No James

Content warning: blood/violence

James wandered idly through the tall dry grass of his farmland as the crickets began their song in the dying sunlight. He reached the front yard, stopping short at the rotting oak tree that cast a weary shadow across his hunched form. He placed a hand on the wood, soft decaying bark yielding beneath calloused fingertips. No use James, only take up space James, get rid of it all James. He dug his fingernails into the bark. He cringed as the wood splintered under his cracked fingernails. Scraping now with both hands, frantically, small plumes of dirt and dust clouded his face, sucking in ragged breaths of sharp earthy air. He screamed as his fingers began to bleed but he did not stop. He did not slow. The erratic rhythm coursed through his body. He dropped to his knees, and wailed once more. Move through the pain James, you deserve this James, you know what you did James, you must reap what you sow James.

He went rigid. He brought his hands in front of his face, his left index finger gurgled blood from the exposed nail bed. Debris embedded itself in blood, dripping down his palms and forearms. He slammed his hands back on the tree, grinding the muddy fluid into the rot. Scream James, tell the earth what you have done.

A scream that could cleave skin from bone escaped his throat. Sobbing gasps ripped from his esophagus, threatening to tear holes in his tender flesh. Quiet the mind James.

He brought his head forcefully down on the wood, white spots bluming within his teary vision. Again James.

Again he cracked his skull, he felt his nasal bone shatter, piercing flesh as deep red gushed from his mangled face. One of his teeth burst free of its socket, shrieking nerves and bitter iron filled his mouth. He howled in agony and fell backward into the dirt. You are a coward James.

He stared wide eyed at the dimming violet sky. He spat blood into the air and smiled as the mist showered down on him. I’m drowning.

It seems only right James. An eye for an eye.