Now Or Never (chpt. 1)

The pesky static from the radio subsided. A familiar voice issued from the small, tin box. It sounded confused, exhausted, terrified.

"The war is over," came President Talbot's voice. "The Protectors -zzz- have been -zzz- defeated."

Dejectedly, Sapphire slunk farther into the rubble of crushed bricks, torn fabric, and broken glass that had once been her beloved home since early childhood. Somehow, nothing seemed to matter anymore. Everything she had ever owned, ever known, ever stood for, was gone. A single tear slid down Sapphire's dusty cheek. She had held the tears back for too long. She didn't sob like a child. She only cried silently, gracefully, washing away the dirt, blood, and fear from her thin, pale face. 

Her temple throbbed. She gingerly touched the wound and quickly jerked her bloodied hand back. Sharp pain shot through her body as fast as the missiles that had plunged her entire world into chaos. 

"Ah!" Sapphire groaned, shutting her eyes from the pain.

The President spoke again. Sapphire groped around.  She squinted in the dim, evening light. Her fingers grasped the radio. She pulled it close to her face to ensure that she would not miss a single word. She listened intently, searching for hope in her president's words.

"From this point -zzz- on, President Rodukrah is in command. May God be with -zzz- you all." 

Sadly, this would be President Talbot's final farewell to America, or at least what remained. 

"Argh!" groaned the President over the radio.

"No!" screeched Sapphire, gripping the radio, screaming into the speaker as if the assassin on the other side could hear her. "Murderer! Murderer!"

After a short scuffling noise, an unusual voice with a foreign accent took over the radio.

"It is not 'President' but -zzz- Emperor Rodukrah, now." The voice was stern, commanding. "America, your troops have -zzz- fallen; your cities are burning. Obey -zzz- peacefully or face further destruction."

"No," gasped Sapphire. "No, no, no, no!"

Rodukrah instructed the people of what they were to do and what was to come but Sapphire didn't listen. How could she? Sapphire cast aside the radio.  Her house, her country, her president, everything had fallen! It all had fallen by the hand of Rodukrah. The foreign ruler's words echoed through Sapphire's mind. "Obey peacefully or face further destruction." What did he mean? Thoughts raced through her mind. How could there possibly be more destruction?

"S-Sapphire," moaned a nearby voice.

"Mother!" yelped Sapphire.

Sapphire jolted into action. She put aside everything and focused on getting to her feet. The rubble shifted underneath her but she managed to stand. She was sore, bruised, and bleeding but she ignored it all.

"Mother! Where are you?"

"I'm here," whimpered the voice.

Sapphire turned abruptly in the direction of the voice. She spotted movement towards what used to be the back of the house. She tip-toed carefully, yet quickly over the remnants of her childhood home, avoiding the small patches of flames that sprung up here and there. Sapphire finally reached her mother. She gasped. Her mother's knee was bent to the left. Blood was smeared across her trousers. She was as pale as a sheet of paper and covered from head to toe in dirt. Her long auburn hair appeared gray from the dust and fading light.

"I heard the radio," said Sapphire's mother, full of fear.  "W-what happened?" 

Sapphire ignored her question, only muttering something about the first-aid kit. She stood up, glanced around frantically but found nothing.

"The hospital was bombed, so that's not an option," Sapphire stated, as if it was an everyday affair for a hospital to be leveled within seconds.  "I can't find the first-aid kit," she said, trying to remain calm for her mother's sake, but her voice still wavered slightly. "But if I can find two sturdy pieces of wood or something and maybe I could tear off a piece of sheet to use, I can make a decent splint." 

Sapphire snapped two branches off a fallen tree and tore two strips off the living room curtains. She made her way carefully back to her mother.

"Thank goodness for your school," said Mother as Sapphire skillfully bandaged her leg.

After the war began, in addition to the basic subjects, the school taught first-aid, weapon handling, and other survival skills. Students from other cities were not as fortunate. It was because of this extra training that she was able to help her mother. In physical education, they were also taught self-defense, which was very helpful as well.

"When did you get so smart?" asked Mother jokingly.

"Mother, I'm sixteen," replied Sapphire solemnly. "You have to be smart to survive a war."

"Or at least have a smart daughter." Sapphire's mother smiled weakly.

Sapphire smiled back gratefully. Everyone always thought she was smart, but that would be tested. She owed it all to her school and to her father. She hoped her father was proud of her, wherever he was.

"Done," said Sapphire promptly. "Don't try to stand just yet."

"Sapphire," questioned her mother in a commanding voice. "What happened?" 

Author's Note

This is my first book, so criticism and suggestions are welcome. Please note any grammatical errors, or anything else done poorly or out of place. I hope you enjoy!