I remember a crushing weight on me.

I remember seeing my father dive towards me as a building was falling.

I remember seeing my mother's face, horrified and tears streaming down her cheeks as she was cornered.

I remember my brother screaming out in agony before getting shot by those blasted alien robots that appeared out if no where and were destroying the city..

I remember waking up with blood all over me, I remember my father's body laying over me protectively.

I remember screaming out in anguish.. apparently it wasn't enough because I remember crying for a long time, hours they said, until I heard men yelling, I can't remember what about..

I sat there and stared at the man in front of me, on his vest his tag was 'Epps' i felt sad and lonely, he was just staring at me, I didn't know why or what he wanted but I knew he was with the military, that part was clear, he was the first face I saw unbury me from the wreckage, the 1 I clung onto as he pulled me free. The 1 that told me everything would be ok.

"What's your name?"

I looked over his calm face, a simple question was all.. atleast- it should of been. I looked down and started sobbing, uncontrolablly. Hysterically crying, as he just stared at me before sighing and leaving.

I knew it wasn't something to cry over.. but my family is dead and this stranger was just staring at me until he asked a simple question. Obviously the reaction was from a traumatized person.

I sat in the room i was left in, I had no idea where I was, it had no windows, just a door with a single panelled window, outside I could see a hall, a single guard outside my door and another guarding another door across the hall.

I fell asleep at some point on the floor and when I woke up, that man was sitting there by my side, he was gently caressing my head, his fingers ran through my dirty hair and gently wiping the dirt from my cheeks. His other hand gently patted his leg in a rhythm as he gently hummed. I looked up as he looked down at me and gently smiled "morning sleepy head.. I brought you food but you were fast asleep." He said as he paused everything and stood up lending a hand up as I looked at his larger hand compared to mine and grabbed it, he leaned forward as he pulled me up "whoa! You're a strong one aren't ya?" He chuckled. I knew he was joking but I just stared at him, as if I, a weak child was able to pull down such a strong man? It was pathetic, I even frowned at him as he stopped chuckling and lost the smile "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

I simply looked at him until he looked away and gently guided me towards the table in the room and pulled out the chair "fresh eggs and sausage, you look like you could use a good meal. And uh, maybe a wash after you're done." He said gently patting my head "eat up, you'll need it." He said before leaving

It was warm, it was delicious.. tears ran down my face when I imagined eating at the table with my family, dad would ask how school way, my brother would say it was boring but me? I would babble on and on.. I finished eating and sat there, waiting until he came back. When he did, 2 other men walked in with him.

"Hey, kid. It'll be alright, these are a few of our medics, they're just gonna check you out, ok?"

I just looked at them and allowed them to do whatever they needed, blood pressure, heart rate, 'stick your tongue out'. Simple things 'follow my finger.' 'How many fingers am I holding up?' I never answered them but they just kept going.. Epps watched from afar as he just observed.

"Looks, the kid is in perfect condition, a little smelly and dirty but there's nothing wrong, just like any other trauma patient, they handle it differently. Who knows, maybe this kid is half deaf? They haven't responded to any of the questions or maybe they're even mute, we don't know.." 1 of the medics quietly talked to Epps but I could hear him just fine. I got a little sad, I'm different I Guess?

"This kid has had one of the normal responses we've seen yet, some of the kids will just scream and cry or try to hurt us." He continued and shrugged "what do we do, serge?"

"Why don't you boys leave this one to me.. I think we got something going on." Epps said

So he's a sergeant, huh? Interesting.. why on earth would a high ranking military officer be interested in me..?

The 2 medics left and Epps took me to a showering area and let me wash up, they had all the soap and shampoo. I walked out clean but also in a white jumpsuit. They supplied me with clean clothes.

We returned back to the previous holding room and he looked at me "So, let's try again.. Hello, I am Sergeant Epps. What is your name?"

I stared at him and didn't respond as I just looked away trying not to break down in tears

"Kid?" He asked with concern he glanced away "look you don't have to answer if you don't want.. I just wanna know who I'm talking to.."

"(Y/n).." I murmured

His eyes somewhat shined in surprise and excitement "y/n? Ok.. Hello, y/n." He smiled

"I want to fight.."

He blinked "whoa, hold on, I'm not into hurting children."

I frowned at him "not you.."

He looked at me but it must of clicked as he chuckled "oh.. wow, um well you cant.. you have to be 18 to join the force."

I looked at him as tears started running down my face as I collapsed to my knees and inhaled deeply as I tried not to become a complete mess like last time

"You'll get there, but for now you should worry about education, you're not even 10, are you?"

"I am 10." I choked out

"You got 8 more years kid- y/n.. let us handle them."

"They killed them.. they killed my family, my dad.. my brother- m-my mum.." I said as I trembled on the floor, tears flowed from my eyes "I WANT TO FIGHT THEM!!" I screamed "THEY'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING!!"

He stared at me but smiled softly "no they didn't.." he said as he walked over to me and grabbed my trembling hands, "Because you've got me.." he said as he placed my hand on his chest behind his vest, I felt the pumping of his heart "as long as I live I'm going to put up a fight.. for you, for your family, for everyone who died or lost someone.." he said as he pressed his forehead into mine as I slowly calmed down "feel my heart beat? As long as it's pumping I will fight.."

I stopped trembling and had calmed down as I closed my eyes and breathed. "Ok.."