"Wake up, Sia!"
I groaned like a zombie. My body weighed a ton that I couldn't move a muscle, as if I was paralyzed. Then I felt a hand shake me from my shoulder.
"ASIA! ASIA!"
I opened my eyes. In front of me was my brother, shaking and shouting at me. My head felt really really heavy, like a cement block was attached to my forehead. I tried to get up.
God, I feel so sick!
"I'll help you up. Just hurry, damn it!"
I was completely clueless why he told me that, and why I complied. I grabbed his other shoulder and got up with his aid. I tried to take a few steps.
"Clyde... I can't balance myself..."
"Damn it! You have to help yourself or else both of us will die out here!"
"What are you saying?"
A grenade suddenly exploded right beside us. My brother and I were sent flying to one side. My ears rang terribly. The shrapnel pierced right through my skin, and soon crimson fluid flowed out from everywhere. I laid down there in excruciating pain and agony. I tried to move but it was too hurtful.
"Clyde! Ugh, god. Clyde!"
I repeatedly called out for my brother. He didn't respond. This is just great. Just great. The sick and heavy feeling I had earlier only got worse. I cannot get up from my spot. Then I heard gunfire everywhere. I tried to call out for him again but to no avail. And then I started to cry.
"Please... someone... anybody... please help..."
"I'm here."
I turned around and saw my brother again, all bloody and injured. His camouflage uniform now had tears and holes, and had streaks of blood everywhere. He helped me get up. Shoulder to shoulder, we braved our way out of the meeting room. Just as we were nearing the door, he broke into tears.
"Clyde...?"
"Father's dead, Sia. DEAD!" He clutched on to his pistol.
"What? No. No, Clyde. No!" I tried to look at him straight in the eye.
He made a sharp turn of his head towards me. His blue eyes, even with all the beauty it emanates, were deadly serious. His eyes told me of his sorrowful passion he is in right now. He had experienced many deaths of his comrades in the military. But the death of our dear father was far too great.
"Clyde... oh god no..."
My eyes became flooded with tears. I felt like my chest was about to drop on the floor. The burden we're both carrying now is too great. My heart was up inside my throat. I could barely breathe. I tried to catch my breath as we get out of the room and into the grand hall. My brother wiped off his tears.
"It's alright. It's alright. We'll make it out. Alive."
I nodded as I tried to stop myself from sobbing. We walked slowly in the hall. We tried to keep our voices down. Clyde wiped his face again before he positioned his arm to ready his pistol for firing. I held on to him closely. I believe there's only the both of us left. We can't afford any or even both of us dying out here.
"Asia."
"Yes?"
"The King said we should get to the rooftop. There'll be a helicopter for us. We'll be safe."
I nodded. The fastest way up is through the secret stairs behind the fireplace inside the main library. So that's where we're headed. My brother and I struggled. It took us a while to get to the place. When finally he opened the door, I plopped on the sofa nearby. My brother tried to figure out the mechanism on the fireplace.
"Hurry..."
"I am!"
He became frantic. For the rest of the minute I shut up. I just sat here waiting for something to happen. I removed my hand from my abdomen.
Shit.
My checkered blouse is soaked in blood already. Then I felt lightheaded. I struggled to breath faster and deeper than normal, to try to compensate for the lost oxygen in my brain. I am a frail being compared to my brother. I didn't enjoy sports nor any outdoor activity as much as he did. I only love the solitude when I am inside painting or sewing.
"There!"
"Is it... unlocked?"
"Yes!"
I tried to get up. Gladly I did without my brother assisting me all the time. My head suddenly felt very light and I lost balance. I fell down.
"Asia! Come on, get up! We're almost there!"
I felt cold. It started from my toes and fingers, to my arms, to my torso and then my head.
"Bloody-- You're getting pale. I'll have to carry you, okay? Even if it's against your will."
He carried me like a lover. I don't like being carried, ever. But he had to if we want to survive. He squeezed himself into the tight set of stairs and climbed it up facing sideways so we would fit. He climbed until we came upon a latch door. Then he pushed it and got me out. He followed and locked the latch. I lied down on the floor. Clyde walked to the edge of the rooftop. He stared at whatever scene he saw.
All I can muster from the surroundings right now are sounds of gunfire, barraging rockets, deafening explosions, and a faint cry of crowds pleading for help. I turned my head to my right, and there I saw a huge mushroom cloud from the horizon. When I saw that, I just realized the stench emitted from hell knows where. It was putrid like fusions of various chemicals. It made me nauseated. I groaned as I forced myself up.
"Where's the helicopter?!" My brother shouted.
I breathed heavily. What could possibly take it longer? I wanna get out of here. Pronto.
Please, I need to.
In a moment, the big bird had arrived. Its blades roared on air. It stopped on top of us. And soon a rope ladder was thrown down. Clyde grabbed the bottom of the rope. He had a big smile of relief on his face.
"Thank god! Thank you!"
His grin abruptly turned upside down. Soldiers started coming down from the copter. Clyde grabbed me and pulled me to the latched door. I was confused.
:Aren't they here to pick us up?"
"No. Asia, that is not our army!"
I tried to sharpen my sight and observed the soldiers.
I don't notice anything different--
That's when I realized their uniforms are completely different from my brother's, from our army's. I used my arms for leverage and tried to crawl back from them. My brother pointed his gun at one of the soldiers.
Bang!
