WangXian/YiZhan Oneshots And Short Stories ✔

Real History Pt.2

It was an hour or two before he was due to be heading back to base. He was tired from the heavy hear and thick air and there was nothing interesting happening at the enemy camp. He took out a packet of dried fruit and began to much slowly, trying to savour the sweet taste and washing it down with water. 

At first, he thought it was just his chewing that he could hear, but as he ate the sound became evidently more louder. It was dull yet steady, the thuds sounding like a drum. He put his supplies away and took to a hiding spot behind a pile of rough grey boulders, stacking his rifle against them and gripping his handgun tightly. He watched, he waited, silently waiting for the cause of the noise to appear.

Crack.

He stood up and turned around, just as another man did the same thing. With their guns unlocked and pointed at each other, a deathly intensity surrounded them. Sean looked at the man and thought he was around his age, maybe younger, and looked strong; he knew it would be a strong battle if physical combat ensued. A stern and heavy gaze was pointed right back at him, calculating and cautious. But, both of them realised, none of them had yet to pull their trigger.

Slowly, Sean lowered his handgun, but not dropping it to the floor. The soldier opposite watched his actions with a frown before doing the same; his grip remained as strong as ever.

"Not one for killing much are you?" Sean asked.

"What about you?"

"What do you think? You can drop the weapon, I'm not gonna kill you."

"Who are you?" the stranger asked.

"What does it look like?" Sean asked before pointing at the badge on his gear.

"An enemy soldier."

"An enemy huh? Yes, I suppose I am the enemy to you, as you are to me. But tell me, why are we enemies when neither us run the governments that started this war?"

"..."

Sean let out a small smile at the stranger's silence before getting out his food packet and sitting down, gesturing for the man to join him. He took a handful of the food and swallowed it before offering some to the soldier, wanting him to see that it is not poisonous. The soldier sat down a few feet away but refused the food.

"They feeding you well?"

"As best they can?"

"Good, we don't want all of us regular people dying off now do we?"

"And you?"

"Oh, we're okay. I skip breakfast sometimes though-"

"Why would-"

"I know some of the younger kids need it more than me." Sean finished.

"... Kids?"

"Yep, the youngest is under 16."

"16? That's-"

"Ridiculous? Yes I know. Do you have any kids?"

"No, our youngest is 19."

"Still young though. I said we should send them to safehouses or to the country, but the government drafted everyone they could spare, and you were weak if you didn't sign up."

"Did you? Sign up?"

"Absolutely. I have a family to fight for."

"Hm." the stranger said with a nod.

"What's your name?"

"Yours?"

"Sean."

"Yibo."