Raze

The first rays of sunlight were peaking over the hills, warming the earth and illuminating the thick layer of morning fog. It would have been a morning like any other, but for one, significant detail; the war had come to the valley.

“Bar the door!”

As the trio of fighters dragged their wounded brother-in-arms through the barn door, staining the straw and dirt red, the sound of distant gunfire reverberated through the surrounding hills.

“Get his pack off him and lay him down! Danny, give me light!”

Daniel doffed his backpack, and retrieved a lantern from within, placing it next to his fallen comrade. The entirety of the injured fighter’s pant leg had been dyed crimson, and his face and hands were nearly as white as the fog.

“Paul, tourniquet!”

Paul removed one of the tourniquets he kept laced through the webbing on his vest, and handed it to Aaron, who was now kneeling beside their wounded friend.

“James, it’s alright, you’re going to be fine!” said Aaron, as he frantically wrapped the tourniquet around James’ upper thigh, cinching it tight. He then pulled a knife from his pocket, and carefully sliced the blood-soaked pant leg from top to bottom, exposing the wound. The bullet had shattered bone and wreaked havoc on flesh, nicking James’ femoral artery in the process. Aaron knew there was nothing he could do.

“James,” said Aaron. “I… I’m sorry. There’s no-“

“Aaron, help him! He’s dying!” shouted Paul.

“I can’t! There’s nothing I can do! Do you see how much blood he’s lost?! The round nicked his femoral! It’s been too long! How am I supposed to fix that?!” Aaron shouted back.

“I told you we should have worked on him back there!” Daniel screamed, his cheeks wet with tears.

“And how were we supposed to do that, Danny?! We were ambushed! It’s a miracle we were even able to-“

“Please, stop arguing.” James’ words were barely audible. His strength had been reduced to a fraction of what it had been merely fifteen minutes ago. With monumental effort, he placed his hand on Aaron’s knee, and turned his head to face him.

“I know you did what you could. It’s nobody’s fault.”

Aaron’s eyes began to fill with tears, blurring his vision. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, leaving streaks of blood across his face.

“I’m so sorry, James. I’m so sorry! I-” Aaron’s words caught in his throat. Paul turned away, sobbing quietly. Daniel dropped to the floor, putting his hands on James’ shoulders.

“James, don’t you dare die on us! We need you! What about mom and dad?! What about Jenny?! Everyone needs you!” Daniel shouted, his tears wetting James’ vest. With the last of his strength, James placed a hand on Daniel’s, and gave him a near-imperceptible smile. Tears were running down the sides of his face.

“I’m sorry, Danny.” His hand slipped down to the floor, and his smile faded.

“James? Wake up, James! Wake up!” Daniel shouted, his face no more than an inch from James’, but there was no reaction.

“…Paul, look around for anything that might be useful.” Aaron said with a wavering, but determined tone.

“...What the heck is some old barn gon-“

“Just do it.” Interrupted Aaron. Paul obeyed, grabbed the lantern, and began to search.

“Danny... We have to get moving. Take his rifle, his sidearm, his mags, and his pack. We need everything we can get.”

Daniel didn’t move. Aaron put a hand on his shoulder, and said “Daniel, we have to go. Daniel I’m sorry, but we have to go.” He said, removing his hand from Daniel’s shoulder, standing up, and wiping his eyes one more time. “Now please, get his gear, pull yourself together, and let’s move out.”

“Alright… Alright.” Daniel wiped his eyes, sniffed, and started pulling magazines from the pouches on James’ vest.

“There’s an old can of gasoline in the corner, but that’s it.” Said Paul.

“Good, start spreading it, we’re gonna burn this place to the ground; we can't leave any trace, and we don't have time to bury him,” ordered Aaron.

Paul nodded, and did as he was told. When he finished, the men gathered at the door. Aaron opened it, and peeked outside.

“Looks clear.”

Daniel pulled a flare from his vest, lit it, and tossed it into the barn as the men left, shutting the door behind them. By the time the enemy passed through the area, nothing but ash and charcoal remained.