Strife of Eden

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Strife of Eden is a story of a fantasy world made by Mulna Jade. It is a story of a family in a steampunk world trying to escape from a warzone. (New chapers will be added soon.)

Prologue
There’s good, and there’s evil.

Many people hide their darkness under a cover of false light.

They make decisions that cost the lives of millions and then try to claim that it was for the greater good.

This is how wars are made.

But not everyone in a war is a soldier.

Chapter 1
A mother sat on the floor on her knees, covering the ears of her child as they hid in their underground shelter. Explosions and the sound of people shouting echoed above them.

She gently stroked her son’s hair as he trembled in her arms. They waited in the darkness for the night to come and force the soldiers to stop fighting. Every second they waited felt like a eternity.

As the night fell, a light knock could be heard from the entrance to the shelter. The mother then gave her son a reassuring smile as she listened to the rhythm of the knocks. Opening the entrance, a man with wolf like battle armour walked down the steps. The mother then looked behind him to see if he was being followed. Once she was satisfied, She locked the entrance behind him.

The child then ran towards the man and hugged his legs tightly. Tears rolled down his face as he saw that his father came back safely.

The father then bent down and pat his son gently on his head. The boy’s mother then slowly walked towards her husband waiting to hear his report. She was already preparing herself for disappointment.

“... Every last road has been sealed off.” He whispered to her as he continued to comfort his son. The mother then made a small sigh before sitting down next to her family. She then smiled at her husband and patted him on his shoulder. He was back. That was good enough.

“... I did hear a rumour though from one of the soldiers.” He continued. “It might be a long shot, but it’s our best bet.”

She tilted her head slightly as he spoke.

“I’ll fill you in later when I come back with more supplies.” He said to her before he placed his helmet back onto his head and hugged his family before he prepared to go on a supply run.

Opening the hatch, he gave his family a small wave goodbye before he went using the darkness of the night and the disguise of a solider to search for food, water and anything that could help his family survive. Including a way out.

He walked silently through the rubble filled street, using the incinerated cars to hide from the soldiers that fought in the streets. He sneaked into a nearby warehouse that was hit by a shell a few days ago. That was where he last found food. Hopefully there was still some food that hasn’t goon off.

<p class="MsoNormal">He saw a few damaged crates with a few pieces of fruit still inside and quickly walked over to pick them up before any soldiers started to patrol the area. As he picked up some of the fruit, he felt heavy breathing on the back of his neck. Whatever it was, it was big and it didn't sound friendly.

<p class="MsoNormal">He slowly turned his head around and saw a giant two metre tall robotic three horned chameleon. The metallic beast then pinned him down as he tried to position himself to fire and whipped the gun aside with its mighty tail.

<p class="MsoNormal">As it snarled, footsteps could be heard in the distance coming closer and closer. A man then bent down and began to inspect his metal pets catch.

<p class="MsoNormal">“... Thought you could steal my food did you?” The man sarcastically whispered as he removed the man’s gauntlets revealing the tattoos underneath. Every man and woman had their records and information tattooed on their arms. It was permanent and irremovable unless sliced off.

<p class="MsoNormal">“.... Fenrir Ignis.” The man read from his captive’s tattoos as he tried to look at his attacker. As Fenrir managed to tilt his head slowly towards the man, he saw firs the grey skin underneath the man’s dark torn clothing and the white fangs in his mouth as he chuckled quietly.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Heh... ‘knows anarchist’...” The man laughed silently as he read more of the man’s tattoos. He then petted the large chameleon twice signalling for it to let go. “There’s no way in hell that you’re a soldier.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Fenrir then quickly got up from the ground and entered a small fighting stance, unsure about what this stranger was planning.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ha... It’s no wonder you didn’t try to evacuate like the others.” The grey skinned stranger said quietly as he leapt onto the back of his pet and tied a black bandana around his face. He then quickly checked the area before placing his hands on his pets neck to gently tell it where to go as they were about to leave.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Wait!” Fenrir said raising his voice slightly, causing the man to stop. He then turned his head slightly to hear what Fenrir wanted to say.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I heard rumours from the soldiers that a eel managed to sneak into the city.” Fenrir said, quietly walking towards the stranger. “That was you, right?” He asked with hop rising inside of him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“And if it was?” The man asked as he directed his chameleon up one of the metal pillars to help him hid in case a solider comes by.

<p class="MsoNormal">“... I have a wife and a son with me.” Fenrir continued, putting his armour back on. “If you can get into the city, that means you know a way out right?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“So, you want me to get you out of here with your fami-“ The man began to ask before a nearby building got hit by a shell. The deafening explosion made both of the men take cover as they waited for the noise to die down.

<p class="MsoNormal">After a few minutes after they heard the soldiers leaving the explosion, Fenrir looked around as a rock wrapped in a small piece of paper. Slowly peering around the corner of the wooden crate he was hiding behind, Fenrir slowly picked up the rock and read the piece of paper.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Meet me here with your family. You got one hour, or you’ll be stuck here.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mantis Slitherin.’

<p class="MsoNormal">After checking to see if the coast was clear, Fenrir quickly headed back to his families bunker with the pieces of food he collected from the warehouse. He then told his wife about Manta and how this might be the only chance they have of escaping the warzone. After several minutes of thinking it over, she reluctantly agreed. They then took their remaining supplies with them in small grey shoulder bags.

<p class="MsoNormal">Turning to his frightened son Fenrir bent down on to his knees until he was at his sons eye level.

<p class="MsoNormal">“... I’m going to need you to be brave. When we go outside, don’t make a single sound. No matter how scary it gets.” He instructed placing his hands on his sons shoulders to comfort him.

<p class="MsoNormal">They walked through the streets silently as soldiers headed to their positions while enemy soldiers were trying to infiltrate the city with a small group. Fenrir kept his trembling son close to help him remain calm.

<p class="MsoNormal">Creeping toward the warehouse as the sound of gunfire from the soldiers was heard in the distance. They then began to look around for Mantis. A few footsteps approached the family from behind before the sound of a gun cock was heard.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Don’t move.” A soldier ordered as he aimed his weapon at the three. Though Fenrir was in the same armour as the solider, he was experienced enough to know that something was not right about this ‘soldier’.

<p class="MsoNormal">Before the armed man could fire, a large mechanical tail made a downward smash onto the soldier knocking him unconscious. Fenrir then gave a sigh of relief and patted his wife and child on their shoulders as he saw that their saviour was Mantis reptilian mech.

<p class="MsoNormal">“... Looks like you kept our deal.” Mantis muttered as he looked at Fenrirs family. He smirked slightly showing his sharp, sinister teeth as he petted the mechanical chameleon.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Get on. He doesn’t bit... Much.” Mantis instructed the family as he climbed onto his pets back. Fenrir then tried to reassure them that it was all going to be ok as they hesitated to listen to the shady eels instructions. Everything about the man, his scruffy hair, the scars on his arms that hid his tattoos even his facial expression, it was just suspicious. But they all knew that it may be their only way of getting out of here. Fenrir sat in between Mantis and his wife and son. The little boy held onto his mother from behind as the chameleon began to move.

<p class="MsoNormal">The metal beast then climbed up one of the nearby buildings to avoid the patrols on the streets. It jumped across the rooftops as Mantis guided it to avoid any snipers who where keeping a look out on the roofs of the buildings.

<p class="MsoNormal">They then stopped as the chameleon crouched down on one of the rooftops to avoid being spotted.

<p class="MsoNormal">“There’s our escape route...” Mantis whispered to Fenrir and his wife as he pointed at the train station below. As he pointed, a armoured train entered the station bringing in reinforcements.

<p class="MsoNormal">“... This is how you entered the city?” Fenrirs wife muttered in disbelief as she saw the ground troops below.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Don’t worry. The soldiers are easy to get past.” Mantis replied to her in a quiet whisper. “It’s not getting hit by the army’s trains that’s hard.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“... Of course.” She muttered as she rubbed her forehead, wondering what they got themselves into.