AUTHORS NOTE
This story contains MAJOR spoilers to the prequel, Underfire. If you have not yet read Underfire, or are in the process of reading Underfire, DO NOT READ THIS STORY! It is highly advised you read Underfire first to get the full story so far coming in.
Thanks for reading, enjoy!
"We begin today's broadcast with an update on a story that has been developing over the past months. Reports have come in that there has been further troop movements from the monster kingdom. The military buildup along the border connecting the monster kingdom and the country of Niaca, showing no sign of slowing down. Prime Minister Art Peterson has demanded King Asgore Dreemurr to back down, giving a deadline of ten days, threatening to close the land border entirely if the monster kingdom does not comply. Dreemurr has yet to respond to both the economic trade sanctions put in place one month ago, and these latest developments. Both nations are escalating towards war, and the Prime Minister has placed the Niacan army on full alert. Meanwhile, reports have come from within the monster borders that another riot was brutally suppressed in the city of Agolens, with over fifty rioters shot, an unknown number missing, and fourteen civilians with the misfortune of being caught in the brutal crossfire. Dreemurr is believed to be increasing military presence in the city even further in response to the-"
Cole reached over, turning the radio off. He sighed wearily, putting his head in his hands. The sun was barely peeking through the window of the old cabin. He rubbed the bags under his eyes, then glanced up as he heard footsteps on the wooden floor. He saw Julia appear in the door to the living room, looking around.
"You're up early Coleā¦" She remarked. Cole groaned as he responded.
"I didn't sleep well last night, figured I'd stop trying when the sky started brightening."
Julia gave him a somewhat annoyed look. "Again? You know that's not good for you to stay up so late!"
Cole stared ahead. "Somebody has to. With the monsters moving further north, who knows what they're planning. I want to be ready in case we get involved."
Julia stared at the radio. "Any good news?"
Cole shook his head. "The buildup is continuing to increase. If they don't divert from their current path, they'll be right outside within a week or two."
Julia took a deep breath. "We've been preparing for this, remember? We knew it was only going to be a matter of time before the monsters came north. Look, I'm going to go into town and try to get some food. Specifically stuff we can quickly get in case we need to leave. Now for God's sakes, get some rest!"
Cole nodded. "You're right...you're right...alright, I'll get some rest." He stood up and walked upstairs. Julia shook her head as she watched him go, then turned to get her wallet. She took a look inside and shook her head. She didn't have much money left. Hopefully, they would be able to last until next week's paycheck.
Normally they were somewhat decent at managing their finances, but an unexpected cold had struck Cole a few days ago, forcing them to spend extra funds on cough medicine. Something like this, an average person could afford easily; for them, however, this was stretching their budget.
She threw on her jacket before walking outside the cabin, locking the door behind her as she stared up at the sun. She then walked around the side, taking one of the two bicycles and beginning the long ride down to the small town close by. It had been two years since the attacks of Red Dawn, and the annihilation of the Torin Republic on Black Thursday.
Cole and her had been lucky enough to find a small town about an hours walk west of the cabin they lived in. The town conveniently had a market that had bulk food in its inventory. On her first trip there, Julia had also decided to buy a map so they could figure out exactly where they were.
Much to their pleasant surprise, the cabin they now lived in had actually been just under a mile inside the borders of Niaca, and outside of the monster kingdom. A week later, Julia applied for refugee status. Two months after this, she was finally accepted; the office wasn't too happy with her illegal entry, but she was educated and there was a general sense of sympathy towards refugees from the monster kingdom. Initially, she had been receiving welfare payments every two weeks to cover only the most basic living necessities. Now that things had improved financially for them, the welfare payments had come to a halt.
Cole had joined her at the refugee application offices, and had also gotten his refugee status, although he had decided to leave out his past with the Torin Republic in his application. He reasoned that the fewer people knew about it, the better.
Julia had been lucky enough to snag an internship at the local water treatment plant. Her time studying at the Venzor College helped significantly for her to secure the position, although since she hadn't finished her degree she was still taking night classes at the community college. She had made the decision to get the food they would need for the week on Saturday's, since they were both off of work on weekends.
Cole had also managed to get a job at a small restaurant which he attended during week. He also had intentions of saving up to open his own grillhouse in the small town once tensions between the two nations had calmed down. It would also mean that he and Julia wouldn't have such a tiring commute every day. To make such a place possible, Cole had been putting in extra hours, sometimes working up to thirty extra hours per week. His boss had expressed pleasant surprise at Cole's seeming willingness to work.
On the rare occasions when Cole was not at the restaurant, he was hard at work bringing in firewood and water, so that they wouldn't have fees from utilities. This was especially important, since to pipe in water and gas to such a remote location would be very expensive. They had managed to buy a hunting rifle, which Cole always took on his weekly visits deeper into the forest. After all, there was wildlife everywhere, and not every creature would be friendly. Cole had only ever had to use it once, though he tried to be incredibly sparing. Bullets after all, were quite expensive.
Just over an hour later, Julia leaned the bike up against the wall of the market. She walked into the building, and went straight to the bulk food section. After picking out the usual choice of noodles and rice, she walked over to the register. The woman standing there smiled as she entered the products.
"That'll be seventeen dollars and fifty-seven cents."
After sliding the necessary payment across the counter, the woman took note of something.
"Looking a bit stressed there missy, is your brother alright?" The woman had seen Julia almost every time she had come in. All she had told him was that she lived alone with her brother, and preferred not to discuss further from there. She responded quickly.
"Yeah, he's fine."
The woman nodded, then offered. "You know, if you ever want, we'd be happy to have you and your brother over for dinner sometime. You know we've never really gotten to talk a whole lot apart from our conversations, you seem nice enough though." He chuckled, and Julia gave a polite smile.
"We're a bit busy at the present time, who knows, maybe sometime in the future. Thanks for the offer though." As she quickly took the bag and left, the woman waved.
"Anytime, see you later!"
Julia slung the grocery bag over her shoulder, before hopping back onto the bike. She made her way quickly out of the small town, and back along the lonely back trails of the woods. The people in the town had turned out to be very friendly, as often is the case in small communities. Still, her and Cole were perfectly content with remaining somewhat separate for now. Once she reached the makeshift marker Cole had made to find their house, she dismounted and pushed her bike into the thick of the woods.
As she reached the house, she unlocked the door and made her way inside, discovering a note had been left for her, and the hunting rifle they had in the kitchen was gone. She set the bag down and read the note.
"Hey Julia, I wasn't able to get to sleep, so I went out to get some more water and logs for firewood. May as well do something with the time, right? I'll be back by dinner. Love, Cole."
She shook her head, setting the note down. "I hope he gets a nap out there." She grumbled to herself. Ever since the monsters began the military buildup a couple months ago, Cole had been on edge, constantly staying up late, waking up early - in some cases like this morning, not sleeping at all. It didn't help that he was frequently coming home well past midnight, and getting up in the early hours of dawn, in order to sustain his long work weeks. She could tell his health was beginning to deteriorate, and she had even joked that she should purchase some sleeping medication. Of course, they didn't have the money to spare, unless she gave up necessities like food.
The guilt of his actions years ago still hung heavy on his shoulders, and ever since he had been doing everything he could to try and make them safe in their new home. This meant he felt that if he wasn't ever working, he just wasn't doing enough, despite Julia's reassurances. Still, she had been more than happy to help, and now she just hoped he would be able to stay safe.
Cole felt the cold water rush over his hand as he held the bucket in the water of the creek. The creek was a fair twenty minute walk away, but it was a necessary trip nonetheless. As he set the full bucket of water down beside him, he decided to sit back for a few moments and admire the scenery. The butt of the hunting rifle bumped against his back as it hung, his right shoulder in its sling.
He looked left, then did a double take as he saw movement. A deer had appeared only a few feet downstream, and he couldn't believe his luck. Deer were a rare sight in the region, and rarely had Cole managed to see one so close. He watched with a smile on his face as the deer leaned over to drink from the creek. It was such a peaceful creature, without a care in the world.
A branch snapped nearby, and the deer's head shot up, before bounding away. Cole's head snapped around as the smile vanished, looking for the source of the branch. He took the hunting rifle from his shoulder and readied it. It wouldn't be the first time he had encountered a bear or other predatory creature while he was out alone, and he had learned it was always a good idea to be prepared. He took aim at where he heard the branch, shouting out to make his presence known to any wildlife.
"Hey! Get out of here!" The figure behind the tree moved and revealed himself, and seeing the rifle, slowly put his hands up. Cole stared up in shock at who it was, as he looked into the eyes of Asriel Dreemurr.
