Freedom Fighters

21. Charge

In the first flush of the morning, the planes skirted the line between shadow and light. Their jet engines whirred incessantly like a drill. As they dipped, it seemed as if the entire sky itself collapsed with them. They circled around the helpless revolutionaries, unleashing hellfire upon them. The once lush and green sugarcane field slowly turned into a living hell as rings of fire spread in all directions. As the flames licked up, devouring the stalks, only ashes were left behind.

Dario clutched the sides of his head, unable to comprehend the destructive reality lying in front of him. His mind was a blank mess, as gripping fear dominated all other emotions. That fear paralysed him, and he found himself unable to move from his prone position.

"Let's go!" Camilo shouted as he got up to his knees.

Dario did not respond, merely staring blankly into the carnage, hands shaking. All he saw was fire consuming everything. All he heard were the cracking gunshots that encircled them. What was most terrifying were the helpless screams of panic in accompaniment to the explosions.

Huffing, Camilo grabbed his friend's hands tightly, screaming into his ears.

"LET'S GO DARIO! BEFORE WE GET BURNED ALIVE!"

Camilo did not wait for a reply. Unceremoniously, he jumped to his feet, dragging Dario along behind him. He surveyed his surroundings and immediately dove into the plots of stalks beside them in the direction of the encampment site. He used his spare hand to push aside the sugarcane stalks, bashing through with as much speed as possible.

The nearer they got, the louder the gunshots became. Consequently, shouts of pain and agony formed the backdrop of the chaos. The vegetation gradually became sparser and sparser, and finally, Camilo caught sight of a few comrades huddling behind a tree. He dragged Dario behind a log and knelt down.

He let go of Dario's hand and turned to his friend. With the heat of battle flushed all over his face, he snapped.

"What were you doing back there!"

Dario flinched at the words, eyes blinking rapidly. He bit his lip and inclined his head downwards, letting out a meek "sorry".

Instantly, Camilo felt the rage within him cool down. Shaking his head, he put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"I want to say it's okay. But it's not! You could have died there! You have to sharpen up, alright?"

"Sorry, Camilo,"

"Don't sorry me. Just make sure it's just one time."

A moment of silence passed within them, detached from the whirring panic and destruction around them.

"I was just stunned... Like... everything started turning to hell again... and-"

Camilo clasped Dario's shoulders forcefully, a look of determination on his face.

"Now's not the time Dario. Just remember this. Survive at all cost." 

Dario shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs in his mind. All the screams and the gunshots... it reminded him of the fateful day that remained fresh in his mind. The day when Mama and Papa were torn away from his side. His heart felt so heavy laden, like there was a rock inside, weighing down his strength. No, he could not be a burden to those around him. Camilo was right, he could have gotten them killed by zoning out in times of danger. At those thoughts, Dario felt a sliver of determination rise up from within his soul. Clenching his fists, he made a conscious decision to suppress those dark thoughts whenever they would try to surface. 

I am not weak.  

All of a sudden, the ground shook beneath them as a shell landed a short distance away. Scraps of wood and mud flew all over the place. As he recovered from the shock, Dario turned his gaze to the blast area and his eyes widened in horror as he witnessed a comrade being blown into half. His legs reduced to a mangle of bloody writhing flesh, the man shrieked at the top of his lungs, hyperventilating.