Contest [Issue 29] Continue the Story! [Chapter 4]

Pathfinder · October 31, 2014

Firstly, a huge congratulations to all those who won crystals in Chapter 3 of this ongoing challenge, especially @greyat!!

However, if you didn't, don't be disheartened! There is one more chance to win, as well as learn from those entries that did do well!

So far in the story!

Chapter 1 (@DarthvaderjonGTR):

The Grand Offensive

Part 1: The Invasion

Commander Nikolai marched along the imposing row of tanks neatly lined up outside the defense perimeter of Berlin, the last German stronghold.

"Comrades, today, we strive to bring glory to our motherland, and to annihilate these ingrates from the face of the Earth! They will feel our full power, wrath, and anger! Mercy is not ours to give! Let them taste our vengeance while we send them all to hell!"

Sauntering over to a distraught looking soldier, he snatched the bottle of vodka from his trembling clutches, "save that for when Berlin is ours, comrade! Fear not, for victory is certain!"

A mortar shell landed near my tank, the ground shook and the sound of confused shouting rang in my ears. The musty, yet familiar smell of gunpowder and charred metal perforated the already saturated air. Everyone scrambled to their offensive positions.

"Happy birthday Hitler," Nikolai muttered under his breath.

"All units, attack! Fire at will! For mother Russia!"

Slowly, but surely, our formation of tanks began to advance, decimating all enemy troops in our path. Fierce resistance was met, with German troops and heavy gunfire bombarding our positions. Artillery shells whistled overhead as Gatling guns sought to inject rhythmical discipline into the chaos ensuing on the ground.

"We need air support!" Colonel Alexei hollered, motioning to the radio. Soon, heavy artillery fire came from behind us into the German capital. Suddenly, a strange silence fell over the street we were besieging. Enemy movement had ceased. I looked to my fellow comrades, only to find the same confusion and puzzlement etched on their faces. The street seemed abandoned, save for the multitudes of fallen soldiers scattered like breadcrumbs across the brick pavement, their faces contorted beyond recognition and limbs strewn haphazardly across the blood stained mesh of concrete and mangled metal.

The infantry inched forward tentatively, unsure and cautious at this unexpected development.

A single gunshot reverberated around the deserted street. A lieutenant from the 6th Belorussian front gave a muffled cry of horror and stumbled backwards. I had noticed the flash of the shot, bearing origin from behind a window on the third floor of a battered building. The sniper had clearly been trying to establish the chain of command and had been relatively successful in doing so.

"Contact from within the buildings! " The warning had barely left my lips when the windows of buildings from both sides of the deceptively empty street erupted in heavy machine gun fire.

Abandoning our posts and breaking formation, we dived for cover behind overturned vehicles as our infantry units began to scale the stairs to take out the snipers. Our ten tanks lumbering in the middle of the street slowly turned their turrets, preparing to neutralize the threat. Bullets ricocheted off the thick heavy armor of the sturdy T-34 tanks like peanuts as the turrets of destruction took careful aim at the doomed resistance fighters seeking cover in the brittle concrete buildings.

I clutched my assault rifle and tried to catch my breath. War was no stranger to me, but this was different. We had been caught completely off guard. Things could have gone much worse... I glanced at my companion Boris, seeking reassurance. He gave me a confident nod and motioned upwards. We were taking cover in one of the buildings and would try to take out the troops hiding upstairs. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as we scaled the stairs with unparalleled speed and dexterity.

The rumbling sound of the German tanks rose over the noise of small arms fire and artillery shells. The German tank battalion had arrived.

"Panzer Vor!!!" A loudspeaker resonated from the German line.

Realising the advantage of higher ground, we hastened our climb to the top floor.We turned the final round of stairs, with Boris ahead as usual. Abruptly, Boris stopped dead in his tracks. Slowly, he laid his rifle down on the unforgiving concrete floor and raised his hands. The sound of a pistol cocking echoed around the stairwell. Beads of perspiration trickled down my forehead as the sudden raw realization dawned on my tormented soul.

Swiftly, I ducked back down the stairwell as two pairs of scuff hairy arms pushed Boris into the room. For the first time in the war, I was at loss of what to do...

Chapter 2 (@Kevred):

Part 2: Betrayal

I stumble through the front door as the first panzer fires. My ears ring. The burning brick building next to me collapses, taking many of my comrades with it. I try to get back in, but the door's stuck. "No!". I kick the door with my feet, but I doesn't move. "No! No! NO!". I scream in outrage as I repeatedly kick and punch the door until my body can't take it anymore. Then I start sobbing. Boris is trapped inside. I slowly sit down, oblivious to the blazing fires and the bullets whizzing past me, feeling only remorse, shame and anger burning me deep from the inside.

What had I done? Why didn't I save him? I could've helped him somehow, but instead I acted like a coward and ran away. As I sob, a charred Wehrmacht soldier, his body covered in burns, walks past me and falls down, onto the mix of blood, metal and dirt that was once called a street. He raises a hand toward me, silently begging me to help him. I do not. He does not get up again. That seemed to bring me back to my senses.

I clutch my dirty SMG¹ as tightly as I could, and slowly get up. I peek towards the advancing German tanks. There are two panzers right next to the building I just left. I load a cartridge into my rusty MP40², and snatch another glimpse out of my cover. I realize the two German panzers are between me and what's left of my unit. Cautiously, I search the German soldier that fell down and take his 2 grenades. Then, I wave my hands to signal the rest of my team, on the other side of the street, behind the panzers. I have to blink the dust out of my eyes several times before I can see them. They're nodding to show me they get what I'm trying to tell them, then charge out all at once of the brick building, a library I think, and start shooting at the panzers. It doesn't do any real damage, nothing more than scatches and dents. But it does get the German tank crews' attention.

The tanks' machine guns roar into action, mowing down my men one after the other, bursts of crimonson erupting from their shuddering bodies. I watch my second in command , Dmitri, get shot in the head and then repeatedly in the body. It was brutal. I should feel bad, but I don't. This is war. We all know the risks.

As the first panzer's cannon slowly turns towards my men and away from me, I run to the armoured beast, jump on top of his turret, and pry the cover open. I do not look at my soon-to-be victims, throw one of the grenades in it, and jump off at the last second. Behind me, a huge explosion shakes the houses around me. I don't look back. Instead, I shout towards the others: "Can you take care of the last panzer?". A soldier nods, then starts shooting again. I gesture to a lieutenant of the 4th Infantry division. He runs towards me.

"What's your name?", I shout, covering the sounds of guns firing and soldiers screaming.
He grins, and pumps his chest with pride."Dragovitch, sir! Lieutenant of the 4th Infantry division, proud soldier of Mother Russia, hero of the..."
"Yes, yes, just follow me, were going to rescue a..." I pause for a moment. 'A friend' just doesn't sound right. Not after all we've been trough together. "A brother.", I finally say.

With his help, I break into the building where Boris is being held, and creep back up the stairs. The light clawing in from the windows give this place a feeling of dread. There's no one to stop me, which seems strange, but I don't have time to think about it. As my hand reaches the metal door Boris was dragged into, my stomach clutches. Who knows what the Germans might have done to him? Is he even still alive?

I was about to tell Dragovitch to go first, when I hear a gun shot right behind me. I turn around as Dragovitch, his eyes bulging, slowly slumps to the ground, clutching his bloody stomach. Behind him are two Germans, both pointing their rifles at me. Then the metal door opens, and someone puts a gun to my head. I don't even think of trying to defend myself. All I could do is stare in bewilderment at the man holding the gun.

Because the man holding the gun... is Boris.

He grins.

"Don't be so surprised".

¹SMG stands for sub-machine gun
²The MP40 is a german-made SMG

Chapter 3 (@greyat):

Part 3: Revelation

No... no... no... no. This cannot be, I think. I am in such a state of shock that I don’t resist as the Germans lead me away.

The sounds of the battle fade away as we go deeper and deeper within the building. Finally, I am led into a cramped metal cell. The Germans exit the cell, leaving me alone with my former friend. I seize the opportunity, and lunge at Boris. I am sent reeling by a blow from the butt of his pistol. Boris, how could you?

“You’d better not try that again,” he says coldly, “Next time the other end of the pistol will be waiting for you.

“But… Boris. You were my friend. The battles we were in... Stalingrad... Kursk... Dukla Pass... Königsberg... why has it come to this? Who are you?” I ask, my voice rising. Tears are about to come, but my training asserts itself and stops them.

His reply is mechanical. “What I am is of no concern to you. Your only concern is how to stay alive.”

Suddenly, I realize that when the Germans took away my submachine gun, they failed to take away my sidearm, concealed in the depths of my uniform.

Should I…? Yes.

Feigning defeat, I slump into the only feature of the otherwise barren cell, a stool behind a table, while covertly slipping my hand into my coat.

“What is it that you want, then?” I ask.

“Intelligence. You are a high ranking officer, so we can expect that you know more about Russian troop movements that I, a mere sergeant in the army,” said Boris.

“Very well,” I reply, “I will-” Noting that Boris is still clutching his pistol in his hand, I slide to the ground in the middle of my sentence, while retrieving my revolver from my coat. Aim, and gently apply pressure to the trigger. I sight on Boris’s right arm, and fire. The bullet runs true, and Boris yells, dropping his pistol. His right arm is useless, I can tell, for he has dropped to the ground and is scrambling desperately for the pistol, which has slid under the table, with his left.

“Freeze,” I intone coldly, mirroring his voice of minutes past. Boris immediately stops and turns around.

“B-b-but I thought they disarmed you,” he stammers.

Keen to avoid another reversal in the situation, I retrieve the gun, while keeping my own trained on him.
“Germans are stupid. They forget that all Soviet officers carry a sidearm,” I say, “Too bad you didn’t realize either. Now, I would like some answers.”

Apparently realizing his disadvantage, Boris replies, “The Germans turned me during Stalingrad; I couldn’t stand the death anymore… they promised a way out - if I could assassinate Zhukov, but I could never get close enough before I was transferred under you.”

“And now we are in Berlin, where my true superiors are, and you here with me - a veritable gold mine of intelligence. How can any sane man resist? Bringing you in was just as good as assassinating Zhukov.”

He is deluded, I realize. “Now, I wish to return to my soldiers. You will help me,” I say quietly, hiding my rage. There will be a time for you later, I vow.

Cowed by my gun, Boris quickly accedes.

“Lead the way,” I continue.

We walk through a maze of corridors before the harsh electric lighting fades out into brilliant sunlight. The battle is over, I can see. The charred remains of what were once men and tanks litter the streets. Taking cover in an alley to take stock of the situation, I quickly come to realize how grim it is. Our forces had evidently withdrawn, leaving Germans once again in control of the city. We rise to continue the journey.

Suddenly, a cry of “Stopp” comes from behind us. We turn to face an entire company of Germans, weapons drawn. I dart around a corner, pulling Boris with me. The Germans, too surprised to discharge their weapons, run after us in pursuit.

How will I ever get out of this wretched city?

Your task is to write the best continuation to the story!

The winner will receive a 50,000 crystal reward, and the recognition of their extract being featured in the next issue.

Your entry will be judged on the following, in order of importance:

It must be your own work, completely original. Note that you don't need to continue the same writing style or tone from the first chapter. Write in your own style!
Content - it must be interesting, and something that has potential to continue on to be a great story. Note that this is now the completion of the story, make sure you've got a good resolution!
Quality of writing.

Furthermore, to emphasise quality over quantity, there is an informal word limit of 500 words. Slightly over is acceptable, but not too long please! Make every word count!

Deadline is 15th December! Late entries may not be considered!

Also note that this will be the final chapter. End it in style!

A couple of other notable entries will receive a 10,000 consolation prize.

Good luck!

Note - deadline extended till 20th.

Edited July 30, 2017 by Hexed

Raredust · December 1, 2014

Part 4: Comrade

We continued sprinting through Berlin for what felt like half an hour. After some time, too tired to continue fleeing, we stopped and hid in debris. The Germans seemed to have stopped chasing us. I suppose they had more important matters to attend to.

After a minute or so, reality hit me in the face. I had no idea where I was, and neither did Boris. I looked around; the vast remains of Berlin surrounded us, the city appeared almost completely reshaped. Boris lowered his head, signifying a discouraging look of defeat. I was almost caused to show an identical reaction, but I knew that wouldn't help. We couldn't give up; it wouldn't help to admit defeat before being defeated. He looked deep into my eyes. No words were shared as he slowly nodded. We both knew what the other was thinking. We weren't going to give up.

We crept through the city, using quality stealth tactics which we learned through training. We had to stay out of sight of the Germans; the torturing techniques which they used on the captured pounced my imagination. Night came upon us, and we slept under obscure rubble which we correspondingly believed wouldn't be noticed until a later period. We spent the night uncomfortably, and sleep ceased to easily dawn upon us.

Early the next morning, I awakened, quickly experiencing the impacts of my troublesome night. Suddenly, I realized something, something that caused me to want to collapse in failure.

Boris was gone.

What's the use... What's the use. These words took me captive. I sat in the rubble, motionless. Shortly after, I sighed, and then crawled out of the debris. I looked around, ignoring the tears that succeeded to blur my vision.

Then I noticed something to my left. As my vision cleared, I stared, identifying two men conversing with each other, trying not to be seen. One of them looked German, and the other was Boris. Attempting to conceal my immense fury, and too far away to hear their conversation, I pulled out my sidearm and cautiously approached them; ready for anything. I tried very hard not to do anything foolish, knowing that it would probably only lead me to further trouble. As I walked closer, Boris speedily looked to observe me. I gave him a confused look, perplexed by the entire situation. Suddenly, the man that was with Boris briskly pulled out his firearm.

"Stop!" Boris yelled and swiftly grabbed his arms.

The man made no eye contact with Boris, and slowly lowered his arms, staring at me. I stopped in front of them. I looked at Boris, then at the man, and then back at Boris. A slight glare hovered across my face.

"No, it's okay, really." Boris said to me in a convincing manner. "This man can help us."

The man continued staring, and then detected my determination, "My name is Kirill. I am a Russian comrade disguising as a German. I know your friend Boris."

"What... What do you want with us?" I said, still confused and irritated.

He quickly replied, "I help Russian soldiers who were unable to escape during the withdrawal... Fear no longer, I know a way to get you out."

Edited December 4, 2014 by Raredust

r_Annihilator01270 · December 1, 2014

Part 4: An Unforeseen End!

I glanced at the line of German men, in a perfectly constructed line from behind a corner.

Rats! They knew I would defeat Boris. They had very precisely planned this out to every possible outcome.

Without much thought, I instantaneously turned to make my way out of the city. I dragged Boris along my like a prisoner. Although, he followed willingly, as he probably knew he had no other choice.

Which he didn't.

"You have failed," he said with a cold sly tone.

I had no concern or the necessary time to come back with a witty response. Shortly after, Boris smoothly transitioned back to his moaning and groaning. This was, without a doubt drawn by the merciless blow he sustained to the arm about a half hour ago. I continued sprinting, with absolutely no idea where I was headed. I did know in couldn't give up.

And with the German soldiers hot on our trail I knew failure wasn't an option.

I had been moving constantly on my feet for about and hour and I was extremely exhausted. I could see a miniature town in the nearby distance. Boris caught the direction in my eye and said:

"Don't get your hopes up, your inevitable death will occur shortly."

Puzzled about what he meant I was stretching to continue my haphazard journey. I spotted a cloud formed entirely from dust headed for me.

They are quicker than I expected, but there's no time to complain.

I quickly devised a plan to get to the city, contact my base, and get headed out of this wretched city .

Once again I was off sprinting.

When I met the border of the city there was a glimmer off hope in me once more. I quickly found a water source, and filled to the brim. Immediately Boris escaped my clutches, and pulled of a flawless take down move. I was laying on the ground in an instant, felling a little light headed.

He slowly walked to the center off the town the center of the town.

"Attack!" he yelled

Immediately I flew back sharply, landing on unforgiving dirt ground, as a result of the impact of a mass-damage dealing...

An entire row of German's appeared out of the blue. They snickered as they knew they had me cornered. They pointed the deadly end of their rifles at me to signal my surrender. Shortly after my predictable defeat I was laying in a cold, dark cell.

I have been in this horrid cell for nearly a month. The holiday season was approaching, and I started to wonder about my family back at home. The prison head had promised our persecution sooner rather than later.

The next day Boris was pushed rudely into my cell. Apparently he was of no use to them anymore.

Immediately there was a loud explosion impacting the cheap roof protecting this building. A loud jet fighter appeared in the sky, and dropped a long rope ladder into my cell. There was a sound off thousands of German soldier down the hall.

All headed to secure the cells.

Both I and Boris stared at each other wondering what to do next. Without any thought he hit me merciless in the face and jumped to the ladder. I leaped to him with the intense fury of a tiger, after recovering from the shock, barely grabbing his foot.

The jet immediately took off, and Boris made insane attempts to drop me down to the detention facility in flames. Immediately I leaped, and barely made it to the ladder rung above Boris.

The rush of the wind batting on or faces. Encouraging the flames to grow larger and larger. A flaming projectile

chopped the rope ladder and Boris was off screaming. His yells although were consumed by the raging sound of the flames. In an instant he himself was consumed by the flames.

It had happened, the once kind Boris was now gone, passed.

The ladder was contracted into the jet shortly after.

"Evening," yelled a familiar voice.

It was Commander Nikolai. He awarded me and greeted me far beyond my imagination.

"We won," he yelled. "Time to celebrate" he said with an inviting tone.

Looking at the disappointed expression on my face he said,

"What's wrong!"

"It's Boris he's...gone," I said with a mutter while explaining all that had happened.

Edited December 14, 2014 by r_Annihilator01270

FaaiqBilal1 · December 1, 2014

wot m8

doughnut2100 · December 1, 2014

Reserved

jfkdan · December 1, 2014

wot m8

lololol

greyat · December 1, 2014

Part 4: Escape

Despite his dismal surroundings, Nikolai is euphoric, for he has reconciled himself with Boris, and has discovered that Boris is not an enemy, but rather just a man tired of fighting, a man who wanted his freedom.

Well, I can arrange to fix that, Nikolai thinks, but we must leave this horrid place first.

A burst of gunfire erupts, somewhere to their left. At the moment, they are sheltered inside the rubble of a collapsed building. It looks like they will be spending the night here; clearly the Germans do not appreciate their continued absence.

By nightfall, however, it seems that the Germans have gone. Nikolai cautiously pokes his head out. All is still outside; further off, he can see the lights of the Soviet encampment.

He drags Boris up. “Come on, we’re going now,” Nikolai says. He is acknowledged by a grunt.

Boris and Nikolai clamber through the ruins, and continue down the alley. He is marveling at the Germans’ lack of security, not noticing that they are approaching an intersection, when he hears a pistol cock behind him. He freezes, but Boris springs into action. He pushes Nikolai to the ground just in time; a shot rings out, and he cries out. Ignoring the pain in his knees, Nikolai pulls himself off the ground, grabs Boris, and takes off. Faintly, in the un-panicked recesses of of his brain, a cry of, “Verfolgen sie!¹” is processed.

Not good - they have multiple soldiers waiting for us.

From behind them comes the sound of many boots pounding the ground. Nikolai desperately casts his gaze around, hoping beyond hope for a corner to turn, so that they are not gunned down. Yet - a tiny alley emerges, so steeped in darkness he would have missed it had he not been searching.

They covertly slip around the corner, and listen to the Germans thunder past. Nikolai notices that Boris is grasping his shoulder.

“Are you alright?”, he ventures.

“Got shot,” Boris grunts.

“When we get back, I shall personally make sure that you are sent home - you can have your peace at last.”

“Will you, now? Why thank you, Nikolai. You were always the best to me… except this,” Boris indicates his injured arm, the one Nikolai had shot.

“It was a necessity at the time,” he says simply.

After a while, they hear the Germans return to their base.

“Come, my friend. We must return to our encampment. We will be welcomed as heroes - and you can finally return home,” Nikolai urges.

With a weary shrug, Boris rises, and they finish their trek to friendly territory with no further incident. The sentries allow them in, and finally they are allowed a peaceful sleep.

In the morning, after as much of a celebration of their survival as circumstances allow, Nikolai brings Boris to the train.

“I absolutely demand our comrade be sent home.” he says to the stationmaster, voice rising with each word, “We have received our needed reinforcements, and he is seriously injured.”

Intimidated, the stationmaster accedes, and allows Boris to board the train.

“So long, Nikolai, my friend. My debt will be paid,” Boris calls out.

“Farewell, my friend. I shall see you after the war.”

It is for the better, Nikolai tells himself.

He turns his back to the distant train. Tomorrow the Soviets will renew their offensive.

---

Postscript

A door opens, and an old man steps into the room. To his left, a rack, on which hang many medals - the only evidence of his participation in WWII.

The man steps up to the rack. One medal is displayed more prominently than the others; a medal presented to him for his participation in the defense of Stalingrad, the Медаль «За оборону Сталинграда». He picks it up, remembering the day when he had first arrived on the front…remembering the roar of the guns… the cold… the constant hunger, but most of all, remembering a friend, long gone², who saved him from the horrors of war, but more importantly, gave him his freedom, and a lasting peace, to whom he never repaid the debt.

¹English: Pursue them!

²Colonel Nikolai died during the storming of Berlin; he was posthumously awarded the gold star of a Hero of the Soviet Union

Edited December 16, 2014 by greyat

rothro3 · December 1, 2014

Part 4: Reconciliation

I run down the backstreets of Berlin like a mouse pursued by a cat, hauling Boris

behind me. Suddenly shots ring out, and bullets slice through the air like knives. Turning

into an alley, I quickly glance behind me, then look forward at…a wall.

“We’re trapped!” I yell, “There is no way out!”

“Halt!” commands a sharp voice behind me. I spin on my heel to see the entire company of Germans standing there, iron-faced, like statues. Quick as lightning, Boris removes a grenade from his belt and activates it, forcing our pursuers to take cover outside the entrance to the gritty alley. However, instead of throwing it, Boris gently rolls it to the side of the alley’s entrance. The explosion causes the surrounding buildings to collapse, blocking off the entrance.

“Why did you do that?” I exclaim, shaking Boris like a rag doll. “Why?”

“Do not jolt my arm around like that. It still hurts,” Boris coldly replies. Stumbling to the back of the alley, he orders. “Now help me lift this.”

“You should not tell me what to do,” I shout back, “I am the one in charge here.”

“Yes,” Boris agrees, “but you want to get out of Berlin, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“Then help me,” he replies, grasping one side of an iron disk with his good hand. Lifting the other side, I help Boris remove the manhole, releasing an odor like witch’s brew.

“That smells absolutely disgusting!” I gasp.

“Yes, the sewers,” Boris answers, “and I don’t like it anymore than you. But it is the only way, unless you want to let the Germans recapture you.”

“No thank you!” I grumble as I leap toward the putrid waters below.

Splash! I surface a moment before Boris hits. Splash! The sound echoes down the filthy tunnels, sounding like ominous laughter.

“Come on,” Boris urges, “we must get you back to your men.”

“You are coming with me,” I say, striding through the murky water.

“No, I am going to Sweden,” Boris replies, “but tell Commander Nikolai that the Germans are planning a counter attack tonight.”

“No, you won’t leave,” I inform him. ”Why are you telling me this? Are you not a German spy?”

“I was, but now if I were to go back to Berlin they would kill me for letting you escape. I cannot desert to the Russians, who have long suspected I was a spy. I am tired of this war. Let me go to Sweden,” Boris begs.

A gunshot rings out. Then another. Glancing backward, I catch sight of a handful of Germans advancing down the narrow passage. Lunging at Boris, I proceed to drag him into the muck.

“We must swim for it.” I tell him. Lungs bursting for air, Boris and I swim for all we are worth. Surfacing around a corner, Boris gasps, “Let me leave now.”

“Alright,” I concede, letting go of my anger, “but tell me which way to go.”

“To reach the Russian army, take a left, then two rights. There will be a ladder to the surface, then head east. Goodbye, Captain.”

“Goodbye, brother.”

Edited December 12, 2014 by rothro3

TriNitroToIuene · December 2, 2014

PART 4 - COMPENSATION

YURI

I gazed with distaste at Boris. It seemed aeons ago that we had last shared a hearty laugh.

Money is the root of all evil. Look how much has changed over the weeks. Still, hope remained inside me, hoping that this was all a bad dream.

Stop it, I chided myself. He’s gone, and nothing can be done about it.

Boris had now started to struggle in my grip. Timidly, he managed to squeak, 'Where are we going?'

'For a nasty surprise,' was the intended reply, but what came out was 'You'll see.'

'Oh'

But still, I hesitated to grill him further. Was this what I was supposed to do? Boris was simply a beleaguered person. A beleaguered person who had tried to kill me.

I couldn't do this. Not personally anyway. Even though he betrayed me, Boris had been like a brother to me.

Behind me, the sounds of the soldiers got louder and louder. A huge cry echoed around - 'Tötet ihn!'¹. I realized that I had two options – to release Boris and escape or keep hold and get killed. I chose the first option.

As he ran away, I shouted at him, ‘You are a traitor!’ I thought I saw an expression of guilt in his eyes, and the next moment he was gone. I scrambled for shelter as soldiers of the Third Reich opened fire and mines exploded around me….

***

BORIS

As I entered our refuge, I was greeted by many handshakes. I enjoyed this attention till I saw Marschall² Heimlich striding towards me. ‘Boris,’ he boomed. ‘Commence operation Double Bravo immediately and suit up.’

Momentarily confused, I stood there till Heimlich said, ‘Don’t you see? Why are we all wearing this then?’ He pointed at several soldiers wearing things that looked suspiciously like anti-radiation suits, or…….

Oh no. I thought. The bio-bomb. That was the ace in our hole, to end things quickly and efficiently before they got out of hand.

Yet, somehow, the thought of eliminating Yuri’s living tissues sounded painful to me. I can’t do this, I thought.

'You're the only one who can operate this!' said Heimlich.

I had an idea. ‘Continue fighting,’ I said. ‘I’ll be back.’

***

YURI

The battle was going well, till Boris brought the glowing tube.

The survivors of the two armies were fighting it out in the town square. The Russians were superior in arms and weaponry and soon had the Germans scrambling for shelter.

I smiled and saw Boris lugging the tube to the town square. My anger boiled and I threw a pistol at him. He ducked and shouted, ‘Can’t you see what this is?’ I obliged and lost hope. A bio-bomb.

He's lying, I thought. I glared at Boris.

'It's real, trust me!' he screamed.

Trust. Small word, big responsibility. But the moment I studied the glow, I knew he was telling the truth.

I slumped to the ground. We had lost. All around, my comrades were looking at it and muttering mutinously.

I met Boris’ eyes. He looked at me and muttered, ‘I am the only one who knows how to operate this.’ He paused. ‘More than a German, I am a friend, and I cannot let this happen to you. I hope you can forgive me for all this, bruder³.’

'No,' I croaked. 'Come with me, we can still escape.'

Boris shook his head, then picked up a pistol and shot himself. My pistol. As the life drained out of his eyes, the Russians fluidly surged forward and finished it within seconds. Victory was ours.

I walked upto Boris' feebly stirring body. 'Why did you do this?' I asked. Boris' eyes blinked. 'Trust.....' he muttered, and his eyes blinked no more.

As my comrades celebrated, A tear splashed from my eye, and I gazed sadly at Boris’ body, soon to be buried and join millions of other martyrs.

All this for forgiveness, I thought.

He had done more than compensate. He had earned a place in my heart.

***

Glossary

1-Kill him!

2-Marshal

3-Brother

Edited December 10, 2014 by TriNitroToIuene

hogree · December 2, 2014

wot m8

Fixed. Let's hope the endings are good, people!

VarunLegend · December 2, 2014

Reserved

poly_the_cool · December 2, 2014

I weaved through the alleys but couldn't lose the Germans. I was almost dragging the man I once thought was my friend.

It was now night I could barely make out where to turn. I knew Boris would kill me the first chance he got, but for now, i had the gun.

I was exhausted. I could barely lift my blistered feet off the ground. I tripped, got up and tripped again. I was defeated and painfully realized that this was the end.

The Nazis ran up and one of them took my gun but I could not retaliate. Boris ran up and before anyone could stop him, he grabbed a pistol with his left hand and shot my knee.

"That is so you don't try any more tricks, my friend", Boris said.

I tried to scream, but nothing came from my lips. I wanted to be dead now, not suffering with no hope. I tried to beat my head on the ground to end my life, but the soldiers grab me and drag me into the nearest house.

"Boris!", I shouted, "please just kill me I cant do this anymore".

He laughed wickedly and said," I would love to kill you, but as i told you before, I need information."

There was blood covering his arm where I had shot him and now I knew how he felt because my leg was covered in blood too.

I stayed silent until Boris finally shouted, "Fine! if you will not talk, we still have a war to win so we will leave you here to die in pain."

I had hoped he would leave so I could have a chance at survival. I found a bed tore the sheets up and made a tourniquet for my leg. Then found a board to use as a crutch.

Now I was weaponless, missing the use of a leg and about to pass out from the pain, but I could move without much trouble.

I left the house and found my way to the main road, which was now empty except for the dead bodies and the rubble. I searched for weapons and found many guns but chose an MP40 because there was the most ammunition for that.

Then I went into one of the houses where there had been German snipers before and found their scoped guns and dead bodies. Now I was ready so I tried to sleep but the pain in my leg made it much harder.

When morning came, I could already see the Soviets coming up one side of the street and the Nazis barricaded

on the other side.

I looked through the scope on one of my rifles and sighted on a Nazi general. Bam! He dropped like a sack of potatoes. I sighted on another Nazi. Bam! The Germans were now in a panic but some had figured out where the shot had come from and started shooting although I was out of machine gun range.

Boris charged up the stairs with a few others, and when he saw me he just stood there, shocked. “Surprise” I said.

Bam!. The grenade I had tossed to the edge of the stairs exploded. Somthing hit me on the head. When i woke, the Soviets were winning, Hitler was dead and I had killed my friend.

Edited December 2, 2014 by poly_the_cool

greyat · December 2, 2014

Guys, please note that this is meant to be the last chapter.

Mr.Eswar · December 2, 2014

Dammit again I lost

I will not participate I lost I treat ✖

TriNitroToIuene · December 2, 2014

The entry

Awesome, just one thing - Nikolai is supposed to be the commander, read Chapter 1

M1Abhrahams · December 2, 2014

Are 525 words ok?

M1Abhrahams · December 2, 2014

Chapter-4 Attack Of The Conscience

My mind was whirring like mad. Boris had stopped struggling and it seemed as though he was finally realizing what inhumane acts he had done which got us into such a miserable situation. There was no way out of this. But then a brainwave struck me. "Boris”, I said quietly,” remember that battle we had in Königsberg? The German General disappeared for a while. I thought he was doing a runner. But he came back from the town hall. I had smelled something fishy that time. But I chose to ignore it. After we won, I forgot about it completely. What was the catch back then?”

Boris was still lost in his grief. I shook him violently, and shouted, “If you have any shame and humanity left in you, Boris, you will respond to me now!” Boris looked positively shell- shocked at my aggressive salvo. “I want to repent my mistakes. I want to cut off my bad points. Can you help me, friend? I know I do not deserve it. But I want to salvage some good from the remnants of my life. Help me,” he said in a pitiful voice. “Tell me what the General did in Königsberg, and you shall be rewarded,” I said. God is always there, I thought. And if he can change people in such a way, he could definitely help me get out of this mess.

Suddenly a scream came out of nowhere. It was a cold and sharp scream, and pierced my sensuality like a knife. Then I heard the sound of a rifle letting out a bullet.

My men charged. It seemed that we hadn’t lost the war yet. Battle ensured. “Boris!” I screamed over the din of machines.” Tell me fast what the General did.” “He ran through a secret underground pathway. I know where it is. Let’s go there and you may help your men to escape.” He said, suddenly businesslike. We saw an abandoned Rover around a building’s entrance. We grabbed and broke the doors. Starting the car was a piece of cake even without keys. Boris drove fast. We went quite a long distance, and Boris weaved in and out of the traffic skillfully. He swerved fast at a particularly slim turn and skidded to a halt. We were in front of an unknown building. “You will need to connect to your men and ask them to retreat. I have an alternative plan for this city.”Boris said. I was curious, but knew that there was always a time and place for some things.

I sent a signal to the Commander to retreat immediately no matter the consequences. I ran to the Rover. Boris dropped me off in front of the town hall. He gave me the instructions to use the cave. I obeyed and reached the destination. That was when I heard a huge blast over head. I could put two and two together and understood. Boris had used a nuke to blow up the city. The tunnel reached towards an end. My whole body gave away. I fell on soft grass and slept like a log. All was well, at last.

By- M1Abhrahams

M1Abhrahams · December 2, 2014

That was sooo tiring. Hope I win. Wish you luck, Fellow Contestants! (note i didn't tell which luck good or bad)

TriNitroToIuene · December 2, 2014

Are 525 words ok?

Yes, the word limit is unofficial

greyat · December 2, 2014

Awesome, just one thing - Nikolai is supposed to be the commander, read Chapter 1

Commander can be used informally, e.g., "I am your commander."

In this case it can be interpreted as Nikolai being the commander of the offensive.

Edited December 2, 2014 by greyat

volcano2014 · December 2, 2014

After ducking around the corner i realized it would take more than running to get out of this city. Me and Boris must get out by using brainpower. We came out into an open air market and after running a little while, we came upon my apartment.

"This is it" I said , Boris looked at it with narrowed eyes."It will do,"he said," but tell me, do you have any weaponry inside?" I did have a few old things laying around but still was not sure about Boris's loyalty, so i replied casually,"yeah, not much though, wanna see?" "Yeah!" he said.

We went inside and i unlocked my cellar, i then opened a chest that had a fake bottom, pushing this aside it revealed a hidden passageway underneath the road. "This place gives me the creeps" Boris said as he passed a jumble of bones and cobwebs.. "Yeah the Germans hated it too" I replied. We then turned right and unlocked another heavy steel door. "wow" he said, looking at the racks of weapons on the walls. " This is where the real weapon is" i said as i walked over to a chest, inside was the turret called "smoky". "This came from a Russian tank that went down in my alley way a few years ago, i have built a tripod rest for it in my apartment, that way it can operate easily without much smoke."

There were plenty of bullets for every gun in the room. Boris chose an American Carbine." When i was a kid i had one of these, me and my dad shot every day in the yard" he said. I caught sight of a lone tear rolling down his mud stained cheek. " Come on" I said, " get some of this Armour on ya', it stops bullets like magic." i then tossed him a full suit of woodland camouflage Armour. "OK" he replied. I then wheeled my motorcycle with a 2 man sidecar on it over. I fastened the smoky into one seat, and told Boris to sit in the other one. "OK" he replied. We then rode the motorcycle out a hidden garage door.

Once in the alley way i gave Boris i short instruct lecture, telling him how to aim, fire, and shoot the smoky. The very first moment we were out in the street i saw a squadron of German soldiers attacking a building. "Now, fire into their midst!" i yelled above the commotion. "on it boss!" Boris replied.When he fired he managed to hit a nuclear grenade the size of a golf ball at like 100 yards. The grenade exploded and killed at least 20 Germans. But alas! they saw me and Boris and hopped on their motorcycles, which were newer, and were not weighted down by so much weaponry. "They are gaining Sir!" Boris yelled. " don't worry, i have another trick up my sleeve." I then threw a small circular thing behind the motorcycle and a few seconds later,Kaboom! the motorcycles were demolished. " That was a mine" i said in answer to Boris's asking look.

We rode calmly for the next few hours but within 20 miles of the border, our motorcycle gave up. When we got to the side of the road. i saw the problem! the gas lines had been cut! "com^ee on Boris, we need to get over the border before dark, over there our heads wont be valued nearly as much." He stood up and said " I'm sorry man, but i have to do it". " Do what ?" i asked. instead of getting an answer, Boris took a small cylinder with a conical tip from his pocket, and lit a match. I then realized what he was gonna do. I grabbed Boris by the shirt collar and shook hard. Now Boris was a hefty man, and my arm wasn't nearly as strong as i thought, He came swinging, his left undercut made contact with my chin and the lights went out. When i awoke i saw helicopters swirling above me. Quickly barrel rolling i grabbed to AK-47s, my first target was Boris, his body by the time i was done, had more lead then flesh and blood. Grabbing a RPG I shot at the closest helicopter and was then off like lightning, Running at full speed for half an hour i reached the border. There were German patrol officers standing like a wall at the border,so i shot them with my RPG. then ditching the RPG i continued running, i had kids at home, and my last name was not coward.

Once through the border, i caught a plane to Moscow, and related my adventures to Major General Hoyt Porter. He aside to me " Your adventures are not quite over sir." I sad a shaky " OK" and left the building when i got to my house finally, there were Police cars and helicopters and even tanks all over the place.Dashing up to police Che if Harry Frew i said" what has happened!?!?!" He said, "I'm sorry sir, but you house was robbed by a crazy man named "Boris" I screamed until i hit the ground and feinted.

When i Awoke, there was white all around, "Am I in Heaven I asked?" "Rest, you are in your bedroom" a familiar voice, "Then why is it all white?" i asked. "You have lost your sight. and you have lived one of the most toughest adventures every accomplished by man." the voice said. " Where.... When... Who was this Boris that robbed my house?" i asked "I am him" Boris replied," i know your next question, I'm sorry for almost getting you killed once or twice back there. will you forgive me?" "I will" i said just before slipping into peace full slumber. That slumber resulted in massive energy give. and the next day i was up and talking with Boris. my life has been packed with so much adventure, i think ill stay home for the rest of my life.

THE END

In conclusion:

Boris was promoted to Brigadier General and was eventually killed by chemical gas in his sleep at the age of 56.

I was promoted "escape master" and i am writing the conclusion at age 76, so i don't know when ill die.

volcano2014 · December 2, 2014

HI, thanks for considering me in this contest, it may not be the best one there is, but please read it through

Enjoy!

Volcano2014

Edited December 3, 2014 by volcano2014

l.Can-Beat_The-WorId · December 2, 2014

I good no in English -_-

r_QuickFreeze0 · December 2, 2014

*Reserved*

destroyer806 · December 2, 2014

Part 4- Escape

I don't know what to do. Ever since we escaped from the running Germans, everything that has happened in the past day has been a blur. People chasing us, streaks of black bullets zipped over our heads.

Boris and I have been camping and living on the second floor of the abandoned Reichstag building, in the middle of Berlin. The Germans have us surrounded like cat and mouse and are ready to kill us on sight. We sleep on the ground and are surviving on occasional disgusting tasting rats that crawl at night, looking for food.

Tonight, while I was laying on the cold, hardwood floor next to a desk, an ugly, fat, rat crawled by. Licking my lips and thinking about dinner, I followed the rat cautiously, like a lion stalking prey. The rodent seems to know my presence and crawls far away whenever I come close to catching it. Out the ornate door me and the rat goes, down the dusty, red, carpeted hallway. Two flights of stairs I climbed down, just to get a rat for me and Boris. Please, I need you for food.

Just as I was feeling desperate and tired, I look up from the rat to go back to the room. And I see paradise.

Boom,boom,boom,boom!

I flung the door open and the door cracked the wall behind it.

"Wake up! Wake up! Boris!" I screamed at him.

Lifting his head off the ground, he replied sleepily, "Huh?"

I told him a found a secret tunnel in the basement and that was our way out. Right after I explained my founds, his eyes snapped wide open and yelled,"What are you waiting for?"

Boom, boom, boom!

I become aware of the noise bombs.

"Come on! Come on! The Germans are bombing the building!"

"Okay, okay" a voice replied back.

He basically jump down the staircases down to the dark, dusty, and cobweb filled basement and we plunge into the tunnel without even thinking.

A piece of concrete falls down at the opening of the tunnel, wreathed in flames.

The tunnel was probably 2 miles long from how long it took us to limp out of it. I lifted a small rock covering at the end of the cave and climbed up the petite steps in to a park because of the trees and playground. Weissenseer Park, the bent green sign said.

Meanwhile.....at the Reichstag Building..

"Where are the victims?"

Back at the park......

"We, my good friend, are out of the German's pursuit"

Boris and I have survived and the we escaped by trekking to the city limits....unnoticed.

The war finally has ended after a few years. And now, Boris and I live together in a small apartment in the middle of Berlin. We go to the rebuilt Reichstag building everyday to thank it for its help and hospitality during the war. Commander Nikolai was found in a pile of rubble near a building. We both went to the funeral and was really sad to see him go. Boris lived to the age ripe of 79 and I am about to go too.....

Edited December 8, 2014 by destroyer806

Challenge	Start Date	End Date
1	15.08	29.08
2	29.08	05.09
3	05.09	12.09
4	12.09	19.09
5	19.09	26.09
6	26.09	3.10
7	3.10	10.10
8	10.10	17.10

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