Before the Mushroom War

Life within Death

"Somebody, help me!"

"Have you seen my son?"

"Oh God, ANYBODY! HELP ME!"

"We thought that she was alone!"

"You told me to always stay close to you!"

"Louis! Wake up, man! Hey, c'mon! Louis, wake up!"

I almost jumped from my seat when Henry suddenly called for me. My entire body felt sore as I immediately tried to get comfortable with the hard leather seats of the jeep. "I can't believe you actually fell asleep… What in the world did you do last night?" Henry said with an inquisitive look in his eyes as he drive the military jeep. "I- I rather not talk about it..." I simply muttered, a slight smile cross my face as memories of the very special girl known as Marceline flashed through my mind; But before a frown quickly replaced it as I woefully remembered everything else...

"Well whatever it is and knowing you, it must've been something incredibly stupid and crazy." Henry said sarcastically. "...Where are we?" I slowly sat back up against the passenger seat before stifling out a loud yawn. The oak trees were whizzing by in an instance as the sun slowly rises over the horizon, its warm glow cascading throughout the land and letting in the new day. "We're on the road that leads right towards the hill of Mercy Hospital." Henry explained as he make a right turn along the road. "I still can't believe you fell asleep, Louis. You missed the entire city..." "About the city... How was it, Henry? Is it really that bad?" Henry let out a deep sigh before he fell silent.

"It was a real mess in there, Louis... All of the buildings were either crumbled or crumbling down to dust. There were large craters and big chunks of the buildings were right in the middle of the roads and smoke was literally everywhere. Thank God, the city was mostly empty when the bombs landed... I hate to think what would happen if it wasn't for the evacuation..." My face was emotionless and cold as I stared at the road onwards, contemplating about the dark picture painted by Henry. Thankfully, the city was mostly empty... but to think, what took years to built an entire city only take mere minutes to destroy one... This War is wasteful and senseless and just plain stupid! They think they're fighting for the remaining valuable resources in this planet and protecting their countries own future but is it really worth the lives of their entire civilizations and start an all-out War? I don't know how to lead a country or anything but there must be some kind of logical compromise or something... There must be... Why can't they all just work together to solve the problem instead of trying to kill each other, making the problem that much worst than it originally is? I guess it's hopeless to do anything now but it still makes me really angry just thinking about it...

"Whoa there, Louis... You zoned out a bit back there."

"...Huh? What?" I looked up from my seat and saw Henry was glancing at me strangely. "You looked like you blacked out for a minute there... And I thought I heard you whispering to yourself..." Henry said as he immediately shrugged off with the strange glances and continued to drive forward. "Sorry about that... I'm just thinking out loud to myself." I said softly. "Thinking out loud... but to yourself? What are you... A crazy mad scientist or something?" Henry raised his eyebrows in befuddlement. I stifled a weak laugh as I realized Henry still doesn't know about my little habit. "No... I'm just thinking about the War and how pointless it really is... How they're just making everything worse with this stupid War... Why don't they just help each other instead of killing each other?"

"Well, people are getting desperate, Louis... They're willing to do anything for what they think it's the best for their own people. I mean... If your family and some other person's family is in danger, you're much more willing to save your own family no matter what, am I right?" Well when you put it that way, I guess Henry do have a bit of a point there... "And you, Louis... Knowing what would happen next... with the War and... Hannah, would you have done anything differently? Would you have change anything in the past?" Henry quickly asked me in a serious tone. I sat there contemplating in silence as I gazed out of the tinted windows and saw the lush autumn trees whizzing past us. "No..." I finally muttered under my breath. "...Why?" "Because I know I'm not the only scientist in this whole world, Henry... They are smarter people than me out there... If they can't do anything to stop this goddamn War from even happening, then what possible hope could I have done anything different to change this? What could I really do to stop this, Henry? I'm just a guy who just builds useless gadgets and moving metal junk all day..." I finally explained to Henry why I never came back, in a soft and depressed tone.

"I... understand, Louis... I never thought about it that way before... I guess I owe you an apology for that little shakedown back at your home, huh?" He said apologetically as he made another turn into a deserted roundabout. I continued to sat there in silence, unresponsive to Henry. "Well, the past is in the past, Louis... No matter how much we dwell in it, there's still nothing we can do about it right now... The least we can do is to start thinking about the future and finding a way on how we're going to survive long enough so that we could see it." Henry said softly as I discreetly lowered the heater of the jeep, as it was getting too stuffy in here. "I guess you're right, Henry..." I stifled a weak smile at him as the rest of the drive immediately became silent between us...

"Look alive, Louis! We're almost there..."

I looked up from my seat and saw that we were climbing up some kind of small hill before finally stopping in front of a large and rusted metal gate. The words 'Mercy Hospital' was written in bright bronze letters on the wall right next to the metal gate. "...A gate?" I glanced confusingly at Henry whom immediately started sounding the deafening horn of the jeep. I noticed a small panel on the gate immediately sliding open and a pair of eyes suddenly came out from it, staring directly at us. "Who the hell are you people?" A thick and raspy voice called out to us. Henry slid down his window and proceeded to yell at the guy behind the gate, "We're here for Mercy Hospital!" "Oh yeah? What do you people want from us? We've got nothing left in here so just... Leave us alone!"

"What?! No... We're just trying to find his wife!" Henry yelled back as he pointed directly at me. The pair of eyes seem thoughtful for a while before the panel suddenly slid shut. Henry sat back down at his seat as I stared at him, who seemed just as confused as I am. But then metal gate suddenly swung open slowly revealing a bearded African-American old man wearing a ragged trench coat. "Welcome to Mercy Hospital, gentlemen!" The old man called out as he gestured us inside the compound of the hospital before backing away. Henry whom was still a bit perplexed, quickly shrugged it off and promptly drove inside the compound. I was immediately shocked to see that there was other military trucks and even a military APC inside the compound. There were also a small camp right in front of the hospital and it seemed to be for the refugees and the soldiers. "They were in the middle of evacuating this place, remember?" Henry answered me before I could even say anything.

The large hospital stood overlooking me, its white walls and clean environment clearly juxtaposed to the dirty and old camp right in front of its courtyard. These people seemed like they have been living here for a while now, with the scattered campfires and rationed supply crates. There was even a little makeshift farm and well at one corner of the courtyard, guarded closely by some of the soldiers. And judging from the look on their faces, I'm afraid they will shoot anyone on sight. Henry suddenly halted the jeep, almost throwing me forward from my seat, and immediately turned off the engine. I glared annoyingly at him whom simply smiled wryly back at me before opening the metal door of the jeep. I followed suit and was quite surprised to see the old man from before standing right in front of my door. "Sorry about the rough introduction from before, sonny." "It's not a problem at all..." I replied softly. "It's just that trust is really hard to come by over here... and we can never be too sure if it's one of those darned looters."

"Well, I guess those looters won't be a problem anymore." Henry cried out from the other side of the jeep as he quickly approaches me, he wasn't wearing the dark blue rain coat anymore. He must've dumped it in the back seat or something... but I wonder why he wasn't wearing his colonel outfit. He was wearing a black jacket and a pair of blue trousers instead. I guess he must've changed when he met up with his daughter... "I know what you mean, mister... I could hear those bombs coming from the city all the way over here. It sounded horrific... It... It felt like those thunders were actually drums announcing the arrival of the apocalypse itself..." The old man said as he shudders at the thought. "Don't worry about it... You're all going to be safe once you evacuated." Henry gently placed his hand on the old man's shoulder, calming him down a bit. "Yeah, we will evacuate with the military once we finished up with the sick and elderly in the hospital. My name's Martin, by the way... The supposed leader of the refugees..." He outstretched his hands towards me. "It's nice to meet you, Martin..." I stifled a weak smile at him as my hand shook his.

"You said your wife was here, didn't you? ...Where is she?" He proceeded to ask me. "She's actually one of the patients that arrived here in an ambulance yesterday. Is she here?" I inquired on nonetheless, hoping for a very good answer. Martin's weary eyes immediately lit up as if he just realized something. "Oh! So that woman was your wife? She arrived here last evening actually!" "Really? Where is she?" I exclaimed excitedly, my voice was full of pure relief. "She's still in the emergency department, son... The emergency room on Block B, that one to the right..." Martin exclaimed as he pointed towards a building of the hospital compound. "But she's still-" I immediately sprinted towards the building as fast as I could, a broad smile of happiness was on my face. "Whoa, Louis! Slow down" I heard Henry calling out from behind me as I finally arrived at the building. But I couldn't wait... I need to see her... I quickly opened the front wooden doors of the hospital and rushed inside the building. I ran through the clean white hallways, darting through various nurses and doctors in the hospital. "Hey, you're not allowed to be in here!" One of them cried out angrily to me but I was already long gone by then...

I was closely following the signs on the walls which is leading me directly to the emergency room... I'm almost... Over there! I could see it at the end of the hallway as clear as day. A set of metal double doors with the sign 'Emergency Room' right above it. As I finally arrived at the doors, two doctors with grim looks on their faces emerged from the other side of the doors and quickly pushed past me, ignoring me entirely. Fearing for the worst, I quickly opened the door only to be greeted with another room with a female doctor inside, whom was observing through some kind of glass window. "Hey, you can't be in here!" She yelled to me as she quickly turned towards me. "I need to see my wife!" I pleaded to her. "She's still under labour, sir... There was some... complications when she was trying to give birth. We have been working on her for almost all night now, and your interruption isn't helping anybody!" She continued to yell at me, asking me to leave and wait outside, but I couldn't care less at what she was saying.

"Please... For God's sake, I just need to see how is she doing... I really need to see her..." I begged the doctor, almost dropping down on my knees. "Please leave immediately, sir, or I will notify security immediately!" She yelled, ignoring me as my pleas clearly fell on deaf ears. No! I can't leave... Not like this... Not when I am this close to her... Without thinking at all, I quickly pushed aside the doctor as I approached the glass window in the room. When I peered inside, I saw there was at least three doctors, fully clad in surgeon outfits, as they circle around some kind of bed and... Damn it, I can't see her! The doctors were blocking my whole view of her. I have to get in there... I have- "Louis! What the hell are you doing?" I turned around and saw Henry was at the door of the emergency room, finally caught up with me. "I need to see her, Henry..." "That doesn't mean you have to be a crazy whack job!" Henry shouted at me as he quickly approached me in a threatening manner. "Please, Henry... Hannah... I-" Henry immediately rushed towards me before I could even finish, easily grappling me and pinning me down before I could even do anything to fight back. Within seconds, Henry quickly overpowered me and promptly dragged me out of the room, no matter how hard I tried to struggle free... "He- Henry... Goddamn it..."

"You really need to calm down, pal..."

How long has it been already? I was sitting on one of the chairs in the waiting room of the hospital right in front of the deserted reception desk. My thoughts were continuously flooded about Hannah as I continued to fiddle around with the little white hat she had made... There was still no news about what is bloody happening. Nothing at all. And the thought of knowing absolutely nothing is completely draining me... God, what is going on? I couldn't help but tighten my grasp around the strange little object within my fingers.

As I was fiddling around with the little white hat, I began to notice something quite odd about the little hat. It was incredibly stretchy for once, as I placed my thumb inside and pushed, just to see how long it could go. She must've made it specially somehow... I'm not so sure how but- What's this? There- There was a little word sewn at the interiors of the hat in one discreet corner. It was incredibly small, for once... I had to squint my eyes and concentrate just so I could make sense of what it was. To my surprise, I was taken aback to see that the word was actually just written 'Finn'. Her father's name? ...Our child's name? What does this mean? Is- Is the hat actually meant for our son?

"How are you feeling now, Louis?" I looked up and saw Henry approaching me with a glass of water at his hand and a piece of bun on the other. "I'm sorry about earlier, Henry... I didn't know what came over me... I'm just so worried about her..." I muttered apologetically as I placed the little white hat back into my pocket. Henry knelt down in front of me and smiled, "It's alright, Louis. I might have done the same thing if it was my late wife..." I... didn't know his wife had passed away... I guess I don't know him as well as I thought I did. "Here, man... I noticed that you haven't eaten yet, so I brought you some breakfast." Henry gently handed me the glass of water and the bun. "Thanks, Henry..." I smiled weakly at him before I immediately started eating the small bun. Henry nodded at me before he stood back up and slowly walk away. "Stay here and relax, okay? I'm going to find the radio in this place... And don't worry about it. She'll be fine, Louis..." Henry said softly before proceeding to leave me alone in the waiting room.

It wasn't long before I finished the bun and the glass of water. I felt a little bit satisfied now that my stomach isn't completely empty... I stood up from my seat and walked towards the deserted reception desk. I placed the empty glass onto the desk and surveyed around in the waiting room. I could see the front doors of the building with everyone outside living out their own lives. I realized I was completely alone in here... I glanced at the reception desk and noticed there was a phone on the table. Suddenly remembering about my Mom, I quickly circled to the other side of the desk. Maybe this phone would get a better reception than my glass hand phone... I quickly took the phone out from its socket and input the number of my mother, using my hand phone as a reference. I waited for a long while with bated breath but in the end... there was nothing but a long silence at the other end... I tried to call her again... and again... and again... and again... and again... Always silence... My heart sank as I dropped back down onto the nearby wooden chair behind the reception desk. A single tear crossed my eye as my mind began to wander off, thinking all about the things my Mother ever did for me... How she had taken care of me as a child... How she had supported me throughout my life... How she had loved me as her son... I'm sorry, Mother... I'm so sorry... Oh, God, Why did I have to make sure?

My glass hand phone suddenly began to lit up, distracting me from my thoughts. It was signalling that it's almost running out of its batteries. I gently picked up the phone and saw Simon's name under Mother's in the contacts list... For some reason, I decided to try calling him instead. Using my phone as a reference, I input his number on the desk's phone. I pressed the phone against my ear as I waited for any answer. This is stupid... I bet he's probably already safe or something- "Betty! Is that you, Betty? I'm so sorry, Betty!" I immediately jumped up from the chair as Simon's voice suddenly came out of nowhere. "Simon! It's me, Louis!" "Louis?" He was confused at the thought of my name. "Yeah, Louis... Your best friend, remember?" What in the world is wrong with him? "Louis! You need to help me!" He desperately cried out. "Help you? From what? Where the hell are you, Simon?" I frantically questioned him. "I'm... I'm still inside my home..." My eyes immediately lit up with shock as he uttered the words. "Why are you still there, Simon? Get Betty and get the hell out of there! Don't you two know there's a goddamn War happening right now?" I kept yelling and yelling at him but for some reason, he sounded so distant. It was like he wasn't exactly himself... I could hear him mumbling to himself instead, it sounded incomprehensible but I think I could make out a few words, "So... that's what it meant then... That's how the frost will save me..." What in the world is he talking about? "The frost will save you, Simon? What are you talking about?" I cried out but... Damn it! There was still no answer...

"Louis, listen to me... I want you to leave me behind... I want you to forget about me and just get yourself to safety... I think... I think I'll be fine..."

His raspy voice suddenly blurred from the phone, much to my shock. Now he's just talking nonsense... "Simon, just give the phone to Betty! Where is Betty?" I could hear him silently sobbing to himself as he answered, "Betty's gone, Louis. She's gone... She left me behind..." Betty left him? But... But why? "Where is she? What is going on, Simon?" "The crown, Louis! It's the crown... Oh God, it's all about the crown... It's... What have I done?" He was practically muttering to himself nonsensically. "What crown, Simon? For God's sake, what are you talking about?" I don't know what to do or what to even say to my horrified best friend... "Please, you have to help me, Louis... I can't think clearly... I can't remember anything so well... I mean... I can't even remember my own number... And I think they're getting closer and closer..." He whispered to me in a scared and terrified tone. "How could I possibly help you if you won't tell me what the hell is going on over there?" I asked, more like begged, to know what is going on with him...

I finally heard him slowly taking a deep breath at the other end of the line. "I found something in Scandinavia... It was a crown... When I wore it, it made me see things... I didn't know what I did but Betty was so afraid of me that she had to leave... Oh God, I didn't know what I did... It was suppose to be just a joke... I think I'm losing my mind, Louis... The crown wants me to do something...I'm not so sure what. But for some reason, I think it may have some connections to the Enchiridion... It's just... It's just that I can't exactly remember what was it!" He desperately explained to me, beckoning for my help. Much as I was confused at his outlandish explanation, I still need to help my friend... He's in trouble... But what am I suppose to do?

Wait a second... I think I know a way... "Simon, explain how the crown looks like... You showed me the Enchiridion so... I think I could remember some parts about it!" I loudly suggested. "It's worth a shot, Louis... The crown is... uh... The crown is golden, topped with three points and adorned with three red gems." Okay, so a golden crown with three points and adorned with three red gems... There must be something I could remember... I mean... Simon was practically showing off the book to everyone when he first found it... So there must be some- Wait... A golden crown with three red gems... "I got it!" I excitedly exclaim at the phone. "What... What is it?" Simon almost begged for the answers. "The Ice King! He was some kind of fabled legend that was recorded in the legends of the Enchiridion!" I explained of what I could struggle to remember. "The Ice King?" He muttered in confusion.

"He was some kind of legendary hero or some kind of terrible evil... I'm not so sure which is which. I wasn't exactly paying attention at the time you showed it to me..." I had to admit it at one point, plus my terrible memory wasn't really helping... "Oh..." Simon whispered disappointingly. "But you know what that means, right? It means that this crown of yours may have some connection with the Enchiridion, after all..." I tried my best to look at the bright side of things... "You're... You're right..." Simon muttered in a surprised manner. "That's right... You can go check out the Enchiridion and find a way to save yourself!" I slightly smiled; I'm not sure of what I just did but I hoped I just helped my best friend. "Where is the Enchiridion?" This question slightly shocked me considering he delivered the Enchiridion himself. What actually happened to him?

"Simon... It's at the Museum of History... In New Tristram..." "Is it?" My heart keeps having a bad feeling whenever he couldn't even remember something he did. "Yeah, Simon... It's over there..." "Oh okay then, thank you... Louis... but what if I forget it again?" Simon's soft and terrified voice slightly echoed through the bad reception between us. A way to remember something? I think I know one... After all, it was Hannah who taught me about it... "Simon, tell me why are you trying to find the Enchiridion?" I immediately asked him, my fuzzy voice sounded distant. "Why? It's because... I want to... Get the crown out of my head... Get Betty back and tell her I'm sorry for whatever I did to her... I'll beg her to please forgive me and please love me again... And I guess I just want to see... a life-long friend of mine one more time..." Oh... I... I don't know what to say... "Okay... All you need to do is think about those things as hard as you can... Think about what you're about to do and why you're going to do it. Always remember the most important words... For example, you're going to 'New Tristram' so that you can find the 'Enchiridion' which will help you find out more about the 'Crown' so you could tell 'Betty' that you're sorry and-" "And to thanked 'Louis' for helping with all of this?" Simon quickly added... "Yeah, and me..."

"But... But what if it's not enough?" Simon muttered, still sounding terrified of his upcoming journey. "Then do everything based on those words... Write messages about them. Leave notes around your house about them... Or I don't know... Make bloody recorded videos about them! You need to try your best to remember, Simon!" I desperately exclaimed at him. I need him to succeed... "Make videos? Like tapes or something?"" Simon muttered softly to himself. I couldn't hear him properly... "Come again, Simon! I couldn't hear you..." "I think our connections are breaking up... I think I have to go now... I have to wait and get ready..." Simon whispered, scared and defeated. No... No... This can't be really happening...

"Wait, Simon... If this is probably the last time we're going to talk to each other... I wanted to tell you something..." There was a still silence between us... "I wanted to tell you that you were the closest thing I ever had to a good friend... I still remember how we met in the first year of high school, how we stuck together against the bullies and their stupid pranks, how we would always help each other through those aggravating lessons and how we would support and take care of each other through thick and thin. I know that after we graduated in college, we kind of grew apart to the point that my ignorance might even forget your face sometimes... But you always came back and we would instantly be friends again. It felt like nothing had change at all... I wanted to tell you that I always enjoyed the conversations we had between us. You helped me to speak out... and you might not know it, Simon, but you saved my life back in college... I wanted to say thank you for everything and... Goodbye, old friend..." I finished as my eyes started to tear up... There was still nothing but silence at the other end...

"Goodbye, Louis... And thank you for believing me and helping me with all of this... But please, don't say goodbye... We'll see each other again, you'll see..." Simon's voice whispered through the phone causing me to stifle out a soft and tiring chuckle. "You were always the wishful thinker, Simon..." I could hear Simon weakly laughing at the other end of the video. "I guess I am, Louis... But at least it's something I can hope for..." Crackling noises suddenly erupted from the other end of the phone, causing me to immediately turn my head away from it. What was that? No... No... No! I placed the phone back onto my ear only to discover that there was nothing but silence as it turns out, the line was cut off... I couldn't even comprehend about what just happened... It went by so fast... I... I just don't know... All I know is that my Mother is probably gone... I had just lost my only friend in the world... I don't even know what's going on with this world anymore... My feet finally gave up on me as I dropped back down onto the chair behind me before I slowly closed my eyes, trying my best to hold back the tears... I feel... I feel really cold inside...

"Everyone! I need everyone's attention immediately!"

The sound of people screaming and yelling from outside keeps distracting me from my thoughts. I tried to ignore it but it kept getting louder and louder to the point, I couldn't stand it and decided to go outside to see what in blazes is going on out there. I shambled my way towards the front double doors as the shouts were getting louder. As soon as I went through the double doors, I saw a large group of refugees were slowly surrounding a squad of soldiers next to the military trucks. They were loudly screaming in disdain and impatience as the soldiers were beckoning them all to be calm. I grew more and more curious of what's going on so I slowly approached at the back of the large crowd of refugees. "What do you think this 'assembly' will be about?" I heard one of the refugee whispered to his friends. "I don't know, man... I guess we have to see what the Captain says." One of his friends answered, pointing at the soldier in front of the squad.

"Calm down, everybody! Please, I need all of you to calm down!" The Captain raised his hands, gesturing everyone to stand back and calm down. Everyone immediately fell silent as we listened to what the Captain is trying to say next. "As all of you may know about the bombs that were dropped on the city last night-" "Know it? We fucking saw it!" Yelled one of the refugees, interrupting the Captain. "Those bastards are gonna pay for what they did to us!" Yelled another, followed by the shouts of agreement from other refugees. "Everyone, calm down!" The Captain tried his best to regain control of the crowd. The crowd was finally complacent and immediately fell silent again... "We... have just heard on the radio waves that the President has declared an all-out War..." The crowd immediately gasped in shock and horror, excluding me... To me, it felt like they're just making it official... "Please calm down and listen... We tried waiting for all of you but now there's no more time left, we need to evacuate immediately to Beautopia..." Martin suddenly came forward from the crowd and exclaimed, "Some of us still needs medical attention, goddamn it! My wife will die if she doesn't get any medical attention immediately!" "I'm sorry but now there's not much time left for a full evacuation... We have to leave the sick and disabled behind..." My heart sank and Martin's face was full of dread as he slowly backed away from the Captain and left the crowd entirely. But... what... what about Hannah? Damn it! The Captain continued, "Firstly, we will evacuate all the able women and the children and then-"

"Some of us paid for the passes to get into Beautopia! They should also go first with the women and children!" A blonde young man yelled angrily, interrupting the Captain yet again. The Captain glared at the young man before finally saying, "Frankly, 'sir'... I don't give a bloody fuck whether or not you paid for it... The women and children WILL-" "You can't fucking do this to us, you fucking assholes! You can't just leave us behind!" Another young man from the crowd yelled at the Captain before suddenly lunging forward at him. The Captain tried to take out his handgun but he was already too late as the young man intercepted his hand. They were both struggling right before us! Other refugees, mostly young men, immediately came forward and assisted the refugee by tackling and fighting with the other soldiers. Oh God, the situation is getting pretty messed up... We're fighting against each other now... I need to do something quick before it gets even worse...

Without thinking, I came forward from the crowd and tried to stop this thing. "CALM DOWN, EVERYONE! CALM DOWN!" My voice did nothing to stem the battles before me. I went forward and tried to pull the young man away from the Captain... The young man quickly turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger and desperation, before immediately punching me right in the jaw. I helplessly landed on the ground as the whole world started to shake before my eyes. I could see the young man slowly turning around and... A loud gunshot echoed throughout the compound... The young man's body dropped to the ground lifelessly revealing the Captain standing before him, bearing his handgun. "BACK THE FUCK UP!" He yelled as he started to aim towards the other refugees, whom were slowly backing away with their arms raised into the air, leaving the rest of the squad alone. "Oh my God! You bastards fucking murdered him!" A shout coming from the crowd. "I am trying to save lives over here! All of you are just wasting what's remaining of our precious time!" The crowd was motionless as everyone fell silent. The Captain started to aim the handgun to and fro, hoping to prevent anyone from attacking him again. But I think they already got the message...

"Louis!" I heard Henry's voice in the distance as I saw him quickly running towards me from the hospital with Martin. "Back away from me!" The Captain yelled as he pointed the gun to Henry. "I am your commanding officer, Captain! You will stand down or I will fucking court martial you for killing an innocent civilian!" Henry yelled at the Captain, pointing some kind of badge at him, as Martin helped me up from the ground. "Are you alright, son?" Martin whispered to me. "I'm... fine..." I replied weakly. "Aargh!" The soldier grunted loudly in frustration before he dropped the handgun to the ground to which Henry quickly picked it up. "Fine! Have it your way then! I'm fucking quitting the military!" The Captain yelled as he took his helmet off and threw it to the ground before promptly kicking it away. "I had it with this place... I'm leaving..." The Captain climbed into the APC and started the engine. The rest of his squad took off their helmets and also threw it to the ground before joining their Captain on the APC. "Henry... We can't just-" "Let them go, Louis... We have no choice either way..." Henry whispered to me in a hushed tone. Martin nodded at Henry and proceeded to open the metal gate of the hospital compound. The APC drove out of the courtyard and down the hill before quickly disappearing from our sight. I cannot believe it... The military had just left us for dead...

The refugees began to panic as they scatter about in the courtyard. Some of the hospital staff were coming outside to see what was all the noise about. They have no idea... Martin immediately set off to work in calming them all down. "Now what do we do, Henry?" I asked him who seemed thoughtful as he stared into the military trucks. He immediately turned around without saying a word. He approached a nearby box and stood over it. "Everyone! I need everyone's attention!" With Martin's assistance, Henry eventually managed to get the refugees attention. "Does anyone here know the way to Beautopia?" "I know the way..." "Yeah, me too!" One and then two and then more hands were raised up from the crowd. "Okay, next... I need people who can drive a military truck. It's not that different than a normal truck... Just raise your hand if anyone here knows how to drive a truck!" A long pause from the crowd ensues as they began to whisper to each other. "I used to be a delivery guy!" A man suddenly cried out as he raised his hand upwards. And then, a few hands were raised from the crowd. Out of excitement, Henry actually fist pumped into the air.

"Alright, everyone... We're going to drive ourselves all the way to Beautopia!" Henry exclaimed excitedly with a grin, much to the surprised gasps of the refugees. "Those that knows how to drive the trucks will be led by those that knows the way to Beautopia as we drive there ourselves. It's as simple as that!" "But what about the sick? We can't just let them leave this place without their medication or they will die." Martin chimed in, Henry's grin quickly disappeared as he immediately fell silent... A long silence erupted from the refugees as everyone knew what it meant. Martin nodded understandingly before he wiped away his watering eyes. I just stood there motionless as the thought of Hannah is literally tearing the insides of my mind... Is... Is she going to be left behind? Henry gently placed his hand on Martin's shoulder before whispering, "I'm sorry, Martin... but I don't see anyway we could... I'm sorry..." "I know, Henry... I know... I just wished there was a way, you know..." Martin muttered before walking away all by his lonesome self. He needed some time to be alone... Henry glanced at me, seemingly knowing that I was thinking about Hannah, before he finally stepped forward against the crowd of refugees.

"Bring what is only needed, okay? Do not bring too many food and water... There's plenty of that at Beautopia. We're going to stuff these trucks to the brim, do you understand me? We have already wasted enough time so let's do this, people!" As soon as Henry finished, the refugees immediately began setting off as they gather their things before rushing over to the trucks. Henry was leading them into the trucks and keeping everything organized. They might make it after all... What in the-? I noticed some of the refugees were acting a bit strange. They were barely doing anything as they just stood there with a sad and desperate look on their faces. "Their loved ones can't leave the hospital or they will die..." Martin's voice suddenly came from behind me. I didn't even notice that he was standing right behind me. He continued, "They have decided to stay with them... until the end..." Martin said softly. "I'm sorry, Martin... I don't know what else to say but... I'm sorry..." I said before I swallowed my throat as I felt a sudden uneasy feeling inside me. "Why are you sorry? It's not like you caused the War, am I right?" Martin stifled a weak chuckle as I stood there in silence. "Excuse me, Louis... I have to get my people out of here now..." Martin whispered softly before he approached the camp and towards the refugees, leaving me alone. As I stood there watching the people as they quicken their pace before Henry and Martin loaded them up into the trucks. A part of me wanted everything to slow down... Everything's happening so fast... I wanted it to slow down... Just a little bit... Just enough time for Hannah to be fine again... So we could leave this place together... I'm NOT going to leave her behind... No matter what...

"Okay, I wish you all the best of luck!"

Henry waved at one of the trucks, loaded with as much people it could carry, as it was leaving the courtyard before driving down the hill and into the horizon as they head for Beautopia. "Do you think they're going to make it?" I asked Henry as I finally lost sight of the truck. "I have no idea, Louis... We just have to hope for the best... For all of them..." "And have you seen Martin, by the way?" I inquired him as we were both slowly walking towards the other trucks which were being loaded up by another group of refugees as we speak. "No, he just needs some time alone, that's all." He simply shrugged it off. "And what about Hannah? We already left so many people behind... We can't just leave her." I exclaimed worryingly. "Don't worry about her, Louis. I have a plan that will make sure you and Hannah and your child will get to safety." Henry whispered to me before he smiled at me. My eyes immediately lit up in disbelief. "Really? What's the plan?" Henry quickly pulled me as far away from the crowd as he could before he finally spoke to me in a hushed tone, "I had a hover copter that's on the way here as we speak. It will come pick us up and take us all the way into the safety of Beautopia."

My smile quickly disappeared... "So we're just going to leave all of the patients behind? Just like that? Is there really nothing else we can do for them? What about Martin and his wife? Are you telling me we're just going to leave them behind too?" Henry snapped back at me, "I'm already evacuating the refugees as best as I could! But there's just not enough space and time for the rest of the patients... We may not be able to save everyone but at least, we were able to save someone." I... I don't know what to say... "Remember what I said earlier, Louis... About the willingness to protect my own family rather than another... It's either them or Hannah, Louis..." Henry whispered to me in a grim tone as he stared seriously to me. Henry immediately left me behind as he walked back to the trucks. I don't know what to think as I stood there motionless, the uneasy feeling inside me slowly growing slightly worse... And the horrible part is I might have to agree with Henry in this... I'll do anything for Hannah... But for leaving some of the people behind, I hated myself for doing so... But I... I have no choice... It's not the first time I did it...

As the last truck was almost loaded up with the refugees and what's remaining of the hospital staff that didn't volunteer to stay behind, everyone was making their fond final farewells with each other. I stood there in silence, staring at them as they're preparing to leave. I was pretty useless as I didn't helped anyone like Henry or Martin did... I was about to walk away in shame before I suddenly heard a distant shouting from somewhere behind me. "You! You! The guy with the black shirt!" I turned around to see the female doctor that I pushed aside from before. She was sprinting directly at me with all of her strength. "You're... You're the patient's husband, am I right?" She quickly asked me, panting for air and trying to regain her breath. "Yeah, I'm sorry about earlier..." I said in an apologetic manner as I scratched the back of my head. "That doesn't matter anymore... I need to tell you something important... It's about your wife!"

"My... My wife? What's wrong with my wife?" My heart dropped down to an all time low. The woman finally regained her breath before she looked directly at me and shouted, "She's... She's giving birth! Right now!" "What?" "She wants to see you. You have to go to her!" The doctor exclaimed before she rushed back towards the emergency department of the hospital. I glanced at Henry, who stared at me grimly, before I quickly followed the doctor to Hannah. We rushed past the hallways which were mostly empty by now until we finally reached the emergency room where Hannah is. The uneasy feeling inside me grew more and more as I went past the door. The doctor gestured me to come closer as she opened the door which leads to Hannah. I quickly entered through and saw two doctors from before doing their jobs and Hannah grunting and moaning loudly in pain. One of the doctors looked up at me and yelled, "Calm her down! She's getting too weak!" The female doctor from behind pushed me closer to Hannah's side. I slowly approached her and promptly knelt down beside her, gently grabbing her hand as I whispered, "Hannah... I'm here, Hannah... I'm here..."

"Louis... You finally came... What took... you so freaking long, huh?" She stifled a weak smile, her hazel eyes seemed weary and her once fair skin were pale, before she suddenly gritted her teeth in pain. "Don't- Don't talk too much... You need to save your strength..." I whispered to her as I tried to look away at what the doctors were doing and keeping my eyes solely on Hannah. "I'm so tired... I think I-" She suddenly grunted in pain before she could finish. "Don't say things like that... You and I... We're going to make it... We're going to make it through all of this. And we'll be together. Just- Just like our plan, remember?" I stuttered the words, unsure of what to even say that could help her ease the pain. "You still... remembered that stupid plan we made? I thought... with your horrible memory..." She wearily smiled at me, her blonde hair was tangled up and partially covering her face. "Of course, I still remember it... I remember how we were going to buy the perfect home up on the hills and how we're going to have four perfect children..." I stifled a smile as I gently moved the strands of her hair away from her tired face.

"How... we're going to raise them... fairly and lovingly..." She continued as she kept looking directly into my eyes. "Well, you'll probably be the one who do most of the raising..." I said sarcastically as tears slowly began to fill up in my eyes. Hannah stifled a weak chuckle before she suddenly gritted her teeth out of sheer pain, tightening her grip around my hand. I... I don't know what to do! I feel so fucking useless! "And then, when the children are all grown up... We'll move out of our house- and then we would live the rest of our lives at the French countryside..." She finished softly. "It's where you always wanted to go, right?" I silently exclaimed as I gently caressed her face. "A little cottage on the countryside... just for the both of us..." Hannah said weakly.

"The baby's coming! The baby's coming!" One of the doctors suddenly yelled loudly, my eyes immediately lit up with shock. "Okay... Push! Take a deep breath and push!" My heart was practically skipping nonsensically, unsure of what to do or what to think. "One more time... Breathe and push!" The doctor continued to instruct Hannah as she moaned loudly in pain, clutching my hand tighter and tighter. "I think I can see the head! Just- Just one more push!" The doctor ordered. Hannah made one final yelp of pain before everything fell silent... "It's... It's a boy! It's a boy!" The doctor finally cried out, much to my sheer relief. "Did you hear that, Hannah? It's a boy! Heh... I guess you were right, after all..." I exclaimed softly with a stifled grin on my face. Hannah was laughing weakly but happily before whispering, "Finn... His name's Finn then..."

"The baby's too weak! We need to get him to the incubator, ASAP!" I heard the doctor cried out in panic before immediately rushing out of the room. "...What?" Hannah asked weakly in a worried tone. I quickly turned towards her and whispered quietly, "Don't- Don't worry about it... Everything's going to be alright, Hannah... The baby's going to be fine, just don't worry about it..." I tried to reassure her as best as I could. "And you're going to be fine too, Hannah. You'll see... Please, I need you... to be okay, Hannah..." I softly smiled at her, the uneasy feeling inside me strangely returned. "Oh God- I love... I love you, Louis... but you're... such a terrible liar..." Hannah smiled meekly at me, her hazel eyes gazing directly into mine, before she finally let out a weak sigh. "...Hannah?"

The whole world around me fell silent yet again as the uneasy feeling inside my heart finally overwhelmed me. "...Hannah? Hannah?!" She wasn't moving... The light from her starry eyes were gone... Her smile was gone... "We've got a problem here! I need help over here!" I heard the female doctor's voice slowly becoming distant from behind me as I saw her rushing to Hannah's bedside. The doctor was trying to save Hannah... But everything seemed to slow down around me as the world surrounding me slowly grew darker and darker into nothingness... Until the only thing I could see was her expressionless face... "Oh God- Oh God, please... No, No, No, No... NO! NO! Hannah! Hannah... Please..." I just sat there crying, full of misery and dread... The tears of emptiness did nothing to stem the pain inside me... I was furious, blaming myself for everything... It's my fault! I shouldn't have never let you go... I could have- I could have done something. Anything! My body finally felt numb as I couldn't control any of my emotions anymore... I simply gave up as I lifelessly dropped onto my knees next to her... Still clutching into her warm hand... I don't want to let go... I don't want to let go...

"Hannah... Please... Please don't leave me... Alone..."