Animosity

Chapter 25 - Who I Am

Photo: An American GI comforts his fellow soldier as he cries into his partner's jacket. (This is actually a Korean War picture.)

—

Rain poured down from the sky, the unrelenting barrage of water accompanied by a harsh, sickening crack of thunder in the sky above. We sprinted over the marshy land, boots sending up showers of freezing cold mud, arms crossed over our heads, clothes soaked on our backs. Drawing in lungfuls of wet oxygen, I gave a ragged gasp as I stumbled over a patch of half-submerged grass, a deep pool of water covering the once luscious area. Around me, thunder boomed deafeningly, lightning crackling like electricity in the distance, blazing through the clouds.

Buddy ran to my right, Devy to my left, and the five of us rushed across the waterlogged fields, sinking farther and farther into the ground with each step. The sound of the thunder was grating, echoing through the country and making our ears ring, but we kept going, lungs burning in our wild scramble to take in oxygen. A storm had come, just like the good Lieutenant had said... it was just lying dormant until the last moment.

"I think I see something up ahead!" Hank called behind his shoulder, voice lost as it was cut off by the loud rush of the rain. Wind whipped past, plastering my hair onto the top of my head, freezing my soaking wet clothes solid on my skin. "It looks like a cave!"

Barreling forward, we shot past an overturned cart, its wheel spinning swiftly in the violent storm. As my feet pounded against the ground, I squinted, trying desperately to make out any semblance of what Hank had seen. The mountains that always seemed to be just out of reach before, were now directly in front of us, their infinite figures looming over us like the black cloud that settled into the horizon. Coughing, I sucked in a breath of cold air, gasping as I finally saw it, a little alcove tucked into the rocky cliff face.

Before I could say anything, Hiro bellowed hoarsely over the roar of the wind, cupping a numb hand over his mouth. "Keep going! We're almost there..!"

Cursing, I forced my throbbing legs to push onwards, groaning with every step, body defiant against the force of the storm. Raindrops pelted my back as the five of us sprinted past valleys that had turned into lakes, paths that transformed into rivers. The cheerful countryside was now, bitter, cold, bleak and devoid of life, kneeling to become just another servant of the weather. A yearning blossomed in the pit of my stomach when I remembered how serene I used to feel when I looked out over the vast farmland... where had those simple, love-driven days gone..?

The mountain was getting closer and closer as we raced towards it, arms pumping at our sides, breathing quick and heavy, and relief clouded my senses when I saw Lt. Hiro reach the opening of the cave. Leaping up into it, he whirled around, holding out trembling arms to help us up, and one at a time, we were hauled up into the dark space. Inside, the others were already murmuring lowly, and as the Lieutenant tugged me upwards, I let in one last breathful of rain-tainted air.

The interior of the cave was dry, cool, and immensely dark. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, but the floor was smooth stone, the edges chiseled away by years of nature's will. Thunder bellowed outside, and the rain sounded like the sizzling of oil as it landed on the side of the rocky mountain. Everything was quiet, nothing but heavy breathing echoing through the small chamber as we looked around exhaustedly at one another. Finally, Hiro spoke up, voice small and uncharacteristically tired.

"...Okay. Let's set up for the night."

—

"Hey, do we got any alcohol in here?" Devy asked softly. Gritting my teeth, I drew my knees closer into my chest, shivering as the sky lit up with a quick flash of lightning. A scratchy cloth blanket was wrapped tightly around my shoulders, the cold still seeping in from outside, and I wished fervently that I could sleep. Knowing that even if I tried, I couldn't, I glanced around the spacious cave, three tents lined up in the very back, a tiny fire burning near the front. Outside, the rain came down harder, slamming violently into the rock wall.