The thumping of rotor blades is like a drum pounding in my ears, again and again. The thick headset only faintly muffles the sound. I’m strapped in tight, and my eyes squeeze shut as the helicopter banks hard to my left. Fear grips my throat. We’re flying right through enemy territory, barely dodging enemy fire.
Something shoots past us and explodes just outside the hold. Bright orange flashes through my closed eyelids. I firmly grip the harness, begging my breathing to stay normal as I have been trained. But my lungs refuse to cooperate and my fingers dig painfully into the straps.
Why am I here? I never should have signed up for this. I’m going to die, shot from the air before I even reach the campsite.
My breath becomes shaky, and I bow my head to hide the tears that threaten to escape, not wanting anyone to see my weakness. I’m the youngest in the group and have the most to prove. Breaking down is not a good start.
“Rookie, eh?” a voice chirps in my ear. “Don’t worry about it. They’ll never hit us.”
I just whimper, nodding my head furiously and scrunching my eyes so tight I see stars, just to stop the tears escaping.
“Really, it’s no big deal. Getting shot down during relief work is just an occupational hazard. Locals just don’t seem to like military helicopters for some reason,” he adds with a chuckle.
The helicopter levels out at a sickening speed, making my stomach lurch. But I’m soon distracted by a soft rattling like a belt buckle being pulled apart.
There, clinging to the rim of a tiny window is a man – about fifty judging by his fine wrinkles and the messy grey strands of hair hanging loosely on his forehead. His nose presses eagerly to the glass, and his whole body shakes from the force of the blades.
The enthusiastic smile plastered on his lips is abruptly wiped off when the chopper suddenly speeds to the right. He goes flying, staggering across the floor like a drunk until he latches onto my harness and hauls himself back up to grab the rim again.
“Thanks kid!”
My rib cage feels like it has been crushed and as he peers through the glass, I manage to choke out “What the hell are you doing?”
“Well, it’s always a good idea to take a look at what’s trying to kill you, which speaking of boys and girls, looks like we’re getting a little closer to. We’re landing.”
He’s right. The floor feels as though it has dropped from beneath my backside, already sore from the long journey. The descent is fast – we’re dropping lower, faster and faster until my ear drums flex and pop painfully and sound becomes…non-existent.
There is silence.
I look around, disorientated as the chopper bounces on its wheels and lands ungracefully as the ramp lowers. A man in uniform waves frantically, shouting, and some unbuckle their harnesses, grab various packs and remove their headsets. I copy them, and after some struggle it releases. I sling one arm through my pack but my hands are trembling and I can barely lift it. The man, who just seconds ago was full of glee, stands a few feet away with a grim expression, his mouth dead set in a straight line. He grabs my pack, slings it over his shoulder, then pushes me off the chopper with a hand on the small of my back.
Outside there is nothing. No sound. No shade. Nothing but the blistering sun, and the hard, cracked earth. The man in uniform waves us on, shouting something I cannot hear. Even the beating of the blades does not penetrate my ears. I turn back to shout something, anything, but still nothing comes out. My hair comes loose from its ponytail and lashes at my face. I try again, opening my mouth but still nothing.
Panicked, I realize I’m deaf.
The wild gestures of the man in uniform tell me to run.
My heart hammering, I take two deep breaths and sprint but it’s useless. I feel the panic of the man behind me, and can just make out the haze of frightened people. But I cannot hear them. Nor can I hear the regular thumping of feet on the hard ground. I want to scream, just to hear the sound and release the mounting pressure, painful now, that’s building in my ears. I just want to be lifted from this silent trance and hear my feet moving.
My pace slows, and I press my fingers in my ears to try and clear them, but if anything it makes it worse. I try swallowing while holding my breath, but still nothing.
My palms flat to the side of my head, I scream and scream but still nothing comes out. Then suddenly my feet leave the floor and I’m in the arms of the man, half dragged, half carried across the remaining fifty yards. His mouth moves frantically while thick beads of sweat and grime run down his forehead. Already he is red, chest heaving. It seems like hours before we reach the circle of armed soldiers.
Abruptly I’m dropped and land hard on the baked earth. I immediately rub my ears and to my surprise it works. Sound gradually returns. First I hear the voice of the man who had carried me, all enthusiasm gone, as I realize with a thud in my heart that he’s shouting at me.
“You were being shot at and you stopped! You stupid girl, you should have died!”
The others pause to listen, their expressions range from awe to disgust, but mostly amused. Blushing deeply, I look away and hide behind my hair, pretending to examine my muddy shoelaces.
He’s right. I’m stupid.
I am a little girl lost in a land far from silent.
****
This is just something I wrote for my writing class at school. I was in the mood for action, and wanted to try out present tense - a tense lots claim is next to impossible to write. Not sure if I like it or not. Tell me what you think :)
And about my other story, An Honest Lie...yeah, I'm an idiot and just accidentally deleted it... *facepalm* The reason it hasn't been updated in so long is b/c I decided to finish the whole story, and then post a chapter like every other day. It's just so complex and I want to make sure I get rid of all plot holes as well as making it the best it can be. I only have a few more chapters left, then I'm finished and I can post it on here, editing as I go. So...yeah. Sorry about that. Expect the first chapter to be posted sometime in the next three weeks. Thanks to those who are still sticking with me!
~Natalie
