.

Eighteen months ago it began, it had been eighteen months ago when Avi had looked at the sight which left the woman speechless.

It had simply been another headline to see, but the burning in her stomach would go away at the thought. China's tensions with the US continue to grow over Pacific territory.

Days turned to weeks, weeks into months, and that story was soon buried in the back of every American mind.

Until six months arrived, and Avi found herself slowing down to read the words skimming past the television screen at the store window. China's overall DOW continues to sink at an alarming rate.

North Korea test fires yet another missile into the sea.

Chinese leader meets with Kim Jong Un in secret, details of the meeting are still not revealed and alarm US.

Chinese leader meets with US president to go over US debt to China, trade deals, and Pacific territory.

Chinese economy continues to suffer, uproar among citizens who begin to protest in streets of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other cities.

News began falling like raindrops in a thunderstorm, one would never know what was coming next.

The first two months of the New Year brought more worries. North Korea and China seemed to have strengthened their ties economically and socially.

China and North Korea ring in Lunar New Year with joint celebration that crosses border.

Pacific dispute furthers when China's military takes over US territory Samoa islands.

And so the news continued.

North Korea once again declares war on US, and it seems as though China is not too far away.

Three months ago.

China's economy reaches an all new low and the Yuan is now nearly considered worthless.

China demands that US pay its overwhelming debt, but with the US just recovering from a recession, that is still just be impossible.

Negotiations over debt fail as China still demands debt to be paid.

Two months ago.

Chinese military strikes against the Philippine Islands.

North Korea missile tests all deemed successful by Kim Jong Un, alarming South Korea.

Shots fired in DMZ zone between North and South Korea....war is seen on the horizon.

Six weeks ago

UN declares sanctions on China in response to military strikes in Pacific, and sanctions against North Korea as well.

China retaliates with sanctions against US, tensions may just tip the balance towards War.

A month ago

US troops mobilized in Pacific Islands and near Russian border in response to threats and tension

Vietnamese, Chinese, and North Korean Leader all meet for talks

Talks against Communism and anti-Communist Propaganda in South Korea enrages both China and North Korea, sponsored by the US

China formally strengthens its ties with North Korea and Vietnam, warning to US

Three weeks ago

China and US declare war

And all that led to now, the moment where Avi found herself and her friends, family, and neighbors, caught in the midst of a war she'd never have dreamed of.

It was something they should have seen coming.

...

"How in the world did they manage to invade so easily?"

"Two reasons. One, the US army has been mobilized overseas to take care of the threats over there. And two, the US has gotten used to the fact that supposedly both China and North Korea have done a whole lot of talking and not much acting...if any at all. They definitely had the element of surprise as an easy advantage over us."

"How many places are under their control by now?"

"The west coast...definitely. Cali, Washington, Oregon, Alaska...Hawaii, all out of the question. They've now taken Florida, as we can see, and they're most likely already making their way up. There's no way to tell how fast they'll be moving around."

"Are they planning on killing us?"

"They're planning on killing opposition. They'll end any trace of retaliation without a second thought, we have four dead bodies outside as proof....so I'm begging everyone here. Don't...do anything stupid."

Those were the types of questions Avi could answer, those were the types she was sure she had an answer to. She wouldn't be able to answer if they'd be okay, she had no answer to what would happen to them now, to if they'd ever get out of this....

She wasn't God, she couldn't answer everything.

There was a woman near the door whispering to her old Hispanic grandmother; the poor woman didn't know a word in English, and her eyes were still wide with terror over everything she had to witness. Avi felt sorry for her the most.

Looking around the room, she quickly spotted that one soldier who had been studying her the entire time, glancing at him curiously for only a second in order not to raise any suspicion against herself. Avi moved closer to where her mother and father both sat praying; waiting for them to finish before she spoke to them.

She talked to them in the only language she was sure none of the soldiers would understand...Creole.

"Èske ou oke (Are you alright)?"

Her mother and father both nodded. "Ki sa mesye yo di? (What did the men say?)"

Avi smiled and continued in Creole. "They said nothing important...so far. One of them is going to be stationed in Miami, the other one will be in charge of here...and a Chinese general just showed up which is why they both left."

There had been a reason why Avi had decided to learn Korean; at the age of fourteen she had gone online and typed up Hangeul to learn the alphabet, and both her mother and father had always wondered why she had picked Korean out of all the languages to learn.

She could tell that they didn't doubt her choice anymore.

The door swung open and revealed General Min JinHai, six two and intimidatingly handsome as he walked in and immediately took a seat.

The soldier that had been watching Avi came close to him and whispered something in his ear; Avi held her breath when his eyes landed on her and he nodded her direction. "You...come here."

From the corner of her eye, she could see her parents tense up as she calmly got up and did as he asked, stopping to stand a good two feet away from him just in case.

The young soldier spoke up again. "I sarameun, hangugeo malhayo. Modu algesseoyo. [This person knows Korean, she understood everything.]"

She didn't even flinch, not even when Min JinHai looked up at her. "Did you understand what he said?"

Avi raised a brow and her lips tilted downwards. "Was I supposed to?" He exhaled slowly and leaned back into the chair. "What's your name?"

"Avi." Min JinHai nodded. "Well then, Avi...I'll ask you one more time. Did you understand what he said?"

The sound of a loaded gun caught her attention; she turned around to see a soldier position behind her parents with his riffle ready to fire.

She didn't flinch and looked back at the general. "Was I supposed to?"

The corner of his mouth lifted in amusement. "Etteokhe hangugeo malhayo? Eonje arra? [How do you know Korean? When did you learn?]"

Avi stared at him carefully for a moment. "Kisa ou di? (What did you say)?"

This time he grinned, getting up from his seat and walking up to her until she had to look up to see his face. Min JinHai then bent down and placed his mouth next to her ear. "Jeongmal...mwen koné kisa ou wap di tou. (I know what you are saying as well)."

And she froze, and he continued. "And I also know that you understood him just fine. We've been watching you since this morning."

Min JinHai then stood straight and walked towards the door. "Follow me...please?"

Avi looked at her parents for a moment before deciding it best to do what he asked.

She really did not want to die.

.

Part 2, Enjoy!