The Trenches Of Hell - World War One

A Rat in the mud

When I opened my eyes, night had fallen over the killing fields. My entire body was in pain and I think I might have possibly broken a rib or two. As I looked around all I saw were corpses of German soldiers. But before I could look further I was blinded by a bright light. I shut my eyes accepting this as death but then it went off of me. A flashlight. I opened my eyes to see about 15 French soldiers walking among the bodies of my comrades. And they were coming my way. As they approached I shut my eyes and laid as still as possible, blending in among the blood, mud and gore. I heard footsteps. and then I heard the sound of a bayonet sliding through human flesh. They were stabbing the bodies to make sure they were dead. I swear I heard a few even moan as they were stabbed, as the life finally left their disfigured, broken bodies. The footsteps got closer and closer. I wanted move. I wanted to fight, or scream. Something. But I just stayed still and prayed to whatever being runs this fucked up world that I would be spared.

After laying breathless the noise went past me. They didn't see me buried in the muddy crater. I breathed out a sigh of relief and began moving. But upon bending my leg I felt a sharp, pain shoot up my body like lightning. I had shattered it. "Shit just cant get any fucking worse." I thought to myself as I began crawling. It didn't take long before I reached what was left of my trench. there was rubble everywhere, dismembered body parts, splintered wood, and equipment that was so broken beyond repair it would never see service again. I grabbed what was left of a rifle and used it as a crutch and began walking back to where the rear lines were. Hopefully they didn't advance farther.

It was about an hour of painfully walking before I heard another friendly voice. I was without water, food, and rest for so long I simply collapsed. Next thing I knew I was in a hospital bed. My leg was in a cast and my lower body felt almost numb from what I could only assume was painkillers.