8.) The New Hell

We had to take the time to connect with another group. John looked at me. He had fear in his face, but he had to keep himself calm. He finally broke his silence by saying, 'What the fuck was that?' I couldn't tell him the truth he would think I was a mad man. "I don't fucking know, man." I ran my hand over my face. I was so nervous that I was sweating. That fucking kraut knew who I was. I wonder how much John saw; he couldn't have seen too much well I had hoped not. "We have to get going, John." He walked away from me and muttered, 'fine.'

The battle was still going over fine; there was a house that was full of soldiers just up the street. The town was in bad shape. There were bodies everywhere, most of the Germans. Allies had taken casualties but not enough for us even to consider falling apart. A lot of the houses in the town were townhouses. We're up in one that's closer to the center. Though not too close. We ran further into the center. The commanding officer had to have a radio. If I can contact Jason or Edward, we would be out of the woods. Those two knew how to kill vampires I just need to know how to put him down if I could do that I have a fighting chance. I also need them to tell her to stay away.

Lilith could not know I was in danger or interfere. We had been getting closer to the center, but before we got there, I stopped John. "Listen, man, I'm sorry, I don't know what you saw, but that has to stay between us." He looked at me. He was still processing it all. 'Are you serious? You had a SS officer on you're back, who had some of his head falling off, and you want me to pretend I didn't see that?' I had no response because shit, he was right. The situation was a nightmare. "This isn't something we can talk about right now. Hell, I don't even know why the fuck he targeted me either." He got close to me, it was kissing distance, and he punched me. I understood why. 'You owe me you fuck; this was some shit.' He turned around. He was pissed, but he knew we couldn't tell anyone. I look to the ground, and I was so sorry that he might be a casualty in this. "I'm sorry, Jo-" he interrupted me 'Don't fucking say it just shows it, mother fucker.'

We went inside the building; it didn't look as bad as the others. The commanding officer was not like others. He fought with us; he didn't hide behind the sidelines. I had to ask if he could get access to a radio. John knew how to use a radio despite not being assigned that he was an infantry grunt, but the guy had many skills, I had no choice I had to ask him to do it. I told him to ask how to kill a vampire, his eyes widened at the prospect, but he went with it. I also told him to make sure they don't tell Lilith? We went our separate ways after that. I went to help and reinforce the troops on the outskirts of town; the snow was falling but not too heavy. I was going to hope for good news up there; that's the only choice I had. I told him to let me know what he could find, but under no circumstances does he disclose to them where we are. The last thing I need is for them to be interfering in my life again. Once this war, was over I'm going to do every damn thing I can to get the hell out of Baltimore go somewhere safe or as safe as I can be.

Bullets were flying everywhere, and the krauts were dropping. We kept fighting. We knew we had a chance. Losing was no longer an option for us, but for them, their choice was a retreat. The Germans were retreating, so I got ready to go; we crushed them with everything we had. I got prepared to link up with John. I'm happy that I was able to survive this. Then I noticed someone. It was Joseph. He was bleeding and covered in blood, but he was okay; at least I hope it was okay. I began to run towards him, but something was wrong; he wasn't moving; he was just standing there? Where was his jacket? I got closer to him, and I saw it he was bitten by that vampire. There were two holes in his neck, not gaping, but you would notice them up close. The thing was is that he wasn't bleeding out of them, not anymore anyway.

"What the hell happened to you," I asked, almost yelling. He looked at me, tilted his head and grinned. It was something off with him; I could feel it in instinct. 'He told me you would try to help me; it was in your character.' I tilted my head confused.

"What is that supposed to mean, sergeant?" I Don't know how I missed it, but he had blood dripping from his mouth. I know the truth of what I saw I had seen it before, but I opened my mouth and began to ask anyway, "What the hell did you do?" He grabbed me, and he was moving so fast, all I saw was a blur. This kind of speed was on another level. He had me in a headlock and turned me around. I saw it. How could I? How could he? I asked myself again. He murdered a group of soldiers. There were several bodies of enemy soldiers and allies.

"What have you done, you son of a bitch." I was struggling, but it was futile I'm might as well have been a child. He then started to speak, 'He offered me immortality.' He looked up at the dark skies, paused for a second, then continued. 'All I had to do was give you up.' I was struggling with my other hand. He had my right hand behind my back, and I couldn't shoot him because the sidearm was out of ammo.

"Why would you betray us we were all fighting this war together?" He sighed sharply then continued, 'I have immortality, the war is going to be over soon. I could live the rest of my life doing whatever I want.' He was serious. 'My team was just unfortunate casualties.' I could feel his putrid breath on my neck, and I could smell the iron from all of the dead soldiers. He sold out his brothers, his country just for a taste of the power he makes me sick.

"All you are is a traitor." I kept struggling; I was tired of being fucked with by vampires. I was tired of being fucked by life. Then I heard five shots. I check myself; It wasn't me. It was Joseph he spit up blood, but his grip was gone I quickly moved. He fell over face down, and I looked, it was John he was able to get the message out. He grabbed a piece of wood off the ground, from the look of the wood look like it came from one of the houses. He sized it up and then broke it, and he said, 'The only way to kill them is straight through the heart with wood they said.' I grabbed the piece of wood. 'Corporal, you don't have to do this if you don't want to.'

He was already healing and was crawling. In all honesty, I wasn't sure about this, but I had held on to my resolve. I plunged it into his back the first stab stained the snow around me I heard him howl in pain. I kept on going until I saw something change. At about the third stab, I was on my knees; he was groaning in pain no more howling, just a pained groan. After the eighth stab, his body began to burst into blood ashes and a little bit of flame. There was a lot of blowback, his blood squirted all over me and even on my face. There was ash and blood all over the snowy ground. I got up, and John just looked at me. His face said it all. 'Are you okay?' I looked at my bloody uniform, and then I looked around and said: "No, not really." We checked the bodies, and we noticed something first Carter was missing, Second, a lot of these guys were dying from other things. I wanted to know where Carter went? Hopefully, he was okay, but it was no matter.

The battle was over, and we held our position, the struggle for Arden was a victory for the allies. The town of Bastogne, our foothold, was protected. I couldn't help but think about how many people I had killed in this entire war. If there was a god, was he keeping tally? of all of this, or was he just laughing? 'Sir, we have to come up with a story' I dropped the wooden stake, and "A bunch of krauts tried to get into the town, and our team died trying to stop them." I'm covered in blood, so I used the snow to clean me up while saying, "That is what it will look like." I turned to him; he had his head down. "I know it's hard, and I'm going to request that you get a transfer." He looked up, and then he punched me again. 'With all due respect, sir, eat dicks. How am I going to tell anyone? what I just saw what I just witnessed?' I was rubbing my jaw, that fucker hits hard. His eyes showed us a sign of being fed up, and I understood. "Fine, have it your way, but don't say I didn't warn you, and that is the last time you get to hit me like that."

We both got ready to go to meet with the rest of the men. I had no idea I would be this calm about everything. I killed Joseph. I had no idea where Carter was. I couldn't keep John in the dark forever. How many of these sons of bitches were going to keep coming after me, and would I need her help? I was too tired even to wonder though she was probably screwing off, plus she left me in that fucking house. It didn't matter though I was okay with meeting her again. I was fine being alone rather than with a monster. Then still, what in God's green earth was I? She never told me that much, probably for them honestly. I could end my fight right here though I looked at my MP-40; it would be so easy. 'Hey, corporal, you wanna eat an MRE, sir?' My thoughts drifted for now. "Yeah sure, what's the best one. 'He smiled. 'I like the pork and beans you?' I thought for a moment and said. "I'm a fan of chicken noodle soup with bread."

We walked into a nearby building and enjoyed our brief moment of or so I hoped it would be. Then we saw--- Carter, how was he alive? More importantly, how did he get away in that onslaught? He also looked great, considering everything that happened, he looked cleaner and better. I quickly finished my MRE, and I went to talk to him. He was sitting in another room, but we had time before we would leave. I left John to finish his pork and beans. I sat in a chair near him. He already noticed me but said nothing. Broke the silence and said, "Are you okay, Carter?" He looked me up and down and then took a seat near me. He had an open MRE but didn't touch it. He then shifted in his chair as if getting comfortable. 'I don't know Corporal what I do know is that I feel better than ever, sir.' I couldn't even fathom why? Not to mention, even how? I shot straight to the point and asked: "What did you see." I said while moving my metal chair closer to him. He shifted his eyebrow. 'What do you mean, what did I see?' He was with me when he searches the building. I'm sure of it. "I'm sure you were with us when you searched the building," I said mostly to reassure myself. He nodded his head in agreement. 'I was.' He was calm, too calm. I shifted in my seat, I was baffled either he was fucking with me or something happened. I looked at him. Something felt off, no matter how calm and nonchalant he tried to be.

I rose from my seat and said, "well, if you remember anything, let me know, I may have to write a report about this." That was a lie I would never bother writing one even if I could. Something is off about him, and I was going to figure it out. I went outside to see if I could find a moment to breathe. I was so frustrated with this bullshit. Its always something fucked up happening. I don't know whether I was in World War II or some fucked up horror movie the blacks were never allowed to go into cinemas where I was at, but I had no interest in going there anyway I was mostly a fan of books. I took a deep breath and said, "Fuck this war, fuck Lilith, fuck Jason, fuck Edward, fuck everything in this damn country." I had to say that out loud; I couldn't keep that inside. I wanted to keep myself from breaking down. I then went to take a leak. I'm glad I was able to get some ammo for my 1911 I might have time to do this. The snow wasn't that bad; it started melting a bit. I took the time to find a good private spot where I could release myself. I needed time to think I needed time to get away from everything. I was hoping; I could avoid John. I didn't need him appearing out of anywhere again. He's a good guy don't get me wrong, but he is coming out of nowhere a little too conveniently now.

As I was pissing, I noticed something someone was watching me, or at least I thought. I was on the outskirts of town, pissing on one destroyed houses. Then it happened. It was Carter; he was to the left of me and said, 'I had to wait till John stopped following you.' I nodded. I looked over his face said it all he was horrified of John, but why? 'Corporal Gabriel.' He paused then said: 'John is not who he says he is.' My eyes widened at the thought. 'It was when that kraut attacked us he offered us immortality or death I didn't believe then he cut his own throat.'

I looked over he was shaking. "What did you say?" My voice went cold. I put my dick away and considered reaching for my 1911, but it would be too loud. He looked down in almost as if in shame. 'I took the offer last thing I remember my neck snapping like a twig and I 'He hesitated 'I woke hungry my skin was burning I could smell my brother's fear. Their bodies bright even in the dark, their hearts pulsating like drums.' What did he do? 'I killed two Germans I was so hungry, and they just smelled so good...kinda like you.' I backed up. I eyed him intensely, my 1911 already drawn ready to fire. He looked down, almost looking guilty. 'I'm not going to eat you, Corporal...I just need help, sir.' I was still not calmed by this, but I put my gun to my side for now. "I can get you help, but first, what is off about John?" I needed to know why he was scared.

'He offered it to us, but he ignored John.' My head tilted to the side I needed to know why I looked at him "have you told anyone else this?" He looked down 'about any of this bullshit..hell no.' Sometimes I wish there was somebody to help me with situations like these. "Alright, if you can keep your thirst under control, maybe I can get you help if you must feed take some blood from our enemy, and if worse comes to worst, you can feed on me just don't kill me." It was a reality for him now, a fucked up reality, but this is how it has to be. his eyes showed a glimmer of hope, something that I had not seen in a while, maybe this could work out. 'Really, Corporal? Are you sure?' I put my head in my hands what the fuck was I offering this guy? There's no turning back now. "Yes, on one condition though, don't tell John anything." He had let out a sigh of relief, and why wouldn't he? I just told him not to tell one of my most trusted friends a damn thing. I know she could help us.

"Do you need to feed?" He looked down in shame when he said 'no, not really.' When I look at him, his skin was paler, almost as if he lost some of his complexion entirely. His uniform though it was fixed. It showed signs of where he was bitten. It even had residual signs of blood he had from some of his victims. His sleeves and neck only had a little bit of blood on them. He took great care to clean himself. He looks like he's been roughed up, but not in a blood bath. We got ready to rejoin the rest of the group we had to prepare for pushing deeper into the country. Germany controlled countries were falling, one by one. I got ready to leave and said, "oh, and at least pretend to eat." He nodded, and we made our way back into town.

John was looking for us, and it was good I managed to stay missing, Carter was worried about him though. "You'll be fine but relax if you don't, you will look suspicious." I took a deep breath, and got ready to listen to John, talk our head off. I was wondering what made that vampire avoid him? It was something that would nag me for a while. There is much more to him then he is letting on. I thought he was plain maybe he wasn't so plain. 'Hey, Corporal, where did you go?' I looked up; he looked a little worried about me. "To take a piss, soup went right through me." He looked at Carter. He was looking at him to see if something was wrong. I broke his concentration asked, "what's up?" If something was off with him, I didn't need him to know everything I did. What I worried about more is where the fuck did that other vampire go?

I know I had not seen the last of him. He also knew who I was; anyone involved would probably be an unfortunate casualty. I couldn't run away from this problem, so I had to come up with a plan. This motherfucker will come back. She was probably right; I would've been safer staying with her; this probably all could've been avoided if I would've stayed with her. On the flip side, something worse could've happened. It's best not to think about these kinds of things. I have a war to fight. I couldn't trust John, and I have to worry about Carter. I just hope I can keep this under control.

End of Chapter 8 The New Hell.