All Chapters of Before love Lies: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

119 Chapters

John Edison who am I?

When I was a kid, people used to tell me to think of a hero. We view them as individuals who can save the world. Most people would think of heroes like Batman and Superman. But what about the heroes who hide among us—the men and women in the line of duty? People who are never afraid of what could happen to them. We all have someone we could call upon who would save us from the harm that might come our way. In many ways my Father was my hero in so many ways . Sometimes when I was alone I used to wonder if he had a hero.I vividly recall my father’s words, urging me to embrace my heritage and cherish each day as if it were my last. Reflecting on my life now, I can confidently say that he was my hero in countless ways. His ability to create a sanctuary where the world around us faded away, allowing him to dedicate himself to the time I desperately needed, was truly remarkable. As I look back, I can’t quite pinpoint when time ceased to exist. However, as the years have passed, I’ve notice

A New Day

My father looked at me with warmth in his eyes and said, Son, it’s time. Time to step into the real world. Time to walk a path that you could call yours . There was a quiet ache in that moment, but also something steady and bright. The pride in his gaze told me that having me go was his way of loving me—and knowing that, I understood that this step forward would make him proud.As I folded my clothes into the old suitcase, I could hear my father moving through the house. His boots thudded softly against the pinewood floors, each step heavy, familiar. I pulled the zipper closed just as his footsteps slowed, drawing nearer. For a brief moment, the house fell silent. Then he appeared in the doorway and stepped into the room.He stopped beside me and held out a gold bank card, a small note tucked beneath it. I glanced at the paper and saw the balance written there-nearly a million dollars, more than enough to take care of everything I might need. When I looked back up, his eyes were gla

Secrets and saving grace

When I sat down, I believed fate was calling our names that day—that a friendship was being forged as we talked about our lives. I learned that her family had moved to Michigan from Indonesia in hopes of creating a better life for her and her sisters. School had always been challenging for her, but she was determined to be the best she could be for her family. She wanted to make them proud of the woman she would become. She dreamed of becoming a miner, discovering new things and learning from the earth itself.As we spoke, her soft voice carried over the hum of the plane and the chatter of the other passengers. The world around us seemed to fade away. For a moment, I didn’t fully comprehend what was happening—until the pilot’s voice crackled over the speaker.“We are beginning our descent into the airspace over the base now. Welcome to the Army, young men and women. Let me be the first to welcome you to hard work. Please buckle up as we land.”For the second time in my life, I wished

One plane

I couldn’t stop wondering if we could continue fighting this war on our own, especially without our radio—the one lifeline that had gone completely silent after the crash. The quiet felt heavier than the wreckage around us. Still, I clung to the hope that someone had heard the transmission, that Delta Team would come for us like they promised. I held onto that thought because without it, the fear would have swallowed me whole.I wished—no, prayed—that we could make it out of this mess alive.When the plane slammed into the ground, I knew an SOS had been sent. I remembered the sharp jolt, the scream of metal tearing apart, and the brief moment of relief when I realized the signal had gone out automatically. But deep down, I also knew that couldn’t be our only hope. An SOS was just a cry into the void. It didn’t guarantee anyone was listening.The silence stretched on, broken only by the distant echoes of war. That’s when reality finally set in.I turned to Jason, my heart pounding hard

Jason Parker

As we flew over what remained of the base, the twisted metal and scorched earth shrinking beneath us, my heart filled with a joy I hadn’t felt in what seemed like a lifetime. The nightmare was finally behind us. Smoke still rose from the wreckage below, a quiet reminder of everything we had endured, everything we had survived. For the first time since the mission began, I allowed myself to breathe.Michele’s voice broke the silence, cracked with exhaustion and disbelief.“John… we made it at last. It’s time to go back home.”Her words settled into my chest like an anchor, grounding me in reality. Home. The word felt foreign, almost unreal, after so long spent living moment to moment, never knowing if the next breath would be our last. As the aircraft pushed forward over open water, the endless blue stretching out before us, the tension that had lived in my body for days slowly began to fade.Then it appeared on the horizon—the USS John Paul Jones. Solid. Steady. Waiting for us.As we

Voice in my head

As we gathered in the room once again, a heavy hush fell over the crowd. Nervous whispers rippled through the air, filling my ears with anxious chatter. Everyone took their seats abruptly, the tension thick enough to feel. Then the door opened. A single figure stepped inside and walked with purpose straight to the podium, stopping in front of the microphone. His face was set like steel, and when he spoke, his voice thundered through the room like a series of sharp claps. “As many of you have noticed,” the voice began, cutting through the silence, “for those who are unaware of who I am, I am the Secretary of Defense.” He paused, letting his presence sink in. “My name is Joel Darwell. I was sent here by President Thomas Banks to deliver important news.” The room remained silent as he continued. Over the last several days, successful attacks on Dead Island had shifted the balance of power, forcing the enemy into peace negotiations. Three high-ranking government officials had been elim

Losing battles

As Michelle and I walked toward the mess hall, the rich smell of lobster and steak filled the air like perfume, almost overwhelming after days of rations and stale coffee. The sound of knives and forks clattering against plates echoed through the room, mixed with low conversations and tired laughter. For a brief moment, it felt almost normal—like the war was somewhere far away.We grabbed our food and made our way to a table, but before we could sit down, an uneasy feeling settled deep in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t explain it, only that something felt wrong. Then a gruff voice cut through the noise.“John. Come with me.”I froze. When I turned around, my breath caught. Standing behind me was the Secretary of the Navy himself, flanked by two officers. His sharp eyes studied me for a moment before he motioned with his hand. “Now.”Michelle looked at me, concern flashing across her face, but neither of us spoke. The Secretary led us away from the mess hall, down a narrow corridor,

The truth

As I opened the folder, a jolt of adrenaline coursed through me. Inside, there was only a single photograph—no documents, no briefing notes, no identifying marks. Just the image of an older man, his expression cold and unreadable. I quickly flipped through the pages, feeling a wave of confusion wash over me.“Sir,” I said, closing the folder, “what does this mean?”The commanding officer stepped forward, his face stern. “His name is Maxwell Kurt,” he said. “He is the current president of Dead Island.”The words hit me like a physical blow.“He is in hiding,” the officer continued. “Intelligence confirms that he has taken refuge in a deserted compound at the edge of the island. It’s a fortified bunker. Our sources are reliable, and they indicate that he will be staying there for some time.”He paused, allowing the gravity of the information to sink in. “If we strike now, we can end this war. We can avoid a prolonged campaign and prevent further loss of our troops. It’s a single, decisi

End of duty

As we climbed higher into the sky, a sudden warning light flashed across the console. My stomach dropped when I checked the radar.“We’ve got a tail,” I said sharply. Another aircraft had locked onto us, matching our speed and altitude.“Oh my God,” Michelle muttered. “They’re not letting us go.”“Not today,” I said, banking hard to the left. The G-forces slammed into us as I tried to shake the pursuit. “Hold on.”The enemy plane followed every move, refusing to break off.“Shake the tail!” Michelle shouted. “Go higher—higher than we’ve ever flown.”I pushed the engines harder than they were ever meant to go. “We’re pushing seventy thousand feet,” I warned. The aircraft groaned in protest, metal screaming as the engines strained. I could feel them on the edge of giving out.The other plane stayed with us, mirroring every climb, every turn. Sweat ran down my back as I fought the controls, my hands locked tight, knuckles white. One mistake and we’d stall. One second too long and we’d bu

The call

As we made landfall, the sense of relief barely had time to settle before everything shattered. Michelle’s phone rang sharply, the sound cutting through the air like a blade. She froze for half a second before snatching it up.“My mother,” she whispered—I have to , “Answer the phone!”A deep, unfamiliar voice filled her ear.“If you ever want to see your mother again,” the voice said calmly, almost casually, “you will bring John to us. You have until sunset. Fail to comply, and your mother will die—slowly and tragically.”Michelle went completely still.Then we heard her.A faint, desperate scream echoed through the phone. “Michelle! Don’t come—don’t come! Stay where you are! Don’t do what they say!” Her mother’s voice cracked with terror, but also defiance. “I’ll be okay—”The line cut briefly, then came back in a rush of noise and panic.“I’ll be okay, ma’am,” Michelle said, forcing her voice steady even as tears filled her eyes. Her hand trembled as she lowered the phone.Click.Th

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