Thunder rumbled in a far distance. Dark clouds gathered in the atmosphere. A young boy hurried across the dusty road. Mom must be worried, he thought. Lightning flashed across the sky. He shuddered and started to run, afraid he might get caught in the rain. Soon, the familiar run down shack which he called home was in sight. He smiled, relieved. He was about to call out when he heard a scream. Fear gripped his heart. He quickened his pace. Mom! He yelled. After what seems like eternity, he reached his house.

His jaw dropped in horror at what he saw. A sly looking Japanese soldier held his frail mother by the arm, aiming his rifle at her head. He turned around when he heard the young boy. The woman tried to run to her son but he held fast. Without hesitation, the soldier pulled the trigger of his rifle. The sound echoed endlessly in the boy’s head. He saw his mother fall, in slow motion, to the ground. Her face was a mixture of relief and surprise. Her body crumpled into a heap with a soft thud. Dust flew. Red blood trickled from the wound.

The soldier leered and grabbed the petrified boy by his collar. He growled something in Japanese. The boy shook with fear, too terrified to speak. The soldier aimed his rifle at the boy’s forehead, threatening him. The boy closed his eyes, submitting to his fate. A loud shout made him open his eyes. It sounded like ‘Matsudaira, dame yo!’ A forbidding-looking soldier walked swiftly towards them. He had an air of superiority. Matsudaira quickly released his grip and shoved him to the ground stammering, “Sh-Shide-ha-hara-sempai…” Shidehara yelled at a cowering Matsudaira. The boy blinked in surprise. His life was spared by a mere twist of luck.

That was me back then. I have no siblings as mom had two miscarriages. Dad left us when I was barely a year old. It was 1942. The Japanese occupied all of Malaya after the defeat of the British. Their reign of terror was only the beginning. Children, mostly boys, were captivated after their families were killed. I was one of them.

The hot afternoon sun beat down my scorched back as I toiled under it. My arms were sore from over-working. My lean sixteen year old body was full of bruises. Painful blisters covered my bare feet. Sweat mingled with dirt stained my dirty clothes. I rested awhile, wiping perspiration. Someone clapped my back and mused, “Hey, Lau, stop pushing too hard… you’ll die if you keep on going like that.”

I turned and saw Lam. I chuckled. Lam’s my best friend and brother. The one I look up to. Although he’s seventeen, his maturity was beyond his years. I smiled sheepishly at him. He ruffled my hair.

“I rather die than to suffer like this,” I said.

“Now don’t say nonsense like that,” he said sharply, “we’re going to be free, remember?”

“Yeah…” I stared out into the horizon. “Gotta go; nasty soldier’s coming.” He hurried away. Yes, we’ll be free. A voice echoed in my mind.

That night, we secretly gathered in the abandoned warehouse near our campsite. There were signs of a storm approaching. We planned our route carefully and even scouted our surroundings. We especially chose that night as most of the soldiers were away in the frontlines. We set out as silently as we could. One of the younger boys tripped and yelled as he fell. This aroused the guard who spotted us and shouted at his comrades. Lam quickly formed a plan in his mind.

“Escape with the others through the small path and meet me at the river,” he ordered and dashed towards the forest.

“But-” I protested. Several soldiers were already on his tail. I signaled to the rest to follow me. We crept silently along the path through the forest. It started to drizzle. We stopped at the arranged place but he wasn’t there. I looked around worriedly. Finally he appeared, panting. He grinned and gave me the thumbs up. I sighed, relieved. Our initial plan was to cross the river but the rain made it impossible. Search parties were nearing us. We decided to do it as we had no choice. I saw that all of them got across safely before I went. A soldier suddenly appeared. He yelled and aimed his rifle at Lam who backed slowly. It dawned on me. He’s going to die.

The soldier pulled the trigger. I ran, pushed him aside, risking the shots. It pierced my neck. And I was falling… falling ever so slowly. I barely felt the ground. The sounds and sights of the world ebbed away. White light flashed before my eyes and I saw my mom. With her arms open wide, she beckoned me, calling me… with her gentle voice I so longed to hear. A reassuring feeling overwhelmed me and I knew no more. Peace… at last.

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Author's note: This is even shorter and even more rushed. > I had to write within 800 words for the competition I was entering. Somehow, I still overshot the limit. But then again, I might edit it in the near future and make it a much more pleasurable read than it is now. "