Chapter 1: The Price of Fear

In the impoverished and devastated country of Nadira, the war forced Ayana, a beautiful 15-year-old girl, and her family to adopt a survival strategy that required cunning and discipline. Living in an isolated area, far from the enemy soldiers' sight, they needed to minimize exposure to danger as much as possible. Thus, they devised a plan that they repeated at strict intervals.

The plan involved strategic and well-calculated outings to gather food. Each time they ventured out, they had to plan meticulously, choosing the right moment to avoid patrols and ambushes. After securing the food, the family would quickly return to the safety of their home, where they tried to ration the supplies for as long as possible, stretching each meal to avoid risking another outing too soon.

That morning, however, the silence inside the house was even more oppressive than the distant sounds of war. Everyone knew the time to act had come again. Ayana's father, with a heavy sigh and a determined expression, broke the silence. He looked at each of them, gathering the courage to speak.

“Adi and I will handle the eastern part,” he said firmly. “Your mother will stay home to protect what’s ours, in case the enemy army arrives here. Ayana, your task is to go to the center. That’s the best position for each of us. The rest is up to you. Good luck.”

Ayana’s heart raced. She frowned, her worry evident in her eyes. “Dad, isn’t the eastern part the most heavily occupied by the enemy? How can you and Adi go there alone? Are you crazy?”

“Trust in your brother and me, daughter,” her father replied, his voice carrying a desperate attempt to convey confidence. Ayana took a deep breath, trying to contain the fear that gripped her chest like a vice.

“Then, will you both promise me that you won’t die?” she asked, her voice trembling and her eyes misty. Pain and desperation overflowed in her words, each one seeming to weigh a ton.

Ayana’s father approached and placed a firm, comforting hand on her shoulder. “Darling, I would never leave you alone. Who else would guide you through life and support your dreams?” he said softly, with such deep emotion that his words nearly broke.

Adi, fighting back tears, leaned in and tousled Ayana’s hair as he used to when they wanted to comfort each other. “And who else would protect you when the world becomes unbearable?” he added, forcing a sad smile. “We promise not to die,” they said together, their voices united in a desperate effort to provide Ayana with the comfort she so needed.

Ayana’s mother, with tear-filled eyes of silent strength, took her daughter’s hands, intertwining their fingers as if she never wanted to let go. “Don’t worry, my love,” she whispered, looking deeply into Ayana’s eyes. “Your father and Adi are strong and smart. They know how much their lives mean to us,” her mother said, her voice soft and gentle, trying to mask the anxiety that made her own heart waver.

Ayana felt a slight surge of security with her mother’s words, but the fear was still present. She picked up a pocket knife, feeling the cold metal in her trembling hands. The family hugged each other, their embrace filled with fear and hope.

“We can't waste time. Let's get started!” her father said with determination. The riskiest plan of their lives was about to begin. Each one set out to fulfill their mission, knowing the fate of their lives was at stake.

Before leaving, Ayana took one last look around the house. Every corner, every object held a memory, a story. She felt a deep pain in her chest at the thought that she might never return.

“Goodbye, home,” Ayana murmured, her voice choked. “Thank you for sheltering our joys and sorrows. Please protect my mother while we are away.”

Ayana walked towards the central city, Valdara. Each step was heavy with the responsibility she carried. She knew Valdara had been devastated a week ago. Once one of the richest cities in Nadira, it became a crucial target for the Vorynia invaders. Now, this once-beautiful city lies in ruins. Most of the enemy soldiers are concentrated in the east, trying to hold onto their conquered territories. This made the chances of encountering enemies in Valdara almost nil. Even so, Ayana never let her guard down. She walked with extra attention, carefully analyzing every sound and shadow. The wind carried the smell of smoke and destruction, constantly reminding her of the danger that surrounded her. The path was littered with rubble and reminders of what the central city had once been.

Once-bustling streets were now deserted. Destroyed buildings created a sad and desolate landscape. Ayana felt the weight of the silence, knowing that at any moment she could encounter an enemy or unexpected danger. Her determination pushed her forward, aware that her family's survival depended on her courage and perseverance.

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She searched the entire city carefully. Ayana spent four hours looking for supplies but found only three items: five bullets, and an old bandage. With a heavy heart and feeling useless, she began the journey back home.

The exhaustive search and lack of food weighed heavily on her. Her hunger grew sharper, and thoughts of Adi, her father, and her mother troubled her even more. She quickened her pace, eager to return, with a lingering sense that she might have overlooked some crucial detail in the midst of the rush.

When Ayana finally arrived home, the momentary relief of seeing the house still standing was quickly replaced by a sense of unease. The door was locked, as always, for safety. She approached the entrance and murmured the familiar code, "4862," almost like a ritual of protection.

Hearing the sound of the lock being opened from the inside, Ayana quickly stepped in. However, something was clearly wrong. Her mother, usually so strong, looked visibly shaken, her eyes filled with a sadness Ayana couldn't quite comprehend. The sight of the table, piled high with meat, immediately caught her attention, she was desperately hungry, but something in her mother's expression made her pause. The atmosphere, which should have been comforting, now felt heavy, laden with a dark foreboding.

“Mommy, where did you find so much meat?” Ayana asked, surprised and relieved at the same time as she helped herself. Her mother turned slowly, her expression somber, and her eyes red from crying.

“Just eat the meat, dear. This is no time for questions,” her mother said, her voice heavy with an immense weight. Ayana noticed the sudden change in her mother’s behavior and, after satisfying her hunger, asked the question that had been on her mind.

“Mommy, where are Adi and Daddy?” she asked, her voice trembling with growing fear.

Her mother’s eyes filled with tears. She hesitated, looking down at the table as if searching for courage. “Daughter…” her mother began, her voice breaking. “They… They’re not here anymore.”

These words hit Ayana like a ton of bricks. Her heart seemed to shatter with each passing second. “What are you saying?” she tried to understand, her voice barely audible. “Where are they?”

Her mother fought back tears and finally, with palpable desperation, revealed the truth. “Daughter, they… They got the meat for you. Your father and your brother… they sacrificed themselves to bring it to you.”

The pain in Ayana’s eyes was evident, and the weight of her mother’s words hit her like a physical blow. Shock overtook her as tears welled up, and memories of her family flashed before her. “No, it can’t be true!” Ayana cried out, her voice trembling. “They promised they would never die. They said they would come back for me!” Her mother sobbed uncontrollably, making the scene increasingly unbearable.

“A soldier—an acquaintance of theirs—came here with the news and this... flesh,” her mother stuttered, breaking down. “Mother, this flesh isn’t…” Ayana started to protest, but was cut off by her mother’s devastating reply. “Yes, Ayana. The flesh is from your brother and father.”

The revelation hit Ayana with such force that it felt like her world was collapsing. Her face went blank, her eyes wide with horror, and she crumpled to the floor, overwhelmed by the crushing weight of the truth.

When Ayana regained consciousness, she found herself hiding in the closet. Disoriented, she tried to piece together how she had ended up there. As the girl slowly opened the closet door, she saw a foreign soldier standing in the room and her mother lying lifeless on the floor.

“MOMMY!” Ayana’s scream echoed through the house, filled with deep terror and crushing sadness.

Before Ayana could process what had just happened, the soldier stared at her intently. Their eyes met. A tense silence followed, filled with uncertainty and fear about what might come next. With a cold, merciless expression, the soldier aimed his gun at Ayana's head.

“Take off your clothes,” he ordered, his voice emotionless and detached. The command was brutal and degrading, sending a wave of shock and helplessness through Ayana. Disbelief and despair were evident in her gaze.

“What?” Ayana asked, her voice trembling with incredulity.

“It’s my job,” the soldier replied, a slight blush creeping onto his face. “The boss wants me to take pictures of the most beautiful girls in the enemy country. They’ll become your slaves.”

Ayana knew she had to act quickly. The chief's unusual request also seemed highly suspicious, leading her to suspect that the enemy soldier might be a pervert. She came up with a plan. She started undressing, hoping her beauty would distract him. At the same time, she stayed alert, watching every move he made. When the soldier became distracted, Ayana seized the opportunity.

“Why just take pictures? Don’t you want something more… interesting? Come closer,” she said, trying to entice him.

The soldier, momentarily thrown off by the provocation, approached, lowering his guard. Ayana's heart raced. In a swift, agile move, she kicked the soldier’s hand, sending the gun flying toward her. She grabbed it and fired without hesitation, the bullet hitting the soldier. He collapsed, but Ayana didn’t stop there.

She continued to shoot, the gunfire reverberating through the house. Each shot was a burst of pain and anger, a violent reminder of her loss. The soldier was struck by 37 bullets, his body left in a scene of relentless destruction.

Breathing heavily, Ayana felt the crushing weight of her losses and the cruel guilt that tormented her. The soldier had arrived because of her carelessness, and the pain of knowing her failure had caused more suffering struck her like a sharp blow. The scarce food she had found was a cruel contrast to the desolation surrounding her. She carried not only the burden of survival but also the weight of her fatal choices. The real struggle was just beginning, and the pain of her losses was a shadow that would never leave her.