Memory

Chapter Twenty-One- Trystan

The sound of explosions ring through my ears, and I lean with all my might against the crumbling wall of the East Section of the Capitol building, as if I can melt into the cement rampart.

The last time I remember I was with Ethan, we was boarding off the truck. We were handed normal-looking guns. I had shivered with the thought that I’d have to brutally shoot someone and watch them bleed, but we were reassured that in place of bullets, there were tranquilizer needles.They were enhanced with a drug that can erase someone’s memory, but only for a short period of time. So when they wake up, they won’t be so hostile until they walk away from the raging battlefront.  

Then we were whisked away to some assigned spot at either the North, South, East, or West section of the Sacramento Capitol building. I had been doing okay with escorting the unsuspecting civilians away from the scene, but I froze at the sight of huge trucks and pure white-clad soldiers with white tranq guns like ours loom towards us. Ethan, who was equally scared, had told me not to worry. We were clothed with the updated soldier protection suit; what with the walkie-talkie on the left shoulder, and knee, shoulder, elbow, and flexible chest pads. It is all black, head to toe, donned with the Impedance/Survivor insignia on the right arm. It looked legitimately safe. It even had a emergency pocket knife strapped to the left thigh. I reckon it has to have some other secrets beneath the fabric.

I couldn’t stop from squeaking with fear, but I dared not walk away from my duty. Signing up for this organization came with this in the package.

Our enemy began shooting at us, some of us dropped immediately as if they were dead. Ethan and I rushed the last of the civilians away, then we ran for our lives, our fallen comrades forgotten. As our squad commander had told us earlier, “If there are at least two of you remaining in your group, run together to a safe place if you are under attack.” Then, as we turned a corner, I lost sight of Ethan. I thought he was catching up to me. But when I looked back, no one was there. Not a soul. Only the sounds of the shells dropping around the Capitol building. I tried talking into the walkie-talkie to Ethan, but all I heard was static.

Trying not to think the worst, I settled on the fact that I was lost. I decided to stay where I was, just in case he came back.

Now, I hold my tranq gun ever so tightly in my hands, my fingers trembling with barely suppressed fear as my pointer finger hovers over the trigger. If Ethan is...lost as well, maybe I can go and find him.

I stand up, knees protesting at the movement. Once my limbs are comfortable, I start to move. But I freeze as I hear footsteps behind me. I slowly turn around, and I gasp as I see Ethan.

Pointing his gun at me.

But it’s not his gun. It’s the Government’s.