Grayson's Veil

Chapter 1

The stench of death, decay and shit permeated the air.

The surrounding fields were littered with dead soldiers and civilians. There was nothing in site for miles, not a tree, not a blade of grass, nothing. Just plowed dirt and dead bodies.

Grayson's lip curled in disgust at his enemies' lack of hygiene.

'Fuckers can't even dispose of a goddamn body right,' he thought as he kicked a half-decayed soldier out of his walking path. He could hear a couple of his battalion men silently gag at the sight. He could not blame them; it was a gruesome scene.

Even so, Grayson turned his head and glared at the weak men.

"Sorry sir," one of them whispered while wiping his mouth.

With that, Grayson turned back around, continuing their advance. Off in the distance, he saw a leafless dead-looking tree. Beyond the tree was a tall, abandoned building. According to his scouts, this was where the enemies where hiding out. He decided the tree was where they would get ready for their attack.

As they got closer to the tree, they noticed several black birds circling above it while many others perched on the limbs and... something else. He stopped his battalion with an out reached hand and continued alone.

Another whiff of death tickled his nose fervently. Stifling a sneeze, Grayson stopped suddenly. His eyes widen while his mouth parted slightly.

The tree was tall with a thick trunk. The branches extended out like claws, making it easy for the fifteen decomposed bodies to hang from a noose around their necks. The black birds that appeared to be perched on the tree limbs were actually perched on the dead's heads and bodies, pecking at their rotting flesh.

Their croaks, caws, and ripping of the flesh was the only sounds filling the silence that surrounded him.

Many of the bodies were women. They were stripped naked with whip marks canvasing their bodies. Dried blood stained their skins, but what truly shocked Grayson was the blood between their legs.

He clenched his teeth. He could practically smell the seed left inside them.

The few men that were amongst the women only had whip marks. But from their bulging eyes and swollen blue-gray faces, they were hung while still alive.

Grayson silently growled. He turned back to his battalion with a dark look in his eyes. They cautiously approached him.

"We will set up here, under this tree. I do not care if you vomit or have horrific dreams of this day, but we WILL avenge their last moments of death." He said without question.

Each one of his men saluted him and did their best to avoid looking. Noticing, Grayson stopped them.

"Look at them. They suffered a terrible fate, worse than what we will face. LOOK AT THESE VICTIMS."

The men slowly lifted their gazes. Almost every one of their faces turned pale. Several of them vomited, while others took in the horrific scene. Those men will suffer.

Grayson took pride in those that did not show weakness. He watched as their eyes filled with rage and determination to avenge the victims death. Those were his best soldiers.

As Grayson sat down to prepare himself for the fight, he felt a sudden change in the air from above his head. As he looked up, he truly did not expect what was waiting for him.

A small boy, most likely no older than eleven, was above him. He was hanging from a noose, like all the other victims. He had whip marks, like all the other victims. He was covered in dried blood, like all the other victims. The only severe difference was his age.