Post by Nickpick on Apr 8, 2010 16:05:39 GMT -6
A story i was writing before i took my break, i know i lagged on posting it. I was just editing it and adding scenes. What's different then and now, the intro is longer and more detailed but the first time i wrote it, it was short and straight to the point and I added more details to the characters and situations. So enjoy!
The End Of Something Beautiful
"Does this darkness have a name? This cruelty, this hatred, how did it find us? Did it steal into our lives, or did we seek it out and embrace it? What happened to us? That we now send our children into the world like we send young men into war…hoping for their safe return but knowing that some will be lost along the way. When did we lose our way? Consumed by the shadows, swallowed whole by the darkness. Does this darkness have a name, is it your name?"
-Vietnam, 1968-
"WE GOT HEAVY FIRE ON THE SOUTH REGION...SH*T, lines dead"
I could barely make out Private Doggy's words from the sounds of bullets blasting near my ears. If i had one wish right now, it wouldn't be to leave this war...i'd want to be deaf. Private Doggy was a handsome man, brown hair that curried under his helmet, deep blue eyes and a face that could pass easily as James Dean. i mean i was a hetero man and loved me a woman with nice blond hair and lipstick brighter than blood itself but he had a certain charm to him, it pulled you in and questioned everything you knew..Damn it!..i'm snapping again, 3 months of war will do some damage to your brain.
"Private Rogers! Private Rogers!"
I looked at Private Doggy, i knew he saw the fear in my eyes, i never really accepted killing people then heading home and being accepted as a hero. I hid the fear, put it deep down inside me so i wouldn't think about it. I stared at him, his blue eyes were angry and i was center of their attention
"Yeah!"
"Looks like it's just me and you until we head back to Base, if there is one...watch my back and I'll attempt to watch yours, got it?"
A fun fact about Doggy, He told the truth. I never heard this man lie, if he believed we were going to die then i started saying my prayers now, if he told me he was some kind of Superman and he was going to fly us home then I'd get on my knees and cry. Doggy was a good man and the only person i was proud to call friend.
"You got it"
"Make sure no bullet hurt my back, it's whole lot prettier then my face..."
Why do i highly doubt that? damn, i hate when i start thinking like this. it's forbidden act, if i said any of that aloud, I'd be dead in some part of the jungle, letting the pigs and flies eat from my motionless body. It's a taboo but isn't killing people is a taboo also? i guess risks are meant to be taken...STOP IT!. For a moment the bullets were silent, wrong choice to make our move, it was usually a trap but for Doggy, It was his chance!
"Move!"
He jumped out of this dirt hole and i followed, i held my helmet down as he jumped out. i felt my black hair as i did so, i never really got around to cutting it. Me and Doggy wanted to see how long it would take until the higher ups told us too do it. The bullets started ringing again, His machine gun blasting into the unknown in the jungle in front of us. I shot everywhere he didn't. We ran into the jungle and ducked under a fallen tree, both reloading our steaming guns, he looked over at me with a smile that was cheek to cheek
"Your an artist with that machine gun, after this...rounds are on me"
I smiled
"None of that sour crap either"
He started laughing as he stood and started shooting, i stood up and jumped over the fallen tree, i started running and he covered my back as i saw a clearing about a mile in front of us. It wasn't safe but i remember that past the clearing was another small section of jungle then 3 miles from there was a safe zone. I started running faster, i heard no footsteps behind me. Had i finally gone deaf? no...the bullets made my ears want to bleed with each burst so it had to be Doggy, I turned around and Doggy was on the floor, a red spot near his shoulder which got bigger with each second. I ran to him, He said so many swear words that they mumbled together. I picked him up when he pushed me away
"Drag me, I'll shoot from behind"
I nodded, grabbing his right hand, he shot with his left. I knew Doggy was strong and that a bullet wound wouldn't stop him. I started running, pulling his right arm as i shoot with my right. The clearing wasn't getting close to us. So i did my best to run faster. A bullet grazes my cheek but I'm somehow able to continue running and ignore it. If i stopped i knew Doggy wouldn't forgive me for giving up. "Giving Up is a Poor Man's Game" those words tattooed in my brain, Doggy would always tell us quotes his father always told me, some were pleasant "When god closes a door, he also opens a window" and some wanted you to opened you head and scoop that information from your brain "My father use to tell me to never have unprotected sex with a hooker on some street, good chance they might have some uglies". Doggy was the type of person you loved to invite over, catch a few beers with but as soon as he was drunk, you wanted him out.
"RELOADING!"
i didn't know how he was reloading without his other hand but i respected him for doing it. I then felt the strong pierce of another bullet hitting my chest, the string felt like a hot light bulb being dug into my skin, i stopped running...
....Exhale....
....Inhale....
I could hear my breathing and heartbeat, dancing to a song i didn't like. I couldn't make out the humming noise that slowly grew. Maybe it was the bullet near my lungs, maybe i was dying and i didn't know it but it wasn't that...It was Private Doggy and he was screaming from the top of his lungs.
"Private Rogers! WE NEED TO MOVE!"
He continued to shoot as i stood still, a coward. I was letting fear consume me, i did the best i could turing the pain into a distant memory. I started running again, dragging Doggy as i did. I didn't know why i thought the clearing would be safe. I could hear a dying sound in the rhythm of the bullets being shot. Was Doggy doing it? Was he actually kicking ass?
"Rogers! Stop!"
I heard Doggy say, I stopped and released Doggy, He stood up while i looked around that's when i noticed there were no bullets being fired. No shooters, No guns...we were alone. Me and Doggy caught each others eyes and we started celebrating, He shared a hug and ignored each other's pain. His hug felt warm, like hugging a mother or trusted parent. He started shooting in the air as soon as I released him which i didn't want to do. I watched him celebrate.
"THAT'S HOW AMERICA DOES IT!"
Suddenly in the mist of the happiness, a white light grew like a spotlight aimed directly on us. We turned toward it and the presence of this light felt good, the same feeling i felt when Doggy hugged me but Doggy didn't feel what i felt, He aimed his gun at this light and started shooting, the burst of his bullet sent a shock in my ears.
"WHAT IN THE HELL IS IT?"
He screamed, trying to speak over the loud bullet until his gun clicked, his round was empty. It grew brighter like a wave hitting us. I closed my eyes and put my hands over my face, trying to block the light even with my eyes closed, i didn't see no blackness, just the white. I felt a suddenly cold chill, forcing me to open my eyes, i wasn't in the jungle anymore, hell i wasn't in Vietnam anymore. I was somewhere else...
"Eric! Eric!"
I yelled, i never felt fear like this. It quickly consumed me. I saw events, people, places and even time flash before my eyes. Secrets of life exposed to me but none of it made sense. Where was i? what was i seeing? i didn't know. I wanted to look at my body or even look around but i could move. I was held down and tightly.
"WHERE AM I?"
I screamed from the top of my lungs, causing saliva to pour from my lips and mouth. Then it all stopped, like someone turning a television off. In the darkness a sky grew bright blue, Clouds starting coming at me and past me, I felt like i was flying, It was relaxing and calm, something i hadn't felt since i first arrived in Vietnam.
"Wake up kid"
The voice told me so calm that i could easily sleep, i saw a figure in the sky, He was near the sun and i couldn't see the sun but i knew he was reaching out toward me.
"Wake up!"
It was louder, like right next to my ear. It was different, heavier and older. Even though my eyes were opened, i opened them.
"He's awake! Judy!"
I was in the middle of a jungle, not the Vietnam jungle. That jungle was dark and hot, this one was moist and beautiful, like living in an art painting. The man who spoke to me was heavy set, a beard and no hair, dark brown eyes that looked like they were black. I've never seen this man, not his beautiful blond wife or his two children but i felt like i knew everything about them. Husband's name was Clark Parker, Wife was Judy Parker and kids were Sarah and Peter.Clark was prosecutor and Judy was a stay at home mom that use to be a psychologist. Sarah was in the 4th grade while Peter was about to go to 6th.
"Son, Are you alright?"
I sat up and looked around, first thing i noticed was the warm blanket over me, i looked under it and saw i was naked.
"Where's my uniform?"
"Uniform? You some kinda worker?"
"No, Solider"
The man chuckled, i looked at him and i felt offended. He sounded like my father when i told him i was joining the army. He stood up and put his hands to his hips
"Don't you think your a little young to be in the military?"
"I'm 25..."
Judy looked at Clark, I looked at them, the longer they were silent, the longer i got worried
"What?"
"Son, You must hit your head or something. You look 16 or 17..."
I felt the rush of panic run through me. I stood up and the blanket fell but i didn't care. I ran to the river and looked in it. I saw my image. i was 17, black hair that hung from my head. Blue eyes that made the water shameful and a body that fit the same match of a 17 year old. Clark quickly threw the blanket over me, I wrapped it around me and i held it tight
"Where am i?"
"Seattle, Washington...Are you sure you don't need to go to a hospital?"
I looked around, how did i get here? I was in Vietnam one moment and the next I'm here. I looked at Clark
"What year is it?"
He smiled, i guess that was the weird question
"2010, Son...Listen, hop in the RV and we'll take you to the hospital, let the police help you out"
I was in the year 2010, impossible...i traveled 42 years in the future? no...impossible. I looked around and saw this great beast before me. I've seen cars before but this was huge. Almost the size of a plane. Gold brown with large wheels. This put my home and base to shame...base! i quickly looked at Clark
"The war? Is it over?"
"Depends on what war your talking about? The war of drugs, immigration, Iraq or iran..which is it Hun?"
Judy just shrugged, i didn't know which war Vietnam was classified as...
"Vietnam...Is that war over?"
"Yeah of course, Why?"
I knew it was over, i knew the type and date actually, well i knew the second too. I knew who won and the death rate and everything from how much pints of bloods was shed in that battle but why did i have to hear it?. How did i know this information? Why was this information important that I'd remember?"
"I'm fine, trust me...I'm fine"
"You sure? Where's your family?"
I had to lie, i needed to see the world but i needed to see it alone. I looked at them and smiled
"Well last night, my friends and i were having a few beers, i think they slipped me some illegal drugs and i got...stoned!"
i wasn't the best liar, they looked at each other
"I'm sorry if i must of given your family a scare, my stupidity has be doing stupid things all the time. My family doesn't know where i am yet but if you don't mind sharing some clothes then I'll find my car and head home"
Clark smiled, Judy smiled more
"No problem"
Judy rushed off and brought me a blue Hawaiian shirt with jeans that were several sizes to big from me, Clark took his belt off and gave it to me, it was clear Judy hated this shirt and pants.
"Thank you, I'm sorry again"
"No Problem, really!"
They walked off with their children, i waited until they were out of my sight until i got dressed. I looked around and knew from the bat that the nearest exit from this forest was east...why did i know that? i didn't know. I started walking off when a bird suddenly smashed into a tree. It fell to the ground and didn't move.
"Cardinal?..."
Why did a cardinal smash into a tree near me? I walked up to it and stared at it. I felt terrible and sadden. I gently placed my fingertips on the bird's chest and it jumped up. It looked at me like it was speaking to me then flew off. I got up and watched it fly away...
"Did i just...no, impossible"
The End Of Something Beautiful
The End Of Something Beautiful
"Does this darkness have a name? This cruelty, this hatred, how did it find us? Did it steal into our lives, or did we seek it out and embrace it? What happened to us? That we now send our children into the world like we send young men into war…hoping for their safe return but knowing that some will be lost along the way. When did we lose our way? Consumed by the shadows, swallowed whole by the darkness. Does this darkness have a name, is it your name?"
-Vietnam, 1968-
"WE GOT HEAVY FIRE ON THE SOUTH REGION...SH*T, lines dead"
I could barely make out Private Doggy's words from the sounds of bullets blasting near my ears. If i had one wish right now, it wouldn't be to leave this war...i'd want to be deaf. Private Doggy was a handsome man, brown hair that curried under his helmet, deep blue eyes and a face that could pass easily as James Dean. i mean i was a hetero man and loved me a woman with nice blond hair and lipstick brighter than blood itself but he had a certain charm to him, it pulled you in and questioned everything you knew..Damn it!..i'm snapping again, 3 months of war will do some damage to your brain.
"Private Rogers! Private Rogers!"
I looked at Private Doggy, i knew he saw the fear in my eyes, i never really accepted killing people then heading home and being accepted as a hero. I hid the fear, put it deep down inside me so i wouldn't think about it. I stared at him, his blue eyes were angry and i was center of their attention
"Yeah!"
"Looks like it's just me and you until we head back to Base, if there is one...watch my back and I'll attempt to watch yours, got it?"
A fun fact about Doggy, He told the truth. I never heard this man lie, if he believed we were going to die then i started saying my prayers now, if he told me he was some kind of Superman and he was going to fly us home then I'd get on my knees and cry. Doggy was a good man and the only person i was proud to call friend.
"You got it"
"Make sure no bullet hurt my back, it's whole lot prettier then my face..."
Why do i highly doubt that? damn, i hate when i start thinking like this. it's forbidden act, if i said any of that aloud, I'd be dead in some part of the jungle, letting the pigs and flies eat from my motionless body. It's a taboo but isn't killing people is a taboo also? i guess risks are meant to be taken...STOP IT!. For a moment the bullets were silent, wrong choice to make our move, it was usually a trap but for Doggy, It was his chance!
"Move!"
He jumped out of this dirt hole and i followed, i held my helmet down as he jumped out. i felt my black hair as i did so, i never really got around to cutting it. Me and Doggy wanted to see how long it would take until the higher ups told us too do it. The bullets started ringing again, His machine gun blasting into the unknown in the jungle in front of us. I shot everywhere he didn't. We ran into the jungle and ducked under a fallen tree, both reloading our steaming guns, he looked over at me with a smile that was cheek to cheek
"Your an artist with that machine gun, after this...rounds are on me"
I smiled
"None of that sour crap either"
He started laughing as he stood and started shooting, i stood up and jumped over the fallen tree, i started running and he covered my back as i saw a clearing about a mile in front of us. It wasn't safe but i remember that past the clearing was another small section of jungle then 3 miles from there was a safe zone. I started running faster, i heard no footsteps behind me. Had i finally gone deaf? no...the bullets made my ears want to bleed with each burst so it had to be Doggy, I turned around and Doggy was on the floor, a red spot near his shoulder which got bigger with each second. I ran to him, He said so many swear words that they mumbled together. I picked him up when he pushed me away
"Drag me, I'll shoot from behind"
I nodded, grabbing his right hand, he shot with his left. I knew Doggy was strong and that a bullet wound wouldn't stop him. I started running, pulling his right arm as i shoot with my right. The clearing wasn't getting close to us. So i did my best to run faster. A bullet grazes my cheek but I'm somehow able to continue running and ignore it. If i stopped i knew Doggy wouldn't forgive me for giving up. "Giving Up is a Poor Man's Game" those words tattooed in my brain, Doggy would always tell us quotes his father always told me, some were pleasant "When god closes a door, he also opens a window" and some wanted you to opened you head and scoop that information from your brain "My father use to tell me to never have unprotected sex with a hooker on some street, good chance they might have some uglies". Doggy was the type of person you loved to invite over, catch a few beers with but as soon as he was drunk, you wanted him out.
"RELOADING!"
i didn't know how he was reloading without his other hand but i respected him for doing it. I then felt the strong pierce of another bullet hitting my chest, the string felt like a hot light bulb being dug into my skin, i stopped running...
....Exhale....
....Inhale....
I could hear my breathing and heartbeat, dancing to a song i didn't like. I couldn't make out the humming noise that slowly grew. Maybe it was the bullet near my lungs, maybe i was dying and i didn't know it but it wasn't that...It was Private Doggy and he was screaming from the top of his lungs.
"Private Rogers! WE NEED TO MOVE!"
He continued to shoot as i stood still, a coward. I was letting fear consume me, i did the best i could turing the pain into a distant memory. I started running again, dragging Doggy as i did. I didn't know why i thought the clearing would be safe. I could hear a dying sound in the rhythm of the bullets being shot. Was Doggy doing it? Was he actually kicking ass?
"Rogers! Stop!"
I heard Doggy say, I stopped and released Doggy, He stood up while i looked around that's when i noticed there were no bullets being fired. No shooters, No guns...we were alone. Me and Doggy caught each others eyes and we started celebrating, He shared a hug and ignored each other's pain. His hug felt warm, like hugging a mother or trusted parent. He started shooting in the air as soon as I released him which i didn't want to do. I watched him celebrate.
"THAT'S HOW AMERICA DOES IT!"
Suddenly in the mist of the happiness, a white light grew like a spotlight aimed directly on us. We turned toward it and the presence of this light felt good, the same feeling i felt when Doggy hugged me but Doggy didn't feel what i felt, He aimed his gun at this light and started shooting, the burst of his bullet sent a shock in my ears.
"WHAT IN THE HELL IS IT?"
He screamed, trying to speak over the loud bullet until his gun clicked, his round was empty. It grew brighter like a wave hitting us. I closed my eyes and put my hands over my face, trying to block the light even with my eyes closed, i didn't see no blackness, just the white. I felt a suddenly cold chill, forcing me to open my eyes, i wasn't in the jungle anymore, hell i wasn't in Vietnam anymore. I was somewhere else...
"Eric! Eric!"
I yelled, i never felt fear like this. It quickly consumed me. I saw events, people, places and even time flash before my eyes. Secrets of life exposed to me but none of it made sense. Where was i? what was i seeing? i didn't know. I wanted to look at my body or even look around but i could move. I was held down and tightly.
"WHERE AM I?"
I screamed from the top of my lungs, causing saliva to pour from my lips and mouth. Then it all stopped, like someone turning a television off. In the darkness a sky grew bright blue, Clouds starting coming at me and past me, I felt like i was flying, It was relaxing and calm, something i hadn't felt since i first arrived in Vietnam.
"Wake up kid"
The voice told me so calm that i could easily sleep, i saw a figure in the sky, He was near the sun and i couldn't see the sun but i knew he was reaching out toward me.
"Wake up!"
It was louder, like right next to my ear. It was different, heavier and older. Even though my eyes were opened, i opened them.
"He's awake! Judy!"
I was in the middle of a jungle, not the Vietnam jungle. That jungle was dark and hot, this one was moist and beautiful, like living in an art painting. The man who spoke to me was heavy set, a beard and no hair, dark brown eyes that looked like they were black. I've never seen this man, not his beautiful blond wife or his two children but i felt like i knew everything about them. Husband's name was Clark Parker, Wife was Judy Parker and kids were Sarah and Peter.Clark was prosecutor and Judy was a stay at home mom that use to be a psychologist. Sarah was in the 4th grade while Peter was about to go to 6th.
"Son, Are you alright?"
I sat up and looked around, first thing i noticed was the warm blanket over me, i looked under it and saw i was naked.
"Where's my uniform?"
"Uniform? You some kinda worker?"
"No, Solider"
The man chuckled, i looked at him and i felt offended. He sounded like my father when i told him i was joining the army. He stood up and put his hands to his hips
"Don't you think your a little young to be in the military?"
"I'm 25..."
Judy looked at Clark, I looked at them, the longer they were silent, the longer i got worried
"What?"
"Son, You must hit your head or something. You look 16 or 17..."
I felt the rush of panic run through me. I stood up and the blanket fell but i didn't care. I ran to the river and looked in it. I saw my image. i was 17, black hair that hung from my head. Blue eyes that made the water shameful and a body that fit the same match of a 17 year old. Clark quickly threw the blanket over me, I wrapped it around me and i held it tight
"Where am i?"
"Seattle, Washington...Are you sure you don't need to go to a hospital?"
I looked around, how did i get here? I was in Vietnam one moment and the next I'm here. I looked at Clark
"What year is it?"
He smiled, i guess that was the weird question
"2010, Son...Listen, hop in the RV and we'll take you to the hospital, let the police help you out"
I was in the year 2010, impossible...i traveled 42 years in the future? no...impossible. I looked around and saw this great beast before me. I've seen cars before but this was huge. Almost the size of a plane. Gold brown with large wheels. This put my home and base to shame...base! i quickly looked at Clark
"The war? Is it over?"
"Depends on what war your talking about? The war of drugs, immigration, Iraq or iran..which is it Hun?"
Judy just shrugged, i didn't know which war Vietnam was classified as...
"Vietnam...Is that war over?"
"Yeah of course, Why?"
I knew it was over, i knew the type and date actually, well i knew the second too. I knew who won and the death rate and everything from how much pints of bloods was shed in that battle but why did i have to hear it?. How did i know this information? Why was this information important that I'd remember?"
"I'm fine, trust me...I'm fine"
"You sure? Where's your family?"
I had to lie, i needed to see the world but i needed to see it alone. I looked at them and smiled
"Well last night, my friends and i were having a few beers, i think they slipped me some illegal drugs and i got...stoned!"
i wasn't the best liar, they looked at each other
"I'm sorry if i must of given your family a scare, my stupidity has be doing stupid things all the time. My family doesn't know where i am yet but if you don't mind sharing some clothes then I'll find my car and head home"
Clark smiled, Judy smiled more
"No problem"
Judy rushed off and brought me a blue Hawaiian shirt with jeans that were several sizes to big from me, Clark took his belt off and gave it to me, it was clear Judy hated this shirt and pants.
"Thank you, I'm sorry again"
"No Problem, really!"
They walked off with their children, i waited until they were out of my sight until i got dressed. I looked around and knew from the bat that the nearest exit from this forest was east...why did i know that? i didn't know. I started walking off when a bird suddenly smashed into a tree. It fell to the ground and didn't move.
"Cardinal?..."
Why did a cardinal smash into a tree near me? I walked up to it and stared at it. I felt terrible and sadden. I gently placed my fingertips on the bird's chest and it jumped up. It looked at me like it was speaking to me then flew off. I got up and watched it fly away...
"Did i just...no, impossible"
The End Of Something Beautiful
