The earth beneath their feet had long since morphed into oozing, black mud that sucked at their feet and legs. The pounding of artillery shells, the booming of massive guns, the sharp crack of rifles, and the smell of gunpowder were without pause. Blood-splattered bodies were sprawled on the trenches. The screams of agony and the earth-shattering crashes of shells would be enough to drive even the most stalwart to insanity.
Corporal James of the 2nd Infantry Brigade ducked his head as a shell exploded, raining dirt and shrapnel upon his helmet. Leaning his rifle against the edge of the trench, he fired into no man’s land. Bullets whistled over his head; he ducked below the trench, loading a new cartridge with shaking hands, his mind numbed …show more content…
Coughing out dirt, he looked around for Matthias, fearful of what could have happened.
He was alive!
“Get to those craters! Move, move, move!” An officer ran down the trench, pushing men to their feet, directing them to the craters. James nodded, clambering up the steep and slippery trench. The German trenches weren’t even visible; they would be able to gain a position without being seen. “I need you to stay here,” the officer shouted, pulling Matthias back. Matthias swore, nodding to James to keep going.
James sprinted to the series of craters, machine guns firing as they reached the cover; any stragglers were killed by the relentless bullets. James could taste blood in his mouth as he crawled to the edge of the crater with the survivors. He aimed his rifle and fired, hitting the German in the chest, blood flying everywhere. A small dark object flew over the edge of the crater and landed behind them. “Gren—” he began to warn.
Scorching heat raked his back and shards of metal cut into his legs. He felt weightless and then crashed into the ground, wounds burning with the heat. Screams of agony and shattered bodies were littered across the crater. He watched with an odd detachment; the sky seemed dark . . . it was only
Corporal James of the 2nd Infantry Brigade ducked his head as a shell exploded, raining dirt and shrapnel upon his helmet. Leaning his rifle against the edge of the trench, he fired into no man’s land. Bullets whistled over his head; he ducked below the trench, loading a new cartridge with shaking hands, his mind numbed …show more content…
Coughing out dirt, he looked around for Matthias, fearful of what could have happened.
He was alive!
“Get to those craters! Move, move, move!” An officer ran down the trench, pushing men to their feet, directing them to the craters. James nodded, clambering up the steep and slippery trench. The German trenches weren’t even visible; they would be able to gain a position without being seen. “I need you to stay here,” the officer shouted, pulling Matthias back. Matthias swore, nodding to James to keep going.
James sprinted to the series of craters, machine guns firing as they reached the cover; any stragglers were killed by the relentless bullets. James could taste blood in his mouth as he crawled to the edge of the crater with the survivors. He aimed his rifle and fired, hitting the German in the chest, blood flying everywhere. A small dark object flew over the edge of the crater and landed behind them. “Gren—” he began to warn.
Scorching heat raked his back and shards of metal cut into his legs. He felt weightless and then crashed into the ground, wounds burning with the heat. Screams of agony and shattered bodies were littered across the crater. He watched with an odd detachment; the sky seemed dark . . . it was only