They Stuck Up From the Ground Like Twigs (America)

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24 December, 1917

My eyes cannot forget what they had witnessed...the three of them, partially buried in the ash-polluted dirt, bodies filled with bullet holes and gray skin. I knew who they were the minute I saw their tags: Arthur leading the B.E.F, Francis leading his Fourth Infantry, Matthew leading his C.E.F. All of them were assigned leaders like I was. It was a quarter to 22p.m. and I had to act quick, after all, I was standing in the open terrain. Yelling for shovels and men, I ordered their bodies to be dug up and taken to the Medical Tent immediately. I knew not if they were still alive, but I prayed to whomever was supposed to resurrect souls, to spare their lives. Standing where I found them, I tried finding an explanation for gray skin because loss of blood turns skin white, and poison turns skin green. Well, close to green. Hours later, I've been given their medical files to see what the injuries were. Here's what I got:

Francis Bonnefoy: 

- Right ankle dislocated

- Burnt tissue covering left whole of face

- Bullet wounds located in abdomen and left shoulder

-  Shattered collarbone

- Heavy signs of malnutrition

- Compressed throat, possibility of poisoned gas

Arthur Kirkland:

- Metal shards found surfacing in bicep and hip joints

- Slits found in wrists, palms, lip

- Fungus sprouting under all toes

- Bullet wounds located in knee and hip

- Compressed throat, possibility of poisoned gas

Matthew Williams:

- Broken bone fragments in left leg

- Mild signs of malnutrition

- Slit tissue located in left section of neck

- Broken thumb, index, and ring finger of right hand

- Compressed throat, possibility of poisoned gas

Comparing the three medical records, the similarities I found were that Francis and Matthew had signs of malnutrition and they all had compressed throats. Cause: biological warfare, no other than poisoned gas. I feel guilty not being there to prevent them from breathing in the gas, but seeing only me from stopping them sounds ridiculous. Until I have to march again, I'll situate myself beside them. Pray that they wake, I'll carry their dead bodies with me if they won't. Especially His.

Your keeper, Alfred

Oh God, I hope they'll wake up. I know it will be automatic defeat for us Allies if the Central Powers succeed, if the Germans occupy all of France, if Austria-Hungary stomp through Italy, if the Turks siege in the Mediterranean, if...if all else fails. 

I hadn't gotten the chance to apologize to Mat, and Hell if he doesn't wake up, I'll never have the chance.

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