The Proverbial War

Oh God he would kill me when he woke up!

If he woke up.

Colt was lying on his front and the gun he had was tucked into the waistband of his pants at the small of his back. I pulled the gun out and before I could give my consciousness a moment to decide otherwise I stood up and fled the scene.

I didn't really have a plan other than to survive and find Koke.

It was a different feeling now as I ran out into the jungle. I didn't feel safe anymore. The gun clutched in my hand gave me a measure of security, but my real security lay back there by the fire.

I was such a fool! My chances of surviving on my own were next to nothing now, but it was too late to go back now.

*****

Colt twitched and shook as he was held in the grip of a vision from the past that had crossed over into a nightmarish fantasy jacked on steroids.

Smoke, lots of smoke.

Blood on the walls.

His buddies all blown apart.

Dead sightless eyes.

"Why weren't you here with us Colt? You could've gone with us. It would've all been over. See you in hell soon. You know that's where we are. You remember don't you? It was your order that called in the artillery strike. It was you that killed all these people. You're going to hell. Can't you see all those you killed watching you? You deserve to die. There's nothing good about you. You're going to die. We hate you because you're still alive. Should've been here with us. We were a team, but now you're alone. Traitor to everything. Just die. We'll keep the fire hot just for you. See you soon bro. See you soon. You're gonna burn!"

"No!!!" Colt screamed into the ground even as his fingers dug into it as he tried to pull himself free of the nightmarish realm he had been falling through.

He raised his head blearily and looked around. The little witch who'd poisoned him was gone.

The fire was dead, which meant that hours had gone by.

Oh God his head hurt and nothing seemed to be working quite right. He fumbled for his gun, but it was gone. She'd taken it of course, but she hadn't taken the pack. The stupid little fool!

He pushed himself upright on the ground and looked at his hand. He almost swore, but bit it back. His hand stung, but it was otherwise fine.

He got to his feet and reeled about drunkenly for a moment. It didn't take him long to see the way that she'd gone. She'd only continued in her foolishness in heading off in the direction that she had chosen. She'd headed down into a valley.