The Dark Side of War - Chapter 1

“Caleb, are you sure we should be doing this?” a young, but muscular, boy asked to the young boy next to him.

The boy standing next to him turned, his golden bangs swishing softly from side to side with his motion, his blue-gray eyes intense. “Brian,” he spoke softly, but firmly, “you have no idea how much I have to do this. I mean, for years, I wanted nothing to do with it, and I tried to ignore it, but I can’t. I have to do this. If you and the others don’t want to, you don’t have to. I won’t hold it against you. You guys can go anytime you want.”

Brian sighed as he averted his soft brown eyes. “I know, Caleb. But I’m not leaving you, and neither are the others.” Caleb was like a brother that he never had. He wasn’t going to just leave him to fight all by himself. He’d never do that; not in a million years.

Caleb sighed, shaking his head slowly, before he froze, listening intently. Before anyone could ask what was wrong, he said softly, “Someone’s coming.”

“How-” started Brian, but he was cut off as someone else spoke.

“Why, hello there, Caleb.” said a familiar voice. They all looked over to see an old man, smiling at them.

Caleb grunted, and slowly brought his hand up, waving slightly. He wasn’t really open with Harry. Not that much, anyway.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Going to war, Harry.” replied a young girl, from the other side of Brian. She had long reddish-brown hair, put up into a pony tail. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“Oh, is that so?” asked Harry, looking from one to the other. He nodded. “Okay then. Why, though?”

Caleb sighed, irritated. Like he was going to tell Harry why. He’d barely even told Brian. And, he’d only told his best friend very little.

Brian looked over at his friend, worried, and titled his head in a questioning manner. Caleb shook his head, and stuck his hands into the pockets of his sweatshirt-ish type jacket.

He looked at everyone, before nodding his head in the direction of a bunch of trees, walking off.

“Hey, wait!” shouted Brian, chasing after him.

“Caleb?” asked Brian as he followed his friend. Caleb’s head was facing the ground as he glared unseeing at it, like he was in deep thought, seeing something that Brian couldn’t see. “Buddy? Are you okay?”

Caleb sighed, shaking his head, clearing his thoughts. He turned to face his friend and nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” he whispered quietly.

“No, you’re not. I know I may not understand what’s bothering you, but please…I’m your best friend, and I’m worried about you. What’s wrong? You can tell me anything, you know.”

Caleb allowed a ghost of a smirk come to his face. It was the closest thing Brian had seen to a smile from him in a long, long time. “I know, Brian.”

“So…please, tell me, buddy.”

“I…I’d like to, but…” he trailed off, shaking his head. “Never mind. I’m fine, as I said before.”

“No, stop lying to me, Caleb. Please.”

“Sorry, Brian. But I can’t tell you. You wouldn’t understand. Hell,” he chuckled awkwardly, as if he were choking back a sob. “I don’t even understand it myself.”

Brian’s heart reached out for his friend. He’d never seen his friend like this before. Caleb rarely showed any emotion, and when he did, it was very, very little, and definitely not sadness. He walked toward where Caleb stood, and put his hand on his shoulder, squeezing it slightly. “Hey,” he said, getting Caleb’s attention. He lifted his friend’s chin with his other hand, and smiled softly. “I’m here for you, okay?”

Caleb sighed, but nodded, averting his
eyes. “I know. And…thanks. It means a lot to me.”

“You’re welcome, buddy.” he said. He gave Caleb’s shoulder one final squeeze before letting go. He was worried, very badly, about his friend. Caleb was pushing himself away from everyone…well, everyone except him, for which he was grateful. He didn’t know what he’d do if he lost his best friend. He’d probably break.

Caleb sighed, before he turned his head to look behind Brian. Brian turned to look too, and saw that Harry was walking toward them. Brian could immediately feel Caleb’s barriers go up, and sighed. This wasn’t good for his friend at all.

“Hey, Harry.” said Brian, waving slightly. He nudged Caleb in the side, and Caleb sighed, waving as well.

“Hey. What’s going on? We’re all worried.” said Harry, looking from Caleb to Brian.

“We’re…fine.” said Brian, glancing at his friend. Harry noticed the flicker of concern, and sighed.

“Well, come on, then. It’s time for you to go out to war.”

Caleb’s head shot up, and then he blushed slightly, averting his eyes. He seemed ashamed that he’d let his emotions show.

Brian sighed. “Okay, lets go, buddy.”

Harry walked ahead of them, while Brian walked with his hand on Caleb’s shoulder, trying to coax him into talking. For some reason, Caleb never talked in front of anyone, unless he was talking to Brian. It was very, very odd.

Caleb sighed every now and then, his eyes going distant, as if he were remembering a time far away in the past. When Caleb’s eyes got distant, though, it made Brian uneasy. For more than one reason, too.

First, one time Caleb’s eyes had gone distant, and he hadn’t come out of it, even when Brian pleaded with him. When he had come out of it, he found Brian crying softly, and asked what was wrong. Brian had simply said that he was worried, and then Caleb had turned away, saying something about having to leave. He was afraid of that happening again.

Second, when Caleb’s eyes got distant, he was usually thinking about the rough childhood that he’d had, and that worried him as well. It wasn’t right for Caleb to keep things locked up inside. It’d destroy him one day, and soon. Brian knew this, and it worried him greatly.

And every time Caleb’s eyes went distant, it gave Brian the impression that he was dying. When people died, their eyes got distant. He didn’t ever want that to happen to Caleb. If his friend died, he’d probably die of sorrow. He loved Caleb. He was the brother he never had, and he didn’t want to lose him. That one single thought scared him more than anything; the thought that he’d lose his best friend.

He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and looked once more at his friend, where his hand still lay on his shoulder. Caleb’s eyes were still distant, and that worried him. “Caleb?” he asked softly.

Caleb didn’t respond, staring at something unseeing in a dark, dark void.

Brian’s heart leapt up into his throat, and he swallowed hard, trying to clear it. He waved his hand in front of Caleb’s face. “Caleb? Hey, Caleb?”

Caleb shook his head, and looked at his friend. “Yeah?”

Brian sighed in relief. “Are you okay? What were you thinking about?”

Caleb seemed to back off, shying away from his friend as his barriers went up again. “Nothing.” he replied.

Brian sighed again. “If you want to talk, you know I’m here, right?”

Caleb looked at him for a moment, seeming to be thinking hard about something, before nodding slowly as he sighed, turning away as he spoke softly, “Yeah, I know.”

“Good.”

And they walked on.

“There you guys are.” said Alex, one of the boy in their group. He had blonde hair, and light blue eyes. He ran up to Caleb and Brian as they approached, the two girls in their group following quickly behind him.

“Hey guys.” said Brian. Caleb simply nodded at them.

They sighed. They were used to the silent treatment from Caleb, but they wished he’d open up and let them in. the only one Caleb really talked to was Brian, and even then Brian had to start the conversation.

“Are you guys alright?” the twins, Rachael and Crystal, asked in unison. They both had light brown hair, but Crystal’s hair was a little blonder than her sister’s was. Rachael had reddish-brown hair, though. They both had the same eyes. The same hazel eyes.

Brian nodded while Caleb looked as though the ground was the most interesting thing in the world, as he stared at it, his eyes going distant once more. “Uh, yeah…we’re okay.” said Brian.

“Okay, everyone, time to get ready.” said Harry from where he’d been standing quietly, watching the small exchange. “Time for war.”

They nodded, and left in different directions. Crystal, Rachael, and Alex went one way, while Brian and Caleb went another.

Caleb sighed as he tightened his grip on the small sword he’d been given. He wasn’t ready for this, but he had to do it. He knew it, too. He couldn’t run anymore. He had to fight for once.

Brian stood next to him, glancing worriedly at him every so often.

When the alarm sounded for them to go to war, Brian placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder, sighing. He opened his mouth to speak, but then he shut it, not really knowing what to say.

Caleb was looking at him now, his eyes soft and intent. He looked at the hand on his shoulder, and then back to Brian, as if expecting an answer.

“Sorry, I…” he trailed off, squeezing Caleb’s shoulder unexpectedly. “Promise me something, okay?”

Caleb stared at him for a moment, before slowly nodding his head.

“Promise me…Promise me that you’ll be okay.” he murmured, looking away. “Promise me you won’t die out here.”

Caleb looked taken aback. He was frozen in place, and didn’t know what to say. After several excruciating seconds, he allowed a small smirk to come to his lips. “Yeah, okay.” he whispered. “I promise.”

Brian sighed in relief. “Good.” he gave Caleb’s shoulder another squeeze, before letting go. “Come on, then.” he started walking off in the direction of the battle zone, as everyone else was.

Caleb followed quietly.

“Attack!” yelled the commander, aiming his sword at the opposing side. “Destroy them!”

The other side rushed forward as well, ready to kill. Caleb and Brian ran forward, and were soon confronted by two other men who were slashing relentlessly at them. They either blocked or dodged the attacks, but they couldn’t do that forever, as Caleb soon found out.

One of the men (the one that Caleb was facing) pulled out a nifty little hand knife, and went forward, slashing out with both. Caleb could only really protect himself from one, and the small knife went deep into his shoulder, slicing his muscle. Blood poured rapidly from the wound, but Caleb saw red, and rushed forward, slashing his sword with all of his strength and skill. As the attacker blocked it, he swung his sword around the other way, and jabbed his sword deep into the flesh of his stomach. As the man fell to the ground, Caleb smirked softly to himself. Maybe having such a rough childhood paid off after all.

“Caleb!” shouted Brian, rushing towards him. His hand immediately went to Caleb’s wounded shoulder. He pulled it back, and his hand was covered in blood. “Are you okay?”

Caleb raised and lowered his good shoulder. “Sure.”

“You promised you’d be okay!”

“…I am okay. Do I look dead to you?”

Brian was sort of shocked. It was the first time in a long time that Caleb had said that kind of thing to him. He usually only responded to his friend with one word answers. “Well, no, but…” he sighed. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Caleb slowly nodded. “Don’t worry, I’m used to it.” his eyes widened slightly as he realized his slip. He looked at Brian, hoping he hadn’t noticed, but of course he had.

“W-What?” his friend stuttered. “You’re used to it? How?”

Caleb sighed, looking away. “Never mind. Forget I said anything.” he said softly. He turned to walk away, but found that Brian’s hand was gripping his good shoulder tightly, refusing to let him go anywhere.

“Caleb, no. I’m not going to forget about it. We’re supposed to be friends, but you keep hiding things from me, and lying to me. Please, just tell me the truth. You’re not alone, Caleb. Let me in, please.” Brian’s eyes were pleading, and Caleb sighed.

“…Maybe later, but not here. Not now.”

Brian nodded. That was as good of an answer he was going to get. “Okay.”

Caleb’s eyes suddenly got fierce as he pushed Brian out of the way, blocking a sword that was coming down with his own sword.

Brian quickly got to his feet, eyes wide. “Thank you.”

Caleb grunted, blocking another attack. Another man came up to them, and sliced Caleb across the back so fast that no one could react. Caleb didn’t cry out in pain, although he fell to the ground, not moving afterwards.

“Caleb!” shouted Brian, eyes wide. “Caleb, no!” he rushed forward, going into combat with one of them as Harry came up to them, and took the other one, looking sadly at Caleb. He took the other away from Brian and Caleb.

Once Brian killed the man, he bent down next to Caleb. His friend was lying on his stomach, blood gushing from his shoulder and back.

“No…” murmured Brian. Tears came to his eyes as he slowly reached out for Caleb’s shoulder, and turned him over so that he was lying on his back. “Caleb?”

Nothing. No movement, no gasp for breath, no sound. Nothing.

Fear gripped Brian’s heart tighter as it
jumped to his throat. He swallowed the lump in his throat thickly, before gently shaking his friend. “Caleb? Buddy? Please…”

“Calm down.” came a soft, and barely audible voice.

Brian looked down to see that Caleb was looking up at him, a small smirk on his face. There it was; that same smirk again. Why, though? Why no smile? “Caleb!” he said happily. It didn’t matter if he smiled, so long as he was okay. “Are you okay? What am I saying? Of course you’re not.”

Caleb sighed as he slowly sat up, his palms on the ground, holding him up. “Calm down. I’m fine.”

Brian sighed in relief. “Thank God.” he murmured softly. He stood up, offering his hand to Caleb, before frowning. “You…can get up, right?”

Caleb gave him an irritated look, and nodded, grabbing his friend’s hand. Brian pulled him to his feet.

“We’ll have to clean that up…” muttered Brian as he looked over Caleb’s back. “It could get infected…so stupid.” he hit himself in the head. “I shouldn’t have rolled you over in the dirt. I’m so sorry.”

“S’okay.” murmured Caleb, looking away.

Suddenly, the alarm sounded again, signaling for all the troops to go back. Brian walked next to Caleb, afraid that he’d collapse at any given moment.

“Oh my God!” screamed Trisha, one of the nurses, as Caleb and Brian walked in. “What happened?” Caleb sighed, looking away.

“We…were fighting. Can you help him?” Brian asked softly. He’d drug Caleb here unwillingly. As Caleb kept saying, it was ‘no big deal’. Brian highly doubted that, so he’d forced him to get it checked out and bandaged.

“Everything seems fine to me…” murmured the nurse as she checked over Caleb’s back. “But, his shoulder might be a problem. It seems to have sliced through the muscle. I’ll have to bandage it, and he should rest a few days to let it heal.”

Caleb grunted while Brian nodded. “He will, don’t worry.” he said, giving a stern look towards his friend. Caleb sighed, glaring at the ground.

“Good, now…” she reached for some bandaging, and walked towards Caleb. Before she got to him, she grabbed a rag, and wetted it, placing it on the wound, rubbing it about, cleaning it. Caleb felt the pain, but didn’t acknowledge it. “Done.” she said once she was finished. She slowly and carefully wrapped the bandaging around Caleb’s shoulder. “There, now, get some rest, and it should be good as new.”

“Where have you guys been? And…are you okay?” asked Alex as Brian and Caleb showed up at the campground they’d made. They were all sitting around a fire. Caleb sighed, before giving a slight nod.

“Uh, he says he’s okay, so I guess so.” said Brian, answering for his friend.

Alex nodded as Brian and Caleb sat down in the seats next to him. Crystal looked up from where she was sitting, reading a book, and smiled. “Hey guys. We were worried.”

Brian nodded. “Don’t worry, we’re fine… so he says, anyway.”

Caleb looked at him then, and rolled his eyes slightly, an irritated expression on his face. He knew Brian was only looking out for his well being, but it was starting to annoy him the way he was always worrying about him. He appreciated it, sure, but… there was only so much one person could take, and we just about to his limit. Plus, he’d have to tell his friend about what he meant when he said that he was used to it. He looked at Brian, hoping he’d forgotten, but the look in his eyes clearly stated: we need to talk. Alone.

Caleb sighed, and got up from where he was sitting, walking away, Brian excusing the both of them before hurrying after.