Semua Bab Love in Warzone: Bab 1 - Bab 10

"Don't cry, Melissa," my mother soothed gently. "Once your sister gets back, I'll make her give up the spot for you."Sam pressed his lips together in silence, while my father slammed his cup down on the table."Claire," he said sternly, "come here and explain yourself."With a bandage wrapped around my forehead and my face pale from the hospital, I stepped into the living room.Four pairs of eyes turned to me in unison. All cold. All accusing.Not a single one asked how I was feeling. No one cared that I had just been discharged.Melissa, eyes red and brimming with tears, raised her acceptance letter."Claire, you already have everything. Why do you have to steal my chance to study abroad too?"I had everything? My fingernails dug deep into my palm.What exactly did I have?Our parents' love? That belonged to her.Sam's heart? Also hers.Even the sunniest bedroom in the house was hers.And now, the opportunity I had fought tooth and nail for… Was she going to take that

They didn't back off. Instead, they grinned, revealing rows of yellowed teeth.Panic surged through me. I grabbed Melissa and bolted, dragging her with me.But dragging a drunk person made running nearly impossible. Within moments, we were caught.I swung a brick at them, but it only earned me a few harsh slaps. They pinned me to the ground.Melissa seemed to sober up from the shock. Trembling in fear, she broke free and ran.I couldn't move. One thug's knee crushed down on my spine until it cracked. Sharp shards of broken glass dug into my back, and the searing pain made me grit my teeth."I've called the police! They'll be here in three minutes at most. If you stop now, it's not too late!" I shouted.My plea was met with more slaps. Amid the ringing in my ears, I heard one of them curse me for meddling and mutter about teaching me a lesson.Then, at last, the wail of police sirens pierced the air."Run!" they scrambled in all directions.I lay on the cold ground, gasping fo

At the VIP Lounge of the airport, the glow of the electronic screen illuminated the final confirmation message:[Ms. Claire Dunn, as per Clause 17 of the Confidentiality Agreement under the Special Operations Regulations of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces, you have confirmed your participation in the 'Reset' operation of the Remains Recovery Unit. Flight CE1316 will simulate an air crash. You will permanently relinquish your citizenship. Confirm execution?]I signed my name. The pen tip tore slightly through the paper. "Confirmed."The boarding gate flashed the code CE1316.As I boarded the aircraft bound for the war zone, it was the exact hour of Sam and Melissa's wedding.When he said "I do" during the ceremony, my name would vanish into the depths of the ocean along with the plane's black box.As the aircraft climbed into the stratosphere, I pressed send on a message: [Sam, I hope you live a good life.]Thirty seconds later, a shrill alarm blared from the cockpit.Ami

Mr. Dunn rushed forward to stop Sam."She's your sister!" Sam roared. "She nearly died in that alley behind the bar trying to save you and you're still cursing her?!"Melissa yanked herself free, shrieking hysterically. "She deserved it! Who told her to take everything from me?! That spot was mine, and so are you!"Sam suddenly laughed. But the smile never reached his eyes; it was sharp and cold, like a blade forged from ice."Melissa," His voice was soft, yet each word pierced like a dagger. "Listen carefully, I was never yours. Did you know, even at the end, Claire never said a single bad word about you."He raised his hand and flung the yellowed journal at her feet. The pages fluttered open and stopped, right on the one that read, "Sam, I hope you and Melissa grow old together. You must be happy. That way, I'll be at peace."Melissa collapsed to the ground, her wedding dress collecting dust and dirt. Those words were tender and broken, just like the eyes of her sister, always

"Last week, there was a stray bullet attack on the camp," the nurse said. "She shielded the children with her body. Shrapnel tore into her back. Twelve stitches. She was back at work the next day."Sam's chest tightened, pain lancing through his heart.He suddenly remembered how I used to run to him with teary eyes over a tiny paper cut on my finger, pouting for sympathy."Did she... ever say why she chose to come here?" he asked softly.The nurse let out a quiet sigh. "She said the living need healing, and the dead need remembrance. She's in charge of documenting each deceased individual. She calls it 'ferrying souls to the other shore.'"Just as she finished, a loud explosion erupted in the distance, followed by a burst of rapid gunfire."Enemy attack! Everyone take cover!"Chaos instantly engulfed the camp.Sam saw Claire rushing out of a tent, clutching a child tightly in her arms as she shouted orders, helping evacuate others."Claire!" Sam shouted, running toward her.…