Dragon System

Eradication

Mom, the guards are back." Simon worriedly pointed out.

For two weeks, the guards of Sydon kept on marching around the city. Hemians had no idea of what was happening, and Ace and his family was no different from the others. Ignorance ate knowledge and never spat it back.

A declaration was issued, only one per family can go out. Everything sounded suspicious, but investigating will only lead the graves closer towards them.

The young boy rushed towards his mother's arms. His fear sprang to life, the loud combat boots filled the streets, and the buzzing sound of drone scanners obnoxiously played with their hearing. The city's peace perished.

Ace hoped that everything was just a dream, but the painful imprisonment pinched him more than to wake up. He couldn't do anything but sigh. A glance to his sad and anxious mother made his overthinking worse.

After his father died, Ace became the head of the family. Their safety was heavily placed unto his shoulders, and now his biggest fear was yet to come.

Lydia's tears fell, the life which awaited them was no better than her past. Every citizen had no idea of what to do, and how she wished she at least knew. Enlightenment might ease her pain and set them free, but in every Hemians' case, wisdom and knowledge was yet more precious than gold and diamonds. They can't afford it.

Ace was about to walk near his grieving mother, but the banging door stopped everyone's actions. The whole scene froze in tension.

"The Third most high issued a declaration. All rights and privileges of Hemians are terminated! Half of the city was taken for force labor!" Pier's revelation exclaimed.

Lydia grew even more hysterical. Her little weeping turned into loud sobs. Their system was collapsing, and before they could even escape, the ruins were starting to bury them alive.

The messenger resumed to walk inside, he closed the door carefully along the course. They can't risk any ears to prey on their escape plan. Ace's nervous system reacted with great unfamiliarity.

Even he couldn't find the right words or actions to reply Pier. The thought of a doomed system filled him. Along with the air, he froze.

Everything happened so quickly, death paced more quicker than usual. But it wasn't death they were scared of, but suffering. Lydia knew that for his two sons, she needed to be brave.

Finally, her mind started to function properly. Her sobbing ceased and her hands wiped her face dry from tears. They can't stay weak forever.

"Below the basement, there's a tunnel which will lead us towards the wo-"

Sadly, Lydia's bravery was too late. The guards followed Pier and sensed his resistance. Bullets flew and the poor mother did not even finish her sentence.

Ace's eyes widened, tesla bullets broke their glass windows. But what he saw next was even more painful. Lydia's body did not just went down with a single shot, but with several tesla rifle assaults.

But the tragic death of his mom wasn't the last one, his brother Simon suffered the same fate. Ace felt meaningless, and saw no reason of why to save himself. He just stood still, watching the loud guns break his peace and life. He waited for the next bullet to bring him down, but Pier pulled him to duck.

The firing continued, and scattered broken glass filled the whole floor. Ace's soul was languished, from their spot he can see his mother's dead body bathing in blood. His world stopped, Simon was dead as well.

The electrifying bullets paralyzed any movements from the lifeless bodies. Ace might still be breathing, but his life was not far from death. How he wished he could join them.

The firing seized but safety was still far from their reach. Pier took the chance, he lead the escapade. Dragging the nearly dull crayon with him. Ace was consciously preoccupied. He couldn't react fairly to what was happening.

Lydia's words helped them. The two navigated their way in. Despotic footsteps crushing glass sounded near. The guards have entered the vicinity. Pier's heart raced even more. They can't die, not now...

His urge to survive gave him the adrenaline rush that he needed. The guards were getting nearer and nearer, this might be their last sprint. He wanted to wake Ace up but there was no time for that. Their rushed steps escorted them towards the tunnel.

It won't be impossible for guards to follow them here. Their goose was already overcooked. Pier kept on trembling in fear, he wanted to give up, but he can't. From the foot of the tunnel, Pier pushed the mourning Ace inside.

"Move! I'll catch up!" He startled him.

Those words finally woke Ace up. He ran with weak and whimpered knees, dragging his feet while being pulled to safety. The woods were not far from here, but there was no guarantee that they'll make it out alive. The tunnel was dark, and Ace had to walk like a blind man.

The footsteps sounded their distance, they're here. Pier's actions began to be more desperate, his muscles called their last drop of strength. With all that he could, he pulled the closet to block their escape.

Combat boots bellowed with malevolence. To come out alive from this house will be a miracle, and Pier was counting on that. After completely securing everything, Pier sprinted feebly.

His heart was racing even faster than his steps, it thumped louder than the outside crashing. The man was scared of dying, unlike Ace. Sweat like bullets flooded. Pier couldn't see anything, they drifted throughly like braille readers.

Pier's fear made him run faster than Ace, not for long, he caught his steps. The young man's hand was cold and nearly lifeless, but giving up now won't change the effect. He felt his heaviness, and helping him was the best thing that he could do. Pier dragged Ace along his phase. They accelerated and the light was 

The tunnel was getting brighter and brighter, and Pier found the lost hope. This could be their chance to live freely. As their feet stood on the last inch of the tunnel ground, the light of the woods blinded them.

They're safe, for now...