An Excavation

At first sight there was a hole a pile of dirt, freshly dug, an excavation. The earth was warm it smelled of fresh-dug earth, wisps of steam rose gently wafting up in spirals in the mist. Then there was a moan, from a body covered in dirt, naked but clothed in gossamer shroud of steam. Moments ago that body lay buried alive deep in the earth, unconscious but alive, breathing dirt and muck. Buried alive, they thought he was dead as he feigned death held is breath, let limbs fall limp eyes, fixated in a stare his pain silenced with fear. Bashed and robbed striped naked kicked and punched then dragged to hole excavated in haste with bare hands to hide the evidence they dumped him in. He felt the earth cascade around his limbs in his eyes and ears around his head and body 'till all was dark within the filled-in hole and silent. He counted to one hundred, then moved an arm to break through the earth making a cup of air around his mouth to breathe. Then slowly, he swung his legs and arms up to push the earth aside like a baby turtle hatch-ling on the beach, until with one last push and shove, he crawled out, free and self-exhumed from the excavation. 19 June 2021 For the 'This or That, Vol 4' Contest - An Excavation Edward Ibeh