The Town Beyond the Gate

The soldiers froze as they rounded the corner of the narrow alley, their hearts pounding. The scene before them was one of unspeakable horror. Three men, clad in rough, medieval garb, had cornered a young girl against the wall of a crumbling stone building. Their faces were twisted with cruelty, their hands rough and calloused as they pinned her down. The girl's cries were muffled, her struggles futile against their strength. The flickering light of a nearby lantern cast grotesque shadows on the cobblestones, illuminating the nightmare unfolding before them.

Lucas felt a surge of rage and nausea. His grip tightened on the hilt of his bayonet, his knuckles white. The soldiers had left their rifles behind to avoid drawing attention, but now he wished he had brought his AKM.

"What the hell..." Ivan whispered, his voice trembling with anger. His hand instinctively went to the knife at his belt.