Zin: Chapter One

Chapter One:
  The caliginous sky was like a black blanket covering the sunshine from the world. The thick grey clouds filled with ash and pollution matched the bleak scenery. There isn’t much left in the world anymore.
  "Zin I think it's time for us to go home."
  "All right." I turn towards my sister and give her a small smile. "We might just save her."
  "Yeah, might." Together we walked back to our home trying to stay out of sight. It was dangerous being outside and few even dare wander out of the safety of home.  There was a high chance of death by even stepping foot out of home. Only fools and massively brave people ever left. I got the short end by having both with a heaping stack of curiosity on the side.  
  My sister and I come to a deserted city where we duck behind houses trying to get to the opening for our home. The way inside was out in the open but luckily the enemy hadn't caught up on it. Together we scurried to the middle of the demolished road and came to a halt besides the door to our home. We grabbed the metal slab and pulled upwards making it come lose so we could crawl inside. Our home was what my mother has always told me was the sewers. She told me tales of when she was a child and how the sewers was the way people moved water and waste.
  "This place smells like home," I say to my sister as my feet lands in a small pool of water. The musky smell of dirt and grim always brings a smile to my face. It beats choking on smoke any day.
  "Hurry up Zin. We don't have time to enjoy the smells. We need to get back."
  "Fine Chry." I walked ahead of my younger sibling and lead the way towards the colony.   After many twists and turns we made it to our home. It was an area in the sewers where the ground lifted up just enough so people were no longer stepping in water. Though there was no houses, beds, or even rooms of any sort this was still home to me and all the others here. It was better than being up top were the enemy could catch you.
  "We must rise up against the enemy!" A strong voice shouts. I glance over to see my partner shouting to a gaggle of people. His head poked out over the others through his sheer height. "They can't even breath yet we're losing to them! It's time that we find out their weakness and use it to defeat them! Who cares if they were bred to fight! We might lose some people along the way but we will fight! "
  "Nos vero pugnabimus!" Someone in the crowd shouts in Latin. Others echo this phrase until the whole group was yelling it with their heads tilted upwards. It was as if their cries would carry through the cement walls to the enemy above.
  "Thats right everyone nos vero pugnabimus!" My partner's first raises in the air and everyone's shouts grew even louder.
  "Zane!" I shout towards the crowd. Soon the group parted and Zane- my partner- walked out towards me.
  "What is it Zin?" Zane asks. He pushes some of his dark brown locks out of his eyes.
  "How's Mom doing? Where is she?" I grip my sister's hand as I interrogate Zane.
  "She's over at the illness center. Did you find any medication for her?" He turns and begins to lead me towards her.
  "No I have not."
  "Well you better keep looking. Tomorrow I'm going out with you instead of your sister. She needs to stay and improve her medical training."
  "All right." We come to a stop in front of the illness center. This was just the corner of the small town where we kept everyone who was sick. They all laid on piles of blanket and any sort of padding we could gather up for them.
  "Zinnia. Chrysanthemum." I glance towards the soft voice to see my mother. Her long brown hair was matted and her skin a ghostly white.
  "Mom." I drop down beside her taking a hold of her hand. My sister came to her other side to hold her other hand.
  "My two favorite flowers." Mom smiles up at us. "You are both so beautiful."
  "How you feeling Mom?" I ask.
  "I'm feeling as bad as yesterday."
  "I'm training so I can help you get better," Chrysanthemum tells her.
  "That's wonderful. You can help so many people. I am so proud of you sweetie." Mom's gaze turns towards me. "Zinnia, I am so very proud of you too. You are going to do great things. You have the looks and willpower of your father." She let's go of my hand to reach up and play with my red hair. "I love you both."
  "We love you too Mom." My sister and I say at the same time. A single tear slips down my face as my mom's eyes slide shut.
  "It's okay Zin. She's still breathing." Chry puts a hand on my shoulder.
  "I know but how much longer will that last?" I push myself up and turn towards Zane.
  "Yes Zin?" He arches one of his thick eyebrows at me.
  "I want to start fighting against the enemy as soon as possible. I have been in training for six years now. I'm ready to fight."
  "You're only eighteen Zin."
  "And you're only twenty. Now that we have established ages let's start fighting back. I know the rule say that warriors have to be at least twenty but screw the rules, we haven't won yet by following them."
  "Zin." Zane puts his hands off my shoulders. His hazel eyes stare deep into my blue ones. "It's time to think a little."
  "I've been thinking and it's time we stop letting hunks of metal control us." I push past Zane and head to the sleep area of town. "We'll talk more tomorrow Zane but I am fighting whether you like it not." I turn towards him and smile. "As you always say, nos vero pugnabimus."