The Angel Of Death ~ Thomas Shelby

Hope

~Nearing year 2 of the World War~
The war had taken a lot from all the men who volunteered to fight for their king. For some, it took their stability, their loved ones, their lives. Soldiers saw a man's life be taken in the most brutal ways throughout the four years and that could drive any man crazy, waiting for the inevitable to happen to them when they woke.

There was only one way to get through the war- and Thomas Shelby recited this strategy like his Aunt Pol would a verse from the bible. When the night was cold, his uniform offering no sense of comfort and the distant sounds of attacks from the enemy was his only music, he would hold on to one thing:

Hope

Hope, such a simple word for a simple minded person, however, his hope gave him the determination he needed. It gave him the desire to dig a little further, to push a little harder and to fight till he drew his last breathe. All for hope. All for the hope of seeing his girl again. His reason to breathe, his reason to keep moving, to keep fighting.

Liberty Stone

His girl for as long as he can remember, a woman of many talents, but her finest one was putting up with him. He made her a promise, they made each other a promise- they would come home for each other.

So as he was digging underground with his fellow soldiers, Danny Whizz bang and Freddie Thorne, listening to the mumbled whispered echo's of the enemy on the other side of the mud, he let his thoughts drift to her- just for a second- just incase it was his last.

Was she near the front line? He hoped not, he hoped she kept her fascinating knowledge of medicine and nursing to a whim so they kept her as far away from danger as possible. But he knew, not in this life, that his Liberty Stone belitted her understanding of knowledge to keep herself safe. No, there's no way possible. His Liberty wasn't like others, she loved the feeling danger gave her, but more so, she loved putting her life on the line for another. Family or stranger- she didn't have a preference. It was her weakness. Tommy had pulled her up on it many times but it was no use.

So as he reached his destination in the underground tunnels steadying his feet and holding his hand up to alert his soldiers to be ready for attack. He hoped, he prayed,

That they shall meet again.