With it's spreading, the first waves of agony gripped my body and I shouted out in pain. Doubling over, I fell to the floor. Then the second wave hit ...e, this time a searing heat engulfed me, my whole body felt like it was on fire. I clutched my head as soon as the third and final wave crashed over me, my body contorted in agony, my bones cracking, being crushed from within. The last thing I remembered was a high pitched scream pouring out of my lungs.————I came to, my eyes blurred, trying to. Joseph saw that the soldiers were preparing as though they would face determined opposition on a foreign shore. He was heartened that many of the group was comprised of men that had served with him for years. They knew the perils of complacency.Nadia had been the second surprise. She had not abandoned the group but she had not fully integrated into it. The military arts held no interest for her, although she was impressed by how quickly the army had sprung to readiness. She would spend her days. But Gregory's bedroom was nearly finished, especially his books and computer, his clothing was still in opened packing boxes.Time passed slowly, as it always seems to if you can't sleep. There was a little amount of street lights coming through the single bedroom window, from the quiet streets outside, enough to see much of his room. Though Gregory was trying to get to sleep, he really did not want too - dreading his first day at the new school.The neighbourhood Gregory and his family had moved. When he was next to her she stirred and murmured — the sheet slipping down over her shoulder to reveal that she wasn’t wearing her normal bundle of bed wear. He couldn’t help himself as he gently pushed the sheet further down her body, until her breasts were revealed to his suddenly hungry eyes. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked at him with an unfocused gaze. ‘It’s just me,’ he said, ‘Sleep my love.’ He placed his hand on the side of her face and leaned over to kiss her gently on her.