Chapter 1

World War II happened. All humans and other creatures were scattered, fleeing for their lives.

In a simple house, two siblings were huddled together, embracing each other.

"Clary, the sounds are so terrifying," Betty said, hugging her sibling. Gunfire from long-barreled rifles echoed again.

Clary glanced towards the window and saw many men dressed as soldiers walking around their house. Deep down, Clary also felt the same fear as Betty.

Finally, they heard the sound of a creaking door. This made them embrace tightly again. Clary's heart almost leaped out when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned and found her father smiling at her, dressed in a military uniform and carrying a long-barreled pistol.

Clary and Betty immediately embraced their father tightly. After so long, they were reunited with their beloved father.

"Clary, Betty, you must leave this place. Father will escort you, and we may not see each other for a long time after this," their father said.

Clary released her hug. "Is this a joke, Dad? We can't do anything without you," Clary said.

Her father smiled at her. "Clary and Betty, you are my children, and I am a soldier, so you'll be able to manage because it's in your blood," he said.

For some reason, Clary felt like her father was saying a kind of farewell. She felt like crying right there. She couldn't accept this.

"Dad, I can't leave without you," Clary said.

Again, her father just smiled at her. "Clary, don't worry. We're only parting for a long time, and there's a possibility we'll meet again. I promise that when we meet again, we won't part like this," he said.

Clary felt her chest tighten as she thought about it. "Hurry, we don't have much time; get your belongings ready," their father said.

With unsteady steps, Clary went to her room and prepared the necessary items. She looked at all her clothes and thought for a moment. It seemed unnecessary to take all those clothes because they would just weigh down her bag.

She then glanced at the family photo on the table. Everyone looked happy in it. Clary's heart ached when she realized this was the end of their togetherness. For a moment, her gaze fell on the white ring her mother had given her. She immediately put it on.

Once everything was ready, Clary decided to leave her room and return to where they were before. She saw Betty and their father waiting by the back door of the house.

Their father led the way, and Clary and Betty followed closely behind. At times, Clary felt a great admiration for her father. He appeared brave and gallant at this moment, but when they all gathered, he seemed gentle and caring. Clary wanted to hug her father right now before they separated.

Clary was surprised to see everything in chaos here. The smoke was thick due to heavy gunfire. She also saw many bloody bodies lying on the ground.

"Hurry," their father said as he ran.

Clary, seeing this, immediately held Betty's hand and followed her father. Until they arrived at an empty street. Their father had stopped leading and was now looking at Clary and Betty.

"Father can only take you this far. Be careful, go to Georgia, we'll meet again there," their father said.

"Quickly, go," their father added.

Clary immediately hugged her father briefly and then held Betty's hand and walked away from their father.

"See you in Georgia, Dad," Clary said.

Clary kept walking away. Until she heard the sound of gunshots again. Clary panicked and immediately took cover, and Betty did the same.

"Run!" someone suddenly shouted from behind.

"Dad."

Their father was seen shooting at someone trying to harm his children.

"Run quickly, leave me," their father said.

Clary ran as fast as she could, never letting go of Betty's hand to ensure they wouldn't be separated. Well, now Clary truly hated war.

Clary's heart nearly leaped out when she heard gunshots again. Clary turned to the side and saw a tank truck with a mounted machine gun. Clary ran and continued running until she found shelter between two houses. She caught her breath.

"Betty, are you okay?" Clary asked Betty, who was sitting there.

"I'm fine, Clary. Let's continue our journey and reunite with Dad in Georgia," Betty said.

Clary noticed that Betty didn't complain at all about their situation. She was eager to save herself. It seemed that Betty had a strong will to survive.

"Let's go," Clary said.

They walked side by side, and this time, the road seemed safe. They didn't see the truck again. But it wasn't impossible for it to come by again. To be on the safe side, Clary and Betty ran and took cover whenever possible. When the situation became safe again, they resumed their journey.

That's what they did during their journey, which they had been walking for about five hours.

Clary felt like her legs were about to break. Her muscles were strained and almost torn. Clary desperately wanted to rest, but they had to find a safe place first.

Clary saw an old, deserted house. It seemed uninhabited. Clary suggested to Betty that they could take shelter and rest in the house.

Clary approached the house and tried to open the door, but as soon as she turned the doorknob, gunshots were heard from inside. Clary immediately dropped to the ground. She glanced at Betty, who was already crouching before she opened the door.

"Excuse me, can we stay here until tomorrow?" Clary said loudly, hoping that someone inside would hear her.

There was no response. Clary didn't hear a single word from inside the house. Reluctantly, Clary decided to look for another place to stay.

Clary and Betty stood up and walked away from the dark, old house. In her heart, Clary cursed the occupants of that house. She only needed shelter for a night, nothing more. She wouldn't even ask for food. She just needed a place to rest.

Clary walked along the road but found neither an old house nor a shack. Of course, she couldn't rest in the middle of the road. That would be like inviting danger. Clary continued walking along the deserted road, with only dimly lit streetlights. Sometimes, the lights were off, and the bulbs were shattered. Clary expected that this place had been a battlefield between the nations.

Wars between nations, fighting over their colonial interests at the expense of their people's lives. Clary hoped that someday there would be a body that maintained peace so that war wouldn't happen again, and prosperity would be secured for future generations.

Clary had not stopped walking until now. Her legs were really tired at this point.

And again, Clary heard the sound of gunfire directed at an unknown target. But Clary knew it was a sign of danger. Clary sighed in frustration.

Clary was forced to push her tired legs.

She ran slowly; of course, Betty was by her side. Clary felt that Betty was no longer by her side. She turned around, and indeed, Betty was nowhere to be found by her side. Clary began to panic. She stopped running and looked to her right and left.

"Betty!" Clary shouted, calling her sister's name.

"Clary!" Betty's voice could be heard from behind.

Clary immediately turned her body and found Betty on the ground, holding her leg. Clary knew how Betty must be feeling, she must be very tired.

"Betty, we need to find a safe place," Clary said as she walked toward Betty.

Gunshots could be heard again, but this time, Clary was sure that the sound was getting closer. Clary helped Betty stand up and assisted her in walking.

Gunshots again, getting closer and closer. Clary couldn't run and hide again. She didn't know what to do. Clary tried to walk faster, but even walking was painful for her.

This time, the sound of gunshots was almost right behind them. Clary was truly panicking, what should she do? There were no old houses like before, and all there was on both sides of the road was a dense and dark forest. Right and left were both forests. Clary couldn't choose. Finally, she had to choose the left path into the dense and dark forest.

Clary continued to walk into the forest while helping Betty. When she felt that the sound of gunshots was no longer audible, she decided to stop and take a rest for a moment.

"Clary, did you bring your jacket?" Betty asked. Clary couldn't see Betty clearly, but it seemed like Betty was shivering from the cold.

"Yes, you can use mine," Clary said.

They sat down and leaned against a large tree. Clary first took out her flashlight. She lit it and looked for her jacket. After finding it in her bag, she immediately gave it to Betty.

"Betty, let's rest here for a while, and tomorrow we can continue walking," Clary said.

Betty nodded. Clary felt relieved, and so did Betty. After walking for so long, they could finally take a break.

Clary stretched her tense leg muscles. Clary looked to the side and saw that Betty had already fallen asleep with her head resting on her shoulder. Clary sighed for a moment, then she pulled up Betty's jacket to cover her chest.

Unknowingly, Clary began to feel drowsy. It seemed like she would also fall asleep there. Clary fell asleep.

***

"CLARYYY!!!"

Clary woke up. She immediately jumped up and found that Betty was no longer by her side. Clary began to panic.

"Claryy!!" she shouted again.

Yes, that was Betty's voice. Where was Betty? Clary scanned the entire forest using her flashlight.

"Betty!" Clary shouted.

Clary saw Betty being dragged by a group of terrifying creatures. For a moment, those creatures made Clary lose her courage. But what she was carrying was Betty. She couldn't just stand there.

Clary ran toward the creatures, even though she could still feel the pain in her leg. She had to force herself to ensure Betty's safety.

"No, Betty!" Clary shouted when she saw Betty being forcibly dragged by a group of terrifying creatures. Clary ran to try to save Betty, but the creatures were running much faster than her. Clary continued to run, hoping she could reach Betty.