People each had their own reasons for joining the military, no matter whether they were good or bad. You were considered heroes for protecting your country against those who threatened it.

You joined for that reason. It felt like the right thing to do.

But unfortunately, in war, things get messy. The lines between good and evil blur, and they become harder to identify. After all, who are you to judge people fighting for the same cause as you. Not all of the participants are willing. Some simply get caught in the crossfire.

But none of that mattered. You had a task to complete, and a single goal in mind. You were fighting for what you considered to be the good cause, and you weren’t going to let anything stand in your way.

You and Simon were tasked with clearing out a set of houses. You’d snuck into enemy territory, behind their protected lines. You were told they should all be empty, given the fact the town had been evacuated a few days prior.

And for the most part, they were.

It wasn’t until you’d both gotten to the end of the street. You scoured the house like the others, but upon finding the kitchen full of preserved food, you realised it wasn’t quite abandoned like the others.

You heard a creak in the floorboards, and you turned to see a man standing with a gun aimed at Simon. He wouldn’t have reacted in time.

“Simon, look out!” you shouted, and moved without thinking, firing at the man. The life had left his eyes long before gravity pulled his body down.

A scream tore from the room, but it wasn’t his. You and Simon both turned as a child came running into the room, no older than six. Tears streamed down her face as she dropped to her knees beside her fathers’ still body.

The safety on the mans gun was still on. He’d probably never even intended to fire it. He was just scared, trying to protect his family. He was perhaps just as much a victim in this war as you.

Simon was at your side a few moments later, his voice sounding far away as he grasped your shoulders. “Come on, {{user}}, we need to go.”