Everlasting Fire

Chapter I: Ashes

'CRASH'

I sigh and close the book I was reading, there was no way I would be able to continue with all the noise they are making.

'CRASH'

That's yet another thing they have broken during these fights. They should get a divorce already, it's obvious they hate each other and I'll never understand how they have stayed married for twenty years.

It certainly not for me. The fact that I survived childhood was sort of a miracle given that they acted like they did not have a son at all. I honestly considered myself an orphan.

'CRASH! CRASH!'

I winched as their fight grew louder, by now I'm sure the whole neighborhood could hear them. It would but everyone that heard them in a worse than normal.

As if anyone needed that, it should be enough that we had to live through a second cold war. Everything was so tense I expected that all able bodies (so to speak) was called in to military service.

That was one reason I was currently reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu. I was not sure how much use it would be in the 21th century but I was bound to be of at least some use. I also found it somewhat inspiring.

'CRASH'

Okay, that's it. I better go and read in the underground shelter, at least that place was soundproof.

"I'm going out!"

'CRASH'

Oh well, it wasn't like I expected an answer. Even if a "Don't stay out to late Markus!" would have been nice.

It was raining as I tracked my way to the underground shelter but I ignored it except for pulling my book to my chest. For a moment I saw a white light up the sky and less the seconds later…

'BOOM'

Great, a lightning storm. This day just keep getting better and better. I shut the door of the firmly after me, finally blocking out all sound. No sound of fighting or lightning (oh that rhymed, I did not plan that) only silence.

Sweet, Sweet silence.

I picked up some of the blankets that was stored in the shelter and wrapped myself up on one of the benches.

Finally some time for myself to read in peace. Silent moments like these were greatly treasured by me. It was not that I disliked sound, it was just that I had not heard any sounds I actually liked (except maybe the sound of waves).

The lamp in the flickered and went out, leaving me in complete darkness. It seemed this day was not going my way. First the fight, then the lightning storm and now this blackout.

I reluctantly closed my copy of The Art of War and placed it on the floor, I might as well try get some sleep until the electricity got back.

The electricity had yet to return when I woke up, it was still dark. It didn't really mattered as I didn't plan on staying in the shelter any longer. I reached for the place I remembered that I put my book earlier and it took me some minutes finding it in the dark even then.

Keeping my free hand (the one not holding my book) towards the wall I made my way to where the door was located. I managed to get a hold of the door handle and proceed to push the door open…

…only it refused to budge.

I tried multiple more times, but the result stayed the same.

My mood took a turn for the worst, this situation really made me anger and a bit disappointing in how my life had turned out so far. Parents that ignored me, no friends, a world that would be ruined by war at any moment and the unavoidable fate of only becoming another foot soldier in the future.

This was not the life I hoped for when that woman Anathea a second chance at life after my pointless death.

"Not what you expected, huh?"

The sentence passed through my head in a voice that was not mine, but one that I vaguely recognized.

"Anathea?"

My voice was hesitant as I was half sure I had just imagined it all.

"One day all this will be worth it. Continue to survive, endure. For now all I'll give you is light."

The next moment the electricity was back and I now could see were everything in the shelter was.

It was doubtful that I would be able to get out of here for some time, so I better check how much food the place was stocked with (having the shelters' stocked with food was standard protocol after all).

What Anathea has told me will be true, after all she had never really been wrong before. At least that was what I had heard before I was sent packing for this life permanently.

All I should focus on now is surviving in this place, in this shelter.

Days blurred together, endlessly.

The food that had been stored in the shelter was running out, even though I had tried to make it last for as long as possible. I have no idée how long I have been stuck here but it had at least be for a few months.

My body was weaker then when I got stuck in this place as a consequence of my situation. I spend most of my time sleeping to preserve energy.

It would have been so easy then to just give in to the all pressing loneliness and isolation that made me suffer in a way that I never thought possible. And there was still no way out of the place I now saw more as a prison then the shelter it was meant to be.

It was when I reached the brink of my endurance for this cage that I was finally was released. Something from the outside broke through the shelters' walls as I was sleeping. When I awoke the opening was there and I took it without looking back.

I never bothered to find out what made it but I could care for nothing but the freedom I had just gained.

But the world that decided to meet me as I embraced that freedom…

…was nothing…

…but ashes.

AN: I apologize for any mistakes in this piece and that I have not posted another chapter for my ongoing stories (for those that care), but this has been on my mind for hours. I have currently stayed up all night to finish this idée in one go. If I didn't it would have likely been left to collect dust somewhere but I'm proud of this.

I hope to continue this at some point, but I will not promise anything as I doubt I would keep the same standard as this first chapter unless the urge to write it suddenly hit me again. OMG I have never written a chapter of over 1000 words before I'm so proud of myself. :D

I should go now. I really need some sleep, I have a buss, a train and another buss to catch later today.

Yeah, better go, I'm starting to have a hard time stop writing nonsense now.

Have a good day/afternoon/night everyone