Levi chose to keep shooting.
Written by Elizabeth
After a moment of hesitance and a trail of the Germans’ machine gun bullets, he jumps back and runs away from the buildings. He knows his family is strong and smart, they know what to do. The screams are spine-tingling, but he couldn’t help. He’s too far now, the German invaders being his first priority. Shooting, he keeps his head cool as heat and abomination call his inner monster out. With a calculated glance, he shot a soldier to the right, then flipping his gun to the left, effectively hitting another in the thigh. The innocent glint in his eyes disappears, a cold stare in its wake.
It has been a month since he submissed his control to his body, a month since April 19th. The glint in his eye returns, tainted yet pure, and he feels so sore. His body hasn’t been able to rest properly since then and it finally takes it’s toll on Levi. Slumping down behind a building, his eyes shut, forcing him to listen to the gunshots, the buildings crumbling, the screaming. Screaming?
Jumping right up, his body cries in pain but he pays no mind, stumbling in the direction of the lamentations. The flames lash, cracking like a whip, as it devours the stone and wood of the building.
“Help!”
He hits the door with the butt of his gun, scratching at the structure with his bleeding hands, but to no avail. The screaming gets worse, they are locked in.
“No. No. No!”
With a swoosh, a grenade is thrown.
Boom.
Levi is forced back, his body abused by the impact, the pain, both internal and external, is too much. He starts to cry, sitting up, he looks at the sky before the gunshots slowly cease. He’s so tired. His psyche is cracked, the guilt of not being able to save them hurts him, he doesn’t want this anymore. He doesn’t want to fight anymore. But it seems the battle is over.
Looking around, he sees his father and makes a final effort to run into his arms.
With a tired smile, broken, Levi closes his eyes and leans into his father.
“Did we win, Father?”
“No, little man. You were so good, so strong. You did your best, your mother and I are so proud.”
It has been a month since he submissed his control to his body, a month since April 19th. The glint in his eye returns, tainted yet pure, and he feels so sore. His body hasn’t been able to rest properly since then and it finally takes it’s toll on Levi. Slumping down behind a building, his eyes shut, forcing him to listen to the gunshots, the buildings crumbling, the screaming. Screaming?
Jumping right up, his body cries in pain but he pays no mind, stumbling in the direction of the lamentations. The flames lash, cracking like a whip, as it devours the stone and wood of the building.
“Help!”
He hits the door with the butt of his gun, scratching at the structure with his bleeding hands, but to no avail. The screaming gets worse, they are locked in.
“No. No. No!”
With a swoosh, a grenade is thrown.
Boom.
Levi is forced back, his body abused by the impact, the pain, both internal and external, is too much. He starts to cry, sitting up, he looks at the sky before the gunshots slowly cease. He’s so tired. His psyche is cracked, the guilt of not being able to save them hurts him, he doesn’t want this anymore. He doesn’t want to fight anymore. But it seems the battle is over.
Looking around, he sees his father and makes a final effort to run into his arms.
With a tired smile, broken, Levi closes his eyes and leans into his father.
“Did we win, Father?”
“No, little man. You were so good, so strong. You did your best, your mother and I are so proud.”
Art by Elizabeth Tran
Covering his face, Levi breathes in his father’s scent, the faint hint of gunpowder, soot, and aftershave is so soothing. The marching of the troops escapes his mind as he hugs his father.
“Will we die?”
“Y-yes son. We’ll be meeting your mother soon.”
“Oh ok. See you later, Father. I’ll see you in heaven.”
The rain of gunshots barely reaches his ear as his father hums his old time lullaby. It was so full of love and happiness. He wants to listen to it forever… Bang. A stab in his chest, a wetness surrounding his body, and bodies falling to the floor came into his senses before all went black.
“Mom?”
“Will we die?”
“Y-yes son. We’ll be meeting your mother soon.”
“Oh ok. See you later, Father. I’ll see you in heaven.”
The rain of gunshots barely reaches his ear as his father hums his old time lullaby. It was so full of love and happiness. He wants to listen to it forever… Bang. A stab in his chest, a wetness surrounding his body, and bodies falling to the floor came into his senses before all went black.
“Mom?”