From Within The Sand (Sunstreaker and Sideswipe Bayverse)

Chapter 28

I told them how I would take runs out to the cliff. After every battle I came back from, left me stressed and in need of a release. Whenever I got close with someone, one I thought I could hopefully count on, they died. So, I started to isolate myself and the cliff became my safe haven. When soldiers first arrive, they are told never to go out there. When we do PT, we don't even run on the beach that far out. Fear that the cliff would give way. I just got pinned corporal and had been going out there for two years. Never thought that would happen to me. I was wrong.

It was like any other day on the island. The wind was picking up more than usual, but it didn't stop me. We had just come back from a disaster of a mission. The Decepticons got away and everyone was pissed. All the higher ups seemed to take it out on us lower enlisted. None of us had slept in over 72 hours. Somehow I couldn't sleep, so I went on a run at 0500. No one was around except for duty and the dead laid in their metal caskets. No one even knew I left.

I sprinted out to the cliff. Not caring about my burning lungs or the sweat dripping down my face and body. I was hot despite the cool ocean breeze. My feet kept moving until my hands stopped me as they hit the coconut tree that sits at the edge of the cliff. My chest heaved, pulling in as much oxygen as my lungs would allow. I brushed the sweat from my brow and let my hand slide off the trunk, taking a step closer to the edge. Something I always did not thinking anything of it. Unfortunately for me, it would be the time I should have been smarter. A large gust of wind hit me and the cliff. The ground gave way below me and I started falling. I'm not even sure I had a chance to scream.

The world went black. I don't even remember landing. I'm sure when I hit the sand it muffled the sound. I just remember waking up and looking up at the brightened sky. The sun was up higher, meaning I had been there for a while. It felt like I was laying there forever when I finally got up. I felt lighter as I forced myself up. Surprisingly, nothing hurt. I felt as if I had just woken up. More refreshed, if that was possible. My mind was fuzzy, but everything cleared up as soon as I turned around. There behind me, in the spot where I landed, was me.

The sand grounded into my knees when I fell to them. My jaw dropping as I stared at my twisted neck. My body made a dent on the beach. The tide slowly washing up closer along the shore. I felt frozen. I couldn't move. There in front of me lay my body, but I felt alive. Well, almost. After a moment, the shock settling, I crawled my way over to it. My hand moved without me trying and when I tried to place my hand on my body, it went right through it. A gasp left my throat. I tried over and over to grab my arm, but nothing happened. I ended up sitting back on my heels, staring at my hand. It looked solid; it looked normal. So did my other hand. What was happening to me?

I don't remember how long I sat, staring at my lifeless husk. A part of me was worried someone might come looking for me. It was getting late. The sun was falling into the ocean. I hastily brushed sand over myself before I began sprinting back to base. It wasn't until I was halfway down the beach; I realized I wasn't feeling breathless. My lungs weren't burning. My legs weren't aching. I couldn't feel any pain. I slow to a walk, then eventually to a stop. My mind was racing. Questions flashed over and over in my mind. What is wrong with me? Being one of them.

The slowly setting sun washed over me as I stood, trying to make a sense of this situation. There is only one answer, but I wasn't ready to accept that answer. In my mind at that moment, I was hallucinating. I hit my head hard and was imagining seeing myself laying in the sand. The cliff gave way, I fell, somehow survived, but I had begun to hallucinate. There was no reason for me to keep standing there, yet I couldn't get my feet to move. At that moment, I wanted to go back to my barracks room and crawl under my covers and fall asleep. My eyes squeezed shut as I wished to be anywhere but on the beach.