What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you realize the community that you are in charge of falls to the hands of something you have no control over? For me it was just shock. I had no idea what I was supposed to do. A community is defined as a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. Now I’d say that would be an ideal description of the United States of America, which also just so happens to be the community of which I am in charge of. We as a people all believe in the concept of freedom. But today that freedom is being taken away from us.

“Mr. President, you’re on in five minutes.”

“Ya, ya, I’m ready.” Am I though?

I feel so defeated. How do you tell the people who look up to you for help that it’s over? I don’t want to be the one to cancel what little hope the people had left. What will happen next? Anarchy I suppose. But hopefully it doesn’t come to that.

As I read over the speech on the prompter one last time before the big moment, they say “Don’t worry we’ll all get through this.”
“Let’s hope so” I say in response.
“Ok sir you’re on in 5, 4, 3”
Two. One.

“My fellow Americans I’m sure you are aware of the current situation at hand. And if you aren’t aware, then I’ll tell you now that we were at war. And I regret to say that we have lost. Despite out best efforts we have run out of resources to use in our fight against the communist regime. I-“
Suddenly there is an explosion behind the bunker door. The power had been cut. All the guards take out their flashlights and point their guns at the door, ready to guard me with their lives.
Another explosion, this time louder. They’re trying to blow the door open. They aren’t getting through anytime soon, but I can tell they are determined to open that door by any means necessary. Damn those communist bastards. They took everything, and destroyed whatever they didn’t want. They took New York, Los Angeles, the capital, and Boston is probably next on their list. On top of that, they took my daughter, Lara.
Boom. Another explosion came from behind the door. Slowly but surely they are breaking through. I can tell they’ve made progress. Boom. Each explosion is louder than the previous one, and I can start feeling the ground shake harder and harder each time. boom. Boom, boom, boom, boom. Crash! Suddenly it’s a thunderstorm of bullets. I can’t even tell what going on. In the midst of it all, I try scrambling for cover. I duck as I hear bullets wiz past my ears, and hit someone behind me.
Through all the gunfire and screaming, I can tell we aren’t winning. The gunfire stopped. I distinctly hear Russian voices from behind the desk I’m hiding under. We’ve lost. They are now pushing tables over. It’s only a matter of time before they find me here, in my little confined space behind a filing cabinet. It’s no use. They found me already after two agonizing minutes. I slowly get up as I raise my hands into the air.
“I’m sure we can talk this out” they laughed triumphantly and the nearest henchman knocked me in the temple with the butt of his gun.
*
*
*
I wake up sitting down in a chair, but my wrists are tied behind me. I’m in a small enclosed room with a TV on the wall. I try struggling but to no avail.
“Hey you’re finally awake.” I hear behind me in a strong, cold Russian accent. This man’s a giant. He has to be at least six feet tall.
“What do you want with me?”
“I want the codes to the nuclear launch sequence. Now I can take them the easy way, or I can take them the really hard way, for you, that is. It’s all up to you really.”
I struggle against the bonds, trying everything I can to get free.
“It’s no use. Now, those codes please.”
“You’re not getting them, I hope you know that.”
“Oh I think we will. We have our methods of getting what we want.”
“Why do you even want them anyways? You have the country already, what more could you want?”
“Just to be sure no one opposes us.”
I struggle some more. This guy isn’t giving up anytime soon.
“Now give me the codes.”
“No.” He punches me in the face, breaking my nose.
“Hard way it is then. I’m going to tell you again, give me the codes.”
“No.” Another blow to the face, this time harder. Blood is now dripping down onto the concrete floor.
“Mr. President I didn’t want to come to this, but you leave me no choice.” The man turns on the TV, and I look up not believing what I saw. On the screen there is what looked like tall building, and on top, four or five armed men. With a little girl. Lara.

I can feel my head imploding with rage.

“Don’t you dare touch her!” I yell, but the man just smirks.

“Now, now, you brought this upon yourself. She’s just one phone call away from being thrown off the building, or, you could just give me those codes of yours and she’ll be brought back right here to you. It would be unwise to object. Don’t make me make that phone call; Lara’s blood would be on your hands.”

“You sick bastards. I can’t just give you the codes. It’d mean world war three.”

“Ya, that’s the idea”

“I can’t give you those codes.” I said looking down, tears now rolling down my face.

“Alright, if you say so.” And he lifts his phone and dials.