The Upside Down Tale of a Warrior

Chapter 3

I just kept falling and falling until I smelt something that made my stomach turn. The metallic tang of blood invaded my nose. So potent I taste it. The sounds of metal clashing and screaming is what hit me next on my never ending fall. I hit the ground on my hands and knees but I still couldn't see a thing. I could feel the ground though and the clashing metal and metallic blood smell still invaded my senses. Now that I was over the jarring shock I could feel and smell grass, except the ground seemed covered with a wet, thick liquid. As soon as I could see again I screamed my head off. I screamed until my throat felt hoarse and only then did I stop. The grass was covered in blood and guts. I had landed right next to a person that had died horrifically and soon I started vomiting my guts up.
When I finished I looked around and saw bodies everywhere. It seems like I am on some sort of battlefield, I think. Except there is something different,off. Then I notice the uniforms and weapons. It wasn't a uniform though, it was armor and swords. Each helmet either had red or blue feather looking things in their helmets. That's when it hit me. In social studies the other day we were looking at photos of what Greek and Roman soldiers looked like. These were Greek and Roman soldiers! I think excitedly. I then become sensible for one moment and ask myself how it is possible to be on a battlefield of soldiers from ancient history? I am still dreaming, I think grimly. There is no other explanation.
"What are you doing laying on the ground, soldier!" Someone screams in my face. I quickly look up and determine he is a general based on how he holds himself, how he yells, and the battle scars everywhere. He was rather grotesque with half of his face seemingly burned off with a nasty scar across one eye.
"Well! Don't just sit there and stare at me like a fool! Get up!" He keeps yelling and I scramble to my feet. I tried to stand at attention like I had seen military men do, I failed miserably.
"What kind of stance is that soldier! Where is your armor?" I start to wonder why he thinks I am a soldier. Last time I checked women weren't allowed in the army. Then I remembered my short black hair and boy-ish clothes.
"Well! Are you going to answer me any time today, soldier?" He shouts and questions at the same time. I also realize he is speaking in Greek and I understood what he said. So I open my mouth to answer because I have another hunch, "I heard my friend was out here so I rushed out and forgot my armor," I say in perfect, fluent Greek that surprised me. A day ago I couldn't introduce myself in Spanish after taking classes in school for five years! Now I can speak fluent Greek! This is definitely a dream. Then again there is no way I could imagine or make-up the emotions I have felt. I push that thought away and focus on the general.
"Well at least you brought a sword with you," he sighs, "Though the other weapons you carry are very unusual." He points out the guns and the knives.
"Um... they were a gift from an Egyptian woman," I say, trying to come up with an explanation on the spot.
"Well alright then lad, get to your tent! Get a move on!" He yells, spit flying from his mouth onto my face. I salute and walk away quickly, trying to find the nearest town or something. With my head up I tried to ignore all of the dead bodies that I waded through.
I had no luck. As soon as I went out of range of the army I bounced off of some sort of barrier. It was like the one that kept the water and alligators from getting in, except now it was trying to keep me caged. The barrier was not soft. I landed on my back and probably had a dazed look on my face. Great, just great, I think as I slowly get up. I can't go anywhere except for the army. I wonder if my brother is suffering the same fate, I think as I turn my back on the slightly shimmering barrier and march back to the battlefield. I follow a line of soldiers marching to a bunch of tents. The tents were lined up in perfect, orderly lines and there were a few larger tents. Which I could only guess were meeting tents and generals tents. I watched as each man found a tent and disarmed themselves, taking off armor and leaving them in thin shirts and brown trousers.
I started to panic because I didn't have armor or a tent. Or a backstory for that matter. Just as I was about to have a full-blown panic attack I ran into a wall. Ok so it isn't a wall, I think as I stare at a muscled back. My mouth almost dropped to the ground when he turned to look at me, he was gorgeous. He was also scowling.
"Watch where you are going boy," He growls and shoves me a bit. I grumble under my breath. He turns back to look at me again.
"What was that?" He says, his voice full of anger as he gives me a I-am-going-to-kill-you look.
"Nothing," I replied quickly, not wanting to get into a fight.
"Common punk, tell me what you said! Or are you too scared?" He taunts. I try to stay calm. I couldn't afford to get into a fight because I don't know how to fight. I ball my fists up and try to take deep breaths, letting him push me around. Ok so maybe I lied earlier. I know perfectly well how to fight. I just fight too well. I really can't afford to get into trouble in the army. Especially when I can't leave and have to keep my gender hidden. Drawing attention would be too much trouble. Sadly, he sees my bunched up fists and takes this as an invitation to keep taunting me. Obviously looking for a fight.
"Aww what's wrong. Scrawny boy getting angry. I bet you got your cowardice from your dad." At the mention of my dad I threw a punch faster than he can blink. Certainly faster than he can block. He drops right to the ground and I pounce on him like a wild tiger. Throwing punch after punch, his nose was now gushing blood and he spat some off to the side. He tries to stop me but I have him securely pinned.
I finally stopped punching and put my arm across his throat.
"Who is the weakling now?" I growl in his face. An officer starts to come over so I stand up and wipe my hands on my shirt. Too used to the stinging of my knuckles and blood on my hands. I wipe the blood off of my face and fake a lunge at him. He whimpers back and I turn around.
Everyone was staring at me, shocked. I guess he was sort of a legend around here. I shrugged my shoulders.
The officer finally arrived and asked, "What happened here?" He sounded so bored I guess this happened often. Then again this was an all men army, the testerone was probably running so high fights were an hourly occurrence.
"Is this the Jameson," The officer laughs as he finally makes out his face among the blood.
"So someone finally knocked you down a peg." he laughs again and this Jameson guy groans in response. The officer reaches out to give me a friendly handshake.
"I am Renald," The officer says. I laugh and return his handshake.
"Hey Renald I am... Umm... Eliza." I try to come up with a good boy name on the spot. So I made Elizabeth into Eliza, trying to stay close to my name so he couldn't tell I was making it up and lying to his face. He has pearly white teeth. I know this because he has a huge grin on his face. The type of smile that makes you want to smile with him. So that is what I do, I smile. Despite the terrible dream I am stuck in.