At the main street.
The people celebrated in our march to the front.
Throwing flowers and confetti's as the they cheered us.
The kids strolled around and the adults watched on the side walk.
We soldiers marched in perfect resonance with each step pounding on the ground simultaneously.
My head was locked in place like a statue.
Our rifles rested against our shoulders.
Each time we raised our legs, we swayed our arms at the same time.
The very front was a soldier who held a flag of our great nation.
A role our instructor was supposed to take but lost.
And the paladin stood proudly.
Carried by a large tow truck.
And the pilot, who I met earlier waved her hands high up in the air like she was some decorated war hero.
Only I knew she wasn't happy with this.
Following right behind the paladin were a unit.
But not just any kind of unit.
But a mechanized infantry unit.
So called Steel Knights as the people call them.
These soldiers wore full on metal armor that covered their entire body looking more like a robot than a human.
They certainly reminded me of power armors from fallout.
Carrying heavy weaponry in their hands.
Despite the fact that I am supposed to keep my eyes forward to seem focused.
I couldn't stop myself from gazing off to the crowd.
Who I saw many citizens who were just like me before.
I was used to be a normal citizen.
A student.
A brother.
A son.
A friend.
And...
A life before...
But that age has past.
The past is the past and is better to be left behind.
What I need to do is stay in the past and look forward into the future.
Who knows what was waiting for me.
The train station we are heading.
Leading us to the eastern frontline.
A certain death or not.
Finding my sister if I could.
My eyes still focused on the crowd.
I saw a group of kids younger than me.
Pointing their fingers at us in sheer excitement.
One of the kids was missing a front tooth.
One of them had a messy hair.
Ragged dirty clothes.
But they still wore a smile in their face as if they actually believed in us.
Oh...
Only if they knew.
Only if they all knew.
I quickly shook my head to try to stop myself from thinking.
Yet again, I locked my head like a sculpture.
In the distance, I could see the road that slowly lead to the station.
Where we will see this city for the last time.
"I hope this ends soon.
***
DING! DING! DING!
"The train will be heading off in 5 minutes!" The train conductor yelled.
All of us arrived in the end.
Amelia was talking to her mother Claudia.
Probably saying their goodbye.
Gideon was kissed in the forehead by his mother.
Tomas waved goodbye as he boarded the train.
With Wesley closely following behind him.
Hermann already boarded the train the moment we arrived here.
Seemed he really didn't wanted to meet his parents.
Mara and Lena took a quick smoke together as they chatted.
The others...
Well I guess they boarded.
Only I stood outside.
Waiting for my mother.
Sabine.
"Hey, Lukas! The train is going to leave soon. If you don't get in then you will be left behind!" Hermann sounded.
I looked back to see him talking through the window.
"I-I just need a few minutes." I stuttered.
"My ass! We will leave in a few seconds! She's not coming to see you and even if she is, she's going late."
I looked back at the crowd to see a single glimpse if my mother was even there.
Maybe he is right.
I gulped.
Turning around, I finally decided to get in.
Getting inside, it was already suffocating and cramped.
Only the sound of the train roaring and the soldiers chatting and singing was heard.
"Over here!" Tomas yelled as he waved his hand to grab my attention.
Seeing where he was, I tried head there.
Squeezing through the cramped interiors and people.
I almost couldn't breathe with all of this pressure.
"I can't breathe!" I said to myself in desperation.
I extended my hand forward as in I tried to escape.
Like I was trying to reach for something to grab other than the fact that there was nothing to grab in the first place.
Suddenly, something grabbed my wrist.
Before I could process it, I was pulled violently.
Finally slipping through.
"Geez, Lukas, you almost died there." Amelia said.
"Lord! You almost broke my hand!" I said as I rubbed my wrist.
"Sorry." She apologized.
I looked over at my squad or rather the room.
Only to realize something.
"Are there any seat left?" I asked.
"Unfortunately, the last seat was taken." Lena replied.
"By who?" I asked.
"ME!" She pointed her finger at herself and laughed it off.
"If you want it back, then you have to pay me."
"How about I just punch you in the face." I threatened.
"Heh, if you can't pay then you have no choice." She smirked.
Only then I let out a sigh.
And then I just decided to sit on Wesley's lap.
"Holy lord! You're heav-"
"Deal with it." I cut him off.
The train rang out and soon started to move slowly.
Hermann sat beside the window, looking out.
Then his eyes widened and turned to look at me.
"Um, I think your mom is here, Lukas." He said.
I looked at him in the eyes and yelled.
"What!"
Immediately I jumped from my sit to the window.
Everyone moved away to give some space.
And outside, I saw Sabine holding in her hands.
Worried and desperately swaying her head around as if she was trying to find me.
Taking action, I quickly opened the window and peaked outside.
"I'M HERE!" I yelled.
Sabine was able to be grabbed by my attention and ran towards me.
Steadily, the train moved faster and faster.
"She won't make it." Mara said.
Using all of her strength, she ran faster and faster.
To the point she almost reached me.
But the train was much faster.
"Take this, Lukas!" Sabine yelled out and threw the item to me.
And just in time, I was able to grab it.
"Wait! Mom!"
"Just go! Please come back safe!" She stopped in her track.
Crying her eyes out and waving her hand.
"Get inside, Lukas!" Tomas said.
I looked at her for a few second before I came back inside with the bag in my hands.
I took a sit through the small gap left.
Exhaling in relief, I opened the bag to see its contents.
"Alright let's see...Bread...a few bucks...and..." I was a bit shocked by the last item she gave me.
Pulling it out the last item was a picture.
A picture of my family.
Or rather before I was born.
My sister was a little kid with mom standing beside her and...
Dad?
He stood next to them with his hand placed on Sabines shoulder.
Not just this single picture but there was also another one behind it.
Looking at the second one.
It was a picture of my sister Laura.
Her face bright and smiling with stars in her eyes.
"Oooohhh. Is this your girlfriend?" Hermann asked.
"What? No! That's my fucking sister!" I replied.
"Oh..." He immediately realized his mistake and turned around embarrassed.
"Hmm, she looks beautiful." Mara said.
"Heh, thanks." I replied.
I put the picture in my pocket.
Intending on using it later.
"Phew, it's getting hot in here." Paul sounded.
"I know and we're probably going for at least 10 hours." Tobias replied.
"10 hours!" Amelia sounded.
I giggled quietly as I looked outside the window.
Looking at the city I've lived my entire life.
As the train slowly left.