Dimensional Travels: World at War-Chapter 100: You will die

Justin stirred to a bright light shining in his eyes.

He groaned and tried to stretch, but jolted awake when he realized his limbs were tied down. He tried to move, and heard the clicking of rifles.

So it’s like that.

He stopped moving, leaning back as he felt pounding from the back of his head. The pain caused him to exhale.

He swallowed bile down, the acidity in his throat burning against his esophagus as he came to his senses. He looked around the room, narrowing his eyes against the light.

As his eyes adjusted, he noticed three guards. They stood in each corner of the room, weapons trained on his chest.

It was a sobering reality Justin found himself in. His mind steadied as he thought of Josh. The friend that used to pet puppies in the villages of Iraq, or hand out water bottles in those same villages...

His fists clenched under the restraints.

Was dead.

"Can I get some water?" Justin groaned, his eyes closing against the light.

No one answered.

Justin had no way of counting time, so he daydreamed about escaping in the meantime.

The door opened, and a flash of blonde hair with the tapping of heels signaled Erica’s entrance. She turned to the guards. "You are to join Hero Josh at the brief. Leave the Hero to me."

The guard nearest to Justin narrowed his eyes. "I was told that we wouldn’t be replaced until 1800."

Erica stepped closer to the man, her arms folded under her chest. "Do you mean to question orders, Sergeant?"

The Sergeant stepped closer to her, looking down. "Yes. When they conflict what the hero has told me himself."

Erica sighed as she looked up at the man. "I am one of the chief advisors to Lord Mithrael. You will do as I say."

The Sergeant sighed as he looked at the other two soldiers with him. "I apologize. I wasn’t informed ahead of time that you would be the one to take charge of the hero."

Erica chuckled. "Mm. It seems headquarters has taken their time in issuing out orders. Go to the briefing with the Hero Josh. Every soldier is needed for the next operation."

Once the soldiers left, Erica turned to Justin. She pulled up a chair, crossing her legs.

"Do you know why you were detained?"

Justin shook his head.

"As far as I am aware, my words were valid. As were my concerns. Targeting a city should not be an option. Are you telling me that Lord Mithrael is pursuing the option of attacking a wholly innocent human city?"

Erica sighed.

"In the eyes of the Cartharic Empire, that city is a military complex and not outside the realm of possibility of attack. Tell me, does it not have its own police force? Does it not have its own military structure, even if in small in size?"

Justin’s jaw clenched as he struggled against the restraints. "Why are you acting like this?" He whispered softly. "You know that targeting a civilian city is fully evil. I thought I knew you better."

Erica took her glasses off, her green eyes staring into Justin’s.

Justin continued. "Lord Mithrael is wrong. I know that those words can lead to my execution, but he brought me here to value my opinion as well as that of Josh’s. You told me that the empire was righteous. Where is the righteousness in killing millions?"

She paused.

"I understand your concern." She said quietly, she tapped her fingers together and looked up from her lap. "But this is war. And we can leave nothing to chance."

Justin laughed.

"I know war. I’ve been in it since I was eighteen years old. I have seen every rationalization and justification there is for atrocities. That wording you just used is the weakest logic I have ever heard. Listen to yourself. Over the last week, I have gotten to know you as someone who is not only pragmatic, but kind hearted. Do you really believe your own words? Look me in the eyes and tell me that you think killing millions of civilians is justified simply because ’we are at war’".

Erica tried to look up, but upon seeing his steely gaze she looked down at her hands.

She stood up and walked over. "Thank you." She whispered as she cut the ropes. "Please do not run yet, if you plan to do so. I will authorize for you to be placed on house arrest. She walked up to him, placing a note in his hand.

"Read this when you are sure you are alone." She whispered in his ear. "Do not respond to it."

She backed away, calling for the guards. "Escort him back to his room. He is not to leave his quarters. The only visitors he may have are the maids, myself, or Lord Mithrael."

Once back to her own room, Erica slumped against the wall. She grabbed a picture frame, tracing her fingers over a picture that held her standing next to the former hero Janea. "I won’t let it happen again."

Once he was in his quarters, Justin paced as he watched the guards. "Can I take a shit in peace? Goddamn. You’d think I was a prisoner trying to escape."

The guards were silent, their safeties off as they watched the hero warily.

"Yeah, sure. I get it. Standard procedure when dealing with a prisoner. You have to make sure I don’t run off. But goddamn. You’d think I committed treason."

The guards remained silent.

There was a knock on the door.

Before Justin could ask who it was, Josh was shown into the room. The other hero sat down across from where Justin was pacing. The two men eyed each other warily as Justin stopped circling the room.

"What do you want?"

Josh shook his head sadly. "I’m sorry brother, but you forced my hand. You were acting erratic. If you had laid a hand on one of the Generals, it would have been a disaster."

Justin growled at the man. "You are not my brother. If you wish to throw away our entire military career just so that you can have some fun with elves, so be it. But to me? You are nothing but a coward and traitor. Targeting a modern Earth city just to prove a point makes you no difference from a terrorist. You are not the hero. You’re a goddamn villain."

Josh didn’t respond. He smirked as he looked out the window. "Mm. Keep watch over the south. The Cartharic Empire is done rattling around the woods." He stood up, walking over to Justin and patting him on the back. "You’ll come around eventually. I’ll be waiting for you when you do."

As Josh walked out, the guards followed. Josh turned towards the guards. "No one enters. He doesn’t leave. Only Lord Mithrael, myself, and Erica are to be allowed in there."

The guards saluted, and Josh walked off.

Justin laid out on the bed. He exhaled sharply before once more checking to make sure the room was clear. Once he thought it was safe, he took the note from his pocket and read it.

His fists clenched. "They were the ones that burned those villages down."

That night, Erica came to visit. She sat across from him, drinking her tea and observing his face. "So you read it?"

"Yes."

She lowered her head.

He sighed. " I thought it was strange that when we walked anywhere, it was silent. Even after the parade, few came to approach us. Was that all preplanned?"

She sighed while she drank some more of her tea. After a few moments, she set the cup down and looked into Justin’s eyes. "There have been a few issues that needed to be fixed. The Lord thought it prudent to have you steer clear of areas where you might hear the wrong things."

"Like the slavery."

She nodded.

"Hm. I see. What else is there that I don’t know? Don’t tell me that there is more shit out there."

She kept silent.

Justin slumped against the table, exhaling sharply as he looked into her eyes. "Racism is apparent in every world." He groaned.

Erica sighed. "So, what is it you plan to do?"

He chuckled as he crossed his arms. "I am going to leave of course. I was lied to when brought here, and discarded the second I had a thought for myself. I have been, and will always be a free man."

She nodded, and she bit her lip. "I see. I will help you then."

"Help?" He grinned, holding her hand in his. "You are coming with me. I need a guide to tell me where to go. I am super bad with directions. I might end up on the western coast by accident."

Erica looked at their hands, her fingers tracing over his palms before nodding. "Very well. We leave together then. But, we will have to do it at night."