?

  — I killed... I killed. — Her weak sob sent shivers down my spine, I held her against me, pressing my lips together and taking a deep breath. I stroked her neck with my fingers, I think it's the only gesture of kindness I can give to a stranger like her.

  I slid down, resting my own knees against the ground. I squeezed my eyes shut as I furrowed my brow, forcing my expression to change.

  — If it weren't for them, it would be you. — I raised my thumb to help wipe her eyes and she clung to me, swallowing the choked cry.

  I patted her back a few times and stood up. Lifting her in my arms and feeling her body go limp. She fainted, probably from shock, maybe from ck of food, who knows all those things together.

  I rubbed her cold cheek and turned, waving to Soren.

  He came quickly. Rushing his steps towards me and raising his hands in concern.

  — What happened to her?

  — Shock. Take her back to base.

  — Right.

  I pced her in his arms and waved, turning back to the enemy base, passing by the soldiers and shaking my head towards the base's warehouses.

  — Get the supplies.

  I stood face to face with the tied-up soldiers, my eyes guiding me to their smooth necks. They must have just come out of the trenches, dirty and tired. Their heads bowed down.

  — Is any of you a mechanic? — I don't want to torture them, I don't want to become more inhumane than I already am. When no one responds, I only see them lower their heads, I sighed firmly, fixing my hair.

  — We don't want to hurt you. This isn't a war that belongs to us… Don't you think we've spilled enough blood on each other?

  I see their twisted expressions of suspicion and pain, it reminds me how they are also human. How many of us and them have died? They aren't just casualties in report files, they are human lives.

  When I thought there would be no more way out, one of them, a smaller man covered in soot and mud raised his head.

  — I am...

  And I nodded my own head in agreement, a spark of hope still exists here.

  — Your name?

  — Asha. — His excited murmur made me lower my tone.

  — Good. — I approached, untying the rope wrapped around him and gestured towards their base and the tents and warehouses, — Where do you have mechanical tools here, Asha?

  He seems like a young man, nodded and pointed to one of the huts. I held his hands behind his back and gently pushed him towards the rickety hut, just strong enough to ensure he wouldn't do anything. I grabbed the tools that were in a metal box. I pulled one of the soldiers with me and entered a random hut, sitting in one of the chairs.

  — If you can open this colr without making it explode, we won't kill you or the rest of the soldiers… we will still have hope.

  He blinked twice, confused and suspicious of my words, but they seem very curious about the colrs we wear, perhaps a hint of trust or they are too tired to gauge the danger. I pushed the colr of my uniform and showed the IMB colr more clearly.

  — If you try anything, you and your allies will receive something much worse than a quick death.

  I threatened in a colder tone and he nodded, immediately agreeing with my words, there’s almost certainty in that scared and tired face that he won’t do anything. I can’t take such risks even if I don’t want to mistreat them, I need to find out if there’s still hope for what they’ve done to us.

  — Can you get rid of this?

  He held the tools firmly and blinked twice, staring at the IMB colr, as if he were witnessing a disgusting demonstration, and it is. He approached, holding it, his hands cold with nervousness.

  — What is this? This pattern is… the same for cssifying... Livestock.

  — Do you want me to cut your tongue? Can you or not?

  — Yes!

  He adjusted himself, stopping his rambling about his newfound knowledge of our beloved country. I think Léia will never return to being the nd of dreams; it has turned into a pce worse than cursed.

  — Be careful. If you slip up, everything will explode.

  I waved my hand, ordering the soldiers to get everyone away from there. If this thing explodes, at least only I and this guy will go up in fmes. He trembled, clicking softly on those things I have no idea what they are.

  They made sure to provide almost zero mechanical knowledge to us, let alone access to the machines, meaning we are hostages to them.

  He removed it. This colr that has kept me bound to this cursed country for years, my nd, which has only harvested my tears and blood. I swallowed hard, feeling my eyes burn.

  I smiled, standing up and stroking my neck, feeling a wave of energy flowing through my body. Free. Finally. It’s as if I had never breathed the air of the nd, as if my lungs were cleansed of all the blood, dust, and soot.

  — This won’t send any signal, will it?

  — No. I turned it off. It should only send a signal if forced without the correct tools.

  He sighed, sweating. I raised my head and waved my hand. Looking at the IMB, when soldiers die, it shuts down, the small screen goes completely dark too, so it’s as if I were dead now. What do the soldiers and the king think... That we would go straight to suicide for how long?

  — I want you to take turns and bring more people here. Don’t mess this up. We only have one chance for freedom. Don’t screw it up, understood?

  The soldiers were shivering at my words, wide-eyed and expectant, they looked at each other and nodded, I can see their eyes shining with hope. I hope this ray of hope isn’t actually our end.

  — Go.

  I took a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut and raising my head to them. They hurriedly left to follow my orders.

  As they returned and alternated among themselves, the colrs piled up on the ground, full of them, the enemy soldiers looked tired and curious as we talked about rebellion.

  — Send a message to your country. We want to take a new side.

  I ordered them to dig a hole next to discard the IMBs.

  I would do whatever it takes, as I always have, from the beginning. I hope our prayers are finally heard. I will return kindness a hundredfold and contempt a thousandfold.