Short Stories

8.Deception

     I could smell the burnt ash of lumber wood as I sat against the tree. My skin was painted with blood, ash, and dirt. I inhaled, only to recoil from the thick black smoke around me. The air was stale, and I realized I could never look back. It was still morning but the sky told otherwise. I breathed heavily and pulled out the locket. I gazed wearily at the boy inside it. I was shaking my leg praying he had made it.

     I waited, and heard nothing. I looked back and almost cried. I had made it this far.I just can't go back. But the voice inside my skull hissed at me. And I knew I'd have to pick myself up again. I picked up my legs and moved, stealthy. The forest underneath my feet seemed to crumble with each step and I could hear the maddening sounds of the towns people screaming in turmoil. Women and their children wrapped around their stomachs.  Dogs that were once companions were all alone.

     The fire was so angry. I watched how it grew and raged and consumed my town. The firefighters had gone mad, they stopped trying and had seemed to want to kill everyone. "Get back here," called Joe. He was once the towns best fire guy and now he was grimy and evil. Brainwashed by one who was not here. Her grabbed her and threw her into the pit and smiled at the fact that she burned and I gaged as I smelt the burnt flesh and his satisfaction.

     My house. Where is my house. I was so focused on everything else I couldn't decipher were it was anymore. I had to get in there . To go back. One of the fireman came for me and I shuffled back unto my feet and crawled my way back up. I lost him in the commotion of half minded humans lost on their accord. Where is he? My mind was dizzy and the thick gashes on my legs made it impossible to move more then a few steps. A bitter hoarse scream came from my lips and I was scared because I realized it was my own. Then I saw him. It was him. He was on the ground silent as mouse. I'd never seen him so quiet.So calm.So...dead.

     I galloped towards him and slowky kneeled down.

     "Zac?" I called. He said nothing, and I realized that I was crying. 

     "C'mon Zac. We havta go. Get up." At the time I didn't realize how stupid I was for this. How I knew it was over then but just couldn't let go. He just had to be breathing. He just had to brush my hand. He was barley alive and I knew that, but I needed him.

     "Go," he tried to say. I ignored him. Pulling him up and leaning him on the house's wall. I couldn't carry him back. Not with these wounds. Not at all. "Use...use the-th...cream," he finally said. I pulled the backpack and pulled it around my shoulders. I applied some to my cuts and watched the cuts seal together and blood wash away. "No-n-now try."

     I walked over to him and he rested his hands on my shoulder. We staggered but when we came around the corner no one was there. We walked hurriedly. And surprisingly made it through. The forest was the challenge. There was still chaos and turmoil all around the front. We passed unnoticeable among a few individuals but Joe saw me and charged. Zac most of saw him to because he grabbed my arm and took off with me.

     Broad leaf plam trees swung out and we ducked. The wet soggy forest floor tried to catch us but we ran so far that by the time we stopped I realized our resting area was nowhere around. "He'll be looking for us, or he'll send someone. We can never get away from this.From what we are."

     He didn't say anything. But I'm sure he would if he could. He panted and laid on a log. It was silent except the silent hum of the rise and fall of his chest. "I... love you," he breathed. I told him that I loved him back and made him hush. I rubbed the cream on the hole in his stomach and all the while he told me how it wouldn't work.

x

     When he was sleep I cried.I cried because my mom had died. I cried because my litter so sister was dead. I cried because Zac was dying and I cried because I would die too. I cried because my city was gone and I cried because we were alone. And in the mist of all my crying I began to fill num and a faint dizziness hit me like a chill and I felt myself swaying to sleep in a souless bed of grass. I dreamed for hope.