Disclaimer: I do not own Gate and its character but other characters than those belonged to me and RedSS.

Chapter VII - Gotta Get out of This Place

31 May 1918, 22:48

Somewhere Near Craonne, Aisne, France

Hearing the loud sound woke Eugene from middle of sleep as he was imprisoned in a cell with others but when he opened his eyes, it turned out that all of them had escaped now as the situation turned into chaos and he could see fire not far from where he is.

He didn't have any idea what is going on as he could hear screams and gun sounds from every directions but his instinct told him to get out of this cell first before he would be burnt alive. Without waiting, he ran through the opened door and found himself outside in the middle of dark night where he couldn't see anything clearly.

Suddenly he could someone running towards his direction, it sounded like there were two of them and since Eugene wasn't sure if they are friends or foes, he decided to hide behind the crates and watch who are they.

"Shit, there is no one here." One of them said as they arrived at the cell that Eugene just got himself out. "Are you sure he is here?"

"He might be around here... Gene! Gene!" Without waiting, Eugene knew that it was his mate, Robert who was finding him in the middle of this chaos.

"Robert?" Robert and another lad turned back to see Eugene came out from his hiding spot.

"Gene! Thanks God, you are alive."

"W-What the hell is going on?"

"Our plan didn't go well... So we turn this place into chaos to give us a time." Another man who came with Robert explained to Eugene. "By the way, I'm Liam and you must be Eugene."

"Yeah... You are right."

"We have to go now." Robert said as he was looking around. "Follow me this way."

Three of them made their way through darkness as everything around turned into mess; dead bodies lying and sounds could be hear from many directions. They managed to arrive the outer part of the camp and hid themselves in the pit.

"How we can get out of this place?" Liam asked. "They are everywhere!"

"Maybe we should go into the forest over there." Robert said as he was loading his rifle and ready to fire at anyone.

"Where do you get that rifle?" Eugene asked

"Those Romans keep some of rifles in their armory... So I sneaked to get one."

"You mean the forest over there? What if that direction is not the south?"

"We need to get out of here first, that's important... Then figure out what should we do once we are safe."

"Alright, alright... But we probably encounter few of those Romans before reach there." Liam turned to Eugene who was wondering what he is going to do next. "Here, take this hatchet."

"T-Thank you."

"And remember... Head, just chop only their heads and they will die for sure."

"Got it... I got it."

"Let's move, lads."

They got out from the pit and quickly ran to the forest... But it didn't go well as they encountered with two Imperial soldier and without a break, they just charged toward the three with swords in their hands.

"₩€£$¥#%£#¥ !"

Robert quickly fired his rifle and he fell down to the ground while Liam took another one down with a knife stabbing right in the heart, made him die instantly... But another one still didn't die, so Robert just walked over him and hit his head with stock again and again and again...

"Robert, stop it!" Eugene said as he couldn't watch it more and made his friend stopped what he is doing. "He is dead already."

"Yeah... He is dead." Robert turned to Eugene who was watching with horror as he could see that soldier's head was bashed that you couldn't recognize his face. "I just want to make sure about that."

"Lads, we need to move now! More of them are coming this way!" Liam said as he began to lead the group into the forest, following by Robert and Eugene.

As they were running away from the POWs camp, Eugene turned back to see the place is burning down to the ground and he could hear the sound of guns... But it wasn't his problem now, he had to get out of here as it was the most important thing he had to do if he wanted to survive.

XXX

Meanwhile

Somewhere near Aisne River, Aisne, France

"This is all I can find." Alexandros said as he was carrying woods and some papers that he gathered in that area to make fuel for fire. "Hope it would be enough to get fire keep on going until the sun rises."

"Yeah."

Both Alexandros and Blandus were hiding in the abandoned and ruined house not far from where they just got attacked today by the Iron Birds... They didn't know if they are the only ones who survived the attack as they could see the dead bodies of their comrades lying everywhere when they came out from the trenches.

And then it soon became dark as they tried to go back to their base and with that, they decided to hide in this ruined house and would set out for their base once the sun rises... But of course, tonight would be long night as they could hear sound of something really loud not far from where they are.

"Do you hear that?" Blandus asked as Alexandros were fueling the fire.

"Hear what?"

"Those sounds... Could it be the Iron Birds?"

"No way, those Iron Birds don't make this kind of sound. Probably something else."

"Yeah, you are probably right."

"How about your leg now?" Alexandros asked as he looked at his friend's leg that was shot by the Iron Birds during the attack today.

"Yeah, it is better now... But I still can't walk properly."

"Good to hear that, at least it doesn't get worse."

"Are you sure it is safe here?"

"No but I don't think they won't come around here tonight."

"Fine."

Alexandros kept fueling the fire until there was nothing left then he sat down beside his comrade who was watching the fire as it seemed he is thinking about something.

"So where are you from?" Alexandros asked.

"Me? Oh yeah... My village is located near the city of Deabis on the Roma River, you know it?"

"Of course... I have heard of it but never go there."

"Okay."

Then both of then didn't say anything after that... The wind was blowing and the sound of something they don't know could be heard from far away... They were probably too tired that it was hard to even open their mouths.

Alexandros was still looking at the fire... And when he turned to see his friend, who already sleep quickly, it made him wonder what to do first when the sun rises tomorrow. How they go back to their base without getting captured or worst, getting killed... The longer they stay behind enemy line, the riskier their lives will be.

But thinking about it in this moment wouldn't help him as he didn't know what will happens tomorrow... Let's hope nothing bad will happen, that is what he thought before slept quickly once his eyes were closed.

XXX

31 May 1918, 23:01

Bourg-et-Comin, Aisne, France

It was quiet here now as it was near midnight... Most of soldiers were sleeping while few were patrolling and guarding this small town as they needed to make sure that tonight they won't get attack by those invaders.

But not for Frederick as he was writing his journal in his room, you can still see the light of the candle in the room from the street... Like a star shining on the dark night.

May 31 - 1918

Another quiet night here as all of us are trying to survive in the middle of confused and unpredictable situation

It's been nearly five days now and there is still no sight of anyone that will get us out of here, only the planes that fly over us

And our situation is pretty bad as we are running of food, clean water and medication... We try to save the rest of them as long as we can

Another three men passed away today as they couldn't no longer fight against infection since we don't have much medication

I still don't know how long we will have to be here... Despite of food, clean water and medication; we are running out of morale and hope

But today I heard the sound of artillery and firearms coming closer to us, so I hope that the rescue will come soon

May God bless us all and keep us safe from any danger

Sincerely,

Frederick Roth

As soon as Frederick finished writing the journal, the door was opened behind him and he quickly looked back to see who it is... It turned out to be Wilhelm who just came back from the church where most of the wounded are sleeping.

"Can I come in, sir?"

"Of course, you can come in." Wilhelm came into the room, closed the door behind him then took his helmet off as he wore it all day. "What's wrong, Wilhelm?"

"Arrgh… Just come to check you, sir... Since I see the light in your room from the street."

"Oh I see... I'm just going to sleep."

"O-Okay, sir... I-I just..."

"What do you want to say?"

"Mind if I just sit on this chair, sir? I-I have something to talk with you."

"S-Sure." Wilhelm then grabbed the chair then sat it in front of Frederick as he was going to say something with. "So what's something that you want to talk with me?"

"It's just... Just... It's just about us, sir."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know if you know this already but... Some of us here are running out of hope, sir."

"Wilhelm, I already know that but I still don't have a chance to talk with them yet."

"N-No, sir. I mean... Some of us also including those high-ranking officers, few of them think we mightn't make it."

"And let me guess... You are thinking just like them, right? Feeling hopeless?"

"I-I don't want to think like that, sir. I just... I just don't want to become like them but from the situation we are having right now... I can't avoid to think like them."

"Wilhelm..." Frederick said as he was finding something in his backpack and then it turned out to be a Bible and you could say it is quite old from the front cover. "Have you ever read a Bible?"

"O-Of course, sir."

"Yes, sir... But I already forget most of it..."

"Wilhelm... Philippians 4:12,13 - 'I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' "

"I-I know that phrase, sir... But what are you trying to say?"

"We must have hope, Wilhelm... Even the situation is pretty bad that sometimes it make you feel hopeless but you must have hope... Those who don't have hope are as same as dead people, even their hearts are still beating..." Wilhelm looked at Frederick for few seconds as it seemed to grab his attention. "Believe in ourselves... and in God... We must have hope."

Both of them didn't say anything as Frederick finished his speech to Wilhelm, the only thing you could hear is the wind blowing outside the window in this quiet night...

"Umm... Alright, sir. I-I won't lose my faith... We must have hope, sir." Wilhelm then stood up and quickly walked to the door. "I don't want to bother you now, sir. Have a good night."

"Wait, Wilhelm..." Wilhelm was going to walk out from the room when Frederick called him. "I know you are confused, you are... You are like a sheep losing its way and trust me, there are more people just like you out there... Somewhere in this world... But no matter what happens and if you believe in me... Have hope and trust in God... And he will be by your side."

"O-Okay, sir..." Without saying another word, Wilhelm quickly walked out from the room and closed the door.

Now only Frederick in the room and he stood up... Put a Bible down on the table and walked to the window, looking at the sky above him... There were so many stars shining tonight and yeah... They reminded him of what God said to Abraham in the Old Testament 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky'.

But funny thing is that only God knows what will happen tomorrow... Of course, Frederick hoped that soon they will get out from here... Since it was the only thing he can do in this moment.

XXX

Meanwhile

Somewhere Near Craonne, Aisne, France

In the middle of the forest on quiet and dark night, the three lads were still running for their lives; Robert, Eugene and Liam... All of them didn't know which direction they are running to but at least they were far away from that bloody POWs camp built by the Imperial Army.

Anyway, some of those Imperial troops were also hunting for those who managed to escape into this forest... Looking back, Eugene could see the light from their torches and their shouting were really loud through this forest... They needed to get way from those bastards or else they will get captured or worse, get killed.

"Those bloody romans are still chasing us!" Liam said to Robert who was leading the group through the forest. "We need to make sure they don't follow us once we get out from this forest."

"I know, I know! That's what we are doing right now, isn't it?"

"They will catch up with us if we don't do something, there are too many of them!" Eugene said as he supported Liam.

"Alright, alright..." Suddenly Robert stopped running, and so did Eugene and Liam. "One of us has to distract them... And I will do it."

"What? No way!" Eugene said as he disagreed with his friend's crazy idea. "We won't separate!"

"I know, Gene... But I have to do since I am the only one here who has a rifle." Robert looked around and quickly said another words. "There is a canal over there, reach there and cross to the other side. I will meet yo-."

"#%$&! #! #" Without saying another word, there was an arrow flying over them and following by another arrows... They were found out by the Imperial troops now.

Bang! Robert quickly fired his rifle where the arrows came from. "Run!"

The three lads continued running for their lives again as the Imperial troops were chasing them and coming closer... More arrows flew over them but they still managed to dodge them... Until the one hit Liam at his leg.

"Arrgh!" Liam quickly fell down to the ground as the arrow hit him.

"Liam!" Eugene shouted as he and Robert turned back to see Liam is laying on the ground with arrow hit him.

"Go! Don't stop, run!"

"Come on, Gene. We need to run!" Without waiting, both of them continued to run and left Liam behind to his fate...

They ran, ran and ran... And the Imperial troops were still hunting them, it seemed they can't get away with them... Until they arrived the canal and they couldn't see the other side of it since it was really dark... The water in the canal seemed to be really strong as the effect of raining in few days ago, it was quite hard if you are going to swim to the other side of the canal.

"We need to swim to other side, Gene. Come on, let's go!"

"What? But the water is so strong, we won't make it!

"You have to swim now! Jump!" Robert carried a rifle on the back but was going to jump into the canal when suddenly an Imperial troop charged him and both of them fell the ground.

Another Imperial troop showed up and quickly charged into Eugene but both of them fell into the canal as Eugene was standing at the brink... With the water flew too strong, both of them were flew away from the bank and along with the tide in canal.

Eugene tried to fight against that Imperial troop as he wanted to get away or else he will drown... But he lost his hatchet when he fell into the canal, so he just used his firsts but it didn't make Imperial troop hurt or feels pain.

But as the water became stronger and stronger, both of them got separated... Now Eugene on his own way as he was trying to swim toward the bank but it was too late... He was flew through the canal and he was going to drown ... He couldn't breath, he was going to drown and he was going to die... And that was the last thing he could remember before lost his conscious.

Sorry for taking so long to write this chapter, busy on university stuff... Stay tune for the next chapter! Feel free to review!