The War Chapter 1

There’s tension in the air. The city of lights is still bustling, but the atmosphere is silenced.

‘People have been tensed and why wouldn’t they be?’ Ricky thought. For years, the French Army has been struggling against the might of Germany. France was the only supporter of the US that had not been neutralised, yet.

The collapse of NATO resulted in two teams with one consisting of the world’s economic powerhouses whilst the other made up of collapsing economies. Eastern Europe and Asia put up a decimating fight against Western Europe and The Americas.

No one believed in US’s pledge of stopping military interventions.

Asia’s largest militaries stood against the US with allegations from NATO members of US’s growing territorial ambitions. Arguments turned to wars and unleashed the wrath of catastrophe and chaos upon the earth.

So far, the war had been horrific. Smaller nations were forced to choose sides as this global war had no end. Countless millions of people have been slaughtered and billions were starving due to the governments of the world’s prioritisation of the war. No one could win this war, but life was still the same. People went to work. Meals were prepared. By now, everyone had incorporated the war into their daily life and believed that this is the new normal.

Ricky walked up to the general store to see an angry mob hovering around the store while the store clerk tried to control the rowdy mob.

“Please listen, supplies will be available incredibly shortly. Till then, please remain calm”, the shopkeeper said with a look of panic all over his face.

“You have been saying that for nearly a week!”A person yelled. The crowd expressed their agreement in form of curses and the pleasing thought of ripping the storekeeper to pieces. Things were about to escalate, but two heavily armoured, well equipped men in uniforms with insignias of the French Garrison Army walked up to control the crowd.

“Look, why don’t you guys disperse before I blow your brains out on the sidewalk.”One of them said.

“Easy, Louis,” the other said. “Listen up, any illegal demonstration is now considered treason after the passing of Amendment 16 and you all will be considered as spy’s and be executed unless you scram.”Utter silence punctuated by fear as people stood frozen in their places.

“NOW!!” He bellowed.

The crowd dispersed reluctantly after the officer’s sudden outburst and Ricky walked back the way he came from, dejected and wondered about how he will explain this situation to his family.

Suddenly, people scampered around in terror and officers rushed to the north only to get engulfed in a torrent of bullets

Ricky raced back towards his home with bullets and distant rumblings pursuing him until the lights went dark. Fear was written all over Ricky’s face until all of a sudden, rumblings erupted all around him causing him to collapse on the pavement. With his eyesight diminishing, a fatal barrage ensued followed by a deafening silence and the screams of the wounded filled around him. The city of lights had fallen.