The midday sun beat down on Nell's back as he knelt in the rich brown earth, meticulously weeding his tomato plants. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, but he barely noticed. His hands, calloused from years of tending to the land, moved with practiced ease, plucking out stubborn weeds that threatened to steal nutrients from his crops. Beside him, Naomi hummed a cheerful tune, her voice light as the breeze that rustled the golden wheat fields beyond. Every so often, she would pause to pop a freshly picked berry into her mouth, the burst of sweetness making her giggle softly. Her laughter, bright and unburdened, echoed across the vast expanse of their family farm, mingling with the chirping of crickets and the distant calls of the cattle.

The sweet scent of wildflowers danced on the wind, blending with the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil. It was a scent Nell had known all his life, one that grounded him, reminded him of simpler times.

A flicker of memory surfaced—he and Naomi as children, their small hands buried in the dirt as they helped their parents with the harvest. He could still hear their mother's voice, soft and encouraging, as she guided them through the rows of golden wheat. Their father's laughter had rumbled like distant thunder, warm and steady, as he hoisted them onto his shoulders, declaring them future stewards of the land. Those were the days when the farm was their entire world, a place of endless summers, of fireflies dancing in the night, of meals eaten under the open sky.

Now, that world felt fragile.

The furrow between Nell's brows deepened. Lately, his father had spoken in hushed tones with other villagers, his usual confident stance laced with tension. Rumors had spread—of the government tightening its grip on the outskirts

Then, the sky darkened.

A discordant clang shattered the peaceful serenity.

Nell's head snapped up as a shadow stretched across the field, swallowing the golden hues of their crops in an unnatural dusk. A sleek, metallic aircraft descended from the sky, its steel frame gleaming ominously under the sun. The whir of its engines was a cold, mechanical hum, so foreign against the familiar symphony of nature.

Fear prickled at Nell's skin. Naomi dropped her basket of freshly picked berries, her carefree smile replaced with a frown.

"What is it?" she whispered, her voice barely audible above the whirring of the aircraft's rotors.

A ripple of unease spread through the farm as villagers emerged from their homes, shielding their eyes against the glare of the descending craft. A deep, mechanical hiss echoed as the aircraft's doors slid open.

From its depths, figures clad in black armor marched forth, their movements precise, inhuman. Their visors glowed with a ghostly blue light, devoid of warmth, devoid of humanity.

Then, a voice, cold and final.

"This land belongs to the government now."

The words were like a death knell.

"Evacuate immediately."

For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air, as if the land itself was holding its breath. Then, chaos erupted.

Villagers screamed as they were herded together like cattle. Mothers clutched their children, their faces etched with fear. Naomi grabbed Nell's arm, her grip tight.

Suddenly, their father lunged at a soldier, a desperate attempt to protect their home. The soldier reacted with terrifying swiftness, his metal fist connecting with a sickening crunch. Their father crumpled to the ground, a silent plea in his eyes.

Rage boiled within Nell. He lunged forward, only to be restrained by his mother's grip. Her voice cracked with emotion. "Nell, no! Please, for me!"

Before he could answer, another blow connected. His mother slumped against him, a lifeless weight in his arms. Grief tore through him, a raw, primal scream erupting from his throat. But his scream was drowned out by the clanging of metal as soldiers mercilessly dragged the villagers away, their cries swallowed by the oppressive silence that descended upon the once vibrant farm.

Nell clung to his sister, his world collapsing around him. The metallic tang of blood filled his nostrils, the stench of fear and desperation hanging heavy in the air. They were being herded towards the aircraft, forced to leave the only home they'd ever known. A single tear rolled down Naomi's cheek, reflecting the dying embers of the sun setting on their peaceful life.

As the aircraft lifted off, Nell stole one last glance at their now-destroyed farm, a silent vow forming in his heart. He wouldn't let their sacrifice be in vain. He would protect his sister, and he would find a way to make those responsible pay.

Their journey towards the unyielding, steely confines of the city was only beginning.

....

A year had crawled by like a wounded beast, each day a relentless struggle for survival. The once vibrant hope in Nell's eyes had dimmed, replaced by a steely glint of determination and a simmering anger that burned constantly beneath the surface. The city, a sprawling labyrinth of towering metal and flickering neon signs, was a suffocating prison, its air thick with exhaust fumes and despair.

Nell emerged from the grimy underbelly of the transport hub, his steps heavy with exhaustion. The rhythmic clang of automated machines echoed around him, a constant reminder of the city's relentless hunger for resources. His heart pounded against his ribs, a conflicting mix of dread and anticipation churning in his gut. He was finally back.

He navigated the maze of crumbling buildings and overflowing waste bins, his gaze scanning every doorway, every shadowy corner. Finally, he reached his destination: a ramshackle structure leaning precariously on the verge of collapse. It was their makeshift home, a testament to Nell's resilience and resourcefulness.

As he pushed through the bent metal door, he entered the dim space to find a figure wrapped in a thin blanket, perching atop a makeshift bed of crates. It was Naomi, a mere echo of the vibrant girl he once knew. The sparkle in her eyes had been dulled by exhaustion, her free spirit tempered by the harshness of their reality.

"Nell?" she breathed, disbelief creeping into her voice. He knelt before her, his hand reaching out to tentatively touch her face. Recognition dawned in her eyes, melting the mask of indifference. Tears welled up as she threw her arms around him, the desperation in her embrace a stark contrast to the joyful reunion he'd envisioned.

A pang of guilt stabbed at Nell's heart. He had promised to protect her, yet here they were, broken and alone. He pulled away, his eyes dropping to the mechanical arm that replaced his flesh and blood. A bitter symbol of their trials, the metallic limb stood as a mockery of his failure to protect.

"I wasn't accepted," he admitted, his voice tinged with bitterness, "They said my injuries were too severe. Fixed me up like just another piece of machinery."

A flashback flickered through his mind, sharp and vivid like a fresh wound. The sterile white room, the metallic smell of disinfectant, the cold touch of scalpels and the searing agony as they tore his flesh apart, replacing bone and muscle with unfeeling metal. He had screamed, a primal howl swallowed by the sterile silence of the room. It was a nightmare he could never escape.

"They stripped us of everything," Naomi whispered, her voice trembling. "But hey we still have each other."

Nell forced a smile, a bitter twist of his lips. "We do," he echoed, vowing silently to make Naomi's words a reality. They had lost everything, but their bond remained, a fragile ember of hope among the city's crushing darkness. As they sat huddled together in the cold, cramped space, they knew the fight for survival had just begun.