Flash Fiction: Identity

Sam ran through the trees, bushes, plants and shrubs, tripping and stumbling but never slowing. Sam could hear the pirates murderous shouts and tried to figure out how far away they were; they weren't far enough. An arrow whistled past Sam's ear, cried out and fell to the floor to the sound of cheers.They circled the small boy lying face down in the ground with the arrow sticking out of his back. He was wearing a woolen hat and his navy sailor uniform had deepened red. A pirate knelt by the boys head, turned him on his back and pulled off his hat. A murmur of confusion went around the group and the Chief Pirate pushed his way to the front.

"What's going on? What's wrong?"

The pirate held out Sam's hat to the chief.
"It's not the boy, sire. It's that peasant girl they had with them."
The Pirate Chief roared.
"Where is he? Find him!"

The pirates spread out among the trees, leaving Sam's body for whatever might find it.

Robyn