Your War, My War

| Chapter X |

I quickly run to his aid. I set the tripod and ammunition I was holding to the side, as I look at his wound. His brown uniform shirt was stained with the dark red color of his blood. Slowly, I pry his fingers from away from his wound. He retaliates, shouting and grasping onto my forearm. The injury with toward his right, close to his hip and lower torso. I hear Lieutenant Bennet's footsteps stop and redirecting toward us. He curses at the injury, also worried about Charles's well-being. 

After seeing the injury, he walks back at the bodies of the Albert and Samuel not too far away. Samuel had taken the tank's first aid kit. Lieutenant Bennet returned with the equipment and handed it to me. With gauze, I applied pressure, and I quickly cleaned and wrapped the wound the best I could. My hands were painted in the blood of Charles. I looked at my hands wearily. I soon balled my fists before rubbing them into the ground. 

Without hesitation, I also took my belt off, and wrapped it around his waist, helping to keep the bandage tight and in place. I curl over my pants before I place his hand back on his side. I snake my arm under his and around his back, helping him up. He grunts, getting up and grabbing the bow machine gun with his left arm, causing the gun to lay against my chest. We were practically the same height, if anything, he was taller by a centimeter or two. 

"You alright, son?" He asked. I looked over to see a woozy and dazed face. He nodded the best he could. The Lieutenant nodded thankfully as he grabbed the tripod and ammunition I was tasked in carrying from off the floor. He continued the journey. The journey was hard, and with little to no water it was harder. 

I felt Charles limp along, and breath harder as the journey progressed. He tripped over his legs a at least four times and dropped the bow machine gun a few times more. It was getting dark. The dawn was creeping up into the sky, diming the mid-day lighting of the sky. It was getting tiresome, supporting Charles overtime. I adjusted him in my grasped and focused on the lieutenant. We took breaks, here and there for the sake of Charles's condition, and it also benefited me greatly. He wasn't looking any better, but it didn't seem as if his condition was worsening either. During the end of the second break, while I was pulling him to his feet, he stopped me. 

"I can't do it." He said, exhausted. The words broke me. 

"You can." I said. 

"We are close to camp." Lieutenant Bennet adds. "Now, get up, boy."

"No, I can't." He said, his eyes closed. Lieutenant Bennet and I exchanged worried glances. 

"You won't die. You will live." I reassure him. "You made it this far. You're not going to die now. Finish strong" I stretch my hand back out. He looks at my hand for a while, then back at me. Soon, he grabs my hand and I pull him to his feet. He groans, falling onto my body, before regaining his balance. I keep my feet steadfast to the ground. 

It has begun to get darker. I lump forms in my throat and my heart sinks into my stomach. It really wasn't so dark, but when you're tired, hunger, dehydrated, bleeding, and worrying about a dying friend all types of emotions rain down on you. 

"There!" I hear the lieutenant say, causing Charles to jump. He pace hastens as he nears the camp. I hear him talking in the distance, but it is unclear. I see figures hurriedly heading towards me. Out of shear hallucinations and confusion, I walk backward. They get to me quicker than I can get away and told me they were medics. Charles and I were a walking mess. The medics separated us, but Charles was barely awake. He grasped onto my shoulder, not knowing what was going on. Soon, they were able to officially separate us, and he was brought into the infirmary. I fell to my knees. I was tired. I was worn. I smiled through the exhaustion, glad Charles got the attention he needed. A medic glanced back. He headed back toward me, noticing my situation.