War of 1812

Night of 1.18.2010

The atmosphere was calm, the summer heat and mountain views astonished everyone. I had to remind myself that this wasn't a pleasant scene, that this was a war and I was about to watch people die right in front of my eyes. I wasn't a soldier in this dream, I was amongst the few civilians who managed find safety with the Americans. The war ship I was on was cruising slowly down the river. The Americans were working fast, getting their ammunition together. The fight scene was approaching.

I looked to my immediate right and saw a group of about 50 British soldiers on top of a hill that sloped down into a bright grassy valley. They looked stressed, tired, sweaty, and had little hope left in them. I look beyond the valley on top of the hill where the hundreds of American soldiers stood. Some of them chatted amongst themselves while others were practicing their long distance shots at the Red Coats.

The ship dropped anchor and some of us got off the ship to go on foot. It was hardly dangerous now with the British low on numbers. I was about 20 feet away from diminishing group of British soldiers when I began to hear their agony. Nightmarish screams escaping the remaining Red Coats. It was only now that any of us noticed what their real cause of death was. Their bodies were deteriorating alive. These men were watching their body parts bubble and burn. Black like burnt toast as their white eyes bulged out as they screamed in absolute horror.

It was an airborne gas. The confusion was immense amongst the Americans who were on the ship with me. Some of us were already being affected by the gas. Some were already dying. The black corpses were piled on top of one another and smoke was rising from the bodies.

I get news that my high school friend, Michelle, had just died from exposure to the gas. Suddenly, in my arms, was her baby sister. I looked for shelter and found a modern bathroom. There were dying soldiers laying on the bathroom floor, I walked over them into the shower tub and closed the shower curtain behind me so we didn't have to look at the dying men.

There was a phone ringing in the shower. I answered. It was Michelle's father.

"Hi Jalah, how is the sleep over going?" he said in a calm voice.
Scared and nervous I said "Look. I don't know what's going on and I don't know how to say this but Michelle is dead. I have the baby here in my arms, we're safe for now. I'll get her home." My voice was shaking. I hung up the phone and shut my eyes to think of a happier place...