LOVE AND WAR

     Dirt covered his knees and palms, a new cut across the cheek from a thistle branch.  He hadn't even see the root protruding from beneath the bushes.  He slowly picked himself up and dusted the dirt and grass off, eyeing the root with malice. What an evil trick of nature to slow him down in his search for her, time was of the essence.  He looked up, the sunset causing the sky to look like a church’s stained glass window.  He sighed and continued on his way without haste.  The hurried sounds of his shoes on the ground was muffled by the grass and the tall maze of bushes and flowers.

 

     He rounded the bend of a huge shrub, his shoelace catching between a small outcrop of stones.  He first noticed them when he bent down to tie his shoe, the distant, gentle glow of enemy lights.  Moving around in the cover of the vegetation and the ever-growing darkness as night set in.  Keeping his eyes on the moving lights, he quickly knotted the laces and took cover behind the shrub.  He watched them, their movements erratic, but in one area.  That was when he smelled it.  The hint of perfume on the wind as it picked up.  As soon as the scent hit his nostrils, they flared, drawing in the faint scent as much as possible.  Closing his eyes he breathed in deep, lungs expanding to full capacity.  Eyes flying open, he dashed from bush to bush, stirring not even a blade of grass.  He peered between two branches, the lights didn't change, his presence had gone unnoticed.

He closed his eyes and smelled the air again. He had lost the scent.  Angry he looked at the ground for any sign of her, a foot print, a broken twig, anything.  He parted two flowering bushes and smiled.  There, in the dirt was the indentation of her petite foot.  It pointed due north.  She would be his again.  Wiping the sweat from his brow he caught the scent again.  But something was off; the smell had come from the west.  She must have been moved.  This new development unsettled him, heart quickening, and took off running to the west. 

       

     Running in the open was a risk he was willing to take if it meant finding her.  He heard the sounds of something running to his right before he saw what it was.  The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end when he heard the creatures’ loud cry, alerting the enemy to his presence.  He stopped in his tracks just in time as the massive creature launched itself through the plants, jaws snapping in thin air where his head had been.  He quickly leaped to the side, grabbing a handful of dirt, mud, and grass.  Flinging the muck right at he creatures’ head.  He took off running as the creature wailed and shook its enormous head in distress.
Now having a considerable distance from the creature, he paused, crouching to get his bearings.  He stilled his shaking hands, taking in a few deep breaths.  He was almost out of time, he had to find her soon, or all else was lost.  Spying an outcropping of small trees he quickly climbed to the middle of the tallest one, concealing his body well.  Wrapping his legs around the trunk and steadying his body against a sturdy limb he closed his eyes and stilled his whole body.  He slowed his heart and breathing, forcing himself to concentrate on the sounds around him, the wind tossing the trees around him, the velvet wing slap of a passing owl.  Straining his senses, he was about to give up hope when he caught it again, the faint smell of her perfume.  His eyes flew open, adjusting to the dark, he caught a small glimpse of her shoes discarded beneath a huge oak tree.

* Ok folks, here is the clincher, there are two possible endings to this story, I could not decide which one to go with, cause I like both. But I give the choice to you. End the story however you like. *



*ENDING A* (HAPPY)
          

     He gasped, sliding down the trunk of the tree, the bark scraping on sensitive skin.  As soon as his toes touched soil, he was off in the direction of her shoes, knowing he would find her there. 

     Heart pounding full force when he reached the white sneakers.  He frantically looked around the surrounding area, but couldn't find her.  His hopes plummeted to the bottom of his feet.  He just stared solemnly at her empty shoes; he didn't even notice the giant coming up behind him, arms stretched out wide.  In one foul swoop he was in its arms, the air squeezed from his lungs.  He struggled against the giants grip, and then the worst happened.  The giant leaned in, and planted a flurry of kisses on his cheek. 

     He burst out into peals of laughter. Gotcha munchkin, his mother said.  No fair, he said choking on his laughs, you cheated.  She placed her son back down on the ground, a sly smile parting her kind lips.  All's fair in love and war, she chimed.  Just then a loud sneeze erupted from behind them.  Up trotted a mud and dirt covered golden lab.  The boy gave his mother a sheepish look.  Laughing at this, she kissed him on the forehead, dusting off the dirt that was there.  C'mon, she said, let's get you and Brutus washed up and ready for dinner.  She took him by the hand, grabbing her shoes in the other, and walked back to the house.  Did you see the fireflies, she asked.  Yup, replied the boy, good thing I got to you before they did.  Good thing, she said ruffling his hair, my little hero.

 *ENDING B* (VIOLENT)
       

     His heart jumped into his throat, spying the small amount of blood on the toe of one of the shoes.  Oh no, he thought, I'm too late.  He leaped from the tree, landing on the ground with a small grunt.  Tears welling up in his eyes as he approached the vacant shoes.  Bending down, he picked up one of the shoes with a shaking hand. The blood was fresh.  A terrible scream of pain cut through the silence like a knife.  It was her. He dropped the shoe and took off running in her direction, pulling a knife from its sheath on his waist. 

     He saw the small village coming up in a clearing, many fires roaring high.  He had no idea how many he was up against, but it didn't matter, two or twenty, he was too good.  He came upon the first, slipping up behind him and sliding the bright blade across his throat.  Only a surprised gurgle, and the man collapsed.  Another horrible scream of pain came across the village, ending in sobs.  His anger and panic rising as he drove his knife home into the ribs of another guard.  The man let out a sound of pure agony, alerting the rest of the encampment to his presence. 

     Nine seconds he said to himself, nine.  That's all it would take to get to her.  He ducked enemy fire, reaching into his boot and pulling out a dagger.   He threw the dagger swiftly into the neck of the gunman, spilling blood in torrents.  Eight, eight seconds left he murmured.  He slashed into the belly of the last guard, and continued walking to the hut where her screams were coming from, ignoring the sickening slosh and thud the guard made. 

     The smell of burning flesh overwhelmed his senses.  They were torturing her and then cauterizing the wounds.  All just to get to him. Fury nearly blinded him.  He walked into the doorway and paused.  She was tied to a post in the ground, her sundress torn to shreds and soaked in blood.  A man in a black dress suite was standing next to her, his white-gloved hands clasped behind his back. 

     The guard was sharpening a long pair of hedge clippers on a wet stone.  Her blonde hair was falling in messy layers around her tear soaked face, dried blood clumping it.  The guard stood up, and walked over to the Man in black.  The Man reached out, lifting her chin with his fingertip.  Now you know what we want, why is this so hard to grasp, he asked.  I've asked you repeatedly where your husband is, but you refuse to say.  He has something very important to me, and I want it back.  He shouldn't have taken it in the first place.  It's a shame that you had to get mixed up in this, it really is, he said.  I'll give you one last chance, tell me where he is, and I'll let you go.

     She lifted her head up, defiance burning bright in her eyes, and spit a mouthful of blood into his face.  Go to hell, she said firmly.

     The Man took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face.  He looked at his watch.  Your husbands late, and now, it's too late for you.  Such a pity, he said grasping her chin in his gloved hands, such a beautiful thing.  Kill her.

     The guard lifted the shears, but a gasp escaped his lips.  He dropped the shears and looked down at his chest to see the point of a knife ripping a new hole through his shirt.  He fell to the ground dead. 

     The Man whirled around, pulling his gun out from the holster inside his jacket.  The Man was now face to face with his adversary.  I've brought what you asked for, he said removing a black velvet bag from his satchel, now let her go. That was the deal.  The Man laughed and lowered the gun, you truly are a remarkable person Daniel, and for a second there I really did think you had abandoned her.  I mean, that's what you're good it, just like you left me to get pinched by the authorities.  I guess old dogs CAN learn new tricks.  Very well, she is free to go.

     Daniel reached to untie his wife, but a gun was thrust in his face.  The Man laughed again. Oh I don't think so, you owe me something first. Daniel looked at his wife, and then at the Man, he tossed the bag to the ground.  There, he said, as promised.  The Man bent down and picked up the bag, hefting it in his hand, feeling the outline of the huge diamond inside.  Very well, he said, lowering his gun.  You are both free to go.  With that, the Man winked at the wife and walked out the hut. 

     Daniel ripped at the bonds holding his wife up; she collapsed into his arms, sobbing. Why did you let him go, she cried, you should have killed him.  Oh, I have, he replied, pulling an egg shaped remote from his pocket with a tiny red button.  He just doesn't know it yet.  With that, he pressed the button, and an explosion sounded from the forest.  Daniel cradled his sleeping wife in his arms as the sun began to rise above the mountains, bringing with it a sudden summer storm to clean away the blood and terror.

 DEATH BY TWO

     Her heart was pounding in her ears, breathing coming in ragged gasps. She ran across the parking lot and crouched between the long row of cars, the silent sentinels hiding her form from prying eyes. Bracing her back against one large tire, she attempted to rest and catch her breath. The gravel of the school parking lot was warm under the early morning skies. The birds were calling out to one another, but she couldn't hear them.

     Rivers of dried tears cut paths through the dirt and blood on her face. She looked down at her hands, realizing that they were still shaking, and covered in dried blood. She had not one single cut on her. She gasped and desperately tried to rub it off, the blood that once belonged to her fiancé.

     Why? Why had he done it, she screamed in her head. How could someone do such terrible things to another? And why did he make her watch? Fresh tears started falling again, obscuring her vision. She could still hear Josh screaming, pleading and begging to stop. Her own pleas of mercy were ignored as well.

     She grabbed a handful of her shirt and started rubbing furiously, still trying to get the spattered blood off of her hands, arms, and legs. She tried closing her eyes, to block out the sight of the blood, but all she could see was Josh on that table, dead, his body a mangled mess of horror. How could someone be so mindlessly cruel? What had they ever done to deserve this? She brought her knees to her chest and hugged them, sobbing.

     And then she heard it. That telltale soft squeak of a cars breaks. Her eyes flew open and her head snapped back. It was Him. She knew it. Her heart stopped and her blood froze. She crawled over to the front of the SUV that she was hiding behind and slowly peered around the headlight. What she saw set the hairs on the back of her neck on end. That same black Mercedes, parked at the other end of the school lot.

     The school bell cut through the quiet of the early morning. She had to find a way out. She had to escape. A classroom door came into view when she shifted her weight. There it was. Her only chance.

     She could see the young children inside coloring, oblivious to the horrors of the night that was left behind. She looked back over at the car. He was just sitting there, the soft glow of a cigarette burning inside. She knew what she had to do. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

     The world seemed to slow down when she took off. The asphalt and stones flying out behind her as she ran. She dashed across the parking lot, the small patches of grass and low concrete walls. She practically flew over the school sign; using what little adrenaline she had left, pushing it to the max. She heard the squeal of the tires and the roar of the engine as the Man threw it into gear, heading in her direction. Fear gripped her when she realized that she might not make it. The Mans car gaining on her with every breath she took. She reached down deep inside and pulled out one last burst of speed and desperation. She ran into the door, pounding on the glass door, yelling for someone to let her in. She whipped her head around to see the Mans car almost to her.

     She fell face first into the bright red sneakers of the little boy who opened the door. She leaped to her feet and threw her body against the door, slamming it shut. Twisting the lock, she drove the bolt home as the Mans car breezed on by; the window lowered enough to see him wave an 'I'll see you later' before he sped off. The teacher touched her on the shoulder gently. Ma'am, are you ok? She jumped at the woman’s touch, the teacher pulled back slightly, a worried look on her face. She turned around, one hand still grasping the door handle. No, she replied, I need help.

     He saw her collapse into the teachers’ chair, clasping a cup of water. He was far away enough not to be noticed, but close enough to see that she was crying again. He took another Polaroid, placing it on the seat next to the one of the Man in his black Mercedes. He turned his car on; the disgruntled moan of his van sounded his departure. Another player in his game? Things had just gotten a little more interesting....