Chapter 13. Mock

  From the blood trail, Kurt could see the English stretcher

  bearer had survived the blast. He rolled him onto his side and

  saw that he was still breathing. The lifeless bodies of the stretcher

  bearer's squad and the casualty they were carrying lay scattered

  in the street.

  "What's your name."

  ''Finn." the stretcher bearer said short of breath.

  *

  Kurt looked at the glass phial of iodine he'd taken from Finn's

  first aid kit. "This will do nicely thank you."

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  He put it in his pocket as a keepsake. "If my friend Waldamir

  was here, he'd say us meeting like this was nothing more than

  chance - but I don't see it that way."

  Kurt took the bayonet from his boot and put it on the ground.

  "I think everything happens for a reason." He knelt and lifted

  Finn into a sitting position. "You and I were destined to meet."

  "I doubt that." Finn said.

  His sudden recovery unnerved Kurt.

  Finn started to laugh. "I find it surprising that you contemplate

  the mechanics of fate, and yet, you are little more than an insect."

  Kurt reached for his bayonet. "You're in no position to mock me."

  Finn's laughter slowed, then it deepened to a growl.

  The hair on Kurt's arms and neck stood up.

  "I am Eurides," a woman's voice said, "and Finn is in my care."

  Finn stood up and turned around. Her eyes blazed from his face.

  Frozen with fear Kurt dropped his bayonet. "What are you?"

  "Nothing you would understand." Eurides picked up the bayonet and

  ran a finger along it's blade.

  "Finn will have no memory of me, but he will remember talking

  to a German soldier and assume it was you that helped him."

  "Yes," Kurt said. "I was going to do that."

  "Were you now." Eurides said. "Take the phial out of your pocket."

  Kurt held it in his hand and wondered why Eurides wanted it.

  "Put it in your mouth."

  "What?" Kurt shook his head. "No."

  He was no longer in control of his body. His hand placed the

  phial on his tongue and his mouth closed around it. Wide eyed

  with horror he tried to spit it out, but his lips wouldn't part.

  "Bite down on it." Eurides purred.

  Blood filled Kurt's mouth and spilled down his chin. He felt

  thin slivers of glass slice his tongue, then cut the roof of his mouth

  and stick in his throat as he swallowed.

  Eurides smiled. "Say hello to your friend Waldamir for me

  when you see him next.

  *