Short Stories. #wattys2016

No, please!

He looked at me reassuringly,

'Don't worry, it will be okay...we'll just walk quickly through before the tank explodes'

I stood there, dread gripping me in its deathly claws. Sure, he says we would make it, could  make  it, but i still wasn't confident enough to take that step.

I looked up at the giant twin tanks, from where i stood, i could see a monster machine, i don't know what it is, fire ammunition point blank at the first of the twin tanks.

Then a second.

I tried to gulp down whatever was hanging in my throat. Call me a coward, but i sure as hell will not waltz to my very possible doom.

I would've warned him but he had already turned on his heels going past the now heavily smoking tanks. The last i saw of him was his retreating back. He went right past the tanks and just when i was about to follow suit, even though i was still scared, i watched to my horror as a sudden flame flared from the mouth of the monster machine.

The whole scene, right in front my very own eyes, burst into huge, raging flames.

My breath caught in my throat

No!

No, no, no, no!!!

My vision became blurry and my throat constricted painfully as i sobbed hard. I couldn't even get the words out and when i eventually did, i thought i was going to choke.

'No!'

'No, please no!'

My voice sounded so alien to me.
I couldn't bring myself to say the words.

My cries would abate, hoping against all odds that i would catch a glimpse of him...alive.

But was it possible?

Could anyone had survived that fatal explosion?

Then the tears would come back in a rush, blinding me and rendering me utterly useless.

All i could do was cry.

But then i saw someone move towards the site of the explosion, after the fire died down of course, with very simple tools and immediately started to excavate a body.

It was lifeless. And covered in thick layers of dust. But...

It. Wasn't. Him.

I was hysterical, i kept looking to see if i could atleast see him. I was so torn inside i had no idea what to do.

What am i to do?

It was a question i couldn't answer because i then willed myself to wake up from this nightmare.

When i opened my eyes, it was still deep in the night. I said a silent prayer and went back to sleep thinking of him.