jaspar shorts // compilations

war

Caspar's POV

I pried my eyes open, instantly spotting the sloppy, muddy walls that surrounded me. I slithered out of one of the slots in the trench wall, adjusting my eyes to the light which shone through the roof.I looked around, it was silent. Most of the soldiers, including my friends Joe and Oliver, were still fast asleep. Tom was on lookout duty; he was in the same spot as last night. The General was slumped against the wall, drenching his jacket in mud and tics. He gave me a nod when he saw me and sat up straighter. He was harsh at times but we all knew it was just because he was trying to protect us all.

Over time, more and more soldiers crawled out of their moles hole like beds in the wall and joined the rest of us in the main part of the trench.

"You been up long?" I heard a voice from behind me say. I swiftly turned around, recognizing the voice as Joe's.

"Not long." I shrugged, sliding down the wall and propping my head up on my hand. They sat opposite me; Joe took out a photo of his and his girlfriend's baby.

"Isn't she beautiful?" Joe smiled, showing off his white, pearly teeth.

"Yeah! She looks a lot like you." Oliver stated.

"Were you sent anything Caspar?" Joe asked, placing the photo back into his pocket, trying not to crumple it up.

"No, no. I guess my mom had nothing exciting to show me."

"Oh, well I hope you get something soon." Oliver said.

"Yeah, me -"

"Gas! GAS!" Tom's ear-piercing scream rang out throughout the trench, as the yellow colored cloud of gas floated towards us all.

I hesitated, before fumbling around, trying to get my gas mask. I managed to get it out and pulled it onto my face, quickly tying the straps together at the back whilst my eyes were tightly shut, blocking out the world. When I had managed to do it, I opened my eyes and looked around; people had their guns out, some were on the floor. I couldn't see Oliver anymore though, I think he went off to help people shooting. Then, I saw Joe. He had no gas mask on and the gas started to fill in every gap it could crawl into in the trench, surrounding Joe. He was couching,spluttering and his eyes were bloodshot. I couldn't do anything to help. All I could do was sit there and watch.

Various people ran over to him, dragging him into the gas-free safe zone and placing him on his back. He was clawing at his chest, wriggling about under the five people which were trying to pin him to the floor. Myself and Oliver, who was sent back here, sat against the trench wall, guns in hand as we watched Joe struggling in front of us.

"Lee! Come over here and bring your gun." I followed the General's orders, running over to him and Joe.

He took my gun and gave it to a highly trained medic.

"We have to shoot him. It will be less painful then what he is going through right now!" The General shouted; the medic loaded the gun and pointed it at Joe's head.

Joe was still coughing and his mouth started foaming.

"No!" I screamed.

But it was too late, the medic had already shot Joe and he laid still on the ground. The nurses from the hospital ran over with a stretcher and took him away.

My best friend was gone, but hey. Guess what?

This is war, and there is nothing we can do about it.

-

soz

-abby