THEM
Chapter One – Wrong turn
The bird plummeted to its death.
“Nice shot. Nearly blew its bloody wing off!” praised Mark.
“Thanks.” replied Tom, handing the air rifle to his friend.
“Woo! My turn, I can’t wait to try this baby out.”
“Ye, ye, just don’t break it. So what’s next, you genna try and shoot one of those flying nuisances.”
Tom asked as he rustled through his bag.
“Why are there nuisances?”
“They shit everywhere. Have we got any spicy Doritos?”
“Bottom pocket.”
A loud bang echoed through the woods, followed by the frantic flapping of wings.
“You get one,” mumbled Tom, as he munched on the crisps.
“No, this sucks, let’s go deeper, if we’re lucky we might find a rabbit or two and if god loves us, maybe a fox.”
“As long as it’s light and we have food, it’s fine by me.”
“It’s settled then”, and together they packed up and trudged deeper into the woods.
The hare nibbled on a piece of dead leaf. Its ears kept pricking at the sound of twigs snapping. However, the more anxious it got, the more it ate. Watching the rabbit eat was like watching paint dry, and when it had finished, the hare moved onto the next piece. Tom and Mark studied it from afar, waiting for the right moment. Of course, they could shoot now, but they did not want to risk it until they were certain they could not miss. It was not a game, if they blew their chance, there would not be a second, and the hare probably wouldn’t be stopping to see the look on their faces. Mark slowly edged closer, careful not to step on any twigs. He was about twenty metres or so from the hare, when something caught his attention to the west. Mark lowered the gun and squinted into the distance. Tom noticed this and followed his gaze.
“What is it?” mouthed Tom, trying his best not to alert the Hare.
Mark shook his head, and made his way towards the mysterious object. They both heard a loud scatter behind them. Mark was not that bothered and was still fixed on whatever was up ahead.
“Shit” Tom whispered
“What is it”
“Rabbits gone,” replied tom, his voice normal now as there was no need to whisper anymore.
“Oh well, I’m more interested in that” mark said, pointing ahead.
The curious boy jogged several paces, his lanky legs making the several to about fifty. He shielded his eyes from the blazing sun to get a better look and made a low grunt.
“What is it” Asked tom, as he caught up with his friend.
“ I don’t-“
“OH SHIT!” shouted Tom
Mark didn’t even bother asking and simply followed his gaze.
A corpse hung from a rotting oak tree, swinging back and forth like a pendulum. The head looked like a red football, which was crying. Blood trickled down the bark, turning it an odd brownish colour. The boys would have simply found it a little cool and creepy if it had not been for the fact, that they could see the rotting bark through two small black holes. The man’s face was fine apart from the fact that instead of two eyes, there was just a bloody mess.
“Who is he?” asked Mark, his face screwed up in disgust.
“Don’t know, all I know is that it’s time to go.”
“Right there with you this time”.
The boys staggered through the woods, exhausted and drunk with fatigue. They came to a small clearing and slumped themselves on the ground; their chest puffing up and down like a pump. Tall, intimidating great oaks surrounded them, north, east, south and west, like a cage.
“I’m so tired we’ve been walking for ages,” moaned Tom.
“Admit it”
“Admit what?”
“We’re lost.”
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" its just us and them."
Weird image.
