Chapter 1 - The News *Edit
Chapter 1 - The News
December 24th, 1020
An aged television sat upon a dusty ledge. One of its dials missing and the antennae distorted from years of use. The scratched paint on the side meant that the TV had seen better days. The ear piercing, deafening sound of static had echoed through the room, enough to give anyone in the static's vicinity a head ache. As the static cleared and the image more defined, the channel had shown an old gentleman in a casual, black suit behind a desk. His light skin made the wrinkles near his eyes more noticeable and his short grey beard made him look to be a wizard from the fairy tales.
"Greetings," His voice deep and his eyes like glass, he welcomed his audience. "Hannibal here with your up to date North Sozan Daily News," He shuffled his papers. "Today a crucial meeting of the four districts in North Soza take an unexpected turn of events when a number of riots surrounding the Capital Building had threatened the safety of members in the meeting, Investigators on the scene believe that the mass amount of people present were a part of a protest groups when someone had assaulted an officer and the events had followed suit."
"On the topic of tension in our states, borders between West and North Sozan borders have been tightened to guard against any hostile takeover." The newsman's voice started to drone off into white noise and its barely awake audience of one started to lose attention.
A heavy sigh emitted from a man in a dimly lit office room. He set his reading glasses on the table with the newspaper and rubbed his temples. The bags under his eyes giving signs of exhaustion. His stained, dark-brown, button up shirt showed age and had a hint of day old cologne.
"Uuhh," He groaned. "I can't keep doing all nighters like this." He said to himself as he rubbed his face.
He got up from his seat and stretched his hips giving a most satisfying crack. He proceeded to the window to look outside for any kind of activity. The streets below were filled with snow, idle automobiles had become giant mounds of white and not a person in sight in any streets.
His vision was getting blurry, His eyes started to close and his forehead leaned against the glass, Sleep was calling him and the man was trying to fight it off.
"Uughh," He moaned. "What am I still doing here? I should be in my warm home with my family and some hot chocolate in my hands," He run his hands through his brown messy hair. "But no, I need to stay here and grade some damn papers..." He kicked over a trash can with no effort.
He continued to head bang his desk, until there was a knock at the door. "It's open!" He shouted.
The door opened to show a heavy coated, masked man covered with snow. " Good lord, you're still here?" The masked man said with curiosity.
"Yea, I keep asking that myself," He replied. "What are you doing here?" He tiredly pointed.
"I needed to finish up a report," The masked man took off his scarf. "And to see if you were still here."
"Aw, worried about me?" He asked while sitting in his chair.
"From the look of it I was right to be worried," He said as he took off his jacket. "Surprised to see you're not dead yet."
"Hmmm." He simply mumbled.
"Kylan..." The masked man called out his name.
"Hm?" His attention caught.
"You should get home," He took off his mask. "Your family are waiting for you, I'll clean up here."
"Oh, Generous aren't we now Isaac? Kylan said with a raised eyebrow and a smile.
"I guess it's the Christmas spirit is all," He replied. "You've been working hard enough, it'd be a shame if someone missed the day before Christmas with their family."
He didn't need much more convincing, he was fighting to keep his eyes open and at this rate he isn't going to be in any good condition for Christmas, the next day.
His exhaustion making him give in without a fight, Kylan reluctantly left the building and said his goodbyes to Isaac leaving him to his work. He left the warm, toasty building into the cold, windy snow. Not much was falling yet, but in his condition he needed to travel at a quick pace to reach the train home before he'd die from exhaustion or hypothermia.
He walked the breezy streets with each step more wind in his face than the last. His brown jacket over his thick hoodie had served him well over the years, but with each year the winters only got worse. There were others on the streets, either mindlessly wandering, enjoying the scenery or begging for money. Although subtle, military guards had slowly inched their way into the streets, enforcing their laws on its residents. The placement of these guards had been heavily argued in various debates, whether there should be more, less or none at all. The fact that guards were needed in the first place put fear and worry into some.
The streets filled with snow and festive lights and each step filled Kylan's ears with the crunch of snow and the bitter cold of the wind. As he continued further the path he noticed more and more Sozan guards in the roads. The guards were said to be put there for our own protection. Although some believed it to keep the people in check, prepare for a confrontation with the Western Districts, or keep an eye on the griffins next door. Whatever it was, the brown tunic uniform of the Sozan guards with their guns gave some peace of mind for some and filled others with worry.
He eyed one of the soldiers near an armored jeep struggling to light his cigarette. "Dammit, light up." He said frustratingly. "Come on!"
Kylan eyed the soldier's struggle and attempted to move past him, hoping to be unnoticed.
"Hey!" The soldier called out to him. "You there!" Come over here." His gruff voice was one of power causing Kylan to flinch as he reluctantly proceeded towards the guard. He wanted nothing more than to catch his train and leave this unnerving setback.
As Kylan came closer to the man in uniform, he noticed his facial features. Ginger mutton chops with flakes of white snow covered his stern face as he tried to light his cigarette. "So..." The Ginger man said finally lighting his smoke. "Where are you going two hours before curfew?"
"Just got off work sir," Kylan replied quickly. "Now I'm gonna go take the train home."
"Hm," With the cigarette in his mouth he proceeded to blow O's out his mouth. "A guy walking outside at this time looking like yourself looks very... suspicious," Uneasiness building inside Kylan, it was as if snake was creeping up his leg and was slowly making way to his spine. "Show me your I.D."
Calmly reaching for his pocket he pulled out his black wallet to present his worn I.D.
Kylan Harkov
DOB: 8/17/991
POB: North Sozan District
Occupation: Teacher
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5'9
Weight: 194 lbs
The soldier studied the I.D looking for flaws or anything to indicate something out of the ordinary. "Problem officer?" Kylan stated waiting to be dismissed.
"Hm," The gunman eyed Kylan. "It seems everything is in order. Get home befor-"
Boom
Heads turned towards the misty border street. Visibility was low due to the oncoming storm, but it didn't deafen the sound of a sure explosion. What was a quiet and secluded street turned into a gathering of curious bystanders like a moth to a flame.
"The hell was that?" The soldier grabbed for his rifle.
"DISPERSE!" One soldier on the gunner commanded. Kylan slowly backed away afraid of what was to come. He had feared it was a gang shootout, but soon enough he wished it was.
The handful of bystanders that were in front of Kylan were blown to pieces in front of him. Several gunshots were fired and returned while innocent civilians were caught in the gunfire. The piercing sounds of bullets being shot and whiffing through the air added to the screams of fear.
"Dammit!" One soldier cursed while aiming his bolt-action rifle. Covering his head, Kylan dashed for the nearest cover in the form of an empty alleyway. Through the panicking and the adrenalin rush a bullet managed to nip him in the left arm causing him to wince in pain and fall into the alley way.
He immediately put pressure on his left arm as he managed to fight through the pain and rose to his feet. Leaning against the wall he looked upon the panic-induced street and saw the scene that went on. People were gunned down by a hail of bullets, the soldiers pinned down and the wounded crawling for their life. The blood stained snow was being ripped up by bullets from an unknown gunner.
With short breaths Kylan did his best to continue onward down the alley despite the pain in his left arm. Step after step blood dripped on the ground. He had to make it back home before he becomes one of the dead. Clutching his blood soaked arm with his cold, red hands he had heard engines overhead.
"What the?..." His jaw dropped and his heart sank. Winged creatures were dropping out of planes and into the city.
This was an invasion. The griffins were invading North Soza. On the day before Christmas.
A young boy and his mother all snug in a two-floor house. Festive lights all around the living room with a Christmas tree in the corner. The milk and cookies all set for Saint Nick to come down the chimney. The son was playing with his toy gun, shooting at imaginary targets while the mother was creating a grand supper for her family. His mother, a fair young ginger lady with features that were kind, warm and with freckles littering her face. Her son, a small, chubby boy, brown hair with an innocent face. They were both in their own minds. One was worried about about their loved one making it on time and the other more worried his sanity from boredom.
Plonk
The gun dart stuck to the cold window like a fine glue. The boy sighed and look to his mother in the kitchen. "Mom? When's dad coming home?" He shifted in his light green sweater. "He hasn't been home since last morning."
"Sometime soon James," His mother said with a comforting tone. "He's been hard at work ever since, but he'll be home soon," She put the turkey in the oven. "And in time for dinner for his sake."
He sighed again and walked towards the window. He looked outside to see the front lawn covered in snow, the blizzard that lessened visibility outside and the darkness that soon engulfed the day.
He was bored. Very bored. The winter break that held so much hope didn't seem to live up to some of its promises. Between his father working late shifts, his big sister away in the army and mother always being a little too protective, there wasn't much to do. Nevertheless James enjoyed the holidays and found warmness in it.
After done looking out the window for any answers to his boredom he approached the radio that was on the table. He turned it on to find that it was half-static and the other half jumbled words. He toyed with the dial to see what station was the strongest. From Christmas songs to talk show hosts, James stopped at one frequency that was the most clearest.
People of Soza... It is with great pain...That I must inform you...[static]...We have been invaded...
James's mother's attention was caught.
North Soza has been invaded...Communications to Western Districts lost...All civilians in affected areas urged to evacuate...
His mother's eyes dilated and her hand over her agape mouth.
Our griffin aggressors that we've seen as our neighbors have attacked us...Our way of life insulted by them...[static]...Must not falter...Have to stay strong...We will overcome...We will push them back...[static]...Lives lost...[static]...Be vigilant...Be aware...[static]...Glory to Soza...[static]
James's mother quickly turned off the radio and quickly went for her room."
"Mom?" James asked with worry. "What did he mean by invaded?"
"It means we are getting out of here." The calm, collected mother put on her brown coat and scarf and proceeded to the bedroom safe.
"But what about dad?" James asked with more worry in his voice. His mother gave silence. The stalwart woman entered in the combination revealing a number of files and a handgun. She took what she needed, left the room and grabbed jackets for James. "Mom, what about dad?" He asked a second time.
His mother paused and went eye length with him. "James...I love your father," She looked as if she were giving a final verdict. "But, we need to get out of here, I need to get you out of here," She confirmed. "I'm sure dad's alright, he's smart, don't worry...okay?"
A loud silence permeated the room. James was unsure of leaving the house without his father. He was unsure of the whole situation. He didn't know why they were leaving or why his mother was talking as if something horrible were to happen. He thought over his words carefully. "Can we at least leave a note?" He said with hope that his father would get the note.
She smiled. "Sure," She proceeded to write the note and stuck it to the table. "Come on, we need to leave immediately." She turned off the appliances, grabbed the keys to the car and left with James. The car started with a hum. Their breathes visible in the car. James was shivering from the cold and worried about what would come next.
The car started, the tires rolling, the view of the house slowly fading away. James knew this would be the last peaceful ride. What could he do? He was only a child. He did only what he could do. He buckled up his seat belt and sighed.