The Strength Within

If a decade of war can leave a country in ruin, then two centuries will leave the world bathed in blood. Like a Lily needs water and light to bloom, even a world drowned in the death of billions can find light and allow life to be reborn. With the loss of all known history, nobody alive truly knows what caused the unfortunate events to unfold. All they knew was the outcome.

Countless countries were wiped from existence and all that remained was blood and craters. From the ashes of a nuclear winter, mankind has regained their standing. The planet itself was reshaped. Instead of oceans separating superpowers, there was now demilitarized zones between the four new nations.

Some scientist say it was the rapid heating of the oceans from explosions that pushed the landmasses together. Most believed it was the explosions themselves which forced the land to move. All could agree on one single concept, if there was truly a God above, they never would have allowed for this to happen. Thus, the concept of a higher being has been erased from ever persons mind willingly. Mankind now took their lives into their own hands.

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Staring up at the lit sky, Joe closed his eyes one last time in an attempt to remember. Four years had already passed since he walked in the door to his families little, rundown house to find his mother laying in a pool of her own blood. Gashes were littered all over her body and dried tears had covered her face. This day gave Joe a goal, revenge.

With only his younger sister left in his life and nobody to provide for them, Joe struggled to survive but always prioritized Sarahs wellbeing. Stealing food and fighting just to have a place in the mud to sleep became his daily life. Every detail of those days was etched into his memory yet he failed again to remember the one thing he actually desires to, his and his sisters full names.

Middle names were a concept long forgotten. Nobody wasted time on them in these days. But a last name held your worth. Simply having a grandfather whom had severed honorably in the war and climbed a few ranks higher than average was enough to set a family for generations.

Giving up on this concept, Joe stealthily entered the house hed been standing in front of for the past half hour. Without a sound he slid his feet across the hardwood floors moving from room to room. The house was no mansion but to most in this age, it was glamourous. Of course it is, even being a low level gangster afforded people luxuries most could never experience in this town.

After a couple of minutes, Joe stood tensely in the doorway of the master bedroom. Staring at the bed, he was reminded why he was here to begin with. Micky Jordans, a low level gang leader whom only climbed into power because he was charismatic and able to get those under him to do nearly anything he wanted them to simply out of the fear of death.

”This ends now. ” Drawing a rusted and chipped dagger from his waist, Joe threw stealth to the wind and charged the bed. Just as he jumped into the air, Micky opened his eyes to see the blade driving itself towards him. Panicked, he could only scream before a sharp pain entered his chest and his last breath escaped his lips.

After exhaling the breath hed unknowingly held within, Joe was thrown back to reality when a new scream entered his ears. Looking to his right, a gorgeous woman stared back at him. Her long brown hair was in a mess from the pillow but the bruise under her eye was still fresh.

Seeing her fall off her side of the bed, Joe came to his feet above Mickys warm corpse before turning to the paled woman. ”Please don kill me. Who will look after my daughter, ” is all she could muster the courage to say before the little boy was squatting in front of her on the floor. With tears running down her face, she became powerless to the small, unwavering hand reaching closer and closer to her face. When it was a mere inch away, she clamped her eyes closed and awaited her fate.

Feeling a warm, gentle brushing under her eyes, Allisons eyes shakily opened once more. Confusion covered her face at this bizarre scene before her. ”You will be able to look after your daughter yourself. He will never be able to harm either of you or anyone else ever again. I spent four years looking for him. I would never put your innocent daughter through the same thing he put us through all this time. ”

Seeing new tears begin to fall from her wide eyes, Joe again wiped them away being careful not to press on the bruise shed undoubtedly gotten from that sad excuse of a man. After a few minutes of repeating this gentle gesture, Joe came to his feet once again and began walking for the door.

His feet were brought to an abrupt stop at the next words that came from behind him. ”I don know what he did to you but thank you. Thank you for freeing my daughter and I from his grasp. If you ever need anything feel free to ask. ” Looking back, Joe was abashed to see a glowing smile blooming on her face. With just a nod, he walked the rest of the way out of the room before exiting the house.