Chapter 4
06.10.Thursday
Infinite blackness, it is what we feel when we sleep, it is what we feel when we die. Dieing, that is yet another thing we do not understand, we as humans do understand many things until we experience them ourselves. Though we must push on, discovering new things, experiencing new ways, curiosity is humanities best ally! Though blackness, and infinite blackness at that is something even the brightest of minds cannot undermine. It is non- understandable, until you wake up from the nightmare.
Graham did just this, the blackness that he had fallen into started to fade and he himself began to emerge from his nightmarish slumber. Graham's weary eyes cracked open, the eyelashes that were interwoven released them selves, and Graham's one left eye opened to reveal a now white world. The white world was dotted with dirt and grime though it was not a hell or a torturous battlefield.
Where am I? Thought Graham as he tried to move, but he could not, his mind was still fixed on waking up first. He was caught in a mental wrestling match with his own mind, trying to get up but also trying to stay down.
Am I dead? Questioned Graham, his head throbbing with pain. He still did not move, he laid their, un-moving, un-feeling. His eye opened wider, enough that one could look at his face and notice the pupil between the white. Graham was strengthened now, he was winning the wrestle and was moving his eye left and right. Still the room seemed white as the sun. If only he could turn his head he would be able to understand what had befell him.
Graham then moved one eye towards the sky again, he continued to look up and notice nothing had changed. Until suddenly a form began to take shape in front of his face. It was blurry at first but as Graham focused closer he made it out to be that of a beautiful woman standing over him. She was moving and at a repetitive rate.
Now I am confused thought Graham to himself If I am dead then why are their beings above me? He continued to ponder this until the figure moved out of sight. Graham had a little more strength now, though it was un-noticeable. He lifted one finger, and then the other, and then began to slowly slide his arm up his torso to feel his head. He was noticeably blinking now, moaning and opening his mouth.
Graham lifted his arm to feel his head, he touched it with one finger and cringed quickly at what he felt. He snapped his arm back as he felt numorous lines across the front of his forehead, and wound marks like that of a titanic explosion. He then moved his hand down to his right eye witch was not open for some reason. No wonder, it had a rough patch covering it.
The figure re-emerged only to gently grab the arm and put it back to it's original position. Graham moaned at not being able to use his own arms freely, no, he was angered at it. What the hell was going on he thought, why was he laying on a bed in a white place where nothing else exists but this occasional female figure? What had happened to him, was he dead or not. And why had he no strength to lifted his own god willing arms and legs. These thoughts conjured in Graham's tortured mind until the point of no return. He felt his muscle surge with energy. His brain was going ballistic. This was the woman's fault he thought, there was no-one else around him but her. He used the surge of adrenaline and strength to lift his torso up with a snarl and swiftly grabbed the small throat of the woman. He continued to hold on, the woman desperately trying to break free. She did not know what was going on just as much as Graham did.
His anger was growing and growing, but so was his curiosity and questions. The deep snarl on his lipped began to cease. The curiosity subsided the anger and his strong tenacious grip began to slip away from the tiny throat of the woman. She let back as if dodging a blow, soothingly rubbing her red, throttled neck. Graham looked around him with an odd expression on his face, a blank expression. He was in a tent, surrounded by bunks and medical devices. Men and women leisurely walked around and through this place.
Where were the explosions, where were the gunshots, where was he? Graham questioned more and more until a sharp pain again exploded within his spine. He groaned out a painful scream and gently lay down on his bunk. The woman amazingly did not become angry at his retaliation and quickly came to his aid. She had most likely seen this kind of thing happen many times before, she was a nurse and medical aid, she assisted the wounded and at this point and time assisted Graham.
She scanned him thoroughly and then flipped the visor back, and put it away.
"W-w-what h-happened?" stammered Graham.
The woman just stared at him with a questioning look.
"W-where am I?" asked Graham yet again "come on answer me" moaned Graham, faint gunshots and explosions could be heard in the distance, the battle was still raging on.
The girl hesitated for a moment then began to speak "you're in the medical camp, a long ways away from the battlefield, you're o." she was cut off by Graham's incessant jabbering.
"I don't wanna be away from the battlefield" whined Graham arising from the bed side " I wanna fight, now where do I, uuunnnnnnngggggghhhh" moaned Graham as he fell to the floor.
The nurse quickly walked over to him, offering her hand. Graham smacked it away from him in rage.
"Get away from me" he yelled.
The woman stood there in disappointment, she was saddened and mad at Graham's reaction.
"Now, now what the hell is going on?" asked Graham " I wanna know now" he yelled yet again.
There was a silence within the tent, no one knew what had happened to him, they were just medical aids, how were they supposed to know? Suddenly an unrecognized yet familiar voice let out the words Graham had wanted to hear.
"I'll tell you what happened boy, if you really want to know?" exclaimed Captain Edmond Duke emerging from outside.
Graham looked over to Duke, he was still in his combat suit, and smoking another cigar. Graham quickly tried to flash a salute, the pain in his back was still there, and it was strong, Duke could tell by the look on his face that Graham was in pain. He relieved him and Graham sighed relief. Very faint gunshots and explosions could be heard in the background.
"Sir?" asked Graham.
"Well boy I think you might just be the luckiest son of a bitch in this whole army, you've cheated death do ya know that?" asked Duke, Graham's questioning facial expression grew wider with each word.
"Sir, I don't understand" asked Graham, the pain was growing and his face was beginning to hurt from all the cringing he was forming on his cheeks.
"Well son you had a nasty fall, I didn't know why at the time but I do know now it's amazing you're standin up right now!" he exclaimed as he explained what had happened to Graham.
* * *
Graham began to cough out blood, it was drying on his face with each cough and was pouring out of his mouth vertically for he was moving so fast. The land was flat for now which was a good thing, but it was becoming rocky up ahead and Graham was beginning to feel dizzy, almost sick, like his insides were being torn out.
Graham tried to stay awake but he just couldn't, he knew he had to reach the end for the bikes were already turning left and he was still zoned out. The bikers made a complete left turn and headed up the hill. Graham didn't notice them for he was now completely blacking out. His eyes were fluttering and he had an enormous splitting headache. He reached down to his stomach for he felt something damp.
"Oh, what do ya know, cough cough, more, cough, blood" he was delusional, he didn't know it but he had not one, but two exit wounds spewing out from his lower chest and gut. The blood from his gut poured out onto the leather seat of the bike, making it look almost black!
The other bikers were almost up the hill and time was running out. The wind harshly blew against their faces, they were excited and happy that they had completed the task with 4 men remaining. The biker in the back was very happy, he was frightened to go in to this ordeal but once he came out he would become a hero. He continued laughing and giving fake salutes to the others when he realized that Graham was not beside him. They had almost reached the top of the hill, where could he have gone?
"Hey man, I thing we better check on that dude behind us?" asked the biker.
"Yo skylar, why you always worried about shit like that yelled out the lead man over the enormous waves of sound.
The other just laughed and said "Skylar, you can go ahead man, we both wanna get back, see ya I guess" explained the other who just shrugged it off.
The biker waved to the others to continue on without him as they shrugged and drove off. If these guys didn't bring back Dukes man, he would be pissed. The biker wasn't in any serious danger, they had moved into the far reaches of this huge field and stopping below a hill wouldn't give him away too much. But a battle had taken place here earlier and more men would probably soon arrive. He couldn't stay for long, the loud sounds and dust would give him away easily, and their were also patrols moving around everywhere. he had to move fast. He continued to look and was beginning to loose hope until he noticed a cloud of dust off in the distance.
"What the fuck is this rookie doing?" Skylar asked himself as he lifted out a personal pair of binoculars. He continued to look through the two holes, his eyes were trying to adjust to the zoom as the picture went back and forth. He suddenly stopped and looked at the sight. He saw Graham, toppled over on the handlebars of the hover bike, he was unconscious!
Skylar quickly put away his pair of binoculars and kicked the stick on the right side of his bike. He kicked down hard as an enormous vroom noise sounded out from the machine. He zoomed off into the distance only to find a trail of bullets slamming hard into the dirt behind his bike. Maybe he was wrong about his safety here!
The biker flew over rubble and rock, dirt and grass, he was going at full speed, desperately trying to catch up to the weary traveler. Graham was almost reaching the rocky part of the scorched field as his bike toppled over, slamming Graham's head into the dirt, ripping the flesh off of his skull. Skylar cringed at the sight and quickly sped up to Graham, the bike was almost ready to collide with a ruined tank! They were now heading back into enemy lines and skylar could hear men screaming and firing weapons from afar.
Half a kilometer, the bike is close thought the heroic biker. He sped up to Graham as it was getting easier now for the bike to slow, it was rubbing against the ground but Graham's foot was still hitting the gas and the right side of his face was almost deformed by now!
A few more yards, it's about to hit thought the biker. Graham's bike was whining now, Skylar in behind was trying to dodge different metal parts flying off of the colliding vehicle. He swerved in for the strike, this was it, it was now or never as the biker reached out a gloved hand, almost, almost, there, he had the jacket in his palm as he quickly lifted it up off the ground and pulled back the lifeless figure from the ground. Blood was absolutely everywhere. One could look at Graham's body not to find any wound what so ever, just blood.
"Thank god for leather jackets" he yelled out as he hoisted the lifeless man onto the front of the bike laying him across the seat.
Graham's now lost bike slid towards the tank, it collided with a huge bang on impact creating an enormous fireball spewing out of the wreckage!
* * *
Duke finished his speech with an enormous hand gesture imitating the fireball, though he had not actually witnessed it!
"And that was it, well at least that is what the man told me" he explained with great exaggeration.
The woman just looked at Graham with a smile, for a lady who just got strangled she was sure in a good mood! She looked up at him again and said "Wow, you are fairly lucky, I don't really know of anyone who had survived two exit wounds and a sever blow to the head!" she exclaimed.
"Well, thanks, I guess" said Graham "but I would really like to get back to my duties sir" he said looking at Duke "If that is alright sir?" asked Graham.
"Son, you really aughta take a good look at your self in the mirror, your stitches have been freshly sown, your eyes was barely kept in it's socket and you won't be seeing through it for maybe a year or two. You've been in here for almost three days! If you ask me, I wouldn't put you on a battle field this year!" he explained to the furious and surprised Graham.
"That's not fair sir, I have to get back their" he yelled.
"Heheh, son, I know guys like you, but you really don't know what you're getting your self into, this is a dangerous job and we need men at their peek, you understand me boy" asked the captain.
"Well sir actually I d." he was cut off by the captains furious roars.
"I SAID DO YOU HEAR ME BOY" yelled the captain as the different nurses and casualties jumped at the sound.
"SIR YES SIR" exclaimed the stocky soldier with a saddened tone to his voice.
"Good, report to me at the science facility, she'll show ya where it is" explained the captain, the nurse smiled back indicating she knew.
Duke casually turned around and exited the tent, when all was clear and know one who would get angered was around, Graham slammed one fat fist into the piece of would holding up a part of the tent, it almost snapped at the blow.
"FUCK, how am I supposed to do anything right now, I'm like a mouse n a cage" he yelled out in anger.
Graham would just do more damage within the tent so he quickly left with a sad expression. He exited the small tent and stepped outside into a brightly lit field, the light beat against his eyes with radiance. He looked for some place to go and found the mess hall, searching for something to fill his dying hunger. He entered the building and looked around at the other people happily eating their lunches and snacks. Though Graham did not have anything yet, he was very hungry and found the nearest place to purchase the food.
When all was said and done, Graham, with back still aching and head still throbbing looked for a place to eat his food. Basically some meat (he didn't know what meat) a salad, some toast and orange juice (for he couldn't drink any beer in here).
Graham scanned for a place to sit, the room was jam packed, though there were a few empty tables. Graham wandered around aimlessly until he located a spot, it was big enough for a group of people to sit down in. He sat down and began to eat, it was the first decent meal he had eaten in a long time!
Graham was working on his toast when a stalky, skinny man came up beside him.
"Can I sit here?" he asked.
"My table is your table" explained Graham.
"Thanks, this place is so full I didn't even know where I was" he explained.
Graham chuckled and continued to eat until he asked a curious question.
"What's your name?" asked Graham.
"Oh me, heheh, my name's Skylar" he explained with a grin.
Aaaww isn't that nice, Graham finds his hero at the end, well don't get too mushy about it, we still have more blood, guts and gore to go around ok? So don't think the next one will be all peachy, you better be ready for this!?!?!?
Infinite blackness, it is what we feel when we sleep, it is what we feel when we die. Dieing, that is yet another thing we do not understand, we as humans do understand many things until we experience them ourselves. Though we must push on, discovering new things, experiencing new ways, curiosity is humanities best ally! Though blackness, and infinite blackness at that is something even the brightest of minds cannot undermine. It is non- understandable, until you wake up from the nightmare.
Graham did just this, the blackness that he had fallen into started to fade and he himself began to emerge from his nightmarish slumber. Graham's weary eyes cracked open, the eyelashes that were interwoven released them selves, and Graham's one left eye opened to reveal a now white world. The white world was dotted with dirt and grime though it was not a hell or a torturous battlefield.
Where am I? Thought Graham as he tried to move, but he could not, his mind was still fixed on waking up first. He was caught in a mental wrestling match with his own mind, trying to get up but also trying to stay down.
Am I dead? Questioned Graham, his head throbbing with pain. He still did not move, he laid their, un-moving, un-feeling. His eye opened wider, enough that one could look at his face and notice the pupil between the white. Graham was strengthened now, he was winning the wrestle and was moving his eye left and right. Still the room seemed white as the sun. If only he could turn his head he would be able to understand what had befell him.
Graham then moved one eye towards the sky again, he continued to look up and notice nothing had changed. Until suddenly a form began to take shape in front of his face. It was blurry at first but as Graham focused closer he made it out to be that of a beautiful woman standing over him. She was moving and at a repetitive rate.
Now I am confused thought Graham to himself If I am dead then why are their beings above me? He continued to ponder this until the figure moved out of sight. Graham had a little more strength now, though it was un-noticeable. He lifted one finger, and then the other, and then began to slowly slide his arm up his torso to feel his head. He was noticeably blinking now, moaning and opening his mouth.
Graham lifted his arm to feel his head, he touched it with one finger and cringed quickly at what he felt. He snapped his arm back as he felt numorous lines across the front of his forehead, and wound marks like that of a titanic explosion. He then moved his hand down to his right eye witch was not open for some reason. No wonder, it had a rough patch covering it.
The figure re-emerged only to gently grab the arm and put it back to it's original position. Graham moaned at not being able to use his own arms freely, no, he was angered at it. What the hell was going on he thought, why was he laying on a bed in a white place where nothing else exists but this occasional female figure? What had happened to him, was he dead or not. And why had he no strength to lifted his own god willing arms and legs. These thoughts conjured in Graham's tortured mind until the point of no return. He felt his muscle surge with energy. His brain was going ballistic. This was the woman's fault he thought, there was no-one else around him but her. He used the surge of adrenaline and strength to lift his torso up with a snarl and swiftly grabbed the small throat of the woman. He continued to hold on, the woman desperately trying to break free. She did not know what was going on just as much as Graham did.
His anger was growing and growing, but so was his curiosity and questions. The deep snarl on his lipped began to cease. The curiosity subsided the anger and his strong tenacious grip began to slip away from the tiny throat of the woman. She let back as if dodging a blow, soothingly rubbing her red, throttled neck. Graham looked around him with an odd expression on his face, a blank expression. He was in a tent, surrounded by bunks and medical devices. Men and women leisurely walked around and through this place.
Where were the explosions, where were the gunshots, where was he? Graham questioned more and more until a sharp pain again exploded within his spine. He groaned out a painful scream and gently lay down on his bunk. The woman amazingly did not become angry at his retaliation and quickly came to his aid. She had most likely seen this kind of thing happen many times before, she was a nurse and medical aid, she assisted the wounded and at this point and time assisted Graham.
She scanned him thoroughly and then flipped the visor back, and put it away.
"W-w-what h-happened?" stammered Graham.
The woman just stared at him with a questioning look.
"W-where am I?" asked Graham yet again "come on answer me" moaned Graham, faint gunshots and explosions could be heard in the distance, the battle was still raging on.
The girl hesitated for a moment then began to speak "you're in the medical camp, a long ways away from the battlefield, you're o." she was cut off by Graham's incessant jabbering.
"I don't wanna be away from the battlefield" whined Graham arising from the bed side " I wanna fight, now where do I, uuunnnnnnngggggghhhh" moaned Graham as he fell to the floor.
The nurse quickly walked over to him, offering her hand. Graham smacked it away from him in rage.
"Get away from me" he yelled.
The woman stood there in disappointment, she was saddened and mad at Graham's reaction.
"Now, now what the hell is going on?" asked Graham " I wanna know now" he yelled yet again.
There was a silence within the tent, no one knew what had happened to him, they were just medical aids, how were they supposed to know? Suddenly an unrecognized yet familiar voice let out the words Graham had wanted to hear.
"I'll tell you what happened boy, if you really want to know?" exclaimed Captain Edmond Duke emerging from outside.
Graham looked over to Duke, he was still in his combat suit, and smoking another cigar. Graham quickly tried to flash a salute, the pain in his back was still there, and it was strong, Duke could tell by the look on his face that Graham was in pain. He relieved him and Graham sighed relief. Very faint gunshots and explosions could be heard in the background.
"Sir?" asked Graham.
"Well boy I think you might just be the luckiest son of a bitch in this whole army, you've cheated death do ya know that?" asked Duke, Graham's questioning facial expression grew wider with each word.
"Sir, I don't understand" asked Graham, the pain was growing and his face was beginning to hurt from all the cringing he was forming on his cheeks.
"Well son you had a nasty fall, I didn't know why at the time but I do know now it's amazing you're standin up right now!" he exclaimed as he explained what had happened to Graham.
* * *
Graham began to cough out blood, it was drying on his face with each cough and was pouring out of his mouth vertically for he was moving so fast. The land was flat for now which was a good thing, but it was becoming rocky up ahead and Graham was beginning to feel dizzy, almost sick, like his insides were being torn out.
Graham tried to stay awake but he just couldn't, he knew he had to reach the end for the bikes were already turning left and he was still zoned out. The bikers made a complete left turn and headed up the hill. Graham didn't notice them for he was now completely blacking out. His eyes were fluttering and he had an enormous splitting headache. He reached down to his stomach for he felt something damp.
"Oh, what do ya know, cough cough, more, cough, blood" he was delusional, he didn't know it but he had not one, but two exit wounds spewing out from his lower chest and gut. The blood from his gut poured out onto the leather seat of the bike, making it look almost black!
The other bikers were almost up the hill and time was running out. The wind harshly blew against their faces, they were excited and happy that they had completed the task with 4 men remaining. The biker in the back was very happy, he was frightened to go in to this ordeal but once he came out he would become a hero. He continued laughing and giving fake salutes to the others when he realized that Graham was not beside him. They had almost reached the top of the hill, where could he have gone?
"Hey man, I thing we better check on that dude behind us?" asked the biker.
"Yo skylar, why you always worried about shit like that yelled out the lead man over the enormous waves of sound.
The other just laughed and said "Skylar, you can go ahead man, we both wanna get back, see ya I guess" explained the other who just shrugged it off.
The biker waved to the others to continue on without him as they shrugged and drove off. If these guys didn't bring back Dukes man, he would be pissed. The biker wasn't in any serious danger, they had moved into the far reaches of this huge field and stopping below a hill wouldn't give him away too much. But a battle had taken place here earlier and more men would probably soon arrive. He couldn't stay for long, the loud sounds and dust would give him away easily, and their were also patrols moving around everywhere. he had to move fast. He continued to look and was beginning to loose hope until he noticed a cloud of dust off in the distance.
"What the fuck is this rookie doing?" Skylar asked himself as he lifted out a personal pair of binoculars. He continued to look through the two holes, his eyes were trying to adjust to the zoom as the picture went back and forth. He suddenly stopped and looked at the sight. He saw Graham, toppled over on the handlebars of the hover bike, he was unconscious!
Skylar quickly put away his pair of binoculars and kicked the stick on the right side of his bike. He kicked down hard as an enormous vroom noise sounded out from the machine. He zoomed off into the distance only to find a trail of bullets slamming hard into the dirt behind his bike. Maybe he was wrong about his safety here!
The biker flew over rubble and rock, dirt and grass, he was going at full speed, desperately trying to catch up to the weary traveler. Graham was almost reaching the rocky part of the scorched field as his bike toppled over, slamming Graham's head into the dirt, ripping the flesh off of his skull. Skylar cringed at the sight and quickly sped up to Graham, the bike was almost ready to collide with a ruined tank! They were now heading back into enemy lines and skylar could hear men screaming and firing weapons from afar.
Half a kilometer, the bike is close thought the heroic biker. He sped up to Graham as it was getting easier now for the bike to slow, it was rubbing against the ground but Graham's foot was still hitting the gas and the right side of his face was almost deformed by now!
A few more yards, it's about to hit thought the biker. Graham's bike was whining now, Skylar in behind was trying to dodge different metal parts flying off of the colliding vehicle. He swerved in for the strike, this was it, it was now or never as the biker reached out a gloved hand, almost, almost, there, he had the jacket in his palm as he quickly lifted it up off the ground and pulled back the lifeless figure from the ground. Blood was absolutely everywhere. One could look at Graham's body not to find any wound what so ever, just blood.
"Thank god for leather jackets" he yelled out as he hoisted the lifeless man onto the front of the bike laying him across the seat.
Graham's now lost bike slid towards the tank, it collided with a huge bang on impact creating an enormous fireball spewing out of the wreckage!
* * *
Duke finished his speech with an enormous hand gesture imitating the fireball, though he had not actually witnessed it!
"And that was it, well at least that is what the man told me" he explained with great exaggeration.
The woman just looked at Graham with a smile, for a lady who just got strangled she was sure in a good mood! She looked up at him again and said "Wow, you are fairly lucky, I don't really know of anyone who had survived two exit wounds and a sever blow to the head!" she exclaimed.
"Well, thanks, I guess" said Graham "but I would really like to get back to my duties sir" he said looking at Duke "If that is alright sir?" asked Graham.
"Son, you really aughta take a good look at your self in the mirror, your stitches have been freshly sown, your eyes was barely kept in it's socket and you won't be seeing through it for maybe a year or two. You've been in here for almost three days! If you ask me, I wouldn't put you on a battle field this year!" he explained to the furious and surprised Graham.
"That's not fair sir, I have to get back their" he yelled.
"Heheh, son, I know guys like you, but you really don't know what you're getting your self into, this is a dangerous job and we need men at their peek, you understand me boy" asked the captain.
"Well sir actually I d." he was cut off by the captains furious roars.
"I SAID DO YOU HEAR ME BOY" yelled the captain as the different nurses and casualties jumped at the sound.
"SIR YES SIR" exclaimed the stocky soldier with a saddened tone to his voice.
"Good, report to me at the science facility, she'll show ya where it is" explained the captain, the nurse smiled back indicating she knew.
Duke casually turned around and exited the tent, when all was clear and know one who would get angered was around, Graham slammed one fat fist into the piece of would holding up a part of the tent, it almost snapped at the blow.
"FUCK, how am I supposed to do anything right now, I'm like a mouse n a cage" he yelled out in anger.
Graham would just do more damage within the tent so he quickly left with a sad expression. He exited the small tent and stepped outside into a brightly lit field, the light beat against his eyes with radiance. He looked for some place to go and found the mess hall, searching for something to fill his dying hunger. He entered the building and looked around at the other people happily eating their lunches and snacks. Though Graham did not have anything yet, he was very hungry and found the nearest place to purchase the food.
When all was said and done, Graham, with back still aching and head still throbbing looked for a place to eat his food. Basically some meat (he didn't know what meat) a salad, some toast and orange juice (for he couldn't drink any beer in here).
Graham scanned for a place to sit, the room was jam packed, though there were a few empty tables. Graham wandered around aimlessly until he located a spot, it was big enough for a group of people to sit down in. He sat down and began to eat, it was the first decent meal he had eaten in a long time!
Graham was working on his toast when a stalky, skinny man came up beside him.
"Can I sit here?" he asked.
"My table is your table" explained Graham.
"Thanks, this place is so full I didn't even know where I was" he explained.
Graham chuckled and continued to eat until he asked a curious question.
"What's your name?" asked Graham.
"Oh me, heheh, my name's Skylar" he explained with a grin.
Aaaww isn't that nice, Graham finds his hero at the end, well don't get too mushy about it, we still have more blood, guts and gore to go around ok? So don't think the next one will be all peachy, you better be ready for this!?!?!?