Deserters

Missing

A few weeks after Alex returned to Fort Hammer, news arrived that two days after Alex left, his hometown was attacked by bandits. The attack was repealed by the soldiers who were there, but a lot of people were killed. The soldiers knew the bandits would come back. They always do. They requested that more soldiers be brought in to help them. Maximilian denied their request.

Alex gathered a group of volunteers from Fort Hammer and they set out to Alex's hometown to help reinforce the soldiers there. They arrived in a week, but by the time they did, the town had already been attacked again. A lot of the soldiers were killed and a few civilians were captured. Alex went to the CO of the soldiers stationed there for the report of missing people. Alex's soldiers volunteered to find them and bring them home. Four women had been captured, and amongst them, was Jessica, Alex's sister.

Alex immediately gathered all the information on the bandits they had. They were able to find a location and Alex without hesitation mounted up onto his horse and led his men to where the bandits were hiding. Upon arriving at the location, they discovered the camp was actually a fort that had been abandoned, but Alex immediately charged through the fort's gate without a second thought. He and his soldiers slaughtered the bandits one by one.

Alex dismounted his horse and held his sword tight. Three bandits began to rush at him. He slashed the one in the chest, slashed one's throat to near decapitation and then impaled the last one through the heart. Alex and four other soldiers stormed into the main building of the fort. They rushed through every floor, cutting down every bandit they crossed violently. Alex had blood all over his shirt and some on his face from all of the men he killed. Suddenly he heard his sister scream coming from the top floor of the building. Alex and his men bolted to the top of the stairs and came upon a door that was locked. Alex drew his pistol, as did the other soldiers. Alex shot the lock and then kicked open the door. He saw a man grabbing his sister and yelling at her.

"Put her down right now you piece of shit!" Alex screamed. The bandit turned around. It was the leader of the group of men from the town. A look of anger came over then mans face as he reached for his pistol. As soon as he turned his head to look at Alex, Jessica bit down on the man's ear as hard as she could and ripped it from his head. He let her go and used his free hand to put pressure on his head where his ear once was. Jessica started to run to Alex, but the man saw her. He turned, pointed his pistol and fired.

Everything seemed to become slow motion to Alex. He heard his sister's scream and her falling to the ground. The bullet went through her side ann hit one of Alex's men in the base of his sternum making him fall back. Jessica hit the ground with her entire body and then laid there still. "Noooooooo!!" Alex screamed in emotional pain as he watched his sister hit the ground. Alex looked at the man who had a look of fear on his face. Everything went back to normal speed for Alex as he and his men unloaded their weapons into the man. He stumbled back into the wall with every bullet that hit him and blood started pouring out of his mouth and nose as his lifeless body slid down the wall, leaving a streak of blood as it did.

Alex dropped his gun and ran over to his sister. He sat down behind her and picked her up, cradling her in his lap. She had clearly already been beat before all of this. Alex started to cry but his sister managed to raise her finger to his lips shushing him. She smiled slightly and tried to talk. "It's okay Alex. It's okay. You'll be fine..." She spoke softly and tried to keep her smile as tears started to run down her face. "I... I... love you... Alex..." she said as her eyes rolled back, her breath stopped, and her body fell limp in Alex's arms.

"Jess? Jessica! No no no no no Jessica!" Alex started saying as tears began to stream down his face. "Please don't go..." he said quietly as he put his forehead to hers. Two of his soldiers came up behind him and put their hands on his shoulders. Alex let his head fall back and screamed. All of his men, including the ones outside could hear and feel his pain when he screamed. Alex's scream lasted a few moments and then turned back into silent sobs as he held Jessica's lifeless body in his arms.