The Glitch Inside Me

The Start of the Fall

I wipe my mouth of the sweet desert I just ate, slipping off my chair as I head into the bathroom, spotting the little framed photo of me having my 8th birthday, ready to take a shower, when I hear a gasp from the living room. I immediately freeze, peeking my head over the doorframe to see my dad, sitting at the couch, eyes glaring into the TV, with my mom sitting right beside him. I carefully step toward them, my bare feet clinging to the wood floor as I look out to see the black butterfly on the other side of the window. 

After managing to go behind them, I finally gaze upon the news on the TV, the color on my face, draining.

"Attention all citizens! I repeat Duryodhana is attempting an attack! I repeat Duryodhana is attempting an attack!", the screen shouts, before panning to a scene of soldiers fighting against the other region's warriors. Countless men have already fallen, and the other warriors are still fighting.

I look over to my dad, seeing him silent, emotionless. I hear the faint sound of my little siblings crying in their cribs again, but my body focuses on my dad, waiting for a response from him. Suddenly, he darts up, walking to the shed. I tilt my head in confusion, not understanding why he would go over to the shed. "It's just random gardening tools, isn't it?", I think to myself, before spotting countless weapons fall to the ground as soon as the door opens. Clatters ring throughout the house, the metal of spears shining and arrows dropping.

My dad turns his head to me, silent for a few seconds, before murmuring, "We need to fight too.". I was confused, mom was still recovering from her recent pregnancy, and it would only be him that was able to fight. I seemed to be the only person confused however, as my mom starts to burst into tears. "Brutus! No! Don't make her do it too!", she screams, clinging onto my dad's arms in terror.

I quickly realized what was happening. I would be fighting too.