Catalyst

Death March

From the window. I can see the group of uniformed personnel. No time to think. I needed to leave this building, immediately. Before leaving I erase all the things that can be used against him. When I meter away Secure my safety. I hit the trigger.

An explosion can be heard coming from the building. The uniformed personnel had no choice but to retreat.  The fire consumes everything.

The rebellion has started. No one can stop it now. I needed to move quickly. Looking for him ll never be easy

I needed to protect him.

The whole street looked like an abandoned city. I cannot see any human being. I run. Hide if I can hear the siren of the roving patrol cars. The whole place is surrounded by military vehicles. I do not have any idea, how I can enter it.

Suddenly, one uniform personnel noticed me. " Hey, stop! Show me your face."

I did not stop or look backward. I run as fast as I could. Now, I caught their attention. Seems I am hopeless now. 

"Hey! Stop! Or else I will shoot you!" 

There was something I felt from my back. A burning sensation that blurred my vision. I am stumbling on the ground. It didn't stop me from running. Another shot paralyzed my whole body. There is heavy sleepiness that I feeling right now. I collapsed to the ground. I could no longer open my eyes. I felt someone dragging me. I can hearthhear theirrrrteps. There exchanging of shots. 

There is drowsiness I cannot hold it longer.

Somewhere.

It is so dark. I cannot move my right leg. I felt a heaviness in my chest. I slowly opened my eyes.

The face of Mr. Bartender greeted me."Are you okay? What do you feel? Did you remember me?"

"Yes, I am ." I tried to move but a sudden pain stop me.

"Hey, do not move. Your wounds are not yet healed. You need to be careful."

"Where I am? Where is Ishvi?" Looking around. Hoping he is here, at my side.

"Ishvah, Listen to me. You needed to calm down. You have been sleeping for one week. Just lay down. Take it easy." He is looking into my eyes. Holding my shoulder.

While a woman, who had reddish-brown hair, injected something into my right arm. This is the last thing, I remember.

I woke up. Feeling renewed. I can now move my right leg. But still, there is sharp pain. That I felt in my back.

" How are you Ishvah? " Still it is Mr. Bartender. It seems that he never leaves my side. 

We are not alone in this room. There are a group of men behind him. Some familiar. Some are not. Based on their physical appearance. 

" Thankfully. I am much better now. Which is Ishvi?"

" I am so sorry. We search for him, all over the place but until now, we can hear nothing from him. He vanished. Leaving without any trace, after the speech. It was presumed that he had had already died"

He's the last word. Hit me like a bullet in my head. I expected that it too much pain. I will feel but I felt nothing. My whole being lost his ability to feel. I wanted to cry. No tears are coming from my eyes.

The deepening silence goes between us.

It was broken. By the voice of a young man who had a big scar on his face." We needed to avenge him. Like every member of our families who lost their lives, because of Atheos."

I can see the fire in his eyes.

" What are you planning ?" Mr . Bartender asking not for an answer but rather for confirmation.

"Why does my answer, really matters to you? There's nothing I can do for you. I couldn't help you. I didn't save my brother. What else do you think I can do, for you?"

" I am asking you. To die for us. Do we understand what you are feeling right now? We are all victims of injustices. We already lost, our reason to live."

"The illusions of Atheos needed to stop now. We can not afford it anymore. To sit still and do nothing. While Atheos, bringing us for destruction." 

I made a huge mistake.   It was long had begun. They are only waiting for a sign. To openly opposed the authorities.

"It's all so sudden for me. I am sorry but I believed I am not yet, ready. I needed time to recompose myself. I believe that there's nothing I can do. " No one uttered any word.

I know that they are disappointed. But I am grateful for their understanding. I needed time. Preparation for a war where losing is never, an option.

Months later.

Sitting alone. Here, in the children's. Benches. Artificial sunflowers. A fountain in the center. The memories of my family were shared here. It is a treasure that I keep deep in my heart.

The image of my younger self playing with my brother. In the seesaw, the happy faces of our parents, just watching us.

Then suddenly a tiny hand touched my knees. Getting my attention. A little girl gavea me a sunflower. With all smiles on her face.

"Sir, why you are so sad? Here you have my flower. Here..." 

"Thank you, very much." I gladly accepted it. A simple gesture from an innocent child. It changed something, in my innermost core. 

It wakes up, the hidden desire in my heart. How I am so selfish to even right now. These innocent smiles.Is what my brother wanted to protect. How I let myself be blinded by my ry. If I cannot live for my own sake. Why not, choose to die for others' futures. 

I left the park. With a different perspective. I can not let, any moments pass. Without taking any action. 

I walk as fast as I can.  I quickly get my journal. I am going to publish every detail of it. I chose to write under a pseudonym. It is too early to show who I am. In the meantime, I needed to build a solid foundation. A baby step. There is no shortcut. 

I want to pulverize every part of them. I want to cut out their pride. I will never stop. I make them suffer, all of them.

In the secret place.

The men group is called Visionary. Its main goal is to overthrow the Atheos.

"We need to study carefully, our enemy. We need to know every detail about them. Their habits, how they think. Their darkest secrets. I wanted to know what they value most." Mr . Bartender explaining our agenda, today. 

"We need to act fast but well with -planned action. We need first to get the support of the populace. We cannot destroy Atheos. If we do not have their support." Dean, the communication director. 

"We can do that by bringing out all the ugliness they are hiding. " Mr. Scarface giving out his suggestion.

"So that populace knows how they are conditioned. Enslave to believe all the lies. Lies that are poisoning their mind." Mr. Mechanic,  with full of conviction in every word, he uttered.