Chapter One

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Charlie wait up!" Theo watched as his friend disappeared in the tall wheat. "Charlie?" Theo looked around and debated going to look for her? He sighed before walking in. The tall wheat made his ankles itch. He needed longer trousers, but his mother had many other things on her plate. The rolling hills and the green grass made the land seem endless, and to the two children, it was.

"BOO!" Theo screamed and ran out of the field. When he turned around he saw her. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled into two pigtails that bounced when she laughed.

"It's not funny Charlotte!" Theo spoke using her full name. The 5-year-old came out of the wheat still laughing.

"That was the best. I got you so good Theodore!" Charlie clung to his arm and she kept laughing. Theo didn't find it funny, it wasn't funny at all. "You're just mad that a girl two years younger made you scream like a girl"

Theo watched as the young girl grows before his eyes. Her dirty blonde hair now fell beautifully just below her shoulders. She became taller and her freckles across her nose became more defined. What didn't change was Theo's favorite part? Her sparkling green eyes. Except here her eyes weren't how they normally we're. They held fear. "Theo run. They are coming!"

Theo turned around looking for danger. "Charlie where?" but when he looked back Charlie was gone. "Charlie? Charlie!"

Theo grabbed his rifle and took off running. His brown leather boots smashed against the muddy ground. Theo stopped and look around. He was standing in the middle of a trench. Not any trench. The front line trench. "Charlie!"

Theo took a breath and ran. Calling out for his friend. Theo finally caught glimpse of her hair. "Charlotte! Wait! You don't know this world"

Charlie didn't listen. She skipped along the trench line. She was heading for a dead end. Theo took off. He pushed people out of the way.

"Bloody hell!" Theo spoke as his body hit the mud. He looked behind him to see what he fell over. It was a body. It was Dobson. James Dobson's body. "Oh my God," Theo muttered.

"THEO!" a female voice cried out. Theo jumped to his feet and ran. He pulled the trigger but he was too late. In front of him laid a dead German soldier. Charlotte laid beside the dead soldier. Her lifeless green eyes prying into his soul. She was dead.

"NO!"

"Bad dream?" Theo looked up at his friend. James stood there smiling.

" I suppose you could say that, " Theo answered.

"Come on Barnett, hell awaits." Theo stood up before walking ahead. Usually, Theo could close his eyes and feel peace. He wasn't fighting for his life in a muddy hole. It's been three years into the First War, and no progress has been made on the Western front.

"When do you think Great America will join the war?" James asked.

"I reckon soon. If not we might as well be bloody dead" Theo answered.

James stopped and look at his friend. "Mate we both know I can't die"

Theo looked around and adjusted his gun. "Of course not Dobson." With a sly smile, Theo continued "what would your poor wife and your children do without you."

"That's not funny at all" James spoke. He watched as his younger rude friend walked away. "Barnett. Once you love someone. You will see how much it means to stay alive"

"If I live to see the end of the war I'll find myself a wife" Theo answered without turning around. He didn't have to know. James was right behind him. "Dobson, I'm only 25. I still have time. Besides, having a loved one and knowing you won't go home seems like hell."

"I'm 27.  I've been married since I was 22. My wife was 18. We have a four-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl." James said. He put a hand on Theo's shoulder stopping him. "I'm just saying, mate. You should start a family before you get too old"

Theo looked at James and brushed his handoff. "No more of this love topic" Theo whispered before he turned on his heel and marched away.

A tall man with half his hair missing walked up to the two men. "Where the bloody hell have you two been?"

"Good afternoon Lieutenant Watts. " James spoke coming to a stop

Lieutenant Watts looked over to James before speaking. "You guys are late again"

"Actually Sir. We are very much on time." Theo looked over at James appalled. James pointed at his watch and continued. "15:00 on the dot"

Theo took a deep breath and tried to stand taller. He hoped it would mask his fear.
Lieutenant George Watts leaned closer to James. "I'd watch your mouth, Dobson. We both know I don't like you." Lieutenant Watts finally stood up and looked at two. "Sergeant Dobson and Corporal Barnett, I suggest you get to your watch post"

"Yes sir," Theo spoke before he went away. He looked back a quick second to see the Lieutenant say one more thing to James. It was only a few seconds later and James made his way over. More serious than before.

Out of the corner of his eyes, Theo saw James put his haversack on the ground. His rifle propped up beside him. Theo leaned against the sandbags and look out into the dead land. His rifle strapped to his shoulder. Theo could feel his bayonet in its leather case dangling at his side and beside it was a simple knife that Charlie got him. "Dobson?" Theo started.

James responded with a simple hm.

"Do you think we will make it out of here?" Theo question the older man.

"Of course we will mate. We will live to the end of this war. Become neighbors. I'll have another kid. My kids will grow old and I'll see them get married. You will find a wife and have your own children. We will live next to each other." James added. Theo looked at his friend. Theo could hear the coughing of the sick soldiers in the background.

"James, I'm being serious. Do you really think we will make it out?" Theo asked.

James closed his eyes and looked away. He knew when Theo used his name it was serious. "No. I think we are going to die here. We will die in this fucking mud hole," James slammed his hand against the mud before continuing "even if we did make it out of here, we will go back home nuts."

James's voice softens at the end. Theo looked at his friend in the eye and placed a supportive hand on his back. "I don't want my family to see me like this. To see me crazy and out of my fucking mind. This war. It ruins a person. I don't want my kids to see this"

Theo looked away as James wipes away a fallen tear. As quick as that tear fell, the sad emotions from James were gone. Replaced was the human-robot that this war created. The two men watched in silence as the sun became equal with the bare land. Their watch was up and for a moment it was peaceful. The sound of mud being squashed against feet broke Theo out of his gaze. Turning around he saw James had already walked away. Theo nodded to the soldier and bid goodbye.

Theo's boots made a slight tapping sound as they came into contact with the wooden beams on the ground. Everyone thought it could help reduce trench foot, but who knows if it was working. It was dark and quiet. Theo knew he only had a small amount of time before he would have to stand early in the morning and be ready for an attack. The Germans almost always attacked at night or early morning. When it was hard to see into No Mans land, it was always important to be ready for anything.

Inside the barrack Theo sat on his cot. He pushed his head into his hands and took a few deep breaths. Every day it was getting harder for Theo to stay sane. He knew that if he would survive this he would leave shell shocked. In some ways, Theo hoped he wouldn't survive. When Theo pulled his hands away they quickly went to his jacket. On the inside was a small hidden pocket. He reached inside and pulled out a small metal case. Theo smiled a true smile when he looked inside and ran his fingers on the items inside.

You've reached the end of published parts.

⏰ Last updated: Feb 03, 2020 ⏰

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