Blood and Fire
Eastern continent, Far off from all Technology induced civilization…
. Our story begins somewhere in the south...
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In this serene farmland, a somewhat complete ecosystem could be observed. Critters could be heard chirping, bees buzzing, termites... well, doing whatever termites do. This tranquil environment was somehow disrupted by the unmethodical sound of an ax striking a tree to make firewood. The cause of all this is a grown-up boy, - -not to be confused for a man even though he is about 21—Scorch by name.
Scorch family is your very average, -no poor,- kind of family you can find in an ordinary village, they live by feeding and selling of farm produce, following the idiom 'hand to mouth'. He was born in a family of five, with his parents taking two slots and his siblings three. His elder brother, Charles, just got married last year.
But like every other poor family in the village, he couldn't fend for himself and somewhat lived off his father's farm….and house, bringing into the family a plus one. Not that Scorch was complaining, his sister-in-law always does the chores and other home management stuff… They all warmed up to her after some time.
"Huff…." He couldn't remember when life was ever easy, his parents were the epitome of ordinary; they tried their best to raise their four children through high school, achieving what their parents could give them. But it all turned for the best... or worst when Scorch teachers happily informed them of his academic excellence and then beseeched his parents to send him to college…
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that was 2 years ago. It wasn't that his parents didn't consent, no they were all hyped about it, already imagining the day he drove a car to their new imaginary duplex, every parent would want the best for their kids—, it was due to the fees!
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It wasn't easy going through college without money and to top it off, getting into college wasn't about being the brightest of the bunch… Where he came from, you need money or people in higher places… So goes their search for accumulation of money these 2 years… they inevitably got poorer, worked harder, and got way grumpier with everyone.
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Seeing this, Scorch had to work overtime, plus extra to relieve the burden of his family. He could never feel okay knowing they worked this hard for him.
"It's good that I've gathered the money, It's now finally over" Scorch sighed, gathering his tools to go home. After shattering firewood for 6 hours, it was time to call it a day.
"AHHHHH…" a hysterical scream pulled Scorch from his daydreaming, It seemed to come from his hometown, his poor old village. Scorch ran as fast as his malnourished legs could carry him, he reached his village only to see light flickering throughout the village, as pillars of fire spewed forth, covering the skies. Numerous people ran everywhere, chasing, killing, crying, laughing, and fighting. At times some of these figures would fall while screaming, being set ablaze. His village was a hell house, Scorch ran through this apocalypse without looking or helping anyone, his mind focused on finding traces of his family while cursing the Authorities with all rotten words he could remember. 'Those fat-bellied freaks, they can organize yearly Christmas parties, use legions of soldiers to flaunt their riches, give police commands whenever they want and yet, they won't quench this Village rivalry!' As lackluster and ancient as it may sound, villages still go to war and do all sorts of barbaric things against themselves for stupid purposes as the need to encroach their neighbor's land, like what is happening now.
"Please, I beg you, leave my daughter, you could take all the money you want… wait, please"
a bitter voice sounded in front of Scorch, for a while he wanted to continue running, looking for his family because what he saw in front of him was as black as it was evil… Five men with axes and machetes surrounded his family, yes that was his family, his father wasn't anywhere to be found, he dreaded to settle on that thought, his very senior brother was tied to a tree, with whip marks all over his body, his sister in law was struggling against two of the wicked men madly in the corner, biting and flaring her arms though it seems her strength would leave her soon. His mother was dumped by the side, it seems no one wanted a second glance at her, with her wrinkled and somewhat muscled body it seemed like the men were disgusted to even think of anything…
Scorch saw red.
He was mad, mad because of all the faults in her body, the scars... It was a result of the workload placed on them because they wanted a better future for him.
m
BECAUSE OF HIM.
and now people look at her in disgust, and his sister….. 'Thank the gods I made it in time, if not'. With his face scrunched in bitter anger, fueled by vengeance or grief... He unwrapped his Axe and dived to the danger, his first mindless swing saw blood, he had bashed his ax on the chest of one of the men near his sister. He made two more clean slashes while everyone was frozen in shock, somehow it seemed lady luck was by his side as all three people he hit remain on the ground, one violently convulsing as blood sprayed everywhere from his head.