[ OT ] Sunday Free Write : Leave A Story , Leave A Comment - The Dark Gift Edition !

The Lost Streets 
 
 I walked through the streets of the city.The city was alien to me even though I had spent most of my life in it. I had left it a year ago but never thought next time I saw it it would be in the this state. Oh, my optimism; how could I imagine when I came back everything would be sunshine and laughter. 
 
 The scorch marks on the buildings created an eerie atmosphere and I had the feeling that I was being watched. “ Probably nothing. ” I thought, but I knew better; what would I lose if I ’ m prepared. I checked my rifle and made sure it was loaded. Then I put the bayonet on and clutched the rifle in my hands. I fastened my pace. 
 
 I was allowed to go until sundown -they would be very pissed if I came late- and if I didn ’ t come back until the morning they would presume me dead. The mission was dangerous not because of the missions intrinsic difficulty but more because of our lack of knowledge. They had wanted to send cripples and the wounded on the mission because they saw them as expendable. I was disgusted by them but I understood them. We were in an extreme situation where there weren ’ t enough men anymore. It had been four years since the war had started afterall. 
 
 I had volunteered for the mission. They guessed my reason and did n't stand in my way. My objective was to gather intelligence and see if there are any survivors. I chuckled as I thought of my objectives. How could anything left in this maze of ash and death? Something crunched under my boots. I looked down and my brain immediately made the conclusion “ snow ” but then I remembered that it was june and realised what it was, ash. Four months in the north and you brain starts to work that way. 
 
 I started walking up the street and realised where I was. I wasn ’ t far from my destination. I proceeded to walk.The buildings here were severely scorched.A few buildings were completely demolished and only a pile of rubble was in their place. It was probably one of those monstrous rockets that had hit the area. I was disturbed by the morbidness of this place and decided make a turn, “ It wouldn ’ t lengthen my trip too much. ” I thought. 
 The street I had entered was in a much better shape; there were few scorch marks on the buildings and they were relatively intact. I assumed they were just bombed by artillery. Very few places had survived the firebombing. After a little while I saw a shape on my path. I immediately went into combat mode, I was ready to fire; to kill. When I got closer to the shape I realised it was a human. 
 
 “ Are you alive ” I asked. 
 
 He only answered in groans. 
 
 I walked even closer and when I got beside him I kneeled. I looked at him and he looked at me back. Then his eyes lit up with recognition. 
 
 “ Pul long time no see. How is my son, he was with you was he not. ” 
 
 I was confused at first but then I recognised him myself and I wished I hadn ’ t found him. The military didn ’ t send death announcements to families.He saw the grief in my eyes. 
 
 “ Oh, I understand. It is just nobody has been receiving any letters… ” 
 
 “ We weren ’ t allowed - ” 
 
 He coughed up blood. 
 That was the first time I took a good look at him. His legs were stuck under rubble which was easily heavy enough to crush both of them and a piece of metal stuck out of his abdomen. I was shocked -mostly at myself for not noticing-. I couldn ’ t find any words to say. 
 
 After he got over his coughing fit he looked at me then to my rifle and then back to me. 
 “ Will you able to carry me back to a hospital. ” he said. 
 
 I looked at my watch, the sun would set maybe in forty five minutes give or take. I could get back to the base maybe in thirty. I didn ’ t have the equipment with me and I couldn ’ t guarantee that they would support me on this. I explained the situation. He nodded and closed his eyes. I assumed he was thinking, I -of course- didn ’ t know what at the time. After a minute or two he opened his eyes and looked at me. His grey-blue eyes gazed into my soul and he said with great determination and strength: 
 
 “ Shoot me. ” 
 
 What he said was very brief yet it affected me deeply. He said it with such confidence I couldn ’ t refuse but I decided to ask: 
 
 “ Are you sure? ” 
 
 “ Yes. ” He said with the same tone as he had said the former. 
 
 I lifted my rifle and looked at him. I will never forget what I saw in that man ’ s eyes. He was a man who had seen death, even though he wasn ’ t a soldier he had seen more death than I had. What I saw was a caricature of death, killing faceless enemies you don ’ t and will never know about. But he had seen his wife and daughters die beside him and never saw his son ’ s body. I pitied and respected him. This was least I could do. I knew as well as he did there was no other way. But still, I couldn ’ t look. I turned my face to the side and pulled the trigger. The shot echoed through the deserted streets.After quickly stacking some rubble over the man -I felt he didn ’ t deserve to lie in the open like that.- I continued my way. 
 
 I did n't want to return to the base until I finished the job I started. 
 It took me a few more minutes to find my home. It was clear from the destruction and the scorch marks it was a firebomb that had destroyed the building. I looked at the ruins of my old home. 
 “ What did I expect to find anyway? ” I thought out loud. 
 I turned around and started walking back to the base. 

