Whispering Wheat | Teen Ink

Whispering Wheat

September 24, 2011
By sevandlilly BRONZE, Arlington, Virginia
sevandlilly BRONZE, Arlington, Virginia
4 articles 2 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what other people say you cannot do" -Walter Bagenot


The wheat stalks whispered and hissed as I crouched down among them. I could hear his heavy hunting boots crunching as he crushed the wheat. My thighs burned as I crouched there, shaking. If he found me all would be lost. I held my breath until his footsteps receded. I could hear rumbling men’s voices yelling in the distance. Mysterious crackles and pops were coming from behind me and I felt a strange heat warming my back.

Then, a yell.

“How do you like that, witch? Getting a little too hot for you?” Even though my back felt like it was burning my heart seemed to freeze. Fire. They had used my old enemy against me. Without looking behind me, I got up and started running, the wheat whipping against my bare legs. A sudden gust of wind blew towards me, carrying embers of fire.


I watched in horror as a smoldering ember landed on a piece of wheat. Within seconds it had erupted into flames. Once again I felt the uncomfortable hot feeling on my back and I realized that I had stopped running. The fire was closing in. I looked behind me for the first time. Hungry orange flames everywhere, cackling as they reduced everything to ash. I choked on a strangled sob, and in that moment I knew I was going to die. In that moment I knew that I wasn’t going to run. I collapsed onto the ground, pressing my cheek into the cool earth.

I was so exhausted that I could’ve fallen asleep. I was hot, though. Way too hot. A rumble of thunder came from over head. The soles of my feet felt like they were being branded by a white-hot iron. I almost got up and started running but no. I had chosen the way I would die. I wouldn’t die fearing them. I wouldn’t die fearing fire. I would die fearless. More thunder overhead, louder this time.

Then the first droplet fell. I lay there for a second, watching it trickle down my arm.
Water.
Water.
WATER!
I scrambled up and started running again. Water. Water. Water. I didn’t have to die. The water would save me. But the fire was close. The fire was too close. I was tired. I was too tired. It rained as I ran. I could still hear the fire but it wasn’t cackling anymore. It hissed angrily at the water that was slowly but steadily putting it out.

My legs were numb. I tripped and stumbled, almost falling to the ground. Water was still pouring down from the sky, drenching me to the skin. I wanted to look back and see if the fire had been extinguished, but I knew that if I stopped running I wouldn’t be able to start again. So I ran as it rained. I ran until it felt like that was all I had ever done. I ran until my foot got caught on something and I came crashing down to Earth. I lay in the mud, panting. I think I was crying but my tears were getting mixed in with the rain and I couldn’t tell the difference.

I slept in the field that night. Just me, the stars, and the whispering wheat. I slept.



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This article has 9 comments.


on Apr. 6 2012 at 10:20 am
Allicat001 SILVER, Waukesha, Wisconsin
6 articles 0 photos 170 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Love is not someone you can live with, love is someone you can&#039;t live without.&quot; <br /> <br /> &quot;Always stand up for what&#039;s right even if that means you&#039;re standing alone.&quot;

I think the only word to describe this is 'wow'--that was amazing and you left me wanting to know more!

on Oct. 16 2011 at 10:04 pm
Anonymous_7 SILVER, Branson, Missouri
6 articles 0 photos 118 comments

Favorite Quote:
-The only time you can get away with murder is when writing a book!

This was an awesome story! and I really enjoyed how you wrote it. "it rained as I ran" was a really cool discription. I think the first two sentences are a little repetitive but other than that...Magnificent! good job and keep it up!

on Oct. 4 2011 at 2:31 pm
sevandlilly BRONZE, Arlington, Virginia
4 articles 2 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The greatest pleasure in life is doing what other people say you cannot do&quot; -Walter Bagenot

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!

on Oct. 3 2011 at 10:01 pm
addictedtowriting013 BRONZE, San Antonio, Texas
1 article 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;We were given: Two hands to hold. Two legs to walk. Two eyes to see. Two ears to listen. But why only one heart? Because the other was given to someone else. For us to find.&quot; -Unknown

Wow, just wow. This story really makes me wonder who she (or he) is running from and why. After reading it, I feel as if I need to know more, which means, you should write more. You have a God-given talent, and you should never stop writing. This is phenominal.

on Oct. 1 2011 at 6:48 pm
Socsisshea BRONZE, Mooresville, North Carolina
3 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

Awesome story! I love the simplicity of it, it leaves me wanting more!Hey can you check out some of my work?

on Sep. 28 2011 at 2:46 pm
Mellifluous SILVER, Arlington, Virginia
8 articles 0 photos 10 comments
working on it... :) 

on Sep. 27 2011 at 9:13 pm
sevandlilly BRONZE, Arlington, Virginia
4 articles 2 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The greatest pleasure in life is doing what other people say you cannot do&quot; -Walter Bagenot

Thank you, Loony and Melli. I'm glad you guys enjoyed my short story. Melli: How baout that lesson we were talking about?

on Sep. 27 2011 at 5:15 pm
LoonyLovegood BRONZE, Arlington, Virginia
2 articles 4 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The greatest thing you&#039;ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.&quot;

That was amazing.  You could really follow the main character's thoughts, and it was so simple that you want to know more.  More!  More!  Give us more! :)

on Sep. 27 2011 at 4:22 pm
Mellifluous SILVER, Arlington, Virginia
8 articles 0 photos 10 comments
This is a great short story! I love the ending--it is ambiguous but still satisfying. There were a few grammar issues (maybe just typos), but other than that it was a very enjoyable read. Good job!