War Never Changes
Time: 10 Minutes after the decision.
Location: Mogadishu, Horn of Africa
POV: [Unknown]
I didn't know when it started, I was washing the dishes after having dinner with my son. My husband was at work and my daughter was at a friends house.
''MOM!'' my son screamed. The formerly clean living room was no longer there, replaced with rubble and dust, fighter jets roar in the sky fighting unknown objects, bombs and what looked like beams of light devastate the city. I couldn't feel my right arm as the knife I was washing was lodged into my shoulder. ''MOM!'' my son's scream woke me up from my daze. It was then that reality hit me. The war, the destruction, long-forgotten had returned. I screamed in pain which only startled my son even more.
''THIS IS YOUR PRESIDENT! WE ARE AT A STATE OF TOTAL WAR! PLEASE EVACUATE TO THE NEAREST BOMB SHELTERS OR EVACUATION POINTS! I REPEAT WE ARE AT WAR!''
Using my last bit of strength I crawled to my son who's legs were shaped in weird angles, ''Mom, I can't feel my body'' the boy cried. ''BAM!'' the broken door got kicked in, and in the entrance stood a man with a black trench coat and a weird armament, next to him stood my daughter however. ''MOMMY!'' she screamed as she ran towards me. I looked cautiously at the man, who proceeded to remove his mask. ''It's me,'' the man said in a loving voice. It was then that I noticed it was none other than my husband. Tears welled up in my eyes as finally a feeling of safety spilt over me.
''We have to go quick, it is estimated that the city will be off-limits in 15 minutes. He put his son over his shoulder and wrapped his other arm around my shoulder. ''Don't worry you'll be safe...'' He said softly as he dragged us out of what remains of our house and towards the APC where 6 other men in identical clothing stood around it We started to drive off towards the suburbs of the city, I looked in horror as bombs exploded everywhere around us. Sweat was coming off my husband's forehead as he got increasingly worried, ''INCOMING!'' one of the soldiers shouted in the gunner's area. Time stood still at that moment, the backside of the APC slowly bursts open, shrapnel flying everywhere, while fire engulfed the inside, the left side where I was sitting on broke off due to explosion after which everything was just black. My eyes partially opened seeing the destruction everywhere, 3 of the soldiers who were sitting in the back were in multiple pieces, causing me to vomit out my dinner immediately.
''Khadija...'' my husband who had crawled towards me whispered to me, ''Are our kids okay?'' I asked in worry, it took a second for my husband to reply, ''Are they okay!'' I was getting more and more worried, ''Yes, Khadija, they're fine, they were at the front. Tears welled up in my eyes as I knew he was lying. ''Please, please, please...'' my husband cried as I slowly started to close my eyes which were getting harder and harder to keep open. ''I'm sorry...'' I whispered which were my last words as my entire world became black.
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Time: 5 Minutes after the death of Khadija
Location: Mogadishu, Horn of Africa
POV: Husband of Khadija
I cried, cried for lying to my wife, our kids were lying dead with their eyes wide open, ''Commander!'' a soldier shouted, he was stuck in the driver's seat. 'Don't worry Khadija, I WILL AVENGE YOU!' I swore this day. He remembered his day when he was transferred from his hometown in Germany to Mogadishu to suppress pirate activity, it was the day I arrived I laid my eyes upon Khadija. After only 6 months we started dating and another year later we got married, I enjoyed my time in Mogadishu, it was a warm place mixed with the fresh wind from the sea, the port which was the 3rd largest in Africa attracted many foreign investors causing it to become a sprawling metropolis in only 20 years. It wasn't for nothing it was called the white pearl of the Indian ocean. I then asked for a permanent patrol job in the city which was easily accepted.
Having built a family I truly felt part of this area, and now, now it laid in ruins, the city was in shambles, the fires raged through the city while cries for help were heard everywhere. I clenched my teeth as I forced to stand on my only good leg, ''This is patrol unit 179M, we have been attacked, 2 survivors remaining, requesting immediate evac!'' I said through the radio. ''Understood unit 179M, 2 helicopters will deviate course to pick you up, be prepared for enemy units, 2 armoured units have been spotted approaching from the North'' the Local HQ responded.
I limped back to the APC trying to get my comrade out of the car, 'I swear when this is over I will give you all a proper funeral...' I gritted my teeth as I used my last remaining strength to rip the steering wheel off to let the driver out, ''2 enemy units inbound, prepare for contact I said as I threw a anti-tank rifle at the driver. ''Yes sir!'' the man saluted as we quickly ran towards one of the broken down apartment buildings to 'set up shop'. ''I am sorry sir...'' the driver said softly in reference to my lost family, ''What has happened has happened, I swear I'll get revenge for what they have done!'' I said angrily as I grabbed my MG and laid down letting my broken leg rest.
''Enemy spotted...'' the driver said softly to not attract attention. We waited for the enemies to get closer to the vehicle. ''What are these things?'' I whispered to myself. The enemies looked like half human half beast, carrying melee and unknown weapons, these 'armoured vehicles' looked like a giant metal spider with a weird catapult contraption on it. ''Get ready...'' I said.