The Never Ending War

Flash fiction - 245 words

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In the cloud forest, two Marines cautiously follow a jungle trail as it slowly reveals itself from the surrounding mist, descending dark gullies, rising up roughly hewn steps and broaching blackened brooks, seemingly in an opaque, ethereal world of their own.

The corporal stops abruptly, turning his weapon back down the track while keeping his voice low, "Someone is following us.".

The sergeant listens for a moment as he stares helplessly into the whiteness enveloping them. "Take cover" he orders, and they both hide in the jungle just off the trail.

On hearing footsteps, the sergeant raises two fingers, indicating two men. Soon, they can make out two vague shapes moving through the mist. In haste, the corporal raises his weapon but the sergeant grasps the barrel, shaking his head and allowing the two shapes to pass by before whispering "They might be our boys".

"So what do we do now?" The corporal asks.

"We follow them".



Half a click later and deeper into the cloud, the corporal cups his ear, "I can't hear them anymore".

"Maybe they're moving faster than we are. Let's press on.".

Unknown to them, the two soldiers ahead had stopped. One of them turning his weapon back down the track while keeping his voice low, "Someone is following us."

The other one listens for a moment as he stares helplessly into the whiteness enveloping them. "Take cover" he orders, and they both hide in the jungle just off the trail.