Olivia Bledsoe

War for the Outside Locket

Feeling like you’re about to collapse is extremely inconvenient when you’re running for your life… and all of humanity. It all began with a 50-year long war, then betrayal, and now this. This metal, cold, heavy, heart-shaped locket I held was the key to everything we could have ever hoped for. A war was fought for it one hundred years ago. Well, we didn’t know that part until the war was over. Then the real war began. Our livelihoods were destroyed for what we thought was freedom, but now we are learning that we were all greatly deceived. They wanted us to destroy ourselves so they could take over. “How much longer are these guys gonna chase us?” Mel was clearly winded, too. She could barely breathe, and I began seeing stars. I was fading fast. “Mel, I think I’m gonna pass out.” Mel was determined. “Just keep pushing, we’re almost there!” I fished the locket out of one of the pockets on the inside of my jacket and suddenly felt nauseous; the adrenaline was gone, but we couldn’t afford to give up. “Mel! Take it!” Mel was indignant. “What? No!” My vision went blank and I felt my knees crash into the earth below me. I stuck my arm out to brace myself but it was of no help.