First decision. Chapter 1
The crack of a gunshot broke the stillness of the morning air. A scream of pain rang out. All was still for a moment, and then, all hell broke loose. Cracks and bangs rang out throughout the camp in quick succession, cries of anguish were heard amongst war screams. And there behind that sandbag covered in dust with his hands over his head and crouched as low as he can go is our hero Phillip Farques.
You see Phillip was a private in the United States Armed Forces and this was his first battle. Unluckily for Philip he had been outside heading for the latrine when the battle started, and as it was, his rifle was still in his tent next to his cot. Phillip had his sidearm (a Beretta M9) but it was not wise to use a pistol unless in extreme close range and had this been an open skirmish in the streets pistol range would be considered about the time to start backing up.
A stream of rounds hit the sandbag Phillip was behind and he let out a yelp of surprise. If they were shooting at the sandbags that meant they knew he was there and his chances of being able to run towards his rifle were diminishing. “Goddammit,” Philip screamed, “I’m screwed!” and he probably was. You see Philip could see the rest of his battalion in front of him meaning he was currently the closest soldier to the enemy, and they were approaching fast.
Listening to the sound of their gunshots they would be at his sandbags in a matter of minutes, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Looking to his left he could see the mess hall about 10ft away. Looking to his right about 20ft away was another set of sandbags and a few feet from that the armory. Next to the armory was the latrine which hadn’t had the chance to start permeating the area around it with a horrible stench in the early morning heat.
More shots rang out and his sandbag was peppered with more bullets as he flinched. Phillip was torn between the safety and closeness of the mess hall or the promise of a weapon from the armory. Both had their own benefits and downfalls both also promised safety if he made it. But in the end he decided to head for the mess hall as it was much closer and he could sprint there in mere seconds.
Praying to whatever god might be able to hear him he took off for the mess hall from a kneeling position. Jumping into the door he barely made it before a staccato of gunfire sounded and the area he just jumped from got riddled with bullets. He breathed a sigh of relief, now he had a choice again. Go around through the backdoor of the building and join with the rest of the soldiers in the camp or find an improvised shield to try and get to the armory. ‘Heh shield,’ He thought, ‘funny that as I might die, I’m thinking of that pony in that show.’
You see, Philip absolutely loved My Little Pony; Friendship is Magic, and his favorite character was Shining Armor. He knew the shield plan wouldn’t work, but, it was tempting. An explosion happened just outside the mess hall and he knew he had to decide fast. Choosing the rational option he creeped to the backdoor, opening it slowly he waited for it to be shot at before poking his head out and looking both ways. Seeing nothing he figured it was safe to move out. Jogging to the end of the building he peered around the corner and let out a sigh of relief. Bad idea.
Immediately upon hearing the sigh his fellow soldiers immediately aimed there guns at him and running on instinct and adrenaline started screaming for him to get down on his knees. After a few seconds of screaming and phillips compliance they realized who it was and once soldier gasped. "Dude we all saw you go in that building and we thought you were a goner!" The front soldier exclaimed. Phillip was confused as to why they would think that he would be in danger inside the building and asked "Why would you think that? The enemies aren't even close to that building yet."
The other soldier just looked at him funny and Philip was beginning to wonder if he had said something weird when the soldier just shrugged and said "Its a war zone Pvt. It would be stupid not to worry. Besides we need every man we can get to repel the damn towel heads!" Phillips thought about what the soldier said and when he got down to it the soldier was right, it would be stupid not to worry. "Oh yeah by the way your sergeant wants to s--" and that was as far as he got before his head exploded. Given the environment they really shouldn't have been surprised, but somehow, they were.
"HOLY SHIT!" The soldier next to the recently fallen man screamed, Phillip just stood there, a feeling of numbness setting in. That could've been him. That thought hit hard and he set into a dead sprint towards his tent, both eager to find his rifle and his sergeant.
So eager in fact that he missed the slight tingling he felt at the near death experience. He wouldn't let these bastards get the best of him! not if he could help it. He took in his surroundings trying to find the quickest way to his tent. The way he figured it, he could just run behind the main group of his troops and reach it in no time! Or he could cut through the hospital which while safer would take much longer and he might have to help with patients. And last and probably least, he could hunt for a fallen comrades gun and join the fight!
