I'll Bring A War

Soon enough we reach the desert, squinting as we emerge from the darkened tunnel. It is vast and sand covers the sand for miles and miles in each direction that leads away from the city. Already, two of the elderly people, a couple, are stumbling on their feet and tell us to leave them there. “Sir, you’ll be safer with us. Honestly it’s no burden,” Andy pleads with them. They shake their heads as the lady replies, “No son, you’ve already helped us so much. All we needed is to escape that city; we can make our own way from here.” As they continue their conversation Ashley starts rummaging in my bag, almost knocking me over with the extra weight. “What are you doing?” I whisper snap at him.
“Giving them food, sorry, I’ll be more careful,” he replies. His apology is genuine and I feel guilty for snapping at him, then again I feel guilty for a lot of things now. Once he’s finished rummaging he approaches the others, they have a short conversation as I place my bag down and give everyone else some water. The elderly couple depart smiling, sharing the weight of a small sack containing as much food as we could spare.

I put the bag back on my back; unfortunately it still feels just as heavy as before, despite the reduction of contents. With the canteen of water in my hand I walk over to Andy, Jinxx and Ashley and offer them some water. Andy and Jinxx get into a light hearted conversation about their own grandparents whilst Ashley takes me aside. “I’m sorry for snapping at you,” I apologise shamefully. Ashley laughs, “Don’t worry about it.” I nod to confirm that I’d heard him when he suddenly continues, “You can do me one favour though?” I’m confused as to what I could offer him, “Yeah?” I enquire. He thrusts the canteen of water towards me, I look up at him puzzled. “Drink.”
“I did?” I gave Aaron my share of the water because he needs it more than I do; but no one else needed to know that. “I saw you.” He says simply.
“Saw me..?” I pretend to be confused at his comment.
“You didn’t have any. I saw you give Aaron your cup. Just like I saw you give him your food last night and this morning.”
“I wasn’t hungry.”
“Don’t lie Kiera. I know you have good intentions but those intentions won’t be of any use at all if you fall ill or are too weak to help.” He says it sternly, but his eyes have kindness in them. Grudgingly I take the canteen from his hands and guzzle down the last few mouthfuls. When I look back up at him, the canteen empty, he has bread in his hands. I sigh and take the bread from him without argument. “Thankyou,” I say quietly, I don’t want to admit how right he is. “You’re a Wild One now. Wild Ones look after each other.” Butterflies zoom around my stomach at the thought of being a rebel, finally.

Rounding up the group, we trundle along the desert until its dark. A chill hangs in the air. Aaron is more comfortable now and rushes between everyone, making us all smile despite our dire situation. When Andy is certain that the first few people who start to tire can’t go on anymore, we set up camp in the most secluded place that we can find, which happens to be a sand dune where we hide to the best of our abilities in the mangled grass. Everyone gets to sleep quickly, even Aaron who makes his bed next to the only elderly man left, Edgar, whom he had become firm friends with. I smiled to myself as I lied down next to Jinxx on the outside of the camp.

***
I can’t breathe as the room fills with smoke. The bright vibrant orange tongues of the fire lick my ankles and calves as I try to ignore the torturous pain and push Izzy’s small body into the small passageway above us. As she disappears into the darkness I prepare to launch myself up and into the passage but as I leap into the air someone grabs my already burnt ankle and slams my body back into the flames. I cry out in pain as the black silhouette approaches me. I try to back away but I’m surrounded by angry flames, the smoke is suffocating.

I see the soldier appear through the flames, miraculously not on fire at all. Its body isn’t human, the horns protruding from its head confirms that. Its eyes bore into my body and I had never felt more vulnerable, I couldn’t look into the shadows soldier's eyes but it made me. Dragging its long skeletal fingers along my jaw it forced my head up. I was staring into a pair of familiar human eyes, ice blue and full of a fearful confidence. Ali had the same cool shade of eyes, could it be him? “Ali?”

A scream interrupts my queries as I look up in time to see Izzy’s body dangling from the passage. Blood drips from her hanging body and her limbs are disgustingly mangled. Her organs are exposed as a huge gash in her stomach exposes her insides. I want to vomit. I find the courage to stand up and turn to climb outside the window at the back of the room that I had just spotted. As I turn to run the soldier grabs my arm and pierces my flesh. I grit my teeth as I tear my skin open more as I continue to run. the world spins and bile fills my throat as I fall out the window.

***

“There you go, it’s okay,” I can hear a deep voice. Someone is rubbing my back as I throw up the contents of my stomach. I finally finish being sick and I regain my senses. I don’t know who the person is. I have to get away. I scramble to my feet, the world spinning and try to run. Before I even take my fifth step arms wrap around my waist and I struggle to get away. The person turns me around and firmly holds my shoulders in place. I can’t breathe, I’m hyperventilating. I’m doomed, I’m going to die. They’re going to take me away and do what they did to Izzy to me. I can’t go. Aaron is here, he needs me. The world spins more than ever and my vision goes blurry. Everything goes black.

Notes

All of this was prewritten so why not update it, I'll try and update throughout the week but I have three exams (GCSEs if there are any other Brits here) but after that I will be finished and I have all summer to write and listen to music! Any feedback appreciated, enjoy :)