The Recalling

John. Troops coming for him. No escape.

 

           

The Recalling

6:07 P.M.

            Trapped.

            Although John did walk some distance away from the brim of the canyon, he stood at a large peninsula and had nowhere to go except forward. And going forward was no longer an option, after seeing the soldiers marching in front of him.  Well, it could be an option if you were thinking about suicide.

             BOOOOOM!

            With one thunderous road, the earth shook, and John saw two Oakwood trees collapse behind the soldiers marching toward him. CRASHHH! The ominous clouds only multiplied their dread as the rain and air battered against John’s skin. Running would be a terrible mistake in this situation, he would slip and fall in the mud, and the lightening would only be attracted to him. But . . . there was no other way to survive. Risk.

            I have no other choice. This is for Rose . . . .

            With that thought, John left his standing position and began to run towards the soldiers, hoping to slip between them and the peninsula. With two against one, that being Mother Nature and his own people, odds seemed against him, but he was going to be dead anyway. Why not? Every foot lifted off the mud made a PLOP sound. PLOP! PLOP! And every foot lifted in the mud created a SPLISH. Slowly, but surely, the soldiers appeared to be closer and closer. It would seem that John would actually arrive at the Peninsula before the soldiers . . . but with the rain’s visibility being beyond the peninsula, he now saw three mercenaries blocking his way.

            Trapped.

            No! No! There’s no way out!

            After seeing this, John slid to a stop, and the wind only increased its speed and sound. John was being pushed backwards by the wind, so in order to maintain steady ground, he placed his right leg in front of him bent, and protected himself by the pelting rain by placing his right hand over his face. The armed soldiers were still marching toward him. John now saw that they were only one hundred yards away now, yet death seemed right beside him.

            “I am sorry, Rose. I am sorry,” whispered John.

            “There is no way out! Surrender yourself, soldier!” shouted the centurion.

            Yet John did not hear him. He just looked at the sky. And looked and looked until the clouds were coming close to him, or maybe he was coming closer to the clouds. He did not know. John only saw white, and he felt his body being limp.

            I am sorry, Rose. I am so sorry.

 

            “John . . . John . . . JOHN!” called Laurence Shay.

            “Yes, my Lord,” replied John Knight.

            “Why don’t you pay attention, get your bow and arrow, and shoot the target already. What do you want to die at war?”

            “That wouldn’t be a bad idea actually,” thought John. “Everybody’s got to die sooner or later.”

            “Yes, I’m right too it.”

            The sun’s warmth increased over the last few weeks. Unusual. A consistent cool breeze and a welcoming sunshine greeted the town of Hevel. The grass was green, the trees outstretched their arms, and hatred was in the air. This was another good day, especially at the archery range.

            John had been waiting for this day since he was given the privilege of a knight by the king. He had been waiting for this day for years; he was now nineteen.

            Today’s the day. Here I come world!

            Every knight was excited for the day John was now about to face. But John was more excited than most men. The thought gave him goose bumps up and down his arms. John was going to take his final analysis. The first part of the test was archery, followed by a one on one sword battle �" winner is granted to be a centurion.

            “Which booth am I in?”

            “Number ten. After the shooting, if you pass, you will meet Sage White in his office. And John.”

            “What?”

            “See you in the afterlife. Hahahaha.”

           

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A very strong chapter. I like the thoughts of John facing the mercenaries. A short chapter with a lot of action. I like the ending to this excellent chapter.
Coyote