It was hard to get away. Especially when the world was black… and white. Screaming, crying, explosions. It was so messed up.

My mother died in the rubble of our hometown, her blood mixed with the sweat and ashes of the ground. They hit us first with the searches. Military parading the streets, screaming children being separated from their families. They killed, mercilessly. They hit us next with the terrorizing of our villages, when we refused to give them what they wanted.

“Kallis. Come here." My mother's eyes were filled with fear. Her pupils dilated when she saw me, tears brimming, threatening to spill.

"They are coming. They want you, Kalli." She fumbled with her locket, thrusting it into my hands.

“Why?” The young Kallisto cocked her head, curious.

“You’re an enhanced, my sweet. You will never be safe. This is my gift to you. Do you see this bear, καλλιστος?" I nodded, tears streaking down my cheeks.

"This is you, Kallisto. Kallisto, I love you so much, but I need you to run. Run far away so that they will never find you. Do you hear me, Kallis?"

I nodded, unable to keep my sobs in me. She wasn’t coming with me. Tears streamed down her face, and I was surprised. My mother was a stone statue. She never cried.

"I'm sorry, Kallisto."

I tried to say what was on the edge of my mouth, the sideline of my brain.

"Mother, I lo-"

But she pushed me away.

"Go, Kallis!"

I ran, teardrops splattering on the white ground, my heavy breaths echoing behind me. I heard screams, the crackling of fire. I ran, a terrified 12 year old with no idea that her only family left, had been attacked.

The child cried, wishing that everything would vanish. Everything would fade away, and she would be back to that morning, where the sun shone and happiness flooded. Whimpering with every step, screaming internally with every explosion, the child died, and became the woman she had been forced to be.