A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Sixty-Four

These next few chapters are going to be short and very fast moving. Get ready to hold onto the seat of your pants and read away. ;)

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Aldrik glanced down at the pocket watch tucked in his uniform. Five more minutes. Tucking the watch back in his pocket, he stayed solemn. Guard-like.

"How much time do we have?" Nolan shoveled dirt over a pit of dead bodies. The anger couldn't be more obvious in his gaze.

Swallowing hard, refusing to look at the mound of people executed less than an hour ago, Aldrik allowed his arm to rest at his side. He didn't glance down at the prisoner or give any indication that they were communicating. Casually he flicked four fingers out, tucking his thumb tightly against his palm.

Nolan gave a sharp nod, tightening his grip on the sharp shovel, allowing four fingers to stick up from his grip. A few of the other prisoners nodded as the message was relayed as conspicuously as possible.

The message moved down throughout the camp. Word traveled quickly when it was something so important. Aldrik admired their open communication. It was rapid and accurate.

"Hey! You!" Aldrik's pulse halted as he watched a guard point at a prisoner a few yards away. "What are you doing? What is this?" He held up his four fingers.

The prisoner remained silent. He refused to look up at the guard, transfixing his gaze on the ground.

"Answer me you piece of trash!" The guard kicked the man hard in the ribs.

Aldrik tried to ignore what was happening. He swallowed hard, barely containing his rage. And panic.

"Keep it together. Benjamin will be fine." Nolan whispered, noticing Aldrik's stiffening position.

"I... I... it was a game, sir." Benjamin wheezed out.

"A game?" The guard glared at the young man.

"Yes, sir. To... to make me work harder." Benjamin monologued, buying the necessary time.

"To make you work harder?" The guard grabbed Benjamin by his hair, yanking his head up to a painful angle. "Explain to me this... this game."

Two more minutes. Aldrik did everything to keep calm. He breathed in and out as calmly as possible. Anything could happen in those two minutes though. Anything could foil their plan.

"Sir?" Benjamin briefly made eye contact with the guard.

"Do not stall, prisoner. Answer me!" The guard let go of Benjamin's hair long enough to backhand him across the face. Blood spurted from the man's all ready cracked lip.

Benjamin nodded calmly. "Yes... yes, sir. You see, I..."

Aldrik lost focus on the conversation. He watched another guard across the camp execute another innocent prisoner. Blinking hard, he focused on calming his tensing muscles. He was ready to attack. One more minute left...