It All Came Falling Down

four

    "Arrgh!" I groaned loudly, feeling for large debris and shoving it off me; I wasn't hit with the worst. My vision was blurred and disoriented, but I tried my best to make out my surroundings. I turned to face my battle buddy with one hand touching the side of my head to ease the pangs. "Jorlan, are you good?"
    My partner did not reply. He laid still on the tiles with pieces of the building on top of him. "Jorlan! Dear comrade!" I begged for a response, but it was as if something was stuck in my throat and no sound came out.
    Rolling onto all fours, I struggled to him and quickly began clearing the heap of materials. Blood, I saw, oozed from his head into a pool of red. His helmet was not on before, and it appeared as if a beam had fallen square on his head.
    "Come on man! Hey, are you alright? Stay with me!" I yelled. It seemed the concussion was too great; there was nothing I could do, and all the yelling was in vain and hopelessness. "Jorlan..." I held back tears and reached for his pocket to pull out an enveloped letter. It read 'Kacey' on the back. "I'll take good care of her. I promise." I embraced his lifeless, but still warm hand.
    BOOM! I squeezed both of my ears as a stronger headache forced me back down. Another explosion was nearby, then another, and another. I heard them consistently, creating utter chaos simultaneously with constant gunfire. I stumbled to my feet and fitted my tactical gear and helmet on. Then, finding my rifle, I limped painfully to the side of the villa door.
    "What the hell is going on?!" I cried to myself loudly, grunting in pain and frustration. I held my rifle attentively, my finger on the trigger and ready to pull at any moment's notice. But the blood was flowing without end out of my wounds, and the gash on my thigh only appeared to be enlarged. Sweat was pouring from my forehead and hair, impairing clear vision, and my breaths were becoming more and more shallow. It was only a matter of time when the world spun faster than it already had until everything went black.

    My heart was racing, and my uniform was soaked in sweat and blood. I was injured, but I kept moving onwards, like any soldier should. Onwards, comrades, in fast and steady steps we march! That is what we were taught in training; never surrender and never give up. Never retreat. Follow orders at all costs. BOOM! An explosion sent everything to pieces. My weapon was lost. I need my rifle! I looked around and around. Where the hell is my rifle?!
    "Ahh!" I screamed with heavy breathing, my body and garments all wet. My arm was extended to the right, to grab a rifle that was not there.
    "You're awake!" came a voice. "Kanston Wyllis, a survivor from Captain Daven's company. I'll be damned. Thought we would lose you too, comrade!"
    "Who are you? And where is this place?" I asked, sitting up on a flimsy stretcher. I looked around a large room and noticed plenty of stretchers just like the one I was on. Sunlight shone through four large windows and thin white curtains, warming and lighting up the place.
    "Lieutenant Zander Truxin, first platoon leader, B Company, Fourth Brigade of the Esdrusian Freedom Forces," replied a stranger who walked closer into view. He was wearing a dirty but decorated uniform, and a rifle was slung over his shoulder. "We're in an Esdrusian field hospital in Southern Anfaria."
    "You're with General Hanley's brigade, sir?" I asked.
    "I was, soldier. Now I'm with the remnants of it. The Resistance came out of nowhere with enough weapons and ammunition to wipe out all of A Company and most of our B and C Companies. That killed the General." The lieutenant finished his sentence and bowed his head in solemn honour of those who lost their lives in the body war. "Seven damned years with so many slaughtered and many bad things done! You would expect the Resistance to calm down, but they attacked our southern forces with an ambush like no other. Only a handful of Captain Daven's company made it out alive of their artillery and mortar strike. It's a miracle, really; you're the only one still recognisable and have all your limbs and skin! You've been sleeping here for two weeks, comrade."
    "Two weeks..." I repeated in surprise. "I must see the others in my company!" I insisted.
    "No you will not, comrade, because they have been sent away. You have been transferred to my unit, and in this town, I am the only officer. I never would've guessed being the highest ranking soldier on the field, but here I am." Lieutenant Truxin laughed. "Anyway, you're in good shape. Let's go get you some food, water, and equipment before I send you back to your duty."
    I nodded, completely understanding the lieutenant's orders. But not long after getting up, I stopped in my tracks- I had too. I saw a pair of dear, all too familiar little green boots beside a stretcher. "The girl, who owns those boots! Where is she?" I asked aloud. "Where is the girl?!"
    "She's here, sir," replied a nurse standing nearby. "One of the soldiers brought her in."
    "Who?" I asked, sighing in relief.
"I do not know, sir. He was killed in action," the nurse told me, shaking her head. "But she's safe, and not badly injured."
    I closed my eyes, tears flooding the inside of my eyelids. I couldn't imagine a little child like this girl. She had no family, and no one to care for. I can only picture her stained and injured, staring in confusion and tears, as her world came falling down around her- the gunfire, the bombs, the countless deaths.
    "Hi! You are back!" greeted a strong yet soft voice, interrupting my thoughts.
    I turned and smiled so brightly, as if my teeth were a representation of the son. There was Lurissa, just standing and grinning back in a new set of clothes. She was the happiest person I have ever seen these days. "Hi!" I said, the tears pouring over and creating streams down my cheeks. I hurried to her and picked her up and embraced her tightly in my arms. I kissed her on the forehead and touched her hair gently. Back in the town before, she was the highlight of any soldier's day. Her roses, her giggles, her cheerfulness- everything about her reminded us of the better times, before the war. Everyone in Daven's company swore to protect her for as long as this war lasted.
    "Put on your boots now," said another nurse, who was with her. "Sorry, sir. There is a nice family in the next town willing to take her in. But do not worry! She is a strong little girl, this one. I was told she didn't even cry on her way to this hospital."
    "Alright," I said, before turning back to Lurissa. "We have to go now. You take care and stay safe."
    She nodded. "Will you be back?"
    I chuckled. "Soon," was all I said. I let go, and the child hurried to put on her boots before following the nurse out again. "Soon," I repeated under my breath.
    "Comrade, it is our turn to go. We must tarry no longer," Lieutenant Truxin's voice spoke softly. "Come on."