Year One: Hard Choices by Shelley Abbey

Hard Choices

The cold air pricked the young man’s hands, which were clutched tightly to the gun. What used to be a pleasant countryside had now turned into a battleground. The soldiers were silent. All that could be heard was the cowering Germans’ pleas.
‘‘You see this thing here, he is the enemy. He probably has a mother, a father, maybe even a sister. But to us he is nothing; he has no name, no background, and no soul. His only title is the enemy German. His mission was to kill every American in sight, but look at how the tables have turned’’ the Lieutenant said as he simultaneously pointed at the sullen, dejected figure.
The young man, whose gaze was firmly fixed on the ground, knew what he had to do.
‘‘Please sir, I-I can’t do it. I can’t kill him’’. He said hesitantly.
The lieutenant walked a few yards until he was directly in front of the younger man.
‘Do you know where you are? This is war. Its either us or them. Today is the day you become a man Franklin. Isn’t that right men’’
The other soldiers roared with excitement. Franklin looked around searching desperately for an ally, but found none. Instead, all he saw was rage and hunger. It was clear to him that the war had transformed all of them. They were not men anymore. They were beasts taking refuge within human carcasses.
Tears starting streaming uncontrollably down Franklins face. Seeing this, the Lieutenant sighed and grasped the boy’s neck.
‘‘Listen. You need to kill this Gerry. No one is leaving until you do. This is your reality now, this is your duty’’.
‘‘Please. I am a God fearing man. My conscience would be forever stained.’’.
Upon hearing this, the Lieutenant dragged Franklin and forced him to kneel so that he was one metre away from the German, who was shouting ‘‘MUTTER,MUTTER’’ .
‘‘Your mother cannot save you. Your fate was sealed the moment we captured you’’
With these words, the Lieutenant brought out his own gun. For a moment, Franklin thought that he would finish the job for him. This was until he heard the gun click, and felt a small hole pressing on the back of his head.
‘‘Do it now otherwise I swear I will shoot right here, in front of everyone’’
Franklin’s heart raced faster than a skittering rat.
He raised his quivering, unsteady hand, closed his eyes and aimed the pistol towards the Germans’ forehead. The words of the lieutenant were firmly embedded in his mind.
‘‘Do it. Do IT. DO IT NOW!’’
A single shot rang throughout the area. A ringing noise filled Franklin’s ears. He could vaguely hear the struggled breaths of the German. When he opened his eyes, he wasn’t faced with the German. When he looked down, however, he saw the man sprawled out in agony. The bullet had missed its target and had instead hit the German just below his eye.
Franklin’s vision began to blur, and his body began to give way until he was layed on the floor and darkness encompassed him.
For minutes, all the men stood and watched as the victim lay in torment. No one said a word until he drew his last breath.
‘‘That’s one down’’ the Lieutenant said with a sigh of contempt.