RUN

The Bridges We Burn

I grabbed Adam and dragged him with me as I leaped over the edge of the bridge. Before I could hit the water, I was shoved forward farther up the river by the hot rush of air. The explosion was cut short as I fell into the river. The water was thick like I had thought. The strong current was already sending me twirling through the water. There was some singeing on my back from the explosion but the water soothed the pain. The water was an murky and dark and when I opened my eyes but I couldn't see anything. I had lost Adam in the current. I kicked hard towards the surface but failed to break the through. My hope was fading as the last bit of air burst from my lungs. In a desperate struggle, I broke through the surface. My lungs filled with air as I still struggled to keep my head above the water. When I looked up, I could see the bridge was engulfed in flames. It was hard to tell from underneath. I caught a glimpse of Adams head down the river.

    There was a large Crack and a chunk of the bridge came plummeting down above me. I pushed myself under the water. The river had broken some of the fall but the block of stone still slammed into me. I managed to move before it dragged me down and I broke the surface once again. Adam wasn't in sight. I floated with the strong current down the river. Keeping my head above water was difficult, trying to swim to the other side was much harder. The current was strong and it swept me away further down the river. I had to use all my strength to grab on to a wooden post of a dock. I climbed up and collapsed from exhaustion.

The sun was still shining brightly down on the city. A slight breeze picked up the dust and ashes of Nancy. There was no sign of Adam, or anyone for that matter. I was alone.

    The warm sun was just beginning to dry my clothes when I heard footsteps. Coming down from the direction we came. Not just one, but many. They thundered down. Shouts and loud crashing joined in as they got closer. I got up and peered around. The sounds continued to echo off the crumbling walls, impairing my judgement of noise. When I peered down the end of the street, I could see figures running towards me. Many of them. They were boys. The closer they got, the easier it was to see the terror on their faces. Soon, they came from all streets. All running this way. I stood up and began to back away. Something bad must be happening. There was a round of gunshots not far behind them. The sound of galloping footsteps grew louder and louder. I was knocked to the ground by the stampede of boys. They must've been in a large group together and were attacked. I couldn't understand why else there was so many. I got up and joined the herd as we ran down the street like a school of fish. We needed to find a bridge. Some of the boys just jumped in the river. Others went off to the other streets to hide. I couldn't think other than to stay on the path.

After a few minutes the gunshots were getting louder. I turned behind me. There, at the end of the street, was the soldiers. Riding their strong horses straight towards us. Some stopped to shoot at the river. Others turned down farther into the city to find the others. They laughed as they saw us all together. This was going to be a massacre. I ran with all my energy and more. My exhaustion made it feel like weights were tied to my ankles. The boys in front of me were too slow. I darted into a cramped side-street. It was lined with empty vendor stands and tiny shops. It was too narrow for a horse to come through. I made much better speed down this street. Gunshots echoed across the city bringing memories of the siege of Strasbourg.  A chunk of wood from a stand and exploded into splinters just above my head. I whipped around to see a solider following me on foot. Another chunk of the cobblestone exploded behind my feet. I ran faster down the street. I could see the end clearly. In the distance, it was all gunshots horses and screams. There was grenades being thrown about. More shots rang out from the solider. I ducked to try and avoid them. I came to the end of the street. A solider came from around the corner and I fell in backwards in surprise, smashing a storefront window. I lay in an old cobblers store. My face and hands bled as glass was stuck deeply in my skin.

      I heard the solider jump from his horse so I quickly ran to a ladder in the corner. I climbed up silently and carefully. The second floor was the cobblers house. The floor and walls didn't look like they would stand if I blew on them. The soldiers footsteps made their way towards the ladder from downstairs. I quickly ran to the window. I tried to open if but it was stuck. The solider began to climb up the ladder. I grabbed a ceramic lamp and shoved it down the hole. There was smashing noise then a loud thud. The second solider that had been chasing me began to shoot through the floorboards. I jumped back to the window and looked out. I could see many soldiers and boys. It was like a game of cat and mouse. So many shots rang out it hurt my ears. I looked on further down the river. From this height, I could see a bridge. I needed to get there now. The smell of smoke wafted up through the holes in the floor. I peered carefully down the hole. The shop was on fire. I jumped back as the heat burned through the floorboards. I hopped on the old desk. The eerie glow illuminated the room. it burned through the floor effortlessly. i cried out for help. The floor boards shifted as the floor began to cave in. the dresser I stood upon wobbled and I fell backwards, smashing into the wall. The old plaster crumbled to dust and I fell straight through.

       It's a strange thing when your not expecting to fall. Your just sort of like well i'm falling now. I smashed into the water and the current took me in no time and I struggled to regain my barrings as I was swept away. The cobblers shop fire had now spread to the other buildings. I turned around trying to keep my head above the water. The bridge was coming up fast. It was just a small, wooden bridge. The soldiers couldn't get their horses across. Of course, the soldiers hadn't even it made that far down the street yet. I screamed and wave my arms to the boys running across the bridge. I needed someone to pull me up. A few shots ripped through the water by me. I jumped to catch the bridge but missed. I floated under and made one last attempt.

    Finally, this time I grabbed something and I pulled myself up. Turns out it was someone, not something. It was the boy who had offered that blanket. To think it was just a few days ago. It feels like weeks have gone by.

"You better hurry brother or you'll be blown out of that water." He said as I climbed onto the bridge.

    There was that terribly familiar clank of metal. The boy saw the grenade and and shoved me towards the other side. Then, for the second time that day, a bridge blew up.