The First Blood

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"I don't want to..."
Jamie reluctantly yelled at his sister.

"You'll never be a real man, Jamie."
Sofia scoffed in obvious disapproval.

"But I don't want to do it, Sofia!"
the boy continued to refuse.

"Oh! Grow up and pick that axe from the ground, I won't be able to hold him for much longer."

"Aaargh! His squeaks are making me sick. I swear to God, Sofia, I can't do it!"

"Yes, you can, Jamie. You're a man, start acting like one and learn what it's like to grow up."

Jamie was still hesitating. Next to him their father's axe was lying among the hay. The boy took a deep breath, closed his eyes and leaned above it.

"Jesus! You're such a wus, little brother."
Sofia's discontentment was stressing him even more.

He was as white as a sheet. His trembling hands picked the axe from the ground. With small steps that were revealing his unwillingness he approached the girl who was holding his victim-to-be down.

"I have immobilized him, don't worry.Just hold the axe firmly, raise it above his head and bring it down all at once. Don't stop half ways or you're gonna cause him more pain. You need to be quick and precise."

"You talk like a professional, you know that?"

"It's my first time as much as it is yours, I am simply no cry baby like you"
she mocked him.

The squeaks kept reaching his ears and they were forming a tight knot that was squeezing his stomach.

"Come on, Jamie! Father will be here any time soon. We need to get this over with. You can do it. Finish him!"

Jamie has no other choice. He lifts the axe in the air and holds back for a second. He then takes a deep breath and brings it down. That last squeak, louder than the others, almost makes him faint.

"You idiot! You missed!"

Half of the victim's face rolled on the floor picking hay and dirt on the blood that was covering it.

"You have to do it again. Come on, you're only prolonging his suffering now."

He had to do it again.

He was feeling dizzy, the smell of blood and the shaking body in his sister's hands made up a sight fit for a nightmare. One more try and his torture would come to an end, his and that poor soul's in front of him..

Axe in the air for one more time. Same deep breath, the blade finally cuts the right piece of flesh off. The neck is severed from the body, the rooster is dead, Sunday's lunch is guaranteed.

"Well done, light-hearted."
a grin of satisfaction is now drawn on his sister face.

Jamie falls on his knees facing away of the atrocious sight. He pukes.

Right then, their father enters the barn. He looks at the mess and says:

"What happened in here?"

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^{Original story by @ruth-girl - 2019}

That was just my part for @merej99's writing prompt, "first and last flash fiction"

The story must be less than 500 words long and it simply needs to begin with I don't want to... and end with What happened here?.

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