Layla

The smoke suffocated me to the point of no end. The smell of blood and desperation surrounded me on the bridge as I hid behind the big light facing the Undercity.

There were people screaming all around me, bullets rang out in the night.

The big light began to flicker as Enforcers ran past my crouched figure. I peered around the light, seeing the destruction the war has left in its wake.

I could only see a few feet in front of me thanks to the smoke, but my eyes filled with tears as I watched the people from both sides fight for their lives. Bodies laid out all over the bridge, my 5 year old brother, Nolan, stared at me 5 feet away with dead eyes. He laid on his back reaching his hand towards me, tears slid down my cheeks as I started humming my favorite lullaby Mama used to sing to calm us down.

Only minutes ago Nolan and I both walked cautiously around the bridge looking for Ma and Pa. Nolan ran here to find our parents while I went to the bathroom while watching him. He refused to leave until we make sure they're okay. Pa told us earlier that if they came for us we needed to keep running and don't stop until we were safe, so I grabbed my brother's hand and dragged him with me. He held onto me tightly, while I tried to not lose my shit.

Auntie Sev taught me self defense moves ever since more Enforcers patrolled the Undercity. She gave me a dagger for my 11th birthday which was what I used to anyone who tried touching Nolan.

I first killed someone when I was 9 because they had tried to take my clothes off in an alleyway on my way home. I took Pa's gun for protection just in case and didn't realize the safety was off when I held it up to his chest. He fell on me and I started crying as I rolled him off of me and ran home.

I was so sad, while Sevika had never been prouder of me.

Before I could've reacted an Enforcer came out of no where and pulled Nolan from my arms. She buried a knife in his chest as she looked at my through her goggles.

"Nolan!" I screamed, staring at the Piltie. She dropped his body like a sack of potatoes and slowly walked towards me. I shook my head at his body, hating myself for not holding him tighter, but didn't fight her as I backed into the oversized light.

She had me cornered, this was it.

I stared down at my brother sadly, silently apologizing to Mama and Pa for not trying harder. My heart lurched as I heard a crack and the sound of a body falling, I opened my eyes seeing the Enforcer laying at my feet with blood pooling out of her head.

I turned to my right to see the killer, he was a massive beast of a man with gauntlets covering both hands. But even with his intimidating figure, his eyes held sympathy as he saw the tears in my eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but the sound of a yelling man made us both turn.

A man raised his dagger while running towards me, I weakly put up my fists ready to use any strength I had left. But I didn't need to use it, the man-beast knocked the guy flat on his ass with one punch.

He turned back to me, "Hide behind here and don't move." Somehow he talked to me with reassurance and calmness in his tone, easing my racing heart just the tiniest bit.

I sat down, hiding in the shadows and hadn't moved in the last 5 minutes since he ran into the smoke like the hulk.

I kept humming to myself as I tried to not let the vomit come up and out. My ears perked at a familiar voice yelling farther down the bridge. I clenched my fists tightly, internally battling what I should do.

That's Pa. I know his voice.

But Hercules told me to stay put. I let out a sob, hating this. I'm thankful the man-beast saved my life from the Enforcer who killed my brother, but I need to find Pa.

I crawled towards my brothers lifeless body and let out a silent scream as I pulled him into my arms. I kissed his temple and whispered, "I'm so sorry Nol, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I-I'll live for the both of us, I promise." I laid my hand over his eyes to close them and gently pulled his body next to the light so he wouldn't get caught in any more mayhem.

I looked around to see if anyone was coming, many people still fought around me, but they wouldn't pay attention to a 13 year old...I think. I took a deep breath before taking one last look at my only sibling and running to the other end of the bridge.

I heard Pa yell again and started running faster towards the sound of his voice. The smoke was getting thicker, my eyes burned as I turned in a circle trying to see Ma or Pa in the distance. I slowed to a walk and saw two people on the floor, one holding the other who was lying lifeless on the ground.

I continued towards them and stopped short...no no no please god, no.

Mama lied in Pa's arms as he held her tightly, crying into her shoulder, her lifeless eyes staring at nothing. I ran up to them and fell to my knees next to Pa, "No no Mama please, come back."

Pa turned to me, ready to fight whoever dared to touch his deceased wife. He relaxed when he realized it was me and put his hand on my cheek, "Layla, you're alive."

I nodded while crying, pulling him in for a group hug while wrapping my arms around Ma. I wish I could've brought Nolan here with me, our circle feels empty without him. As if reading my thoughts Pa pulled back looking at my pleadingly, "Where's your brother?"

I cried harder as I tried to find the words to tell him his only son was killed by the enemy. "Pa he-," I didn't get to finish my sentence before a bullet flew past my head from behind and landing right between my father's eyes. His blood sprayed onto my face before he crumbled next to my mother.

I screamed in anguish.

I screamed and yelled and cried, not caring who was about to kill me.

They've killed everyone I love. My people, my only family. Everything.

I pulled my hair as I continued to crash out, screaming at the world and everyone in it. I wailed and moaned as my heart broke into a million pieces.

Make it stop. Please. I can't do it.

I looked around crying, tears crowded my vision, through the red smoke I saw the big man who saved me earlier ahead. He was carrying two girls, a younger one with bright blue hair and a girl my age with hair the color of the smoke surrounding us. I dropped my hands from my hair and reached one out as he looked at me with the same sorrowful expression.

He started towards me slowly, still keeping an eye out for any Enforcers but after a few steps his face dropped. He started sprinting towards me as he kept looking behind me in anger and fear.

But before I could comprehend what was happening, my prayers from before were answered.

The butt of a gun was hit against my head and everything went black.

Thank you for making the pain stop.