The Shadow

Chapter 17

   (Welcome back Rosalies! New chapter time! I hope you guys will enjoy this)!

   Aldo's POV:

   Immediately after hearing the gunfire, we all stood up, worried about our four people downstairs, especially Frances. I waited for the gunfire to die down, before attempting to make my way down. More gunshots ensued before a voice followed behind. It was a Nazi soldier, so I began to talk to him to get information.

   "Is there anyone alive on our side?" I asked. "No!" Wilhelm, the soldier I was speaking to, answered. Immediately after, I heard a girl's voice shouting "I'm alive," but it didn't sound like Frances. "Who's that?" I asked, severely hoping that it was Frances. "Is the girl on your side?" Wilhelm questioned. "Which girl?" I inquired. "Who do you think? Von Hammersmark!" Wilhelm exclaimed. "Yeah, she's ours." I responded in disappointment, knowing that it wasn't Frances. After getting confirmation that Bridget von Hammersmark was alright, I asked about Frances.

   "What about the other girl? Is she ok?" "What other girl?" Wilhelm asked. "The girl wearing blue that was with them!" I responded. It was silent for a moment. "She's dead." Wilhelm revealed. My heart immediately sank to my stomach and I could feel tears beginning to well up. I knew it. I knew I shouldn't have let Frances be a part of this. I looked back at the other Basterds, who were also overcome with emotion. Donny looked to the floor, trying to hide his devastation. None of us knew what to do. I held in the tears and continued talking to Wilhelm until he decided to let us take von Hammersmark out of there.

   "Just take that fucking traitor and get her out of my sight." Wilhelm angrily ordered me. Before I could respond, a few more shots were heard, and Wilhelm fell to the ground. I looked at von Hammersmark, but she wasn't the one who shot.

   Frances' POV:

   As my hearing began to clear, I could hear Aldo negotiating with Wilhelm, the Staff Sergeant from earlier. He was going to let Aldo and one of the Basterds come down to get Bridget, who was still alive. I knew that if Wilhelm was left alive, he would for sure tell everyone what occurred, including that Bridget was with the allies. I'm definitely going to feel bad for his kid, since he's gonna grow up without a father, but what choice do I have? I carefully grabbed a gun that laid near me. It still had bullets in it. I continued to lay there, pretending to be dead.

   "Just take that fucking traitor and get her out of my sight." He angrily expressed. I sat up with the gun in my hand and fired, knocking him to the ground. No doubt I killed him. "You're not getting rid of me that easily." I muttered, my hand shaking due to the pain. I dropped the gun and held my wound. A round spot of blood began to form on the bottom of my blouse and began to travel down my skirt. I could feel sweat beginning to form on my forehead and my hair fell out of the clip I used to hold it up. I held my wound, my white glove beginning to turn a crimson color.

   "Frances?!" I heard Aldo yell. "Yeah it's me!" I shouted, grunting after. I heard many footsteps rushing down the stairs. I looked over and saw Aldo and Donny ignoring Bridget and running to me. They bent down to my level, and I could see their eyes were watery. "Are you two ok?" I asked. "No! We thought you were dead!" Donny exclaimed. I chuckled a little and leaned into him. "How do you feel?" Aldo asked in concern. "Like shit but I'll live." I groaned out. Donny and Aldo helped me stand up as Utivich and Hirschberg were getting Bridget.

   "Holy fuck, Frances! Are you ok?" Omar asked, rushing to me. "Does she look ok?!" Donny shouted. Omar helped me apply pressure on my wound, as it kept bleeding. I then realized that I didn't hear Hugo, Wicki, or Hicox at all. I left out of Donny and Aldo grasps and checked in on the three of them. I held a shaking hand over my mouth that wasn't covered in blood. Sobs began to escape me as I realized that they were dead. I felt guilty for Hicox, but horrible for Hugo and Wicki, two of my closest friends the past three years. "No!" I wailed, falling to my knees in devastation. I leaned forward, ignoring the pain, and layed my forehead on the ground near Hugo. Uncontrollable sobs left the confines of my throat. I hadn't sobbed like this since Amelie's death.