World War I (probably) [on hold]

Chapter II Memories

I crouched there thinking, letting my mind wander, listening to the explosions and the screams that were suddenly cut short. I sighed, wishing there was something I could do other than crouch there. Simon looked over at me and gave everyone in the trench a faltering smile. We knew everybody here, being their school mates - all the people who had applied and who had slowly drifted together. There was George, Fred, Jim, Danny, Max, Han, Jack, Liam, Nathan, John, and Bruce. Simon was trying to cheer us up, me in particular, trying to play big brother, protecter. I could still remember the first time he had done something dangerous for me as though it was yesterday, even though it was years ago. Fusing us together forever - we had always been close, but now we were inseparable in all our waking hours and some of our sleeping ones. We had often just come over to each other's house on random days, a sleeping bag tucked under our arm and announce we were sleeping over. Our parent's answer? "Of course Simon, (or Matt depending who was coming to whose house) come in, dinners in a few minutes".We were more like brothers than best friends.

I was about nine then and Simon had been about nine and a half. We were playing in a huge field, we lived in the country and knew our neighbours well so we were never worried about being there without permission. Anyway, we were wrestling around in the dirt and dust on the ground and Simon had just got on top of me when he froze. I looked up and saw a huge black bull with big creamy yellow horns sprouting from his head agitatedly pawing the ground.How hadn't we seen it earlier? Then I noticed the gate swing open, the wire broken. He must have been watching us and gotten really annoyed to try attempt to break the fence. I could see bright red scratches along the length of his body, so I could only imagine how enraged he must be. " Oh no, that's Jacks prize bull, his biggest one" Simon whispered. He had slowly gotten off me and paused thinking before he started whispering again, "Back up slowly, when you reach the hedge climb over and run". I paused then slowly got up and began walking backwards, never taking my eyes off the bull, which then took a threatening step forward, snorting. My nerve failed me and I did something I wasn't proud of, I turned and ran.

The bull roared and took off after me, the ground tearing up behind him, closing the gap in seconds,then he was nearly on top of me. I could feel his hot breath down my neck, I dived to my right -his horn narrowly missing my body, hitting and running down my leg instead, slicing it open. My blood began to spill out and the bull spun around and began slowly advancing towards me. I collapsed to the ground, my lifeblood pumping out of me before my eyes, the edges of my vision turned grey. I was bleeding out, but I wouldn't die from loss of blood, I would die on the horn of Jack's prize bull. The last thing I heard was Simon yelling and waving his arms, screaming insults at the bull. It turned its head, horns inches from my chest and ran straight at Simon, who turned and ran, jumping the hedge and disappearing from view. The bull crashed through the hedge and into the electric fence hidden inside, jumping back roaring. Then the grey enveloped me and I saw no more, I lost consciousness.

Waking up staring into the white roof of the hospital, I heard voices, "He'll be okay, though he might experience dizziness and thirst, due to lack of blood. Don't let him participate in any hard physical exercise, just walking will give him trouble. If you have stairs he'll need help, and he'll have a scar forever, but he'll live. Simon had saved my life.