*Boom*
"Get down NOW!!"
The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and the metallic tang of blood. Explosions lit up the night like fireworks, casting fleeting shadows of soldiers and towering ruins. Somewhere in the distance, the rhythmic pulse of artillery fire beat like a grim metronome, counting down to an inevitable end.
Crouched down behind a wall Sergeant Carter took cover from enemy fire coming overhead, his breath coming in ragged gasps, tightly clenching his rifle slick with sweat and blood, around him were members of his squad, all looking worse for wear.
"Goddammit! Where is that air support!" He shouted to his team.
"Command said it's five minutes out sir!" A soldier responded
Sergeant Carter looked over to see specialist Ramirez holding a walkie Takie who relayed the message after speaking with command.
"Five Minutes! We'll be lucky to live past two!" Sergeant Carter shouted.
An explosion went off on the other side of the wall, showering dirt and debris over them. He quickly turned to look at a female soldier whose hands were covered with blood as she applied pressure on the wound of her fellow soldier.
"Katie how's Rodger's wound looking?" He shouted
"Bad sir!" She responded urgently "He's losing too much blood, I can't slow it down."
"Shit! Just keep on applying pressure to that wound, we have five minutes before reinforcements arrive!" He ordered.
Katie nodded as she applied more pressure to try and reduce the blood loss as Rodger lay there unconscious. Jamie Carter looked at the situation they were in and couldn't help but wonder where it all went wrong.
It's the year 2055 and humanity found itself in the midst of another world war. It began less than 10 years ago as a war for resources began due to overpopulation. Humanity had just begun to explore and colonize the nearby planets but due to global degradation and dwindling resources humanity began to fight over themselves for the remaining resources.
Global warming was another determining factor as increased temperatures led to the melting of polar ice caps, raising the water level and sinking most coastal towns and cities.
Meeting after meeting were held at the UN General Assembly as world leaders tried to come up with solutions over the humanitarian crisis currently plaguing their people but nothing was set forward to alleviate the current crisis and soon countries began to invade their neighbors to acquire the much-needed resources.
People began to die in the hundreds of thousands as countries began forced recruitments of their people into the army. 10 years passed and the had not yet subsided. The global death rate was in the millions as homes were torn apart, children orphaned and loved ones watching those close to them die.
Sergeant Carter was pulled out of his reverie by Ramirez.
"Sir reinforcements are one click out and coming in fast!" He relayed the information
A grin showed on his face
" Alright now that's what I want to hear. Listen up we got less than 30 seconds before we got our boys to back us up so try not to die, understood?" He ordered
"SIR YES SIR!!"
At that moment dread began to fill his entire body as he quickly lifted his head to see an enemy point an RPG at them.
"RPG!!!" He shouted, but it was too late. The enemy had already fired, and he and his team were engulfed in the explosion. As his consciousness began to fade, he couldn't help but think about his older sister and how the news of his death would affect her and soon there was nothing but darkness.
In a different realm of existence, far from the material realm a multitude of souls in the shape of white balls began to converge forming something akin to a river flowing into a large swirling golden abyss. Suddenly a large black hand shattered through the realm's space and reached out towards the souls trying to grab them.
Then above the swirling abyss a crimson eye opened and stared at the hand in rage as energy began to form Infront of its pupils and shot toward the hand. The hand in its defense formed shadows blocking the energy beam before grabbing a large number of souls before retreating back through the crack which quickly closed itself.
Suddenly a large roar was heard in the soul space as the eye began to convulse in rage, after a few minutes there was silence, and the eye promptly closed itself returning the space to serenity once more.
"Where... am ... I?" A voice echoed through the darkness
The voice, Jamie Carter, tried to feel his surroundings but he found out he couldn't move. After trying for a few more minutes he gave up as he stared at the expansive darkness.
"Is this the afterlife, just an empty void?" He thought.
Then he began to hear laughter all around him, a woman's voice soon began to speak to him seemingly from all around him.
"No Jamie Carter this is not the afterlife but a place where you and I could talk." The woman said.
"What the shit!" He exclaimed.
"Crude language but that's to be expected from a lower lifeform such as yourself." The woman sighed
"Where are you? Where is this? What happened to my team? "Jamie asked trying to find the woman
"So many questions, yet so little time." The woman said. " Well to answer you your dead Jamie Carter, just like the rest of your team."
Suddenly memories began pouring in where he and his team were caught off guard by the enemy resulting in their death. He was silent as he came to terms with his death.
Then a giant palm appeared beneath him as he quickly looked up only to see a pair of deep violet eyes, the rest of her face was shrouded in darkness but her eyes radiated an intense light that Jamie found hard to look away from.
"Now then Jamie since I managed to bring you back from the dead I expect something in return." The woman stated
He frowned
"Why should I?" He questioned "I didn't ask to be brought back to life."
"Fufufufu" The woman giggled amusedly" That's because you have no choice my dear, you stand before a Goddess that can snuff your life out permanently. You don't have a choice."
"Tch! So what does this goddess require of such a lowly mortal?"
Her eyes shrank amusedly.
"Something only someone of your skill set can accomplish. I want you save a world."
"Huh!? Hold it right there, you want me to do what now?" He asked surprised "I think you got the wrong guy lady."
"No this is only something you can do."
"Based on what exactly?"
"Your charisma, leadership skills, willpower, attentiveness to detail and your intellect." The Goddess stated. "I've been watching you for some time now and I know you have what is required."
Jamie looked into the goddess's eyes, thinking what he was hearing and experiencing was all just a lucid dream, but he knew this was not a dream of any kind and let out a defeated sigh.
"So what do you want me do?"
"Don't worry you'll know when the time comes." She stated, " Now it's time for you to go."
"Wait I stil..."
He never got to finish as he began to blast off into the darkness as he pierced through the veil but not without a final say from the goddess.
"I hope you can accomplish this we don't have another chance for a do-over."
Then silence as he fell unconscious
(Goddess POV)
As she watched the soul she sent off for a few more minutes she let out a sigh as the darkness around her parted revealing a magnificent throne room. She sat on the large purple throne behind her, resting her chin on her left palm and crossed her legs.
"Do not disappoint me Jamie Carter, we won't have a second chance." She said to no one in particular
She then closed her eyes and seemingly fell asleep, her thoughts only known to herself.