Him

Chapter 1

It started the day when my brother, Rawn turned 18. I-I don't know how to say this.. he has to serve as a Guardian. In Solaris, all men 18 and above have to serve as a guardian and it the most dangerous job in Solaris. It's how my father got killed.. I was 11, I'm 17 currently. He departs in just a week. I can't let this happen. Rawn is the only medic left here in Solaris-- He NEEDS to stay here. Despite all my protests, he still has to serve. This is incredibly stressful for me. I have fallen ill and Rawn has to watch over me. I have been passing out a few times a day, I am so tired looking after our mother. I don't think she'll make it any longer. I thought my life couldn't get any worse.

"Dawn," my mother croaked. 

I rushed over to her bedside, "What is it?"

"It's time for me to go."

I panicked, "What? No, mother!"

Color was already fading out of her eyes, slowly, but to me it was quicker than lightning.

She smiled weakly, "Thanks for taking care of me, Dawn. Goodbye." Her eyes closed and her breathing stopped.

I fell onto my knees and cried into her. Rawn and I are on our own now. Rawn came into the room. We cried together.  For hours. We had lost our everything. Everything we had left.

"I couldn't do anything about it, Dawn," Rawn said to me. "She was too old. It was her time."

"Don't worry about it, Rawn. I acknowledge the cause of her death.. I just.. we have nobody. When you leave in a week, I'll have to get married." I tried not to focus on my mother. I already predicted it was going to happen.

Rawn sighed, "I'm sorry. I don't want to leave you and Solaris- but I have no choice. When you get married, you'll be safe and taken cared of."

***

Sweat beads formed on my face as I dug for the last few times. Rawn placed our mother's body gentely into the hole. 

"Rest in peace." We said in unison.

Rawn filled in the hole with soil and I placed flowers on top of the grave. We stayed there for a while, talking about her. Laughing and crying. People who heard of the news, cried with us and for once I felt like I had a family, not just Rawn.

***

(1 week later)

The blade cut through my hair smoothly and my long strands of hair fell to the ground. I am becoming disguised. I am now man, a guardian who will protect Solaris.. and Rawn. I bended my chest and dressed into my brothers clothes. I don't look like Dawn anymore. This is for the best, I thought. I will sacrifice my life for Solaris.

***

"Rawn Bhact."

I raised my hand.

"Rawn Bhact?"

I cleared my voice and deepen it, "I am here."

A lot of people look at me kind of suspicious. I brushed it off. Roll call was finally over. In total 54 men. More like 53 but whatever. All of us were 18 and we are going to serve 6 months and continue if you want as a career.

We were all given crafted swords and we were separated 9 groups. We started training on wooden dumbies.  The sword was super heavy and wobbled in my hands. I seemed to be the only one who had that problem, I almost dropped it on someone when someone behind me caught it for me and gave it back.

I nodded to him, trying to avoid using my voice at all costs.

Unfortunately he asked, "You're Rawn Bhact, right?"