When War Calls(38)

How had this happened?

‘Jay!’

He knew he had heard his name being called. He wanted to turn to them, but he couldn’t. He felt paralysed, his thoughts aimless wanderings in an empty secluded mind.

‘Jaden!’

The call came again.

‘Get up!’

Jaden felt strong arms attempt to lift him up, but he sank even deeper to the ground. He knew that it was Bo trying to help, but he couldn’t even face him. The pain was too great, the realisation of loss too strong.

Bo gave up suddenly, as if he had just realised what was in front of him.

‘They didn’t make it out,’ he said sympathetically.

Jaden gave no reply.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Bo, and he joined Jaden in silence, both paying their respects as they ignored the chaos around them.

Bo had shared a similar bond with Jaden’s family, as if they were his second home. He felt what Jaden was experiencing, only milder, but still the same utter damnation, the regret, the remorse and most of all, the absolute terror of such loss. He knew there was no way that he could comfort his friend. He was only allowed sanity through knowing his family had made it out of their home and fled to the mountains in time. They had been fortunate. Jaden’s had not.

But despite his understanding of how Jaden felt, Bo knew they could not stay here any longer. A fourth wave of fighter jets was approaching from the east; they would soon be doubling back just like the last as they sought out their targets among the ruin.





‘Come on, you can’t bring them back. We have to go,’ Bo said unconvincingly, knowing all too well that Jaden would still make no move. ‘You can’t stay here. Jay, please … come with me.’

Jaden’s silence gave Bo all the answers he needed, and Bo lowered his head in defeat. This was one occasion he knew he would not have the time to try and persuade Jaden to do what he wanted.

‘Look, we’re all making a run for the mountains. If you decide to do the right thing and save your life, come find us. Be well, sprinter.’

Although Bo did not want it to be, he feared he had just said his final farewell to a friend he had loved as a brother. But even if he were to attempt to pick Jaden up and carry him, he knew he could not have made him move.

Before vanishing around a corner, Bo gave one last look to the figure that sat in perfect stillness in front of the fires that consumed his world and began to run toward the mountains.

Jaden’s eyes were closed to the dancing flames. The fourth wave of fighter jets was on its way now. This was the end. He could have run still, but he could not bear to leave his family again. He wanted to stay with them, forever, even if it meant his death.

He heard the engines blare overhead, the jets releasing their ultimate judgement on those that were below. Jaden had chosen death underneath the deadly rain and remained unflinching as they crossed over him, the whistle of the descending evil piercing his ears as it neared.

But nothing would land near him.

As he opened his eyes to the heavens, he saw something wondrous, something miraculous. A play of entwining clear whites and blues near the brightness of the sun, yet soft on mortal eyes, had burst overhead. Everything seemed to blur then, becoming a bluish gray under the waves of light. The buildings, land, fire and smoke all distorted beneath its glow, and the little sound there was became internalised, explosions seeming even more distant as the beating of his own heart filled his ears. His breath laboured to bring in the air he needed and he blinked his eyes in the same slow motion that all else seemed to be in, letting tears run free, yet still it seemed he was looking through water up at the seemingly cosmic display. The entire village had become encased in a giant energy shield. There were countless eruptions in the sky, above this shielding light as bombs collided with its energy, but they seemed to make no sound compared to the voice that boomed the word “No!” over the top of it all.

An energy shield. The Daijuar were here. The village had become immune to the attacks. In all its tragic beauty, Jaden couldn’t help but feel more tears rise. It was the most majestic yet dreadful thing he had ever witnessed, for it was a display of power like no other, but it had come too late, and it meant the absolute demise of his home.

Jaden stood. Almost unconsciously he had got to his feet and began walking slowly toward where the voice had come from. He had to find the Daijuarn sentinel that was making the shield. He was not sure why or how he had found the strength. He knew only that he had to get an answer. An answer to a question he would not ask, but would receive simply by confronting the sentinel.

He had taken no more than four or five steps when the ground began to rumble once again, this time so powerfully that the earth beneath his feet began to split apart. A deep crevice of which the bottom could not be seen opened up a few feet in front of him, while more tears in the surface threatened to open behind. It was just as in the stories he had heard of the earthquake of thirty years ago. There were groaning movements of rock and the screams of those falling to their deaths as much of the village was being swallowed or pulled into the dirt. A great chasm had formed between him and his home, only it seemed to be on the wrong side as almost instantly, what was left of his house was all gone, a whole edge of the chasm caving in.