Surviving Confessions

Eight

It was only three in the afternoon and we had only walked 8 miles.

We can do this, I thought, we've made it this far.

The heat was intense. It attacked my skin, as if it was clawing it off the bone.

"Hell is nothing compared to this" the voice of Alice complained.

We had no water left. On the sixth mile, Laura drank the last drop.

As we walked, Alice and Daniel walked beside me. David was dragging, pulling Laura along. With every tug she groaned. She couldn't take anymore after the last tug.

"David stop" she threw to the ground, almost dragging David with her, " I can't. Leave me. You can go".

The rest of us moved onto the pavement where the soldiers guard the fields of freedom. David picked her up and carefully placed her broken body down.

Ten feet away, two soldiers were having a violent conversation behind the fence.

"Laura, what's happened?" Daniel asked, bending down to next her and David.

"I-- I can't Daniel" she began crying, she thought she was holding us back. Thinking about it, she was.

"We're almost there Laura. We'll get through this" David reassured her, moving her face up to his. Her focus stayed on the solider.

Their argument was getting more and more violent. I could see the anger growing in his eyes, it looked like were burning through him.

I could feel Daniels body tightening beside me. Alice was ready to run but I know none of us could prepare ourselves for what happened next.

We had all seen death.

We knew what it looked like but seeing it still hurt.

These soldiers had no shame and their beliefs showed this. They found no shame in war. War demands decency, but the monsters within consume good people, taking away their decency.

"Laura, we really have to move" I said, eyes locked on the fights. They had caught Laura's gaze, a smile creasing his lips, he unholstered his handgun.

Her gaze didn't move from his. His gaze didn't move from hers, his grin flattered. He aimed the barrel at his comrades temple. Clicked the safety. I felt my heart in my throat, I buried my head in my hands, trying to protect myself like a child and fell to the ground.

The gun roared.

I heard Laura scream.

Daniel tripped over me

I still couldn't look up, I knew it wasn't safe.

***
Everything fell silent. I was only relying on my hearing. This silence was torturing.

I jumped at once when I heard the soldiers laugh.

"You bastard! How could you?" Laura's voice cracked through her cries.

His laugh stopped.

"Do not speak to me like that" he spat out, he voice was coated in strong eastern European accent.

"You heartless bastard. You killed him".

"Silence" he screamed.

"How could you? "

I heard her gasp. David began to sob. I tried to think of another explanation of why he'd begin to shed tears but I could get the image from my head.

"Please no" David begged. The soldier's voice drew nearer and nearer.

"I will teach her some manners, to respect men of authority" he barked.

"We're sorry. She didn't mean to--" David was interrupted by the soldiers weapon.

***

I'll update soon :D
Love Chantel