Guerillas

Guerillas

by GEIST von PA, Sep 7, 2010, 4:49:10 PM
Literature / Characters & Settings / Historical / Settings
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The bark splinters as the bullets explode on impact into the hardwood trees.
More then a few times they caught a bullet for me.
The ground is damp and very forgiving, making it hard to get good traction and maintain optimum speed.
I grab a small tree and slingshot myself towards yet another random direction.
The bullets are buzzing me like mosquito on a hot summers night.
I have been thankful up until now that most of the shots have been caught by the surrounding woodland or my rucksack.
Although it won't be so great for me later when I need something to carry my gear in and my pack is full of holes.

I leap a small stream, landing on my right foot.
My leg gives out from underneath me.
I fall hard onto the bedrocks that line the tiny stream.
A few more mosquito buzz over head.
I roll, and in a squat-thrust like form, I regain my footing and take off into the brush again.

Something is different.
The sluggish feel of running on sand...
I would have probably paid it no mind other then the terrain here was a dry beaten path, yet as I tried to run I was not gaining any momentum.
There was a clang from my pack, my mess kit had been hit.
At that same time I collapsed to the ground, falling in a ninety degree turn and landing on my left side.

I heard their buzzing.
My body twitched as another one sunk it's teeth deep inside my abdomen, just to the right of my navel.
I loosened the straps on my sack and slid out of their restraints.
Forcing myself up, and unsheathing my boot knife as i did, I was on my feet once again.

There was a pop and then excruciating pain on the right side of my head, I fell to my hands and knees.
Still holding the knife in my left hand and propping myself there on three limbs I felt my face.
My hand was instantly covered with blood as I felt a giant hole where the right side of my lower jaw should be.
As I looked down I could just make out what was my tongue laying lifeless in the palm of my hand.
I tried to scream but all that came out was a gargle and then the rush of blood.
I collapsed to the ground, shock was taking over.

I am still conscious enough to feel a big combat-style boot kick me in the ribs and a few hands grab me and turn me onto my back.
I gasp for air as the blood starts to pool in my throat.
I somehow manage to hold my breath, thinking it will save me from drowning myself with my own blood.

A plume of dust shoots into the air no more then a foot away from me.
I raise the knife in an effort to somehow impale someone, but all I see is a bloody nub hang in the air.
I go completely limp.
It's over.
I open my throat and let the blood flow into my lungs.
The wind blows over me, I know because I see the leafs of the trees above me gently sway.
But I don't feel the wind, for my body has gone numb and darkness surrounds my vision.