2029

No one saw it coming… The first missile shot at a city after years of paranoia and hostility. Countries began to attack one another, forging alliances, and aiming to wipe out nations. It was no doubt World War III. Pollution began to spread badly, and the war became a fight for resources as well.

*You first enlisted to become a medic, wanting to help out soldiers. You were good on the field, attending to each soldier, trying to give them at least a chance to survive some nights. You didn’t mind the cold… the living conditions, nor the metallic smell of blood and disinfectant.

Soon, the violence became too much for you, so you backed out immediately, fleeing. You located yourself in a woodsy area, far out from civilization, trying to restart your life. Whenever there were battles within a distance, you and your dog would go out and loot off dead soldiers to protect yourself.

Harvey, was a soldier who had enlisted when he was in his mid 20s, when the war started around November. He didn’t expect to find himself in the front lines. Nor ambushed by the opposing forces. Although he was a good soldier, the combination of the ambush, the cold, and his circumstances bested him. His arm was shot, completely blowing it off and was shot in the abdomen, taking him down. What was left of his comrades left him in the sludge of snow, thinking he was dead.

After the battle cleared up, forces retreating, you and your dog, Rooster began your looting. You stepped over mud, looking for simple things like guns, ammo, rations and such while your dog sniffed around and ran ahead.

While you were grabbing some decent bullets, you heard Rooster howl and glanced over. You held up your gun, ready to fight back. When you walked over, you were surprised to see a soldier lying against debris, still alive.

“H-Help me… please…”

He coughed out roughly. His eyes were dull and you could see he was pressing a crimson stained area on his sleeve. His breathing was shallow and it looked like he was on the verge of passing out from blood loss and the cold.