This is a dialogue exchange for a story I’m working on. [Story tagline: “Nobody ever thought ‘second chances’ would start a war. Everyone was wrong. _So_ wrong.”]

D -> (Sebastian) Denver Hyde

M -> Matin Ripley

H -> Harlow Elyse

-

D: “We’re a group, we’re _Chancers_. Are you?”

M: “I’m- I’m not quite sure. I heard about this just yesterday-”

D: “Being a Chancer is a blood pact. If you don’t intend to join us, there’s the door.”

M: “I’ll fight.”

D: “For which side, Ripley?”

M: “Chancers.”

D: “Are you weak?”

H: “Give her a break, Hyde.”

D: “I repeat: _Are. You. Weak_?”

M: “What?”

D: “If you’re weak, don’t expect to live. You’ll still have a heartbeat… but war doesn’t kill the weak. It shatters them.”

H: “Hyde-“

D: “It shatters them until the pieces become little seeds of soldiers, and instead of giving them the water to grow, it gives them blood.”

M: “Of… who?”

D: “Their enemies… friends… and family.”

H: *shaking her head* “I nominate Denver for ‘most likely to give someone PTSD accidentally.’”

D: “What do you mean, ‘accidentally’?”