# A Thin Line - Part Four: The Village

Author: RandallShepherd
Tags: Bad Language, Battle, Character Development, No-Yiff, Suspense, Violence (Not In Yiff), War, World war 2

#4 of A Thin Line

The fourth part, and most exciting, of my little series. This part is much longer than any previous part. I was planning on this series being about 10 parts, but I can see that's probably not going to happen. I originally tried to keep each part around 3 to 5 pages. This one's like 10 pages. Oops. It's a lot of info, okay? Not to mention this is my first time writing an action scene... like ever.
But we finally get to the battle scene, and we learn a lot more about our characters Micah and Damien. Part five is already well underway, so expect that soon enough :)
FUN FACTS:
- I played a lot of old school Call of Duty in my time.. that makes me a WWII expert, right?
- This part was re-written at least 5 times before I was happy with it.
- Damien was the one originally supposed to be injured, not Micah

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At first, Damien thought of home.&nbsp; He wondered if his mom was okay.&nbsp; He hope him leaving didn't cause her to start drinking again.&nbsp; He hoped that his father was able to keep her out of the bottles.&nbsp; What about Alice?&nbsp; What would she be doing tonight?&nbsp; Could she be writing to Damien right now?&nbsp; Does she even know he is about to step out onto the front lines?&nbsp; He didn't know, but he wanted to.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The town was like a ghost town.&nbsp; Homes abandoned, streets emptied, rubble scattered everywhere.&nbsp; The smell of smoke filled the air and the sound of bullets and explosions shook the crumbling walls and the street.&nbsp; Damien passed a few shops on his walk into the city.&nbsp; One in particular stuck with him.&nbsp; Inside was a doll and a collection of baby goods.&nbsp; It reminded him about his talk with the stranger in the back of the truck.&nbsp; He looked around to see if he could find the unknown soldier from the truck, but he was not there, or at least not in Damien's immediate field of view.&nbsp; He continued down the street, trying to keep pace with the rest of his squad.&nbsp; Damien found Micah running up to his side.&nbsp; They looked at each other but no one spoke.&nbsp; They knew combat was not far away.&nbsp; The gun fire was getting louder with each step down the bullet-riddled road.&nbsp; The occasional blood stain on the ground or the wall made, not just Damien, but all the soldiers feel even more uneasy.&nbsp; It was only natural.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A sudden blast knocked Damien off his feet.&nbsp; He stumbled to the ground.&nbsp; His head pounded, it felt like a dream.&nbsp; He thought he was dead for sure.&nbsp; He rolled over slowly, expecting pain, but he felt nothing.&nbsp; Maybe the adrenalin is keeping the pain away, he thought.&nbsp; He began to move his extremities.&nbsp; First his arms, then hands, legs, then feet.&nbsp; They were all there and accounted for.&nbsp; He ever saw what hit him.&nbsp; Possibly a hand grenade.&nbsp; They found themselves in an ambush, and now Damien, dazed and helpless, found himself lying on the ground in the wide open.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He tried to move, but not before something grabbed the back of his jacket and began to drag him across the road.&nbsp; It was Micah; he risked his life to save Damien.&nbsp; Micah dragged him behind a wall and propped him up against it.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Are you okay? Are you alright?" Micah yelled at Damien.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah... I think so."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You're lucky.&nbsp; Get up!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damien was finally able to fully compose himself and sit up.&nbsp; His gun was still attached to him thanks to the strap.&nbsp; Surveying the area, Damien saw where he hit the ground.&nbsp; Not too far from where he was, a couple of dead men lied in the street.&nbsp; They had taken the worst the grenade had to offer, but unintentionally giving Damien the chance to survive.&nbsp; He felt bad for the soldiers, but there was nothing that could be done now.&nbsp; He hated feeling that way, though.&nbsp; He felt like war was changing him.&nbsp; Seeing a pile of dead bodies and shrugging it off and carrying on, he would have never been able to imagine such horror before his time here.&nbsp; But this was reality.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Small gun fire came from down the street.&nbsp; A machine gun nest was posted through a window of a house just down the road a bit on the right side.&nbsp; The gun had to go down if the American soldiers had any hope of surviving the ambush.&nbsp; Damien and Micah was behind a low wall, on the left side of the street, separating themselves form the gun fire.&nbsp; Micah hit Damien on the arm, as to get his attention.

When Damien looked over, he saw Micah pointing in the direction opposite to the road.&nbsp; A couple of other American soldiers were heading further away from the road in an effort to find a flank route.&nbsp; Taking on the German soldiers and their machine gun nest head on would be tactical suicide.&nbsp; Damien followed the soldier's lead between buildings and through yards, Micah stuck close behind him.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When they made it a couple lawns down the street, they came under fire again.&nbsp; This time, it was a much smaller, more manageable group of enemy soldiers.&nbsp; For the first time since engagement began, Damien began returning fire towards the enemy.&nbsp; He hid behind another low wall, peeking over to take shot at the Germans.&nbsp; The lack of light made it hard to see much but the occasional movement of shadows and the mussel flash of their guns.&nbsp; Damien fired a few shots, not sure if any of them made their mark.&nbsp; With each shot fired, it sent shock waves up his arm and rang in his head.&nbsp; After eight shots, his gun made the _ping_sound the M1 Garands are both famous and infamous for.&nbsp; The ping is the result of the empty clip being ejected out of the gun.&nbsp; Damien grabbed another clip of ammo and tried to load it into his gun.&nbsp; The adrenaline made it hard.&nbsp; His hands were shaking and he struggled to get the clip in the gun.&nbsp; He looked around the wall.&nbsp; Another soldier, and American soldier, was firing his gun before he suddenly stopped.&nbsp; A cloud of blood spewed out of the back of his head.&nbsp; His body shook violently before collapsing to the ground in a discomforting state of calm.&nbsp; Damien wished he hadn't seen it.&nbsp; But again, nothing could be done.&nbsp; Micah was to Damien's right side, firing towards the enemy when his gun pinged, then he crouched down to reload.&nbsp; Damien stood up in time to see somebody running out in the open.&nbsp; Damien focused on him with his gun's sight.&nbsp; He hesitated, trying to make sure it was an enemy he was about to shoot at.&nbsp; The glare of the little light there was showed that the helmet was undoubtedly shaped like that of a German's and not an American's.&nbsp; With one good shot, the helmet, and the enemy soldier, fell to the ground.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few Germans remained, but the Americans outnumbered them, and the enemy was dealt with within a few minutes.&nbsp; Continuing down, the soldiers made it to where the machine gun nest was located on the other side of the street.&nbsp; Crossing the street was extremely dangerous, but essential if they wanted to take out that gun.&nbsp; The commanding officer of our squad to give cover fire.&nbsp; They wanted to force the Germans to take cover long enough for the advancing American soldiers to make it safely across the street; or at least as safely as possible.&nbsp; A hail of bullets rang down the street, forcing the Germans into hiding.&nbsp; The group of men ran across the street and ran to the house with the gun nest.&nbsp; A single grenade through the window ended that problem.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With the gun nest no longer a threat, the odds were significantly tilted in the American's favor.&nbsp; Within minutes, the Germans were retreating.&nbsp; Victory came at a heavy cost, though; the squad lost a few of its already thin group.&nbsp; But it isn't unusual for such sacrifices to be made.&nbsp; It happens on a daily basis out here.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By day break, Damien and Micah's squad made it to a large church in the center of town.&nbsp; The church was temporarily being used as an aid station, supplying water and medical attention if needed, as well as a communication hub.&nbsp; It was also a safe place to catch some rest.&nbsp; Damien was exhausted, but kept going as he knew he had to.&nbsp; Micah was equally as exhausted, but refused to let it show.&nbsp; Damien sat down on the platform at the end of the church's isle.&nbsp; Micah joined him.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Micah." Said Damien.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah, sport?" Replied Micah.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Thanks for saving my ass after that grenade explosion."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Micah shook his head, "Don't thank me.&nbsp; Just thank God you're alright.&nbsp; We're in the right place for it after all."&nbsp; He laughed.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You didn't have to risk your life like that to save me."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Are you serious?&nbsp; Like I was just gonna leave you out there for the Jerries to finish off?&nbsp; I wasn't about to stand by and let you get killed out there, bud."&nbsp; Micah took a drink of water from his canteen.&nbsp; "And besides," he continued, "Alice would have been pissed at me if I didn't so something."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damien was ashamed to admit it, but he almost forgot about Alice.&nbsp; The Hell on the front line temporarily washed away the pleasant memories of home.&nbsp; But he was more than grateful to have Micah with him now.&nbsp; He didn't know what would have happened if Micah wasn't there, and he didn't really want to think about it.&nbsp; Micah had Damien's back, just as Damien had Micah's.&nbsp; They were a great team together, determined to help each other survive and look out for one another.&nbsp; Damien had no idea how he would ever repay Micah for saving his life.&nbsp; He owed him his life, and he knew that.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The rest and relaxation in the church was, overall, short lived when word got in that a German counter attack was closing in from the North.&nbsp; A last ditch effort was being put forth by the enemy to regain the crucial town, and the church was soon to be right in the line of fire.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Get ready, men!" shouted the commanding officer, "Jerry will be here any minute.&nbsp; This church does NOT fall!&nbsp; You hear me?!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes, sir!" was heard through the church.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damien and Micah were sent to the second floor of the church.&nbsp; They, along with a few other riflemen, would act as a crude sniper team since an official one was not on hand.&nbsp; Armed with scope-less M1 Garands and Carbines, they awaited the fury that was soon to come.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The view was a great vantage point.&nbsp; From Damien's position, he could see far down a wide road.&nbsp; Damien was a great marksman, one of the best back at training camp, but he felt unsure about his ability to hold off the enemy.&nbsp; Micah was a pretty amazing shot himself.&nbsp; He should have been a sniper, he's that good.&nbsp; All of their marksman skills would soon be put to the test.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Within thirty minutes of setting up, gun fire was heard down the street.&nbsp; Smoke made it hard to see anything far down the street.&nbsp; Before long, soldiers began running through the smoke, and the counter attack was on.&nbsp; Instead of being on the offensive like last night, today, the Americans found themselves on the defensive.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damien focused down the sight of his gun.&nbsp; He could practically hear his heart beat in his ears.&nbsp; Training took over as he slowed his breathing down.&nbsp; His aim steadied and his heart rate slowed.&nbsp; The German silhouettes were getting larger.&nbsp; Without scoped weapons, long distance shots were hard to make, so the enemy had to get uncomfortably close in order to ensure accurate shots.&nbsp; Finally, Damien squeezed the trigger.&nbsp; The shockwave kicked the gun back.&nbsp; Time slowed down as he watched the intended target fall to the ground, and the soldiers surrounding him dispersed in fright.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Micah fired next.&nbsp; His shot found its target, too.&nbsp; Before long, a number of bodies laid out in the middle of the street as the riflemen upstairs did their best to shoot targets before they got close.&nbsp; A stolen MG-42 downstairs was taking care of any soldier that got too close to the church.&nbsp; The beaten and battered American force in the church was actually keeping the Germans at bay.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And that's when the tank came into view.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The streets were just wide enough and clear enough for the German tank to make its way towards the church.&nbsp; A state of panic hit the soldiers on the second story of the church.&nbsp; A few men ran.&nbsp; "I'm not sticking around to get blown up!" yelled one man as he took his gun and ran back towards the rest of the soldiers held up on the floor.&nbsp; Damien thought about retreat too.&nbsp; There was no way in hell he could take on a tank.&nbsp; He pulled his gun back, ready to go, but something stopped him.&nbsp; Micah didn't move from his spot.&nbsp; He was determined to hold his ground, and he wasn't about to let the threat of a tank turn him into a coward.&nbsp; Damien thought he was crazy, like he had some sort of death wish.&nbsp; But what could he do?&nbsp; Micah saved Damien's life.&nbsp; What kind of friend would he be if he left Micah alone?&nbsp; He would be a cowardly friend, and Damien couldn't live with that.&nbsp; Against all intuition to leave, Damien made the decision to stay and fight as long as he could.&nbsp; He pulled his gun back up, and continued picking off targets one by one.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The tank rolled closer with every passing second.&nbsp; Its advance was slow, but persistent.&nbsp; Nothing stood in its way.&nbsp; Damien's heart dropped when the tank's cannon aimed up towards the church.&nbsp; Damien barely had enough time to yell, "Get down!" and pushed Micah to the floor when the tank fired.&nbsp; A huge hold was blown in the wall just feet from where they were.&nbsp; The sound was defining.&nbsp; Rubble and dust filled the air, causing Damien to choke.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We gotta get outta here!" shouted Damien.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This time, Micah didn't hesitate.&nbsp; As quick as a rabbit, they both sprang to their feet and bolted down the hallway.&nbsp; Glass shattered as bullets came flying through the windows.&nbsp; The Germans were throwing everything they had at the church.&nbsp; A second big blast blew through the church's brick walls like it was cardboard.&nbsp; This time, the shell was on target.&nbsp; The blast knocked both Damien and Micah to the ground.&nbsp; Damien grabbed his head.&nbsp; The shellshock left him near deaf and unconscious.&nbsp; It took him a minute to regain himself.&nbsp; He got up, expecting to see Micah in front of him, but he wasn't there.&nbsp; Did Micah just leave him?&nbsp; He wouldn't have, he never would.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Micah!" shouted Damien.&nbsp; He expected to see Micah run back for him, but instead, a weak voice came from beside him.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Damien..."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He turned, horrified to what he found.&nbsp; Micah was on the ground, bloodied and stuck underneath a pile of rubble.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Micah! Hold on!"&nbsp; Damien didn't hesitate to start pushing rubble off of his brother in arms.&nbsp; One piece of rubble was so heavy, he couldn't lift it.&nbsp; He pressed his feet against a wall and pushed with all his strength to get the piece of wall off of Micah.&nbsp; With the rubble off, Damien finally saw the reality of the situation.&nbsp; Micah nearly took the full blast of the shell.&nbsp; His ears were bleeding, his left leg was visibly broken, and his right hand was crushed, nearly beyond recognition of it being a hand at all.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I can't breathe," whispered Micah.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The wounds were horrible.&nbsp; And Micah not being able to breathe meant that he either had broken ribs or his lungs were filling up with blood.&nbsp; Worse case scenario, both could be true.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You're going to be okay!" insisted Damien.&nbsp; He wasn't even sure if Micah could hear him.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He tried to lift up Micah.&nbsp; He screamed in pain.&nbsp; Damien dropped him back down.&nbsp; The yellow in Micah's eyes were fading.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Just go!" shouted Micah as loud as he could.&nbsp; The effort caused his to cough.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm not leaving you!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm not gonna make it through this.&nbsp; Don't risk your life for me.&nbsp; Go home to your parents and your girl.&nbsp; I got nothing back home.&nbsp; Look at me, I'm a wreck.&nbsp; So just leave me.&nbsp; Just go."&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damien felt his eyes getting heavy with the thought of losing his friend.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Damien, listen to me," continued Micah, "you have to leave me.&nbsp; It's okay.&nbsp; I understand."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His voice was barely a whisper.&nbsp; With every effort to speak, he coughed, which caused him to flinch in agony.&nbsp; Damien was frozen in time.&nbsp; He wiped the tears from his eyes, unintentionally replacing them with Micah's blood that was on his hands.&nbsp; He didn't know what to do.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; _He promised he would never do anything to hurt the ones he loved, and he would stop at nothing to protect them._

_&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ...Would stop at nothing to protect them..._

_&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ...Stop at nothing..._

_&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;_ "The water's so peaceful today."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah... Hey, Dad?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah, son?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What's wrong with Mom?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "She's... upset."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "About what?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Your little brother."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh... Why'd he die, Dad?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't know, son... There were some... complications."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Mom's drinking more now than before."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah, we all have our own ways dealing with grief."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Was it Mom's drinking that caused the... 'complications'?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah, that could very well be the case.&nbsp; Sometimes, you're too smart for your own good, Damien."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Dad...?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why does Mom drink?&nbsp; Why does Mom do this?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm not sure buddy.&nbsp; Some people make poor decisions and sometimes those decisions can transform a person into someone... unrecognizable.&nbsp; You're mother means no harm, and she loves you more than anything in the world.&nbsp; She's just made some poor decisions, that's all."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But..."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It will all be okay, son."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; _Never do anything to hurt the ones he loved... Stop at nothing to protect them._

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damien grabbed Micah, ignoring his cries.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Damien, what are you doing? Just go!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm not leaving you."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Damien!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "SHUT THE FUCK UP, MICAH!!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Micah stared at Damien, slightly frightened by his sudden snap at him.&nbsp; Micah has never seen Damien angry, and never has Damien cursed at him before.&nbsp; He knew that Damien was going to try to carry him out, and no amount of pleading could ever change his mind.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damien got Micah up and threw his left arm over his shoulders. &nbsp;Micah's left leg was in bad shape, so Damien acted as Micah's leg, holding him vertical while they made their way through the bullet-ridden hallway.&nbsp; The stairs were the next obstacle, but Damien didn't think twice about picking up Micah and carrying him down.&nbsp; Micah was smaller than Damien, but not by much.&nbsp; At the bottom of the stairs, Micah stood on his one good leg, and they continued through the church.&nbsp; Damien realized he dropped his gun back up on the second floor, but it was far too late to go back for it.&nbsp; He pulled out his Colt handgun and continued guiding Micah.&nbsp; The bottom floor of the church was empty.&nbsp; No one remained.&nbsp; If anything, Damien was hoping the medic teams were still there, but everyone retreated, leaving Damien and Micah behind.&nbsp; They had to leave the church if they wanted any hope of survival.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Micah hopped along, hooked onto Damien's side, as fast as he could.&nbsp; Outside the church, there was no one around.&nbsp; The Germans were still on the far side of the church, letting the tank perform it's devastation on the building.&nbsp; They kept moving away from the church.&nbsp; The cover of a number of small homes and landscaping was only about twenty feet away.&nbsp; Damien looked at Micah.&nbsp; His facial expression changed from accepting death a few minutes ago to determination.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just yard from safety, Damien felt a sting in his right arm.&nbsp; He turned to see a number of German infantry men turning the corner of the church.&nbsp; Damien held up his pistol and fired a few shots back as they crossed over into a yard.&nbsp; A brick wall separated them, providing cover for Damien and Micah.&nbsp; Micah insisted they go behind the houses so they aren't found again.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A couple blocks later, Damien spotted some American soldiers crouched down on the side of the street.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey! Help!" yelled Damien.&nbsp; Between the passion in his voice and exhaustion, his voice cracked when he shouted.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The American soldiers turned around.&nbsp; The look on their face said one thing, disbelief.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They came running over and Damien was overjoyed to see one of the men had a helmet with a red cross on it.&nbsp; "Holy shit..." said the medic.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We need help!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I got him!" said the medic, who took him off Damien's shoulders.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damien followed the medic to where they had set up a temporary aid station.&nbsp; A truck was there with a large red cross on it, getting ready to take away the wounded.&nbsp; Micah was put on the truck.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Come here, I'll help you out!" said another medic who approached Damien with a medic kit.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What?&nbsp; What are you doing?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You've been shot."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It wasn't until now that Damien noticed the gaping hole in his arm.&nbsp; He remembered the stinging he felt after the escaped the church.&nbsp; He was so focused on getting Micah to someone who could help, he didn't even know about his injury.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The field doctor patched up Damien.&nbsp; He was asked if he wanted to go to the hospital, but he said he was fine.&nbsp; Walking around the temporary set up, he saw, formed neatly in a row, a number of dead bodies.&nbsp; He hated the sight of it, but was curious of who they were, where they came from, and how they died.&nbsp; One man in particular caught Damien's attention.&nbsp; He looked familiar somehow, but he couldn't place the face with a name.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damien noticed a piece of something falling out of the man's chest pocket.&nbsp; He looked around, worried if he was about to do something wrong.&nbsp; He reached down and pulled the object from the deceased man's pocket.&nbsp; It was a photograph.&nbsp; The picture showed a woman holding an infant.&nbsp; The man was the stranger from the truck.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; _"A kid shouldn't grow up without his father.&nbsp; A father should always be there."_

_&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;_ Damien placed the image back in the man's pocket.

_&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;_ "...And I'm sorry you won't be, friend."

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/YnLONwvm
Part of the series A Thin Line
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