"Turner!" I cried out. His groans were muffled with pain. I couldn't believe my eyes... He was shot.
The enemy responsible for this then jumped from the Tiger and clutched a pistol in his hand. He muttered some words in German, but we couldn't understand. The enemy looked at Daniels, then me. I glanced down at Turner and squinted my eyes shut, knowing I was next. I heard the click of a gun, he was loading it. I kept my eyes closed and waited for the end.
But two gunshots filled my ears, making me jump slightly. I didn't feel no pain. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the enemy on the ground, blood pouring from his lifeless body. Daniels tossed the gun to the side and we both moved over to Turner.
"Turner!" Pierson ran over to us and looked at the Lieutenant in sadness.
"Enemy reinforcements! Fall back!" He then warned. I tried to help Turner has he clenched his side, blood covering his palms and uniform.
"I'm not... Not gonna make it. Leave me." He croaked out. My heart sunk to my stomach.
"We can't leave you!" I cried out, as tears filled my eyes.
"I got you!" Daniels dragged him to safety.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and shot a few Germans, with anger pulsing through me.
"We're not gonna make it!" Stiles gave up but I glared at him before firing at the enemies. "We have to!"
I turned around and saw Daniels leaning Turner against cover. "Aaaah!" Turner groaned in pain and held pressure on his side.
"Stay with me." Daniels mumbled to him, he began to tear up too.
Daniels supported him and helped him sit up. "Turner!" He shouted when he noticed his eyes were closed.
I ran over to them and lightly shook Turner's arm. "Sir, wake up..." I chocked through tears. I pulled out my first aid equipment and tried to take a look at the wound.
"Lieutenant!" Zussman hurried over and knelt down with me. My hands trembled, but I tried to keep still as I looked at the wound. The bullet was wedged in his side. I shook my head and tried to regain hope.
Turner started to wake up, his face scrunched up in pain. Pierson ran over to us and crouched at his side.
"You gotta get our boys outta here."
"No. We can still make it."
"You have to. You have to retreat."
"No! We ain't leavin' you here!"
"You get me up. I'll hold 'em off."
I tried to ignore what Turner was saying and pulled out a pair of pliers. "I can try!" I shouted and Pierson nodded, his eyes squinted as he tried to hold back tears.
Just as I was about to move the pliers to Turner's side, he rested his hand on mine, stopping me.
"Green...?" I looked up at Turner as tears rolled down my cheeks. "Remember w-what I told you?" He asked, stuttering a little. I nodded my head and he tried to smile, but it was hardly visible. "Don't forget anything I ever said. I'm proud to have fought with you."
More tears were spilling from my eyes and I couldn't help but let out a whimper. I rested my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it slightly before wiping my eyes. Blood began to pour from the Lieutenant's mouth, meaning that there was not much chance of survival.
Turner faced Pierson and grunted in pain. "You have to go! Go!" He ordered and Pierson finally gave in.
"It was an honour." Pierson muttered to him as his voice cracked a little.
"No sacrifice too great." Turner mumbled as I sobbed lightly. "Go."
Pierson slowly stood and sighed heavily. "Fall back!" He shouted to all of us.
"Sergeant!" Daniels said as he held Turner. We helped Turner up gently, as he used the sandbags for support.
"Move! Move!" Zussman shouted at Daniels and I, as we struggled to leave Turner behind.
"I can't leave him." I mumbled to Daniels and he sadly nodded, agreeing with me.
"Fall back, I said!" Pierson said as he pulled Daniels away, while Zussman pulled me away.
"You can't do this!" Daniels yelled out as we watched Turner struggle to aim his gun.
"That was an order, Goddamnit!" Pierson screamed over the heavy gunfire.
"No..." I mumbled and tried to stop Zussman, "We can't leave." Zussman looked at me with a hurt expression on his face.
"No! No!" Daniels cried out as we saw Turner fall from being shot again. He stood back up, trying to fight back, but another bullet knocked him down.
"No!" Daniels shouted. I sobbed uncontrollably as Turner's lifeless body laid there.
"I won't forget, Joseph..." I muttered to myself and let Zussman pull me away from the sight.
—————————————————————
"I wonder why Pierson made you Corporal." Stiles said to Daniels.
I crossed my arms over my chest and sighed. "Because he knows that Daniels has to support him all the way. He can't disobey Pierson's orders. No matter what." I piped up and Daniels nodded in agreement.
"She's right. He's not that stupid."
Daniels only went to find Pierson to give him Turner's pistol. But things took a turn and Pierson made him his second. His Corporal.
I let my hair drape down my back and remembered I had to clean up the dry blood on the side of my head.
"You still haven't cleaned that up?" Daniels asked with a slight chuckle. I rolled my eyes playfully and laughed with him. "I forgot it was even there." I admitted and grabbed my first aid kit. "Can someone clean up the blood for me, please? I can't see the side of my head." I asked and held out a damp cloth, waiting for one of my friends to take it.
Aiello reached out and grabbed it from my hand. "Thanks." I muttered to him as he moved close to me so he could clean the blood. He smiled in response and then concentrated as he gently wiped the blood.
"Aiello? Being soft? That's a first." Zussman teased. I laughed a little and raised my brow. "What's he usually like?" I asked Zussman as I slightly nudged Aiello playfully.
Zussman was about to reply but Aiello had beat him to it. "Green helped me earlier. I'm helping her now."
Zussman smirked and shook his head. "Whatever you say."
"Am I hurtin' ya?" Aiello asked me as he carefully cleaned the wound. I smiled slightly and looked up at him. "No." I simply responded.
He nodded his head and glanced down at me. I saw a smile tug at his lips before he continued to wipe away the blood.
"There ya go." Aiello said as he passed me the cloth. I thanked him and disposed the bloody equipment.
"I'm gonna go get some food. Anyone comin'?" Zussman stood up and was joined by Stiles and Aiello. Daniels and I didn't move.
"You both ain't hungry?" Zussman asked as he looked at us both. I shook my head and glanced at Daniels who did the same.
"We'll get you some. Just in case." Zussman said and quickly walked out with Stiles and Aiello.
I glanced over at Daniels and sighed quietly. "We could have saved him." I said, referring to Turner.
Daniels bit his lower lip and nodded his head. "I know." He muttered.
I moved the hair from my face and closed my eyes. "Do you think we'll be home before Christmas?" I asked Daniels and waited for his negative response.
"If I'm bein' honest, Green, I don't think we'll make it home at all." His words made me squint my eyes shut.
"History will repeat itself. Close friends will be injured or..."
"Dead." I finished Daniels' sentence and slowly opened my eyes. "We'll be dead."
"But I gotta live." Daniels spoke, making me look at him. "I have a wife back home. She's carrying my child. I have to make it out of here."
I pursed my lips together for a moment and looked at the ground. "You will live. I'll do everything I can do stop you from dying. And I'll do the same with the others." I assured him. Daniels' gaze moved to me as he smiled a little. "You know that I'll protect you, too." I returned the smile but then frowned at his next sentence.
"Even Aiello would protect ya." My face completely changed and I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows at Daniels.
"What do you mean?" I asked him and watched him chuckle and shake his head lightly.
"He just doesn't show his 'nice side'." Daniels simply responded, which made me laugh and nod in agreement.
Seconds later, Zussman, Aiello and Stiles returned with food and passed Daniels and I some. I thanked them and tried to eat what I could, but I really didn't feel hungry. I should have taken advantage of the food we got because it was quite rare to have some dinner around here, but I just didn't feel like eating. I picked at the food and ate a little before putting my bowl down.
Stiles crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me slightly. "You really should eat." I shrugged at his remark and looked away from him.
"I'm just not that hungry." I simply responded. Stiles shrugged and decided to back off.
I gave the rest of my food to the boys and decided to go and wash. I was still covered in mud and blood. Mostly Turner's blood. I still believed we could have saved him.
Turner was quite soft compared to Pierson. And now that Pierson is in charge, Daniels was right. We may have not made it home at all.
Once I reached the lake, I made sure I was alone before removing my gear and clothing. I sucked in a deep breath and slowly entered the lake, gasping at the cold water. I quickly cleaned the blood and mud away from my skin and hair, and then washed my face.
I then made sure I was alone once again before getting out of the freezing cold water. I dried myself off and slipped on my underwear, uniform and gear. I squeezed the water out of my hair and made my way back to the tent.
The boys looked up from their poker game and greeted me. I watched Aiello and Zussman as they challenged each other, again. I rolled my eyes and listened to them taunt one another.
Daniels decided to write in his journal and Stiles was lying down in his sleeping bag, messing with his camera.
I was preparing for tomorrow; loading my guns and making sure I had my first aid kit fully stocked up.
"Green." Zussman got my attention and I looked over at him as Aiello turned to me too. "Who would win an arm wrestling competition? Me? Or Aiello?" I crossed my arms and laughed a little at them both.
"I can't decide. Zussman, you have the muscle, obviously. But, Aiello has probably got bigger muscles because he's been here longer than us." I said, making Zussman smirk widely.
"You haven't seen his body yet?" He asked me as he pointed to Aiello.
Aiello slapped Zussman's arm and glared at him. I turned away to hide my visible blush. "What do you mean 'yet'?" Aiello asked and Zussman chuckled.
"You know what I mean." Was all Zussman said before they got back to their little competition. I didn't bother to watch them both because the last thing I wanted was for them to see my cheeks.
"Gather around! I'm gonna assign night watch duties!" Pierson ordered, so we didn't hesitate to exit the tent and make our way to him. He waited for a few minutes to make sure everyone was here before looking down at his clipboard. "Stiles and Aiello are on the first night shift. Then it's Thompson and Harrison. Any problems? Good." And with that, Pierson walked away to his tent.
Stiles and Aiello waved to us before heading to the night watch tent. Daniels, Zussman and I made our way to our tent and sat together, talking about anything and everything.
"So, do you think we'll bump into any other women around here?" Zussman smirked, but it was soon wiped away when Daniels shook his head.
"I don't think so, Zuss. Pierson is completely different to Turner."
Zussman then turned to me with a wide smile across his face. "Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look?" I rolled my eyes playfully and crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm flattered. But you're a little late. I've been here for a while." I joked, causing Daniels to laugh.
"Someone already has their eyes on ya." Zussman taunted, making me hit his arm lightly.
"No. Zuss, I like you but... I couldn't ever. Y'know..." Zussman nodded with a smile,
"I was jokin', anyway."
I let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through my hair, "Besides, I'd probably die out here. Now that Pierson's in charge and all."
"Anyway," Daniels began, as he closed his journal. "We should probably get some sleep before Pierson hears us." Zussman and I nodded. I removed some of my gear and laid down in my sleeping bag.
"Night."