Chapter 1

"Just try and attack this town, just TRY IT!" My brother Jonah shouts from the couch as he stares at the TV.

"You know what, I hope they do invade. I hope they pick a fight. I'd sign up to the military in a heartbeat" he continues, his volume lowered but his tone still as aggressive.

"Jonah!" My mother exclaims. "You shouldn't say things like that."

The words come out of her mouth but they have no power - she has no power. She only speaks so she feels like she has some sense of control over things. But she doesn't. She has been out of control since my dad left to fight in the war.

"I mean it Mum. If Dad hadn't made me stay here to look after you two I'd be there with him now. If I ever ran into one of them, well lets just say, they'd be wishing for death after I was done with them." Jonah's eyes glaze over as he speaks, before he snaps himself out of it and turns off the news.

He comes to join me at the table as my mother re-emerges from the kitchen with dinner. She doesn't acknowledge what Jonah says because, unlike Jonah, she does not want to pick a fight. Jonah has been out of control since my dad left. Jonah used to be a happy, normal 26-year-old boy. He spent far too much time on COD, flirted with every girl in the gym, and played 5's with his mates on a Thursday night. Now, Jonah is different. He is angry - all... the... time. COD is no longer a harmless pastime, but a vengeful and purposeful outlet for the love of violence he has developed. The gym is no longer a place to stay fit and meet girls, but a time for following a strict training routine which would optimise his fitness levels and survival chances in combat. Thursday night 5's was replaced with staying in, watching the weekly war briefing on the news and spouting verbal venom at the TV.

"Dinner's not the best, our deliveries are getting worse each week". My mother speaks quietly, keeping her eyes locked downwards.

Food production and distribution is one of casualties of this war. At first it was played down by the government and we never noticed much difference. Then the shelves began to become increasingly empty. The time between re-stocks grew longer and all of a sudden, shopping was not a leisurely experience. People fight over food in the aisles, they steal out of others trolleys when they are not looking. Humans are selfish. Now the government controls food distribution, sending each household a parcel weekly. They say it's to reduce the risk of civilians leaving their homes, but the truth is it became a necessary measure after many of the ill and elderly died due to lack of food and the inability to "fight it out" in the supermarkets. Humans are cruel.

Nobody speaks as we begin to eat. The potatoes are small and bitter, clearly having been picked too early in an attempt to satisfy demand. My eyes drift to Jonah's plate. His is bigger than mine, although this is nothing new. My mother has been gradually giving him more of our food each week, eager to keep him happy and calm. Part of me wants to complain, the other part of me wants the same as my mother.

Life never used to be like this. That's the worst part. I know what life can be, I just can't have it.

I hate war. I don't understand it. When rumours of a war first started circulating I used to cry at night, always exhausting the opinion that there had to be another, better option.

"You always have to stand up for what's right" my father would say, back when it was him who did the talking at the dinner table. "And sometimes, if people aren't listening, you have to make them listen." 

In the next 6 weeks, a war had begun and my father had joined the army.

I love my home, always have. However, it has been plagued by the presence of gangs. While gangs have always existed, their threats were usually written off by the government. They labelled gang members as societal rejects, delinquents, high-school drop outs and the likes. Nobody of that calibre could ever cause any real problems, they lack the skill, intelligence and power – at least that's what we were told. I guess that's the beauty of being underestimated. 

So truthfully, it came as a surprise to most when one particular gang began to stir up noticeable trouble. Southside. The governments lack of willingness to give gang culture any real consideration has been its greatest mistake. It allowed Southside to slowly, and almost invisibly, recruit members. It has amassed the members of all the other existing gangs, while beginning to turn those who should never have fit the "societal write-off" bill. People who came from nice families, did well in school, had friends, relationships, hobbies. The government never considered that these people might be turned. But they have. And it wasn't long before Southside's true power was showcased for all to see.

Hallbrook Mall. Saturday 6th April 2024. Southside ambushed the busy shopping centre. They looted stores, set the place alight, and killed anyone who stepped foot in their way. It was a bloodbath. Of course, our community responded. The government publicly condemned their actions and promised to track down it's members and most importantly, its leader. Easy to say, much more difficult to achieve when no-one knows who it is.

Southside continued to run amok, taking life after life. The government quickly began to lose control as more and more areas became inhabitable due to Southside control. Southside used to operate in the dark, only coming out of hiding to strike an attack. But now? Now they all but run this town.

It's been 4 months since my father left to join the army. The army is the only defence we have left. Every other tactic has failed and southside continue to expand each day. We haven't heard from him, as that would jeopardise his security. However, I'm often told that no news is good news. That doesn't make it any easier to take.

"I've heard rumours of conscription being introduced." Jonah speaks with a mouthful of potato, snapping me out of my thoughts. My mother instantly drops her fork.

"Conscription?" I ask, confused.

"Compulsory enrolment of civilians in the military" Jonah replies, nonchalantly.

"Don't be so ridiculous Jonah" my mother snaps. It's the first time I've heard her voice hold any real strength since my father left.

"It's not ridiculous mum, it's reality. This war is only ramping up, we need more man power. Soldiers are dying and they're not being replaced quickly enough" my brother continues. "Don't worry" he says almost sarcastically "they're not looking for anyone of your age anyway."

"It's not me I'm worried about" my mother replies, her voice returning to it's quiet and timid familiarity. Her eyes shift to me but she keeps her head tilted low.

"Pft, Mollie?" Jonah sneers and I glare at him, narrowing my eyes. So much for loving big brother. "They're talking about conscription mother, not a suicide mission. Conscription is for men. As I said, you have nothing to worry about... either of you." With that the conversation is shut down. Everyone resumes eating in silence. Jonah finishes his meals and leaves the table without a word, not even a thank you. Another thing that would not occur under my fathers watch. I roll my eyes and bite my tongue from telling him what I really think. My mother, as usual, shrugs it off and takes the dishes into the kitchen. I know it kills her inside.

I stay put at the table for a while after dinner. Conscription had never crossed my mind. I knew it had been used before in prior wars, but those always seemed a bit... far away. All of a sudden, everything is starting to feel rather close to home. Jonah is a pain, but he's my big brother and I love him. I know my mother and I would be fine here without him, but the thought of him being sent to war - no matter how much he might enjoy it - fills me with dread.

Drained, I take myself off to bed. I send myself to sleep with thoughts of a life after war. A life where my family are together and safe. A life that right now, seems very far away.

_______

Over the next week, the war progresses.

Food deliveries continue to get smaller. Electricity is now cut off at night time to conserve it, which has meant early bed times and very long, boring nights. Talk of conscription continues to grow. It is mentioned almost daily now. Jonah predicts it will happen by the end of the week. My mother will hear nothing of it, yet Jonah's plate of food continues to increase in size each day. This reassures me, at least some part of her is accepting what is happening, and is doing its best to help Jonah when the time comes.

Thursday rolls around once again, which means it's time for the weekly government briefing. Our government give updates on what they're doing to contain and push back Southside. They report the weekly injury count as well as the death toll. Each week I try to visualise the people behind the number. A death toll does not reflect that each of those 'numbers' was a person with a family and a life. But more than that, each week I try my hardest to ensure that the death toll I visualise, includes anyone but my dad.

Of course I find Jonah sitting on the couch, eyes glued to the screen. I mentally prepare myself to hear whatever graphic and gory things the briefing will evoke to come out of his mouth. My mother confines herself to the kitchen as usual, preparing dinner in an effort to distract herself from whatever is on the TV, and of thinking about my father.

"...and that brings the death toll for this week to 3,470." The reporters voice snaps me out of my day dream.

"That's 1000 more than last week" Jonah mutters, relatively calm. He shakes his head in almost disbelief.

"As a result of the continually increasing injury and death counts, the government has just this hour announced a state-mandated conscription." A silence falls upon the house, including from the kitchen, where the sounds of a knife chopping can no longer be heard. A gasp leaves my mouth and my head snaps to look at Jonah. His face is stoic and his jaw clenched, yet he remains calm. "About time" he says quietly under his breath.

"The conscription will cover those between the ages of 18 and 30 and for the first time, will apply to everyone within this age range, regardless of gender" the reporter continues. This time, the house is anything but silent. The screams of my mother ring from the kitchen. I hear sobs of panic and fear for a moment, before I realised they are mine. I'm still looking at Jonah, and for the first time in a long time, I see a hint of emotion other than rage in his eyes. I don't know what it is - guilt, pity, sadness or fear - but it's there all the same.

"All those who fit the conscription criteria should attend their district's local military base where they will be screened, processed and transferred accordingly. Failure to comply will result in incarceration for both conscripts and their families."

Jonah turns the news off and begins to pace up and down. He makes no effort to console my mother. He takes a deep breath and attempts to soften his face.

"You'll be fine Mollie" is all he says.

"My babies" my mother cries. I break myself from my own spiral to hug her. "You heard what Jonah said mum, I'll be fine, we'll all be" I tell her. Although there is not one part of me which believes it.

Author's Note:

Just so you know, Harry will be introduced in the next chapter! x