The endeavour became a constant struggle for me; gravity dragged me to the ground, resultantly leaving me crawling hopelessly on the floor. The rain struck harder, producing a damp atmosphere, and creating an asphyxiating stench that clung to the back of my throat like a smoker’s mucus. Using my bare hands, I clawed forward using every ounce of energy I had, my fragile legs sprawled out in every direction in desperate hopes to urge myself forward. In the distance the tattered grey building seemed as if it was abating and as if the grimy path lengthened to far reaching extents.
Moving forward was an impossible task; I struggled to advance but somehow made it possible, the matte black uniform which I wore, stained with blood dampened with water. It began to weigh me down and absorb my vigour. A piece of metal clanked every time I proceeded, I shovelled his grubby fingers down my pocket to see what the rattling piece of metal was. I pulled on it with force. It was a scratched, heart shaped necklace, with a picture of me and my wife. It was the last time I had seen her.
***
Exactly a year ago was the day my life took a turn. The sun set alight the azure sky, beaming through the windows of the semi-detached house. The newly settled bricks radiated in the morning galore. Like a cherry on top of a cake, the orchid roof sheltered the family of four. Hollow yet durable oak door swung open, inviting the aroma of breakfast in. I sat there; you could call me nonchalant, an average man, waiting to be supplied with breakfast, courtesy of my wife’s benevolence. I remember when I first met her at a protest outside, her perfume smelt of the freshest Rose, so distinct, so beautiful. The White House about the war in the Arabian Peninsula, she told me she worked for the government but never told me what she did, even till this day. Moments later, a rhythmic knock on the door prompted me to leave my set. Leaving my seat, I approached the door, and peaked through the keyhole.
“What do you want? I thought I’ve helped you enough!” I yelled,
“Open the door this instance, don’t make this mistake” commanded, a figure dressed in black
“Is everything ok?” a distant voice came from the kitchen
For a brief spell I suffered alexithymia, Bang! The hollow oak door shattered to the ground, several figures in matte black uniform diverged; all of them surrounded me, grabbing me by the neck. The truculent hands of one man clasped my mouth and held the sharpest of metals against my throat. I struggled, my cheeks rippled, radiating red as he received a thump to my face. As I was being dragged outside my own house, my arms extended to the shelf where a heart shaped necklace was placed and grasped it with commemoration.
The seven day war which I was forced to participate in was lost. The spectacle drew breath from me, leaving me motionless. Prior to this day, bodies were animate and erect but now only flesh and bones. A dingy smell floated along the breeze, the noisomeness odour of excrement and blood was suffocating. Abandoned vehicles produced a silent and colourless cry. My dough like cheeks rippled as the wind crashed against my face. The gravelly noise of a vehicle positioning itself resonated through the urban town. Soldiers in a xanthous uniform emerged slowly from the distance. Spotting me, they quickly surrounded me, seizing me. Several figures stepped forward gracefully as if they were irenic; an ancient man with deeply embedded eyes, covered in ashy facial hair grabbed the necklace on my neck. I battled the man to get it back as the others stood there and watched. He successfully retrieved it, but abruptly, several soldiers forced a black bag over my head and dragged me into a hummer.
***
Coarse, rocky terrain carpeted the concrete of which he I laid on. Staring at the picture, tears gushed down his face striking the ground like bullets from war. Time was ticking; I suddenly jolted up and staggered forward. The figures whom colonised like ants upon a hill, posted themselves up in front of the emerging building which I was getting so ever close to. Night merged into the day, as the dawn overpowered the twilight. The wind started to settle, pushing me foreword to my destination.
Hours later, I had finally arrived... Stood before me appeared to be four men and one female (the female was wearing a balaclava), one dingy concrete structure and a stationary hummer. Six figures, shadowed by the structure, observed me. I could only make out one character, the features I could only observe were that he had; black hair with highlights of auburn, varicose veins petruting from his forehead and dog like ears. He had the complexion of a prisoner. Raising myself upon the concrete, my eyes fixed upon the several individuals approaching me cautiously. Standing there vigilantly, my fingers twitched and eased towards my pocket knife.
“What brings you here?” questioned, a tall Caucasian man.
“I need help; I’m a corporal for the British first division who served in the seven day war, have you got a communication medium which I can operate?”
“Negative.”, a high pitched voice came from behind the tall Caucasian man.
“look I just want to use the phone, Who are you people anyway…?” I stuttered.
“I work for the government.” The female figure said proudly, walking towards me.
The women with the balaclava came forward placing her arm on my shoulder remorsefully; a scent of the sweetest rose clogged my nose infectiously. Slowly, she removed her Balaclava from her face; her tongue waved like a flag as she wiped her lips, the street lights flickered violently. I hastily tried to reach for my pocket knife, producing the blade I – the street lights shut solemnly, tattered red, oozed along the floor. An army of cheers roared in the distance. The fresh scent of the Rose blossomed into the grace of death.
The war had just begun.
