Revolution

They had waited too long. The sun stretched over the far horizon. A breeze rushed up the large hill which she stood upon. Her leathers kept it from penetrating her skin, but her long hair was pushed back. The thick black strands twirled aggressively behind her, whipping the side of her rosy cheeks. She closed her eyes allowing the wind to silence the growing stampede of the enemy crawling across the horizon. The sun at their backs, their numbers were immeasurable.

“General.” A rough voice breathed. She opened her eyes, realizing her lashes were thick with tears. “They have arrived.” She laughed hoarsely in response. She spun, her boots tearing up the dirt which she stood on. Her second in command, a brute man with gold locks trimmed close to his scalp stood before her. He stared at the horizon and swallowed.

“Gather the others,” she commanded simply before taking one last glance at the hoard forming. She marched past the tall man, entering her own camp.

It had taken years for them to gather their troops, but it would not be enough. The President of Adas had sent an army at least twice the size of their own. A war which began with simple espionage, infiltrating the capital, had escalated. After the plague had eliminated over three- quarters of the earth’s population, the man claiming to be president had taken power by force. He implemented laws taking away nearly all freedoms people had been used to. Technology no longer existed beyond the walls of the capital. Freedom was obsolete. Living outside the walls of capital was deadly with the plague still running rampant. Yet the President did not allow those outside of the upper level to enter. Raven had spent years fighting outside the wall, forming a rebel army to remove the man in question from power. Five years later and it was all coming to an end. The rebel army had swords. The president’s army had tanks, guns, cannons. Weapons not accessible to those outside the wall. But Raven had one last wild hope left.

“Years in oppression. Years dancing with death and we have survived.” She stood upon a small crate her second in command had found. Before her stood her small army of two thousand. They listened eagerly as she yelled into the masses.

“We have lost everything. Gained nothing. I will be honest I do not even have hope in this moment. The sun is at their backs. They have us outnumbered. They have us out weaponed. Yet here we all stand ready to fight for what?” She lifted her arms in question. Before sending these men and women to their deaths she wanted to give them an out. One man spoke.

“Freedom,” he growled. She laughed wickedly.

“Freedom does not truly exist. This war does not end with this small battle. The war does not end when the President is killed. The war is not over when the gates to the capital finally open. There is no end in the foreseeable future. I stand here and I am not asking you to go to war with me. What we have done thus far is nothing compared to the slaughter we are about to experience. It will be erased from history and the rebellion will never have existed. I will not ask any one of you to die for this cause. I will not stand here and pretend as though by some miracle we will win. If you wish not to fight, drop your weapons now and leave. Once we die the camp will be taken and you will be killed. Run. Now is the time to decide if you wish to live or die.” Raven’s voice grew hoarser as she screamed. Faces turned to fear. She glanced at her second in command. His face was unreadable. Demetrys was never readable. Slowly men and women began dropping their weapons. Swords clattered together as they fell into the dirt. Her army dispersed before her, taking their belongings, and walking away. Less than a hundred men remained after several minutes. They grouped closer before her.

“You will be shot at. You will be blown to pieces. Your swords useless. You will be crushed by tanks.” A crack of thunder rolled across the camp. “And you will be drenched,” she remarked as dark clouds were pushed closer by the heavy wind. More men dropped their weapons leaving her standing before five men. She gave each a quick curt nod.

“Be prepared to die in fifteen minutes.” Raven turned and stepped from the small crate. She left the bustling camp. Her army was packing their belongings. She returned to her spot at the edge of the hill, and it began raining. Her black hair clung to the sides of her face.

“General Raven. Your army is leaving,” Demetrys spoke as he stopped beside her. The President’s army stretched over the field before them. “Now is the time for you to leave as well.”

“Demetrys we both know I was destined to die in this field of dirt. My story ends here,” she whispered through the downpour. He sighed in response and took her hand. She rapidly turned her head to look at him.

“Our story ends here,” he spoke, ignoring her sharp green eyes glaring at him. Wordlessly she clutched the golden heart locket hanging around her neck. She kissed the metal, before tucking it safely into her leathers. She released Demetrys hand.

“Wait for my command,” she ordered. Raven drew the sword, sitting stiffly across her back and began down the hill. The sun in her eyes Raven swung her sword, challenging death. She heard Demetrys call after her as she crossed the field. Ignoring the calls, Raven walked through the downpour to what she believed to be her end.