Doomsday RE: Before the Dawn CH 4 - Loyal Daughter

Doomsday RE: Before the Dawn

Or, a 1983 Doomsday Tale through many Nations’ Eyes

CH-4 – Loyal Daughter

Somewhere in Sopron/Ödenburg, Austrian Frontier Territory. 1989.

The young girl had no idea where she was. But there were loud, inhuman screams everywhere, more than she could count. The walls surrounding her, which looked as though they'd fall down at any minute, also seemed to close in ever so slowly. She didn’t want to be here.

"Don't be afraid," the little girl mumbled to herself in Hungarian, more nervous than confident as she found it harder to breathe. It wasn't the first time this had happened. After so many times, she shouldn't be scared of whatever's trying to break through that door. "Come on, think! They won’t take me!" Frantically, she looked all around her for something to use against them. Everything she touched however seemed to crumble.

Nem…Trapped… The thought made her panic inside. She couldn't back down. I shouldn’t! There’s gotta be a way out of here! Before long, a dark mass of nothing began tearing through the door. The voices became clearer as it began creeping into her skin, rotting her from within. Russian screams. People shouting. Dying. Talking of finishing her off like Hungary. But Mama can't be dead! NEM! I won't give in. Won't give in.  Won't give in! WON'T GIVE IN! I CAN'T! I CAN'T! Mama…Papa…Remélem! HELP!

Then all of a sudden, there was to be a piercing, yet strangely comforting cry. Gyermekem, a familiar voice echoed. You’re not an orphan. Never will be!

The next thing the girl knew, she found herself, sweating on an old, creaking bed as she sat up, muted sunlight still coming from the windows. Winching, she noticed that there was no one else around. And yet there was a strange feeling that someone was close. Briskly, she turned her head towards what looked like a faint wisp. Except that no one was there.

“Another nightmare’s over,” the young child going by the name Julia assured herself aloud as a faint smile crossed her face. “At least I’m still here.” And yet I swore I knew that voice…

Getting out of bed, the girl took a worn-out flute from her bedside before sitting by the window closest to her. She was still tired from earlier in the day. Not just from playing hide-and-seek with the other orphans, the food rations from those soldiers or that trip to the nurse. More than those, yet I still had fun.

Gingerly toying with her instrument before coughing, Julia looked out at the street crossing outside her orphanage and the town surrounding her. Hungary's ever loyal town, she recalled, coughing even as tears started to well up. Mama's pride and joy… Many of the buildings across from her were either grimy or broken down, the worse ones seemingly held together by iron planks. But a few withered window-side flowers and the partly burnt Firewatch Tower not far off still spoke of the beauty this place once had in the Old World. And will again someday…right? While the road below still hummed with people. Tired soldiers in Austrian uniforms and local folks walking amidst rusting cars. Kids playing with makeshift toys on the sidewalk while a line of older people tapered off into the distance to some food camp. Despite their ragged looks, many of them still lived day after day in the hope that tomorrow would get better. Something that she shared – and felt with all of the Frontier’s people.

My people… Even the orphanage’s caretakers were noticing that she still looked the same way she did when they brought her in. In fact, she barely got older while the other orphans around her did.  But though she couldn’t quite explain it nor her true age, the Survivor-Nation always knew who and what she was. Those people out there were all her and she was all of them. They’ll make it, I’m sure! I am Sopron after all! She grinned warmly at that. Then, with deft hands, she put the flute’s mouthpiece close. And began playing.

Julia always liked music for some reason. A part of her mused that it could have been from her parents long ago. Murky, half-remembered memories from a time before two great lands plunged the world in flames and the great swarms of bandits who ravaged in their wake, an event some have called Doomsday. No one knew who started it, and the answer depended on the person. Still, she was sure that they'd all been separated at some point. Come to think of it, things only started becoming clearer shortly after those dark times, almost as if she hadn’t been entirely whole until then. But as her song went on, its melody echoing outside, she stopped, almost dropping the instrument.  So familiar…

“I've heard this before!”

Her mind seemed to wind back to the oldest memory she had. Of a man in glasses playing on a beautiful piano, whose face she couldn't quite remember. Of being held on her mother's arms as she sang that very song to her. It usually made her feel down, afraid of what really happened to her and the family she lost. Scared of the untamed wastelands beyond - and the nagging void that always seemed to gnaw at her from the inside. But continuing the melody in her head and despite her pained exhaustion getting the better of her again, the girl nonetheless began muttering the lyrics.

“Csíja búja, búja, gyönyörű magzatom,
aludj el, aludj el, gyönyörű csillagom…”

Once more, she stopped, her flute dropping to the floor as her body finally gave in. Her eyes however still managed to catch a glimpse a group of Austrians pause on the street below. A strange man among them, in an old, dusty looking outfit seemed to glance at her direction. For a brief moment, she thought there was something oddly familiar with his brown hair and glasses. It was a moment that passed soon as he turned away, muttering something in German that she couldn’t quite make out. Julia yawned as her sight began blurring. But as she saw a caretaker approach to bring her back to bed, a familiar voice finished her song.

“Ótson el az angyal, kőtsön fel a hajnal,
aludj el, aludj el, gyönyörű virágom.”

Instead of some darkened void or a corpse, Sopron caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman in a country dress. She couldn't really describe it, but something about her seemed so warm. So familiar about the figure's face, her gentle green eyes and a radiant flower on her hair that brought about a beaming smile on her face.

“M-Mama?”

The vision vanished as soon as it began. No one would believe her if even if said anything now. Yet as the young girl was laid down, her eyes closing again, she still smiled.

Her land, her people remained at the brink even with the help of those Austrians. Much work was left to be done for the Survivor-Nation. But there was still tomorrow. For one day, things would get better. The big mess of Doomsday would fade. And perhaps, she'd be able to see her parents again.

Wouldn’t want to worry her too much, the young child of Hungary thought as she found herself in a vast green plain. Somehow, she had a feeling that her mother would see her again. And not just in her dreams.

Very soon.