STELLA
I returned to service. For the following weeks, everything went smoothly, but one thing stuck in my mind: The public believes I am "allied" with Isaac or Nullus—whatever his name is. I’m being questioned. They ask what this man looks like, where he is, and why I’m with him. They refuse to believe I’m a "hostage" because, supposedly, I’m in good condition.
So, do I need to die first?
It has also dawned on me that I served this country because I knew nothing else. There are entities we cannot fight, magic designed to destroy. People pretending to be allies—only to reveal they are impostors. Like Diana. I don’t know if she’s like Superman or Wonder Woman because she’s incredibly strong, but it’s laughable how everyone turns a blind eye, calling her a "savior," when in truth, she follows Nullus blindly. Doesn’t anyone question why Diana never steps out while Nullus wreaks havoc? Soldiers are dying, we’re being wiped out—and we’re blamed for being "incompetent"? I hate everyone. It feels as though all the sacrifices we make are wasted. Why serve this country if they’ll just destroy it anyway?
People suck.
Now everything has gone back to normal. I don’t know if people are just narrow-minded, but... they’re okay with this? With everything? I can’t even swallow the truth that the world is divided—there are beings wielding magic we don’t understand—what is this, Harry Potter? I don’t get it! What makes them different from us? We breathe the same air. We eat the same food—so what makes them superior?
And yes, I’m starting to get frustrated with my job and this country. I no longer want to serve. I’m tired. Many of my friends have died because of Nullus, and yet they still believe I’m aligned with that fool?
I didn’t die in that place because I was following Nullus! It’s a normal fucking thing because I’m just a human! I’m not a machine—and what do they want? For me to recklessly charge at Nullus knowing he can just kill me? That man is mentally unstable; he’s tried to kill me several times in the weeks I was there—and yes, I was trying to gain his trust because I just wanted to go home to my family! And because of me, they’re still alive! I’m stopping Nullus! I’M STOPPING HIM.
And I still want to serve my country.
But when I returned to the world I knew, this is what the media and people were saying.
And I can’t stomach it because I’ve devoted my whole life to the citizens. Even though I know I’ve only contributed a little, even though I feel insignificant—yet, I still try. And yet... this is what I get. Sometimes, I understand criminals. I hate to admit it sometimes, but I understand them.
“Calm down, Stella,” Ponce said beside me. We’re on duty again, and since Nullus still poses a threat, we’re guarding the vehicles of our comrades in Manila. “I don’t know what happened to you, but I believe—”
“He killed me 15 times,” I said quietly. “And they say I should be executed for associating with the enemy.” I glanced at Ponce. The Colt M5 Cabrine still hangs in my arm. “I don’t know if I’m just lucky, but I got out alive because I was gaining his trust. I was being murdered. The problem is, I’m just lucky.”
He was taken aback.
“It’s exhausting to serve, Arthur,” I said. “I get the lowest salary because I’m the least important among everyone. Even though my father holds a high position, I’m still useless. I’m always on the front lines—charging into battle even when I don’t know if I can handle it—if we can handle it—and this is all I get?” I asked bitterly. “They treat us like garbage. While Diana, they worship her. Damn, what did she do? Fly around?”
“Another thing,” Ponce insisted. Anger was evident on his face. “They say we aren’t doing enough—when it’s impossible to count how many of us have died. What chance do our bullets have against those monsters? The times have gone mad—the people—most of them contribute nothing but have so much to say!”
We even buried the bodies of our fallen comrades.
I simply chuckled weakly.
But just then, Ponce’s radio beeped. He answered immediately and got a report from another station about a speeding Ferrari approaching our position. I raised the M5 and readied it. The highway was eerily quiet since vehicles were sparse, but who’s crazy enough to defy orders knowing we shoot to kill?
I stood from my seat. From afar, I could hear it—a grinding sound, like tires on pavement.
“Who’s that? Drunk?” Ponce asked, also raising his rifle. From the distance, a purple car was speeding toward us. Ponce signaled, and I walked to the middle of the road with the M5 raised.
This isn’t new to me. Shoot to kill for those putting others at risk.
But I didn’t want that. Orders from above. What chance do we have in a country like this? We don’t have a voice.
Yet the car didn’t stop. I was about to shoot it when suddenly it stopped right in front of Ponce. I approached the car window, knocking on it. “Please, step outside. We need to talk.”
The window slid down. “Hey, I heard you’re getting discriminated here.”
My eyes widened. “Isaac?!” I aimed the barrel at his face. “What are you doing here?!”
Holy crap.
****