health.” The woman said. “What is his status, Ayame-san?” Hisashi asked. “Bad…He doesn’t have more than a week.” Ayame reported. Hisashi sighed. Shorai let out a quiet wail and began to cry. “What do we do otosan?” Shorai asked. Ayame looked at him with sympathy. “You never know, he may get better.” Ayame smiled sadly. Shorai stared at her for a moment and then trudged off to his room. “I’m sorry I couldn’t give good news, Hisashi-sama.” Ayame said before she left the room.

 

            Shorai opened his eyes. He looked outside; it looked like it was about midnight. Shorai quietly stepped out of bed. He quietly went to put on an old ACU from the war. He then grabbed his pre-war Howa Type 64 automatic rifle. He also grabbed the two cartridges and his father’s katana. The sword was big to Shorai; Shorai was a bit shorter than most teenagers his age, he knew how to use it because of kendo lessons his dad used to give him. Shorai grabbed a backpack o supplies he had packed earlier and walked out of their dorm. The family lived in an old college residential building, one of the few buildings left largely intact. They lived there with about eighty other people. Shorai lit a candle that he had pulled from his pack. EMP blasts from the war had destroyed most electrical sources.

            As Shorai was about to leave the building when he heard someone walking behind him. He turned around. “Peter?” Shorai said. Peter was the grandson of an exchange student from the UDUA. He was 16 years old, the same age as Shorai. “Shorai-san?” Peter replied. “What are you doing out here Peter?” Shorai asked. “I couldn’t sleep so I was going for a walk.” Shorai stared at him suspiciously. “Are you going for a walk too?” Peter asked. “Err…yeah.” Shorai replied. “Wait, you’re going to go to Fukuoka to get medicine for your kyodai aren’t you?” Peter asked, furling his eyebrows. Shorai sighed. “Yes, I am, and you won’t stop me.” Shorai said aggressively. “You can’t go alone, though.” Peter said. “Well, I don’t see anyone volunteering to help.” Shorai said. For a moment there was silence. Peter scratched his head, he was the only one with blonde hair in the community and it was something he was made fun of for when he was a kid. Peter sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose. “I’ll come with you.” Shorai stared at him in shock. “Really? Well I won’t stop you, but you better not slow me down.” Shorai said. “Alright. I can keep up. Besides you need someone who can identify medicines.” Peter said. Shorai tossed Peter the katana. He caught it and slung it over his back.

           

They had taken a car so that they could get to Fukuoka in about an hour. They knew they had to get the medicine fast, as the longer they took, the more likely they would be expelled from the community. The community exiled anyone who was AWOL for more than twelve hours.

They turned onto another road. They were about 10 minutes outside of Fukuoka. Shorai estimated that it was about two in the morning. “So, why did you decide to come with me?” Shorai asked. “Well, I have nothing better to do, and I’d feel guilty if you went off and got yourself killed.” Peter responded. Shorai laughed. “So, you didn’t just feel like helping a friend out?” Peter looked at him. “Of course I’m doing it out of friendship to.” Peter replied.

 They arrived at the edges of Fukuoka.

The city looked like it had been the battleground of titanic monsters. Buildings lay in ruins. The once majestic Fukuoka Tower, the tallest seaside tower in Japan was reduced to nothing but a short ruin. They were looking for the Momochihama district. That was where they would find the remains of Fukuoka Sanno Hospital. Shorai pulled out the map he had taken from his home.

The car gave out just outside Momochihama. “The car won’t be able to start up again.” Peter informed. “We’ll have to walk.” Shorai nodded his head. “Understood.” They began to walk in the direction of the hospital.

 

After about two hours of searching they found the hospital. “I’m surprised we haven’t encountered any hosti-.” Peter was interrupted by a bullet whizzing by his head. Shorai shouted out a curse. They took shelter behind some rubble. “What do we do?!” Shorai exclaimed as more bullets whizzed over their heads. Peter was silent for a moment. Then he grabbed Shorai’s gun. “You go find that medicine; I’ll see how long I can hold ‘em off for yah.” Peter said. “I won’t leave you here, you’ll get killed!” Shorai said. “If we both stay here then I die, you die, and your brother dies. Shorai stared at him. “I’ll be quick don’t die till then.” Shorai said. “Oh and you’re looking for Amoxicillin, or Moxifloxacin.” Peter said. Shorai nodded and ran into the hospital.

He lit a candle. The dark halls gave and eerie vibe. Shorai shivered. He didn’t want to be here long. If the hospital was anything like the old campus hospital then the medicine would be at the back. He heard the echo of gunshots outside. He hoped Peter was alright. Shorai turned a corner and tripped over something, he dropped his candle went out. He lit the last candle he had. He looked at what he had tripped over, a skeleton. He jumped back in fright. “Gah!” He felt a jolt of pain up his arm. A shard of an old light bulb was stuck in his arm. He pulled it out and wrapped a piece of his shirt around his wound. He’d have to find some anti-biotic now too. He proceeded down the hall. Jolts of pain would occasionally shoot up his arm, making him grunt and grit his teeth.

Finally he found the medical storage. He began looking around. The first thing he found was anti-biotic. He added the medicine to his pack and proceeded to look for the medicine for his brother. “I’ll find you your medicine Kyodai.” Shorai murmured.

At last. He found it, the last bottle of Amoxicillin. He grabbed it. He decided to grab as much other medication as he could fit in his pack. Might as return as a hero for others too. He ran out of the storage room. He dashed through the halls running for the exit. “Please don’t be dead, Peter-san.” Shorai muttered. He arrived at the place where he entered. Peter was sitting behind the rubble nursing a wound on his shoulder. “They…stopped shooting, but they got me.” Peter said, smiling through his teeth. “How can you be smiling?” Shorai asked. “Anyhow, did you get the medicine?” Peter asked. “Yes.” Peter stood up. “Good then let’s get going.” They ran off the way they came. “I saw a truck on our way to the hospital.” Peter said. “Well, then take us there.” Shorai replied. “What do you think I was doing?” Peter responded.

They found the truck. Shorai helped Peter into the passenger seat. “What happened to your arm by the way?” Peter asked. “I tripped and cut myself on some glass. I got some anti-biotic though.” Peter nodded. Shorai got into the driver seat and started to try to hotwire the car. Finally it started. Shorai started to drive towards home. He looked over, Peter was unconscious. He pulled out a bandage and bandaged Peter’s wound. Shorai sped out of Fukuoka. It was about seven in the morning. His dad would be getting up. He finally slowed down about fifteen minutes from home.

 

Shorai finally pulled into the parking lot. There were lots of people looking around for them. They stared at them as they stepped out of the car. Shorai’s dad ran out to them. “Just where have you been?!” He said, burning with rage. Shorai was afraid his dad would catch fire. “Fukuoka.” His dad stared at him. “You did exactly what I told you not to. You and Peter got injured. What do you have to say?” Hisashi said. “Well otosan…I have returned with medicine for Kyodai Hiroki, anti-biotic, and a pack full of other medicines.” His dad stared at him. “You actually got the medicine?” Shorai sighed. “That is what I said.” Shorai replied. His dad stared at him. “Well, you and Peter go to the medical area and give Ayame-san the medicine. Oh, and get yourselves patched up too.” Shorai and Peter headed off. “I guess I won’t lose anyone after all…” Hisahsi said to himself. Shorai had done well. For that, he was proud of him.

The End

終了

Author's Note

A piece I had to do for school so I had to censor it (butcher it). If you guys like it I'll extend it and modify it. If you still like it then I will turn it into a book.

Reviews

[DaughterNature]

This is cool, great idea. Nitpicky little things, but I would definitely recommend that you separate your dialogue with paragraph breaks -- that will make it easier to understand who is speaking. Also, be careful of word choice ("quiet wail," for instance, doesn't sound quite right). I think that your characters are pretty standard, but they could be great with a little more development (make the 2 boys distinct from one another). Also, no electricity, but there are cars? And, after 45 years, don't most medicines expire? (And, Amoxicillin is an antibiotic) I promise, I do like your premise, I'm just trying to help you iron out details! Last note: be careful of passive language in your writing. But, definitely a good story idea!