Inkling_2026_Digital - Flipbook - Page 7
Burn
by Colton S.
fourth, his face strained with e昀昀ort. And
yet he looked my age, younger maybe. My
stomach knotted, I tried to convince myself
he was just like the others. I had to.
Then—the order came.
Two groups of soldiers erupted from the
treeline, two groups of soldiers clad in the
same uniform, people who were ever-sodi昀昀erent in spirit, and personality, rallying
behind the fake promise of peace, behind
the cheap patch on their shoulders, their
own 昀氀ags blinding their advance.
As the groups sprinted out of the treeline,
gun昀椀re erupted in rapid succession,
soldiers fell instantly. Not just theirs, but
ours too. Out of the corner of my eye I
spotted a man, garbed in the very same
uniform that I wore.
I did the only thing I could think to do. I ran.
I ran towards the concrete building, the
only building that promised cover. I had
almost reached the steps when a bullet
whizzed past my ears. I stumbled, then,
without thinking, I raised my ri昀氀e and
squeezed the trigger tightly, my trembling
hands 昀氀inging the barrel around wildly. I
didn’t stop until I could hear the trigger
click.
When I opened my eyes, the soldier lay
motionless, no less than 昀椀fty yards away
Dead.
I stumbled up the stairs, the realization
hitting all at once. I doubled over, vomiting
o昀昀 the railing. My hands shook as I swung
open the mangled, steel door. I moved to
INKLING 2026 | 7
