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Why Do We Fight?: A Zloveshchiyian Short Story

Smoke rises in the air. A red flag, tattered and torn, like the world we live in, sways in the wind as fires still burn underneath its roots. I see soldiers, young and old, just wandering the battlefield with no sense of direction, looking for their comrades, or just gazing around the field with a blank stare on their face.

Why do we have to be this way?

"You look like you're going through some deep stuff, Alexis."

A familiar voice said behind me. Still, I remain staring at the scene before me.

"Hey, Alexis. Do you even hear me?"

I hear his footsteps coming to my side. Feeling his hand on my shoulder, I glance at him.

Kostya Morozov. My long-time friend that I know from my childhood. We decided to fight in the war together because of our relationship.

Now… I'm wondering if this war was a mistake to begin with.

"Kostya."

"Hm?"

"Why do we have to fight?"

"What do you mean?"

I turn to Kostya, my friend, to look at him in the eyes.

"Why do we have to fight, to kill, to die, in a war that shouldn't have happened. Why do we have to distance ourselves from our own people in the form of borders? You, me, them, we're human. So why do we pick up arms against each other, just to reunite our nation that's broken apart?"

Time and time again, I witnessed countless others die. Watched children, and mothers, burned to the ground from shells raining from the heavens. Why do we have to fight, to hate?

I stand there, waiting for Kostya to answer. Even if he looks hesitant, even if the answer wouldn't be enough, I still wanted an answer. Then, I notice the slight burning in my eyes. I rub them only to feel something wet.

Ah. It seems that I'm crying. Haha, yes. I'm crying.

As my tears fall down my cheeks, Kostya finally answers me.

"I…" Kostya turns his eyes away from me.

"...I don't know. I'm sorry, Alexis."

Don't know. I knew that was going to be the answer, but it still upsets me. Is that really the answer, that feeling of uncertainty?

Zloveshchiy, Khoroshchiy, Upavshiy. Nations that should've been reunited long ago, instead fight for control, ideology, and views. Is that how it's going to be, fighting because of our differences?

I don't want to accept it, I don't want it to be the reality, yet… The reality is here, happening right before my eyes.

If there's a God, I pray that this mistaken war ends soon.

Then, the sounds of the siren blares in the air. Signaling another bombing from the sky. Upon hearing the sirens, everyone rushed to take cover from the rain of fire that's about to befall them.

If this is our punishment for our transgressions, then so be it.

"Damn. Alexis, let's go!" Kostya runs off to a nearby shelter. I stand there just looking up at the sky for one last time before giving a sigh, following Kostya to the shelter.

I pray that this war ends.