I grit my teeth as the commander repeatedly kicks my sides. I convulse and writhe in pain, throwing my arms over my head to protect my skull. "Please stop," I sputter. I choke up dark red blood.
"You know what your insolent brother did? He tried to escape!" she waves her hand, which is heavily bandaged. I manage to turn on my side, and I glare at her. Strands of the commander's red hair is springing out of her bun. My blood stains her black combat boots.
She looks at me with disgust before sending another flying kick to my gut. I groan. "That will be all," she says, relaxing from her stiff combat stance. "But next time I will not be so merciful." The commander wipes her boots against the ground.
She clasps her hands behind her back as she orders the guards, "He is allowed one cup of water a day. One food ration." She turns her back on me as I struggle to sit up.
"Also, I thought you'd want to know that Day's execution is rescheduled to today." She gives me a twisted smirk before leaving the room. Today? I'm going to lose my brother today? Tears spring in my eyes and I don't bother to keep them in. It hurts to sniffle because of my bleeding, broken nose. My face is stained with tears and blood.
It's been an hour or so when the doors open again. Two guards say, "Your brother wants to see you as a last request." They grab my arms and begin to drag me out of my cell.
The commander is there with the girl and Day. I smile sadly at him, silence settling in the cell. "Hey," he says.
"Hey." I study him. There's bruises on his face, his lip is split, and there is a bloody bandage on his knee, where he got shot.
The girl crosses her arm as she says, "Five minutes. Say what you want and be done with it." Day nods.
"Make sure it's exactly five minutes, not a second more," the commander snaps. The cell fall silent again except for the commander barking orders at her soldiers.
I ask one of the burning questions on my mind. "Do you know where Eden is? Is he alive?"
Day shakes his head. "I don't know, but I think so."
My voice is hoarse from crying. "When you stand out there, keep your chin up, all right? Don't let them get you." I wish I could save you.
"I won't," he promises.
"Make them work for it. Punch someone if you have to." I give him a sad, crooked smile. "You're a scary kid. So scare them. Okay? All the way until the end."
"Okay," he whispers, his eyes moistening. The guards begin to drag me out as I try to burn my brother's face into my brain. The next time I see him, it'll be a recording of his death. "No," I whisper as I am pulled from Day's cell.
"Stop struggling. We're the Patriots. We're going to help you and Day escape." One of the guards says.
"What about Eden?"
"Well, you have to be alive if you want to save him too." I nod.
Suddenly, an explosion makes the whole building shake under my feet. The two guards and I are thrown against the wall. When the shaking stops, the guards lead me to a group of soldiers escorting Day.
The two guards open fire, killing or injuring all six soldiers. They gun down more soldiers that get in their way.
"Go with Iparis!" a guard yells, jerking her head at the girl who's running towards us. I punch a soldier in the jaw before he can attack Day.
Day shifts on his feet, his eyes slightly disoriented. The girl and I help support him and we start running.
The intercom blares, "Execute him! Kill him now! Make sure the square broadcasts it!"
"Damn it," Day mutters. The girl is calculating, until a hopeless look dawns on her face.
"We're not going to make it," I realize. I stop running. I feel the same tingly feeling I got minutes before Mom died.
"What-" the girl begins. I pull the blindfold of Day's neck before turning around. "No, stay with us!" The girl yells, her eyes widening at what I'm about to do.
"You need more time," I say. "They want an execution? They'll get one." Anger flashes in my eyes. I start running away from them, and towards the soldiers. Right to the firing squad. And I don't look back.
The first soldier that reaches me pulls the blindfold over my eyes. Another knocks me to the floor, twisting my hands behind my back and cuffing them together.
They drag me out into the center of the yard. Suddenly, the guards drop my arms and their footsteps fade away from me. It's deadly silent. I bite my lip, awaiting the bullets.
I feel pain enter my stomach a second after the loud pop. More excruciating pain blooms in my chest. Then my arm. Then my knee.
I collapse face down against the dirt. I can barely register the sharp sting pain of dust entering in my eyes. My ears are ringing. And then I hear a soft voice.
"John," it's my mother's voice. I stand up, no longer feeling the pain. I watch the soldiers carrying my body to the cremation chambers.
Her body is a glowing orb of light that slowly dims until I can see her features more clearly. The bullet wound is no longer on her head. In its place is smooth perfect skin. Not one strand is out of place in her honey colored hair with white streaks. She smiles at me.
She looks younger, happier. If spirits could cry, I'd have tears streaming down my cheeks. "My baby," she murmurs opening her arms. I go gladly in her embrace.
"Where's Dad?" I whisper.
Mom pulls back and beams. "You'll see him soon," she promises.
I take one last look beneath me, where the girl and Day are hopping on motorcycles. I sigh in relief. Day is safe. And I know that he'll save Eden. That's the only reassurance I need before I take my mother's hand and let her guide me away.
It might be decades until I see Daniel and Eden, but until then, I promise myself that I'll watch over them, like the big brother I am.
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