Human

Betrayed

"I prefer the woods, I thought they were scary....apparently not." Ray looks out over the marshes they walk across, jumping over liquid ground.

"Yeah. At least I knew where I was standing."

"Where are we headed anyway?"

"Nearest city? You need proper medical attention, I need to find somewhere safe."

The marsh land stretches so far that is looks as if thy are walking across a sea of greens and purple. Every now and then they come to a path that's darker than the rest, which will most likely mean death by drowning. I see them struggle when the floor is more mulch than stable ground and Asha screams, pointing at the floor causing Ray to look down, he pales and steps back.

A half decayed corpse is semi buried in the marsh, its hands clawed into the ground around it. Its mouth is agape and so are its eyes, except there is nothing where the eyeballs should be. The black hollows stare aimlessly up. The grey cloth around its torso hangs loosely and is torn revealing the chest, the skin is paper thin and a hole in the upper abdomen oozes with marsh water. The smell, well let's just say its worse than a dead man in the oven.

Asha turns away tears in her eyes and calls to the piglet holding her close to her chest. Ray can't seem to look away, but is perplexed, frozen by the scene before him. Then he retches, and vomits to the side his cereal bar no longer supplying him nutrients. He continues to dry heave and clutches the wound on his side, I can only imagine the agony.

Through heaves he remembers Asha "Hey!" Heaves "Are you okay?" Heaves "You seem to be making a better scene than me with this." Heaves.

Asha turns around and nods, its an uncertain nod and then she gags, pitching her nose with the arm she cradles she grabs Rays arm and drags the pair of them away from the nightmare they'd witnessed. They stop quite a way from the body and compose themselves, they're both shaking. I don't remember how that corpse ended up there to be most honest but I do believe he was left by his partner...

They walk on in silence and I find myself bored at the normality they return to, although by the glazed look on both their faces, neither of them have mentally accepted that death is the one thing no one can avoid. Even me. Up ahead of them is a small makeshift shelter, made from animal skins and rope, its based upon a small island of rock that protrudes strongly from the soft ground around it. Ray shouts out and runs towards it, skidding to a halt when a skeletal man steps out wearing green shorts and a torn brown shirt, his feet are bare and he's filthy, a beard of grey hangs from his chin. Both his eyes are white and he looks directly at Ray who puts a hand behind him to signal Asha to stay put. She does, the fear evident in her mousy features. The man raises a hand in Rays direction and although his eyes look behind Ray. A graveled voice emerges from him. "Boy? What are you doing on my land?"

Ray's jaw drops and he toys with his bag strap "I...I didn't know it was your land Sir, I'm sorry. I will be on my way to leave if that's okay."

"No."

"No?"

"Do you mock me boy?"

"Err....No."

"You will stay. I haven't had company for so long, please. I have food."

Ray looks doubtful and looks back at Asha who is still nothing to the blind man. She shakes her head worried, I don't blame her. The old man raises another hand in the air and cocks his head. "Ahh. I didn't sense your lady friend. There is enough for her also... I can sense your doubt boy, God wanted us to share and live in harmony, please join me for a meal."

Asha nods and Ray agrees although they are both weary to this mans kindness. Ray waits for Asha to walk in step with him and leans close to her. "Do we trust him?"