RUN

Just a Game

I woke up on the forest floor and could instantly smell the strong scent of pine. My hands and feet were tied uncomfortably tight. I didn't have my pack. It was early morning and the birds flew over head singing their little tunes. I managed to crane my neck to see beside me. There were other boys, most of them asleep or maybe unconscious. I counted ten from my angle. But, The way I was laying on the ground made it difficult to see to my right.

I heard voices and footsteps so I laid back down. I could make out Kais for sure. The other voice had a strange familiarity. A hand grabbed me and shoved me against a tree. I opened my eyes to not Kais but Isaac.

"You...why?" I asked.

He looked up at me with sad eyes. Taking a wet cloth he washed the forest floor from my face. He then gave me an apologetic glance then slipped something in my hand. He then got up and left. Kais, who was leaning against the far tree approached me.

"Théo, how have you been?," He said, mockingly.

"Why can't you just let me go?" I demanded.

"You know why. I need to slow down the soldiers. I'll need to spread you guys out along the river of Nancy. The soldiers will have to stop and look for you giving everyone else time. Don't you want help your friends?" He asked, but knew I wouldn't answer.

"Im just trying to win. Besides, It's all just a game. It doesn't make me so different from you, or anyone. You all want to win right? This game requires strategy. You've gotten in the way too much, I need to strategize around you. Simple" He finished starting to walk away.

"You like games so much? Let's play" I taunted him.

He paused, and began to laugh.

"Nice try crétin, I have work to do" He said continuing on.

"Afraid you'll lose?" I taunted once more.

This caught his attention.

"What are the rules of this...game?" He Asked with hesitant curiosity.

Now I had him.

"I'll tell you a riddle, if you can get it right I won't fight your attempt to...strategize. But, if you're wrong, you let me go" I stated.

"Well you've got my attention. I accept."

We hurt, we kill. Turn man into monster, cause pain and tell lies.

Paper and quill, unite, create life and depict the skies.

We are art, we are death and honesty comprised.

Far apart or together, do not judge us by our size.

Who are we?

    Kais smirked with delight.

"Finally, a worthy riddle" He said in joy.

    He paused, thinking about my words.

"An army" He said with satisfaction.

"An army kills, lies, unites, tells the truth, creates life for what they're fighting for and they depict the skies with their airforce. War turns man into a monster and armies are often judged by their size" he explain in a cocky voice.

"You're wrong" I said bleakly.

     His expression suddenly changed. For a moment I could see the real Kais. The scared, hurt one. He quickly came back with his cocky demeanour.

"Well than what's the answer?" He Asked a little too forcefully.

"Words."

       I paused before continuing.

"Words are the most powerful thing on earth. The things they've created, destroyed or hurt are beyond measure. Words turn men into monsters, that of which we would know best"

   Kais looked at me with comprehension and smirked once more.

"Who taught you that one?" He Asked to cover up the punch to his pride.

"My fath...someone I knew a long time ago" I said, swallowing my words.

"You're clever as a fox Théo. I admire it. I bet you we would've been friends" He said taking out a knife.

I stiffened against the tree at the sight of the knife. He reached down and untied my hands and feet.

"So you're just going to let me go?" I asked, unraveling the rope.

"Well Firefox, you're gonna run with us for awhile" He said, handing me a pack from the pile behind a tree.

      I checked the initials and sure enough it was mine.

"What makes you think I want to run with you?" I ask roughly.

"Isn't that what you wanted only a few days ago?" He said, mocking me.

"Where's Adam?" I asked, ignoring his question.

"Your friend got by, lucky fellow" Kais said with a slight grin.

      I take my pack and smashed him across the face. Before he could he smashed his head on a tree. He laid limply on the ground. I ran over to the group of unconscious boys and started searching for Adam. Near the end of the row I saw a ragged black shirt like Adam wore. Without hesitation I ran over. Thankfully, It was Adam. I remembered the strange object Isaac had slipped me. I opened my tight clasped on it to find it was a small knife. Without hesitation I took off the sheath and untied Adam. I took some water from my canteen and dumped it on his face. He woke up groggily.

"Adam! We have no time! We have to go" I said, grabbing him and helping him up.

I started untying all the other ones that were unconscious. I had no time for the last few so I just left the knife in one of their hands. We went over to the tree where Kais got my pack. There, were all the packs of the others. We searched till we found Adam's initials. We then quietly made our way through the forest. Many voices shouted up ahead.

"Théo what happened?" Adam whispered.

"Later" I Said, continuing to crouch towards the road.

    When we got to the main road, I shoved Adam into the ditch and jumped in with him. On the road, just ahead, was a camp. There was a cart full of packs. A few boys sorted through the supplies. Some boys were cooking. There was also a cart of weapons and another for explosives. There were so many of them we easily blended in.

"Just stay with me. I have a plan." I whispered to Adam.

He nodded. I needed to make a distraction. Then, we could slip by undetected. I took out my fire starting kit just as a cart rolled past, dragged by a few boys. Me and Adam crawled behind it till we were beside the explosives cart. We hid out of sight. So far, no one had noticed us. They seemed to be getting ready to start moving their camp.

"Can you take an explosive and throw it into the woods?" I asked Adam.

He nodded without question and reached into cart. He pulled out a stick of dynamite. I lit the match and then the stick. It sparked and hissed. I went to pass it to Adam but something else had caught his attention. There, was Kais bolting towards us.

"Stop them!" He screamed to the others.

I tossed the dynamite into the cart.