War Is an Ugly Thing

Leander

Pain…

Everything in my body hurt.

From my scalp down to my toes, no area was exempt from the throbbing agony that devoured my attention and stole the breath right out of me. I tried to take shallow panting breaths to regain my air but it felt like someone was sitting on my chest, gleefully stabbing a white-hot poker in my lungs on each inhale. I had to have a broken rib, probably several, if the unbearable ferocity of pain was any indication.

The stench of blood consumed the air around me and overwhelmed my sensitive nose. Instinct demanded I recoil from the offensive...