an invasion of horrible thoughts

the crow

Long stalks of grasses whipped at the bare skin of my legs. Frantic hands pushing back the corn stalk and parting to make enough space as I ran. My lungs burned in the cool air as each breath was rushed and punishing. I wasnt looking back, hooves pounded against the earth and added to the shake in my weak knees. A man ran ahead of me. Taller then the corn with a head of bright blonde hair like a halo, turned to me and his usual playfull face was contorted in horror "fuck! Faster! Anna!"

He refused to leave me behind. I flinch as a gun shot prieced the air and assaults my ears. the cold air pinches my nose and the wind whips my hair into my face. Tangling with the spit and tears along my red hot cheeks. Blinded and confuse I feel pain vibrate up my foot as the earth dips and causes me to collide with the cold ground.

I hear cheers coming from the distance closing in and I feel a breath escape me in devastating agony. This was my plan. My idea. I could see the smoke line of the city merge with the grey sky of the corn field. So close. I lift a bloody palm and feel as if I could grab at it.
"Get. Up" my body refuses out of exhaustion and I can no long see my bother through the never ending rebel fields. All we wanted was freedom and now it was shot, literally, to hell.

A crow not that far off turned, perched on a fallen stalk of meal, its black eyes stared into me, not at me. Unaware of my misery? No. In fact if it had a mouth oppose to a beak I believe it would be a smirk. A knowing glint in its eye that sent shivers racing up the thin laying of skin along my spine

Digging my bleeding hands into the cold soil I began to crawl. The wet dirt seeped past my layers of clothes and pessed against my  for arms and stomach. A swear I hear the sound of a horses hooves close meters beside my head and I refused to be seen. The rebel that rode him over joyed by the prospect of shooting me down. I had made the decision to cut across redel lands to get to the safe zones faster. Stupid. I was such a stupid bit-

Arms closed over my stomach. A fraction to high above my waist and the resulting pain in being lifted so fast stole my breath as well as the scream in my throat.

My brothers red coat and the scruff I could see of his blonde hair calmed me for a second as he continued running "we cant stop anna, we have to keep running" his voice rushed and hushed he managed to keep his tall form hidden in the stalks of growth as he haul me north. The city, closer yet still too far. The suns light was fading faster then we were running and i could see the expanse of flat swamp ahead
"Brother-" I started but he didnt even acknowledge my tone or warning, I could hear his voice vibrate through his chest as he spoke almost to him self.

"We can make it. We can get through this, we just need-"

Bang

Running so fast I'm catapulted into the field landing half in the marsh and the cold water is almost as much of a shock as the fall. I blink and see brothers body it splayed forward inches from my face. There are already flies.

His jaw hang awkwardly, gapped open and leading to a dark black blood coated throat. blood is oozing from his gums, his left arm is twist under him and his right arm distended to far forward from his body palm over turns and untouched from dirt and soil. As if reaching for something. For me? The city? Perhaps it's not reaching at all but was only trying to hold on. My own pain hasn't registered although I can feel it. I can feel the twisted contraption of my legs and I can feel the rocks and branches that are deeply embedded into my skin yet I cant even hear my own screams. am I screaming? The world is hyper focused yet it seems to be rushing past my head so fast that I cant grab hold of reality

My hands touch skin that is quickly turning cold, the merciless ground absorbing any signs of life from his body as blood seeps from the hole in his face where his nose and left eye should be, The blood mingles a dark red and is indistinguishable from the solid. Brain matter and fractured pieces of bone stain my hands and knees. I hold him. Unsure.
"Just need to do what?"