A Locked Heart

The earth was washed with red as the sun began to rise over the horizon. The dawn of the new day normally presents itself with hope for the upcoming day, a time of hope and inspiration to push oneself through the struggles and challenges of life in order to make a better life for themselves and their kin. But hope no longer has a place here.

A tired calloused hand strokes the side of his heart shaped locked. It glistens with the red light of sunrise. It opens to reveal a small picture of a family in a simpler time. A time before this strife. Cold blue eyes surrounded by dirt caked skin stare into the picture longingly. The owner of the locket looks the picture on the other side of the locket. On the other side is placed a picture of a boy who is smiling and missing a tooth. Their son, his son, had his soccer picture taken only a few days after losing one of his teeth. A flood of memories washed over his heart and warmed it for a moment. Their house in the middle of the suburbs, kids playing in the street, and a warm meal waiting for him when he came back home from work. He had truly been blessed before it all started. Then the wave of memories crashed over him like a hurricane upon an ill prepared shoreline city. The radio announcement, the chaotic evacuation, enlisting, the battles, the blood, and his heart broke again. He snapped the locket shut, with the tears in his eyes and the morning light upon his hand his mind saw his hands covered in wet and red. He dropped the locket without thinking to wipe his hands upon the dirt trying to get the blood off his hands. He swiped the ground a few times feeling the rough dirt upon his hand to realize that it had only been an illusion of the mind. Post traumatic stress of holding his friends and comrades as the life fleeted out of them and upon his hands. Javier, Bradley, and Sung all had passed away in his arms.

“Cursed” He weeped under his breath. “What did I do to provoke such wrath from you?” He spoke with stress to the heavens. This mourning ritual he did every dawn and he rarely seemed to gather a reply. His eyes and heart were filled with grief, but he was needed by those who were still here.

“Lord, please protect me from this day. May those around me not have similar burdens to the cross that I bear. I know it is mine to carry, but I need your help to hold my head up and see the light at the end of this struggle. Blessed be the Lord.” His words helped solidify him in his faith and the Earth.

He searched the dirt near him and found the locket kissed it for a moment before he placed it over his head. His heart told him they were in a better place and that they were taken so they did not have to see the torment of this future they lived in.

A noise rustled some brush to the side of him. At the sound of the disturbance Reese had grabbed his gun that lay next to his left leg and prepared the weapon.

“Reese?” A hushed call came from the trees near him. “Sargent Reese are you ready to move out?” Reese’s body released the tension and cold washed over his body as he realized there was no threat to him.

“Private Carlson.” Reese stood up and dusted off his nearly six foot tall frame. There was dirt caked everywhere as they had not showered for days. He scratched some dirt from his wavy brown hair which was short enough to stay out of his eyes but long enough to still bounce with his walk. “Has the morning meeting already started?” He asked the shorter dark skinned broad shouldered man.

“Not yet sir, but I have been asked to gather you. It seems like we have an important mission in front of us for the day sir.”

Reese scoffed “important” he muttered for a moment. “Carlson haven’t I told you to cut it with the sir crap.”

“Yes sir.” Carlson caught himself for a moment. “I mean Reese.”

Reese stood at the edge of the forest that looked over a small cliffside and looked out to the morning sunrise. The city he once called home and the skyscrapers that once made up the magnificent skyline were now gone and the rubble of such a grand city was outlined in gold as the sunlight brought forth the contrasting brightness and shadows. The war torn city was now a battlefield for the United Resistance and the Sovereign. As the temperatures rose with the warming of the planet so did the tensions. Protests turned to riots which turned to clashes which turned to battles. As the pressure built those who had money started to hire mercenaries and soldiers for hire to protect them and their property. With the chaos they soon started to flex their power and conquer new land, resources, and people. Some sided with the sovereign for shelter, work, and safety. They were willing to sacrifice their freedom for their needs and Reese did not blame them for that. Their families were safe, enslaved to the oligarchs but safe none the less. As the Sovereign gained power they separated from the known government and threw out the conventional warfare rules. They did what they thought needed to be done to keep themselves in power. It was with these people Reese held a grudge. No explanation could warrant such terrible crimes.

“Are you coming Reese?” Carlson questioned still standing by the tree line. Reese nodded his head and without saying a word walked through the bushes with Carlson who soon followed along with his weapon in hand. They knew they were safe out here, at least for the time being. They frequently moved camp but the Sovereign forces did not search for the resistance forces often.

The camp was a hodgepodge tent village made of camping tents, military tents, and other scavenged materials. Under a canopy stood several soldiers dressed in military camouflage. As Reese entered the meeting he gave a salute and the commanding officer responded with a nod.

“Reese are you ready for today’s mission?” The gray haired man with the military haircut that he kept cleaned and sharp asked.

“Yes Captain Keaton.”

“Good then let’s get down to business. You are going to take a small fire squad to the southern edge of the city. Over there is a water treatment plant. Our goal today is to destroy that plant. Your job is to take the fire squad and create a distraction upon the southern gate and draw their fire. We will take the platoon and pincer their forces. With any luck we will be able to break through their fortifications and place a charge at the base of one of the water collection tanks and disrupting the cleaning process. This will be a large hit to the Sovereign as they will have to find another way to feed the thirst of their soldiers.” Captain Keaton explained.

“Yes sir, who will I have in my fire squad?”

“You get to pick your members.”

“Carlson, Brando, Fremont, and Hernandez.” Reese retorted quickly and confidently. He knew these men had experience and trusted them with his life.

“Done. Gather your men and head out at 0700 you should be able to be at the facility by 1000, start your assault at 1100. We will counter their forces shortly after once you’re able to give us an opening.”

“Understood.” Reese swallowed his heart as he knew this mission would take the lives of many around them.

“Dismissed” The Captain saluted.

As he walked away for he paused for a moment. “Lord, please protect me and my squad and forgive us for any sins of the day. We fight today against evil and for your glory.” Reese prayed.

Soon after Reese had gathered his four other members of his squad. And they trudged off through the woods.

“We’re going fishing again aren’t we Reese?” Brando asked.

“Yeah, but we are the bait.” Hernandez chimed in.

“I always hated fishing.” Fremont responded. “I just don’t like the way fish feel or smell. And that smell doesn’t go away for days.”

“Neither does your stank.” Brando razzed.

“Look who’s talking, we are lucky if the enemy doesn’t smell you before they see us.” Carlson poked fun too.

“Alright settle down we are coming into town. Time for us to be quiet and move information.” Reese calmed the situation. He knew everyone’s stress was high and they would rib each other as long as they could before they staked their lives on each other.

They stood at the southern edge of the city. The water treatment plant was about a mile away from where they were and they would have to move through open streets that had been left to decay. Most of these middle class houses were empty now and the white picket fences had paint chipped off them and ivy rise from the ground. Mother Nature was taking back her land and without humans there to stop their growth and trim the hedges the grass was high and useful for sneaking to their target. They vaulted over a fence that creaked with their weight as they jumped over. Through the back yards of what seemed like it was a nice area at one point they passed a rusted playground. The swings swayed with in the breeze and Reese fought off the thoughts and longing for his boy and when he used to push him on the swing set.

A thicket of trees separated the housing area from the water treatment plant as the HOA had not wanted the unsightly look of the facility to lower their housing prices. They placed themselves in several points across the street and scoured the trees for any enemy that may be guarding the area. They saw none at this point in the perimeter.

“Stay silent until fired upon.” Reese commanded. He pointed at Hernandez and motioned to cross the street. Hernandez sprinted low across the street and found cover. One by one they each crossed the street and watched over the area for each other. They walked through the patch of trees for a short distance of maybe twenty yards before they found the facility. It had a metal security fence which reached eight feet tall and had sharp points at the top of each bar to dissuade intruders. They could see two guards on the top of the towers and Reese looked at his watch. It was 1052. They had taken their time to approach with stealth and this left them with a few minutes to spare and prepare. They huddled together in the brush of the trees, hidden from the view of the towers.

“Fremont and Brando you two find cover near the east edge of the fence. Hernandez and Carlson you two take the west end. Find the respective guards and take them out at exactly 1100. I’ll stay here and give covering fire and hopefully we look like a respectable size force.” Reese spoke in hushed tones.

They waited for minutes which seemed like hours. At 1100 two shots rang out from their cover. Reese’s blood spiked with adrenaline. The next moments happened chaotically.

Shots fired.

Bullets whizzed by.

Reese returned fire.

An small explosion

A lot of shots

Rifle fire in the distance

A few shots returned

Minutes or moments pass.

A loud explosion.

Running.

Nightfall.

More running.

Rest.

As the dawn of the new day rose Reese took out the heart shaped locket from around his neck and rubbed the side of it.