Reapers

From the day I was born, I was deceived about the reality of the world that I call home. Nobody bothered to mention the harsh truth, that the government would wield their power with such brutality it would leave you breathless. Or that parents would subject their own children to abuse, or worse, that s*x trafficking would exist. These topics were always tucked away in the shadows, never fully acknowledged, just swept under the rug. I've never lived a blissful life, but none of that matters now, not with the reaper groups in full force. They're destroying nations, one by one, all because our world leaders couldn't find common ground. It's the story of my life - suffering due to the mistakes of others. I rolled my eyes at the thought, frustration echoing through my bones as I tossed my bag over a metal fence near an abandoned apartment complex. The loud thump of my shoes hitting the ground made me pause, acutely aware that any noise or movement could trigger the proximity bots. Those little devils were armed with submachine guns, eliminating anyone not affiliated with the reaper group. Not hearing any pings, I assumed I was safe, and continued down the alleyway. Glancing up at the stars, the cold wind sliced across my face, momentarily distracting me from the world's chaos. I retrieved a ladder stashed away in a corner, appreciating the beauty of the stars now that the power had been snuffed out. Climbing up the rusted rungs, I hurled myself through the open window, only to collide harshly with the wall upon impact. "Ahhh, s**t. Ow," I grumbled, wincing from the pain. "Why are you always so loud? You're going to get us killed!" Leslie hissed, glaring at me. "Sorry, didn't mean to. I'm just antsy out there with those things," I replied, trying to calm her down. "None of us like it, but we need food and medicine, and you're the fastest one here, so it's on you," Leslie said matter-of-factly. Raising an eyebrow, I looked at her through my lashes. "So, who are these meds for again?" I asked, my voice filled with annoyance. "My mother," Leslie answered, her gaze drifting downwards. "The least you could say is thank you, Leslie," I muttered, unable to hide my frustration. Reluctantly, Leslie mumbled, "Thank you," before turning to leave. Such a pretentious prick, I thought to myself, and at the age of twelve, I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. I recalled how Leslie used to be like any other carefree little girl, laughing and playing with bubbles. This war had changed everyone, leaving its mark on their souls. As I started walking towards my room, a loud boom echoed through the air, causing the entire house to tremble. I braced myself against the walls, watching as they seemed to vibrate before my eyes. "Scanners," I breathed, my heart pounding with fear. Scanners were similar to proximity bots but designed to scan buildings for any signs of living creatures. Every ounce of me screamed to run, but instead, I sprinted down the hallway towards the pantry. With one swift motion, I ripped it open, snatched the aluminum blankets, and raced to Leslie's room. Swinging the door open, I found Leslie curled up in the corner, her eyes wide with fear. I draped a blanket over her, tucking her mother in on the bed. Finally, it was my turn. I lay down next to the window, covering myself with the protective blanket. Time stood still as we waited, concealing our existence from the scanners. It felt like hours until the buzzing finally ceased. We had managed to deceive the scanners, just barely. They were close to finishing their scan when we covered ourselves, and our presence was concealed. Aluminum always seemed to interfere with their scanning mechanisms, but the reasons remained a mystery, among many others. I slowly uncovered myself, scanning the room. Leslie did the same, her eyes revealing a mix of relief and exhaustion. She went to assist her mother, offering a soft smile. "They're becoming more frequent. Do you think we need to move?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "That's most likely going to be the case," I replied, sighing. Leslie let out a heavy sigh, tenderly taking her mother's hand. "We need to keep going, no matter how tough it gets." I nodded in agreement, knowing that there was no turning back. The war had taken its toll on us all, changing us in ways we couldn't have fathomed. But we had each other, and in this broken world, that was enough to keep us pushing forward. "Get some sleep were leaving in five hours." I tell Leslie "Will do boss" Leslie replied exhausted I shut the heavy oak door behind me, feeling the weight of my exhaustion settle in my bones. Collapsing onto the plush couch, I let out a heavy sigh, my mind swirling with fatigue and unanswered questions. The cream-colored ceiling above me seemed to blend into the haze of my thoughts, the glow-in-the-dark stars adorning it only adding to the surreal atmosphere. Lost in the abyss of my own contemplation, I couldn't help but whisper softly to myself, my voice tinged with sadness. "If only we could escape this reality," I mused, my words barely audible in the stillness of the room. Resting my head on the cool leather of the couch, I succumbed to the pull of sleep that tugged at my weary body. Suddenly, the piercing noise of an alarm shattered the tranquility, jolting me awake. Fear surged through my veins, and my heart raced as I leaped off the couch. Rushing towards Leslie's room, I flung the door open, only to find an empty space. Panic gripped my heart as I searched our entire apartment, desperate to find any trace of them. The incessant beeping continued, its shrill sound a constant reminder of the urgency of the situation. Seeking respite from the chaos, I approached the window and cautiously pulled back the curtains, revealing a harrowing sight that left me gasping for air. Before me stood a group of unearthly insect-like creatures, their presence sending shivers down my spine. With a sinking feeling in my gut, I recognized them as the Psylius. Their golden emblems glistened ominously on their uniforms as they busily loaded humans into their cruiser. The world seemed to spin around me, my breath catching in my throat. "Psylius," I whispered, my voice barely audible as terror consumed me. I watched in horror as they drove away, the sound of the beeping slowly fading into the distance. An overwhelming sense of helplessness washed over me, and I paced the room, anxiously tapping my head as my ears rang and my vision blurred. The reality of the situation hit me like a punch to the gut – I couldn't retrieve my loved ones if the Psylius had found them first. "f**k, s**t, f**k!" I cursed under my breath, my words filled with frustration and despair. My mind raced, the weight of the circumstances bearing down on me. With every passing moment, the gravity of the situation became increasingly apparent. You see, the Psylius were not a breed to be trifled with. They showed no mercy, no remorse. Once they deemed you a trespasser on their land, you were swiftly and unceremoniously taken away, never to be seen again. Rumors circulated of covert military camps where those taken were held against their will, but nothing concrete existed. Families lived in perpetual anguish, forever wondering what had become of their loved ones. The Psylius were masters of erasure – wiping out existence without a trace. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I tried to steady my racing thoughts, repeating a mantra to calm myself. "Breathe, Lina, breathe. You can find a way out of this," I whispered, my voice tinged with a newfound determination. Seeking solace, I poured a glass of cold water, the crisp liquid offering a brief respite from the turmoil raging within me. Leaning against the table, my gaze fixated on the intricacies of the flooring, I clicked my tongue, desperately trying to regain clarity. The weight of the situation pressed upon me, but I knew I had to fight back against the encroaching darkness. I pulled a duffle bag out of one of the closets and starting putting clothes toothpaste essentials really. Then I got to my least favorite part a gun. I always hated them but I had no choice in this world I may have had my life ruined by someone else but I'm not going to die as well. I closed my eyes as I wiped the beads of sweat that formed on my brow. Flashes of Leslie ran through my brain smiling... Happy she looked happy. Anger bubbled through me until I slammed the table with my open palm. "None of this is fair." I say through gritted teeth