He crept through the old barn, as quietly as he could, inching forward without making a noise at all. He glanced to one side as the others followed his lead. They were close now. They all new it. He ducked under a low beam and straightened up scanning the other side. It was dark and only there torchlight made the area difficult to see. Strange shapes and shadows in the darkness constantly demanding there attention.
He took another few steps forward into the cool night air, the corn fields a few metres away, another barn to the left. He was about to indicate they should search the other barn first when the bullet ripped through him knocking him back. Unable to react he found himself staring up at the stars. He coughed and the strong metallic taste lingered in his mouth. That was a bad sign.
He heard shouts and more gun fire, unable to really make anything out at all. It was just a blur of noise to him right now. The only thing he could focus on was the stars above him. He watched the brightest one, focused on it. Thinking of his son, his eyes that sparkled everytime he smiled or laughed, a sparkle that he saw every time he looked at him. He watched the star longer, holding onto his smile, his eyes. Holding onto him.
There was more shouts and gun shots and they seemed distant now, further away. He frowned wondering when they'd moved away and he hadnt realised. Another shout and a hand pressed on him, he blinked at the blurred face above him. The person said something but it to sounded so distant. He could barely make it out.
He opened his mouth to say something, to tell them to speak up a bit but nothing came out, he looked back at the stars in the sky and they were fading.. one by one they were going out. He found the bright one and focused on it, with everything he had left he watched that star.
He found that as that final star faded out his final thoughts were of his son, his loving smile, his gentle, infectious laugh. As the last of the light faded he could swore he could feel his sons hands hugging him, holding him as a son holds his father. Comforted by that thought he settled back into the soft gentle embrace.