Body of Scars

Chapter II

I recognize the scent of death. The stench of sulfur, sweat and blood, mixed with a faint mint scent. The touch of mint is almost mocking. The smell clogs my nostrils and I feel like I might suffocate. Swerving off the road, I slam the car to an abrupt stop, and turn to Jared. His eyes are heavy slits and his usual caramel complexion is a ghostly white.

“No Jared” I murmur feeling for a pulse that is as faint as the batter of butterfly wings. Wiping beads of cold sweat from Jared’s cheek I press my lips to his chilling forehead, silently vowing to save him from a death that is too close. Revving the car I jump back onto the road and race across the gravel, a steady hand on Jared’s shoulder violently shaking him awake. He rouses but then falls into a dangerous sleep. I know we aren’t far from Alex’s and I pray that there is no traffic. 

 As if a deliberate ridicule from God I close in on a long line of traffic which chokes the only road leading to Alex’s house. Slowing to a stop I glance around widely and catch the faint glint of silvery wire. A fence. I search along the fence which is left to the road for a weak link. Spotting a cracked mess of wire I turn my car and smash it through the fence, hearing the scratches of metal and wire as I skid onto a mowed lawn. Thank god its a farming area.

Distancing myself from the traffic, I race across the farm and try to recall where the property ends and the next begins. Before I can remember where the next fence is I feel the car tremble and shake as it crashes through another fence. “I guess I found the next yard” I scoff, knowing I won’t receive any response from Jared who is drifting in and out of consciousness.

I speedily drive across the next yard and almost instantly spot the familiar barbed wired fence of Alex’s property. “Found it” I screech, closing in on the fence, slamming through it and finally skidding to a stop in front of Alex’s small and familiar house. Opening the driver door I run up the few steps of Alex’s verandah and bang noisily on the door. “Alex, its me” I huff, hearing the unmistakeable click of a gun being loaded behind me.

Turning suddenly I face a boy no more older than me. His hair is sleek and blonde, reaching to the base of his neck. A large lazy strand flops over an olive colored eye and his skin is a slight lighter tone of Jared’s. Sporting the same broad nose, his lips are swollen and his brows are knitted tightly, the same shade as his light hair. “Put your gun down idiot” I sneer, glancing at the rifle which is pointed at my chest.

He stands on the verandah stairs with an open look of rage on his face. “What are you doing here?” he speaks, still not lowering the gun. I walk toward him until the point of the rifle is pressed against my chest. “Jared’s been shot” I respond and watch the look of distress transform his face entirely.

Lowering the gun immediately, Alex heads for the parked car which is sitting on the lawn. I watch as he jogs to the passenger side and opens the door with so much hast I’m surprised its still attached to the hinge. Alex gingerly shakes Jared awake and I hear a pained groan from inside the car. I breathe out, not knowing I had stopped breathing. So worried that in those few moments that I spoken to Alex, Jared has died. 

 I see the two large silhouettes of Alex and Jared stumble from the car and up to the verandah. Jiggling the front door handle I want to scream when it doesn’t open. I swiftly lift my foot and kick with deliberate strength at the door, watching at it flies open and loudly bangs against the wall. I hear Alex sigh though he is too stressed to seriously care.

They climb the steps and I notice the sheen of sweat which now coats Alex too. They make it to the door and stagger through to the hallway. Closely following them through to the kitchen, I help Alex shift Jared onto the table, which in a few moments, I know, will become a surgery room. Alex runs to his bedroom and I can hear the clatter of medical tools from the kitchen. Looking down at Jared I feel entirely useless.