21 Ray's Past

"Hey, Mac, what is President Bayne's true form?" Marvin asked.

"A lizard!" Mac shouted.

Marvin rubbed Mac's head with a grin. "That's right, boy! You're smarter than many people that I know."

Mrs.Willard smacked Marvin's head. "Stop teaching this boy nonsense!"

Mrs.Willard pulled Mac away from him before walking off with everyone. As she turned her back away, Marvin flicked Mrs.Willard off before trailing behind everyone. The group walked through an urban neighborhood with caution. They felt like they arrived in a war zone, seeing all of the devastations around them. Cracks and craters covered the road they walked on, and houses were scorched black. The dense, morning fog shrouded the city and blurred it like an old camera image, giving it a haunting vibe. The sounds of helicopters and surveillance aircrafts echoed through the sky with loud explosions and gunfire in the distance.

The group hadn't encountered any monsters yet, which made Ian relieved. However, the anxiety in his heart was at an all-time high now that more people joined. The possibility of a stronger monster than the Pale Demon was high, and Ian doesn't know if he could protect everyone. Lily clutched his hand as she looked vigilantly around her. Ian looked at Lily then smiled, his heart eased up a bit. Bounye, Slimebob, and Sir Piggy were the only ones with cheerful moods as they chased each other around the street.

"So, if we take this route, we'll be out of this city in a day's time." Ray pointed at a map and said.

As for now, the current goal was to escape the city and find someplace with little to no monsters. The group didn't plan to keep moving everywhere and decided to set up a permanent residence.

"Marvin, what does your doomsday mind say where we should go?" Ray asked.

"Fucker, you're lucky to have me when it comes to apocalyptic survival situations." Marvin retorted. "Anyways, lucky for us, Autumn is an endless shopping market."

Marvin turned towards Autumn and asked, "Autumn, can you also create water?"

Autumn shook her head in response. Marvin took the map from Ray's hands and scanned through it. Everyone gathered around him to see what Marvin was looking for.

"There!" Marvin pointed at a place on the map. "Oswald County, near the Olmac River for a source of water. I can't guarantee any monsters there, but I sure as hell know that the military won't be in that spot."

"Have you been there before?" Lily asked.

"Once, the place had good restaurants and friendly people."

The engine of a Humvee interrupted their conversation, and everyone turned their heads towards it. The Humvee came out of the fog and drove towards them before stopping. A soldier appeared above the open roof hatch while holding a mounted turret. The window rolled down, and a soldier wearing black glasses with a cigarette revealed himself. Ian recognized that it was the same corporal from before at the gas station. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and blew out a puff of smoke.

"Civilians are advised to stay indoors during the monster invasion." The corporal said. "Although the internet is down, you all should be able to use radios to listen to important information regarding the current situation. If your cell phone has an FM receiver, you can use that as an option."

"We're leaving the city, sir," Ian replied.

"Well, I won't stop you guys from leaving." The corporal blew another puff of smoke. "However, you are responsible for your own safety."

The corporal then noticed the summoned beasts next to them with surprise.

"You guys are ability users?" The corporal asked.

Ian nodded his head in response and didn't say anything else. If possible, he wanted to avoid joining the military.

"The Army is currently recruiting those with supernatural abilities. You will receive many benefits for joining us."

"We aren't going to be pawns of the government!" Marvin yelled.

The corporal frown upon hearing that and glared at him. Ray immediately closed Marvin's mouth and gave him the death stare. When the corporal saw Ray, his jaw agape. He took his glasses off, revealing his eyes - one was light brown and the other was white from blindness with visible scars around it.

"Is that you, Potty!" The corporal shouted.

"Ironhead?" Ray was at a loss for words.

Marvin managed to get his mouth free from Ray's grasp and yelled, 'Who the fuck is Ironhead!"

The corporal opened the door and stepped out of the Humvee. Ray pushed Marvin away and walked towards him. The two faced one another then tightly embraced each other. Everyone else was astonished by this turn of event.

"Damn, Joe, I never knew it was you!" Ray cried in astonishment. "It's been twenty years since I last saw you. How's it going?"

"Maybe It's because I got even more handsome." Joe laughed. "But, I'm leading a squadron of rookies who are still growing hair down there."

'Mind telling us what's going on, boss?" Ian cut in the conversation and asked.

"He's my buddy, Joe." Ray turned towards Ian. "We served together during the Sybal War in 1996."

In 1996, Condria launched a war with Sybal for many reasons, starting from trading disputes. Tensions escalated between the two countries through sanctions, international water conflicts, propaganda, and military exercises. A major incident occurred when one of Condria's navy vessels sank near Sybal's territorial waters, and the past president, Maniforde, called for immediate retaliation.

When Ray turned twenty, he enlisted in the Marines and sent to training camp where he met Joe for the first time. Both of them were sent to the frontlines where they parachute into enemy territory after aircraft bombing raids. The two men went through thick and thin together during many battles. For the past three years, they kept pushing more into enemy territory to reach the capital city called Sulmac. During the battle of Sulmac, Joe was shot in the left eye, and Ray risked his life to move Joe onto the helicopter while under enemy fire.

In 1999, Condria successfully occupied Sybal and forcibly changed its current regime. Ray didn't help seize the capital city as he was shot in the chest and had to leave the battlefield. After his service, Ray left the military and moved into Port Marbine to start his own small business. Since then, he had been enjoying his time working with Conner and Ian on the beach. However, Ray is now fighting another battle to protect his nephew and everyone else from monsters.

"You forgot to mention that Maniforde ordered the military to sink one of its own vessels near Sybal shores," Marvin said.

"Shut it, Marvin." Veins popped up on Ray's forehead.

"Why did your squad call you Potty?" Lily asked.

Joe hysterically laughed and said, "This bitch would piss his pants before every battle began."

"That's bullshit!" Ray immediately denied. "It was because I would make the enemy piss their pants when they see me."

"Now that I think about it, I always smelled piss before we fought monsters." Lily sneered.

Everyone laughed in response, and Ray's face turned red from embarrassment. Joe patted his back with pity as Ray drooped his shoulders. Laughter eased their hearts a bit from the cruel reality of their situation. Everyone understood that they might die at any moment, yet they continue pushing forward to live, even for a second. A static voice sounded out from the Humvee's radio communication device that alerted Joe, and he answered it.

"Ray, I wish that I could help you leave this city, but I have a duty to perform," Joe said before giving him a salute. "I hope we will see each other soon."

"What are you waiting for?" Ray saluted him back. "Go!"

Joe quickly hopped in his Humvee and closed the door. The tires screeched before the Humvee sped off into the distance, leaving a trail of smoke behind. Everyone waved at it before walking in the opposite direction.

"How come you never told us that you were in the military?" Conner asked.

"Eh, I never wanted to talk about it," Ray replied. "I always kept my uniform hidden away."

"Was it that bad?" Ian asked.

"Let's just say I did some awful things that I regret doing." Ray dejectedly smiled. "Let's stop talking about this."

Everyone nodded their heads, and their silhouettes disappeared into the fog.