One-chapter stories

Fire.

Don't run away, don't try to fight back, don't yell and never say no, that's what they taught me. I have no choice, I'll die anyway. I have no future, nobody here has.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a shot. I heard a high-pitched scream, probably a child. Another shot, and a woman-like scream afterwards. And then, the third and final shot. It was dead quiet. The only thing you could hear were the tiny crisps of the fire, burning every last possession we had left. The smell of blood made me nauseous. They called us. We had to stand in a line, next to each other. Everyone had a shotgun pointed at their head. They would shoot if you'd move or talk. They had no mercy, they were heartless assholes. Campleader John was the biggest of them all. He hated everyone.

The fire was out after a few hours. I was still standing in the line just like everyone else. John walked back and forth, examinating everyone, slowly. The only thing I could hear were his footsteps, and the thumping hearts of the two people next to me. John came closer and closer to where I stood. Would he think that I started the fire? I had no idea. He was almost there. My heart started pounding even faster. He checked the person next to me. Nothing. And then he looked me, straight in the eyes. "Did you start the fire?" I gulped. It wasn't me, but I was still scared. "No sir, it wasn't me.", my voice shaky. He kept staring into my eyes. "Listen, boy, I've had enough of your stupid little games. What you've done isn't a game, or is it?" I couldn't say anything, I was in shock. Why would he think that I did it? "Who was it, answer me, you little shit!" John pushed me on the ground and kicked me in my stomach. "I-I'm sorry sir. It wasn't me, I swear. You can check me, I have nothing." I slowly stood up. But before John could do anything, the man next to me spoke up. "It was me." And there was a gunshot, right after he finished his sentence.