The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

The Field   
by Kathleen McCluskey

Johnny woke in the field of poppies, the morning dew drops slid down his face as he stood and stretched. He looked around and rubbed his eyes. His tattered uniform danced playfully in the morning breeze; dust and dried blood blew out around him. He looked down at his rough, dirty hands; the hands of a farmer before the war. He rubbed them together and then down the front of his jacket. Johnny could feel something wet near his shoulder. He probed with his finger under his shirt. His finger found a large jagged hole in his shoulder. He was shocked when his hand came back with a crimson stain of blood. There was no pain, only terror when he realized that he had been shot. He looked across the endless sea of poppies and saw another rising from them.

Billy woke in the field of poppies as well. His uniform was cleaner and superior to Johnny’s. The morning sun glinted off of the buttons, medals and his officer insignias. He noticed Johnny standing on the ridge. Billy tried to lift his blood-soaked arm to give salutations but he could not lift it. He looked down and was shocked to see that he had only half of an arm. Johnny and Billy began to walk toward each other in an effort to try and come to some kind of answer to why they were there.

As they were walking towards each other, they both stopped and looked in the direction of a loud, rumbling sound. Billy tried to shield his eyes from the sunlight. Their eyes were met with a sight that neither have ever seen. They both winced as a deafening, high pitched squeak was heard as this thing came to a stop. An intense hiss came from it and it began to rock slightly back and forth. They could see people dressed in garb that they had never seen exiting this thing that was gargantuan in size to them. Johnny and Billy both strained to hear what was being said. Soon one woman exited and began to speak.

“This field of poppies is dedicated to all the soldiers of the American Civil War. These young, valiant men, both Rebel and Yankee gave their lives so the bell of freedom will always ring. Today marks the anniversary of a fierce battle between the north and the south. Some of you may call them ‘Johnny Reb’ or ‘Billy Yank’. Allow us to have a moment of silence for these brave men.” The people all bowed their heads. Billy and Johnny looked at each other and vanished.

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Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com 

More from Kathleen McCluskey:

The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror

Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.

Available on Amazon!