Preview of a story I am writing.
Nov 12, 2021 22:36:35 GMT
Deleted, John Marston, and 2 more like this
Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2021 22:36:35 GMT
This is the first chapter of a wattpad story I'm writing, Comrade in Arms.
It's about two brothers living in Ukraine who end up at war after Russia invades the country.
Tell me what you think!
Near Kharkiv, Ukraine
Nikolaj Kovalenko paced nervously.
He had been watching the news, like he did every morning. Everything had seemed fine. The news had talked about normal things, such as the latest protests in Kyiv or the latest political scandals. Nikolaj had been sipping his coffee, ready to head off to work, when he heard a breaking news broadcast. It had been this sudden broadcast that had startled him.
Nikolaj stopped pacing for a moment and gazed out the window of his small apartment. It was snowing outside, which was unsurprising. Winters in Eastern Ukraine tended to be snowy. Of course, Nikolaj was fully aware that he would likely have to shovel out a path for his car. But that was the least of his worries.
Nikolaj was about to go back to his coffee when he heard a large grunt from upstairs, followed by footsteps. "Look who's finally awake!" he shouted. "I was starting to think you were dead!"
Mikhail Kovalenko responded with a muffled greeting. Mikhail was Nikolaj's younger brother by two years. The two were currently sharing an apartment in Kharkiv while Mikhail searched for a job, something which he had never been good at holding on too. He had been fired from his last job, at a factory in Poltava, after being late to work 4 days in a row. His sleep schedule had only gotten worse since.
"Mikhail, how many time do I have to tell you." Nikolaj began. "You need to start waking up earlier if you want to hold on to a job."
Mikhail grunted another unintelligible response, before shuffling over towards the mug of coffee Nikolaj had left out. After taking a sip Mikhail's eyes finally opened fully. "Ah... now it feels like morning" he sighed. "Good morning to you too, brother."
"Mikhail..." Nikolaj started to say, but his brother quickly stopped him.
"I know, I know" he laughed. "I need to get up earlier. You've only told me 6000 times"
"Maybe I wouldn't have to tell you if you'd actually do it" Nikolaj replied, a small smile creeping on to his face. "No wonder Papa seemed so happy when you moved out. Now he doesn't have to wake your lazy *Auto corrected* up every morning."
Mikhail chuckled lightly. As he walked towards the table, he turned around suddenly. "Oh, Nikolaj, what were you pacing about when I came down?" he asked. "I can always tell when something's bothering you. You were doing the same thing you did when Mama was sick"
"Oh, yes... just something in the news startled me a bit." Nikolaj replied
"Well, what is it?" Mikhail pried.
Nikolaj's nervous expression returned as he turned towards his brother. "It's the Russians" he said, as calmly as he possibly could. "They've built up troops on the border again"
"So what?" Mikhail replied. "They've been building up troops for 7 years now and nothing's happened!"
Nikolaj sighed lightly. "It's different this time. I think the bastards are up to something. Rebel activity in Donetsk is picking up a ton."
"What, you mean those *Auto corrected*ing separatists?" Mikhail responded, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "The hell do they want now?"
"I'm not sure exactly" Nikolaj replied. "But something just feels...different about this...". Nikolaj was suddenly interrupted by a chime from his phone. "shoot, looks like we will have to wrap this up. I need to get to work."
Mikhail smiled. "Alright, alright, you get going then." As Nikolaj put on his coat, Mikhail piped up again. "Oh, I almost forgot" he said excitedly. "I have an interview this afternoon at an office not far from here"
"Really?" Nikolaj asked, a look of surprise crossing his face. "That's great news!"
"Thanks, Nikolaj" Mikhail replied. "Your support always means a lot to me!"
"Well, good luck" Nikolaj added, before stepping out the door towards his car.
As Nikolaj began the short commute towards his work, he smiled. Mikhail's interview was great news, without a doubt, but he couldn't help but wonder how long it would be before this job fell through as well. Just like all the others.
"Mikhail, you hopeless moron" Nikolaj chuckled to himself. But as he continued along the highway, the feeling of dread from earlier crept back into his mind. The news of Russian build up was definitely startling. But perhaps Mikhail was right. Maybe it was just another intimidation tactic, meant to scare Ukraine into staying away from a relationship with the EU, something the country had craved since the Soviet Union had collapsed.
"It's nothing." Nikolaj told himself. "Just Putin flexing his muscles". Nikolaj flicked on the radio, a sense of calm returning to him.
How wrong he turned out to be...
It's about two brothers living in Ukraine who end up at war after Russia invades the country.
Tell me what you think!
Near Kharkiv, Ukraine
Nikolaj Kovalenko paced nervously.
He had been watching the news, like he did every morning. Everything had seemed fine. The news had talked about normal things, such as the latest protests in Kyiv or the latest political scandals. Nikolaj had been sipping his coffee, ready to head off to work, when he heard a breaking news broadcast. It had been this sudden broadcast that had startled him.
Nikolaj stopped pacing for a moment and gazed out the window of his small apartment. It was snowing outside, which was unsurprising. Winters in Eastern Ukraine tended to be snowy. Of course, Nikolaj was fully aware that he would likely have to shovel out a path for his car. But that was the least of his worries.
Nikolaj was about to go back to his coffee when he heard a large grunt from upstairs, followed by footsteps. "Look who's finally awake!" he shouted. "I was starting to think you were dead!"
Mikhail Kovalenko responded with a muffled greeting. Mikhail was Nikolaj's younger brother by two years. The two were currently sharing an apartment in Kharkiv while Mikhail searched for a job, something which he had never been good at holding on too. He had been fired from his last job, at a factory in Poltava, after being late to work 4 days in a row. His sleep schedule had only gotten worse since.
"Mikhail, how many time do I have to tell you." Nikolaj began. "You need to start waking up earlier if you want to hold on to a job."
Mikhail grunted another unintelligible response, before shuffling over towards the mug of coffee Nikolaj had left out. After taking a sip Mikhail's eyes finally opened fully. "Ah... now it feels like morning" he sighed. "Good morning to you too, brother."
"Mikhail..." Nikolaj started to say, but his brother quickly stopped him.
"I know, I know" he laughed. "I need to get up earlier. You've only told me 6000 times"
"Maybe I wouldn't have to tell you if you'd actually do it" Nikolaj replied, a small smile creeping on to his face. "No wonder Papa seemed so happy when you moved out. Now he doesn't have to wake your lazy *Auto corrected* up every morning."
Mikhail chuckled lightly. As he walked towards the table, he turned around suddenly. "Oh, Nikolaj, what were you pacing about when I came down?" he asked. "I can always tell when something's bothering you. You were doing the same thing you did when Mama was sick"
"Oh, yes... just something in the news startled me a bit." Nikolaj replied
"Well, what is it?" Mikhail pried.
Nikolaj's nervous expression returned as he turned towards his brother. "It's the Russians" he said, as calmly as he possibly could. "They've built up troops on the border again"
"So what?" Mikhail replied. "They've been building up troops for 7 years now and nothing's happened!"
Nikolaj sighed lightly. "It's different this time. I think the bastards are up to something. Rebel activity in Donetsk is picking up a ton."
"What, you mean those *Auto corrected*ing separatists?" Mikhail responded, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "The hell do they want now?"
"I'm not sure exactly" Nikolaj replied. "But something just feels...different about this...". Nikolaj was suddenly interrupted by a chime from his phone. "shoot, looks like we will have to wrap this up. I need to get to work."
Mikhail smiled. "Alright, alright, you get going then." As Nikolaj put on his coat, Mikhail piped up again. "Oh, I almost forgot" he said excitedly. "I have an interview this afternoon at an office not far from here"
"Really?" Nikolaj asked, a look of surprise crossing his face. "That's great news!"
"Thanks, Nikolaj" Mikhail replied. "Your support always means a lot to me!"
"Well, good luck" Nikolaj added, before stepping out the door towards his car.
As Nikolaj began the short commute towards his work, he smiled. Mikhail's interview was great news, without a doubt, but he couldn't help but wonder how long it would be before this job fell through as well. Just like all the others.
"Mikhail, you hopeless moron" Nikolaj chuckled to himself. But as he continued along the highway, the feeling of dread from earlier crept back into his mind. The news of Russian build up was definitely startling. But perhaps Mikhail was right. Maybe it was just another intimidation tactic, meant to scare Ukraine into staying away from a relationship with the EU, something the country had craved since the Soviet Union had collapsed.
"It's nothing." Nikolaj told himself. "Just Putin flexing his muscles". Nikolaj flicked on the radio, a sense of calm returning to him.
How wrong he turned out to be...
