Prologue
709 Words
Prologue
1914
It was dawn when I saw a group of German military looking for the evacuation camp. I am a soldier, a soldier who's ready to fight and die for my country. They started the war, the Central Powers against the Triple Entente, where many people died because of the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand. A secret treaty that made Italy not remain its neutrality... ended everything.
I let my team evacuate the survivors and hide them in the forest. I thought they would be safe, but I guess I was wrong.
"They're here! Get the civilian out of here!" I reported over the radio
Radio statics. "Ottenere in posizione" (get in position)
"Copia che" (copy that) I answered.
I ready myself for an all-out war. I am a woman, a soldier. I was destined for this and may God bless me.
I crawled down to get into the bushes then I saw my men nodding at me. I put one gesture to wait for my signal to throw a grenade. I waited for the Germans' footsteps to come closer. I pulled the ring pin of my grenade then throw it to the group of Germans and as the explosion drops, I signal them to stand up to shoot them with our guns
"Fire!"
All I can hear was gunshots echoing inside my ears. I ran while shooting them, I hide for a second behind the tree. I turn my head to the right and saw half of my men, breathless. I closed my eyes and look at the dark sky and the only light I can see is the moon. I took a deep breath as the gunshots still echoing, I stand at the side of the trunk and start shooting
"Essi sono troppi!" (They're too many!) One of my men shouted
"Fall back!" I ordered
The group of Germans still shoots as we were running in the forest. I started again to shoot, but they're too many to defeat. While running, I can feel my left shoulder is getting heavy then I saw blood coming from it.
"Damn!" I hiss in frustration
While running, I can't hear any footsteps just mine, and from that moment I knew that I am the last one to stand. I hide again behind the tree and I don't have enough ammo left to fight but I will stand still and fight the enemy until my arms and legs are thorns apart
"Soldier.."
I heard someone is whispering. I look for it then found out that he was hiding in the bushes. I aim my gun to whoever it is...
He stood up and I looked at him, he's the old man. I remember I rescued him before this evacuation started. It took me back to my senses when I heard footsteps getting nearer. I signal him to get down them he crawled towards me
"What are you doing?" I whispered
"Get out soldat, ich weib, dass sie sich verstecken" (get out soldier I know you are hiding)
one of the Germans
I pull the old man behind my back "Go to the bush hide behind me, go!"
"Ich habe sie!" (I got you)
I pull the old man behind me and pointed my pistol against the enemy
"Sie allein sind jetzt lady, ihre manner waren unten. Eine solche abfalle" (you're alone now lady your men were down, such a waste)
He pulls his trigger and shot the old man behind me. I hold his arms as he lies on the ground. I hold my fist in anger
"You Germans! Perdersi!" I shot him with my pistol
"Persedi! Ahhh!!!!" I shot him as much as I could until I went out of bullets, I dropped my gun on the ground as well as his body. I barely breathe--I can feel my body weakens as I hold my shaking body.
I just smiled, I never thought this is going to be the end of my life, blood flows on my shirt. My sight is getting blurry and my breathing is getting slower as well as my heartbeat. I lay down and look up in the sky.
It was dawn and the only light I can see was the moon
- Writer
