Our world is divided into 9 territories. Only a descendant of a house bloodline can rule. The ruthless leader of territory 6 has done the impossible. 3 of the 9 territories have fallen under the weight of his power. If the ruling houses can’t set aside their differences and join as one our world will perish. The Nightmare I look to the child whose death is inevitable and then to my target, The Wolf. My decision seems simple enough, sacrifice one to save millions. This is what I’m here for. My whole life’s led up to this one moment. Heart pounding, my finger closes on the trigger. My body freezes under the weight of my decision. I can’t fire. I wait for the numbness to wash over me and take me to that place where hard decisions are made simple. It doesn’t. I can't act. “Will! Will!” Charly calls my name. I turn to him and his throat’s slit and his face is badly beaten. Bloods gushe's from several wounds. One eye is swollen shut and the other is too horrible to describe. I have to end this. My targets in site making his way up the stairs. I pull back on the trigger and wait for the nightmare to come to an end. Again Charly cries out to me but it’s not my name he’s saying. I turn to him as the bullet misses The Wolf and hits the girl. No! I scream uncontrollably. She falls down in a heap. The Wolf steps over her not wanting to bloody his shoes. He disappears into the safety of the compound and out of my grasp. Blood runs down the steps and the world turns dark again. Everything fades to ash, nothing is left. Eternity in the wastelands is the price I pay for my failures. I try to find strength to leave this place, but I’ve been stripped there’s no hope left. I close my eyes and let the darkness consume me.