XI (A and B)

XI

(A)

I don’t believe you got them to come with you’ 

Michelle looked at me

‘Me neither’

I looked at all twenty of them. 

‘If I was alive, I would be terrified’

She tried reaching over to me.

If I could I would have held her then

but alas I couldn’t.

(B)

The fog covered their faces
the nearer they got to the venue
before cutting out almost as quick
into a undercurrent of tension
before the rattling started
from the deserted tunnels.

Pinstriping their nerves
with each footstep it took
mummifying their heartbeats
as it crawled past them in seconds
and disappearing.

None of the soldiers knew
what it was
but they all had a good idea.