8 The Past Nightmares

A year ago

The 3 men laying on the ground in front of Castor were already dead because he was the one that shot them without any hesitation. He can tell as he sees their eyes were wide open while the blood in their mouth started dripping like a small stream. I raised my lasgun and set it to full-auto as I aim at the mother in front of me with her children crying.

Behind me was a burning house as my platoon shoots indiscriminately to the villagers 50 meters away from the farm. Me and my partner were sent here to kill everyone but he unfortunately died by the owner as he ambush behind us.

But when he saw me; he had a shocked and bewildered face. It was enough for me to shoot him there and the man's last words was a simple "why?" until death's scythe takes him away.

Now that the man was dealt with, Castor then went to the family that was frantically running away that the Commissar led them to a barn wall. He doesn't know how, he got that on fire but it certainly did its job to lure away the family.

With a grim expression; he dash towards them and realized what he had witness. This made Castor to have a dumbstruck face and instantly knew who that family was — they were his kin.

"Please Castor, don't shoot! Leave the children alone! Emperor have mercy!" His mother wails as she grips 4 children that were behind her. Including the one on her bosom as she tries to keep the children quiet. They were pinned to the wall of the barn where they store most of their food.

"Castor put the lasgun down and let us go..." His father said while raising his hands up as a form of surrender. "We just came here to visit... Nothing more so let us through son." He calmly said to Castor as he comes closer and closer.

But before he would go nearer; his head suddenly exploded as the blood spilled through everywhere. I turn around and figured who killed my father so mercilessly. It was Commissar Maximus and his face doesn't seem to be pleased by the slightest.

"Castor, kill the rest of the heretics and be done with it." Commissar Maximus coldly said as he reloads his bolt-pistol for another magazine.

"But sir..." Castor was cut short when Maximus points the muzzle of his bolt pistol directly at his back. He could feel the hot iron that was touching his skin.

"They're innocence proves nothing. They are heretics to the imperium and to the emperor. Do not make me repeat myself private." Commissar Maximus bellowed in impatience as he orders Castor to shoot.

Castor doesn't hesitates to shoot and fired his lasgun in every direction that he could possibly aim on full-auto. The screams and cries of the children were echoing in his ear as he keeps pulling the trigger until it was empty.

There was one child that escaped and my Commissar told me I missed one and forces me to shoot his brother while he was running. Before he could shoot him — the boy turns his back and all Castor could see were tears of fright and terror.

Which Castor immediately shot him 13 times before he falls to the ground in a crooked motion. The Commissar withdraws his bolt pistol and strodes off to town. He turns his back and points his bolt pistol again at Castor.

"If you ever dare to collude with the heretic again, I won't hesitate to shoot you!" Commissar Maximus growled and tells him to march ahead. I instantly obliged but not looking back at my deceased family whom had faces of that would haunt me for the rest of my life.

"I'm sorry everyone..." He whispered to himself as he marches to the burning town ahead where the screams of people dying are bellowing in his ears.

Castor vows to never forget this day as he would rather let him suffer for his actions. Meeting up with his squad, all in one single line formation as the Commissar inspects the squad of the platoon. The entire squad stood valiantly as the Commissar finally steps toward ours and scrutinize every detail that would be a misplacement for the guards honor.

Then he stops at me and bends downward as he glares his red, robotic eye to meet mine. I stood motionless, I stand expressionless, I was sweating to the point where droplets slide through my face and I hate it. He pulls out his bolt pistol and I closed my eyes as I accepted the fate I was given.

There was a loud bang that could rupture the eardrum of a juvenile as he opens his eyes out of surprise. Castor looks to his right without moving his head but he can tell from the corner of his eye that his friend was lying dead.

I immediately withdraw and met the eyes of the Commissar again and he didn't said a word nor did he justified why he killed Juron the man next to him. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth beneath the lips as he was scared of the world that he has gotten himself into. 'What am I even fighting for?' he thought and proceeds to march with the procession as they walk towards to their respective Chimeras.

____________________________________

Aemylth was sitting next to Castor, caressing his brown hair that was straight and curly at the same time. She finds it enjoyable as she plays with the strands of hair to the Mon'Keigh. The human then tilts his head to the side as it was disturbed by either its nightmares or it could be Aemylths non-stop touching. Which she immediately now restrains herself as she withdraws her slender hands away.

The Mon'Keigh then opens his eyes and gets up as fast as he could. Searching through his surroundings as if that giant black bird would come and pounce at him again. He even looked up and scan the entire sky — only to briefly cover his eyes due to the sun rays that hit him. Aemylth was behind him as he breathes uncontrollably so she reached her hand to his bulked back.

Castor was shocked by the skin contact by Aemylths suit so he turns around and crawls away. He now realized that it was a howling banshee that was at his back like a ghost that appeared out of nowhere. Fearing for his life — Castor lifts his hand as a gesture of him telling to the eldar not to kill him.

Aemylth gets up and takes off her Banshee mash to reveal herself as the one that rescued her. Castor was dumbstruck and relieved that it was the eldar that he saved — taking in a deep exhale. Then the pain started to surge from his body as lighting that jolts the nerves from his system. He groans in agony as he reach to his arm to see that it was patched up nicely and touches for comfort.

His biceps were bandaged so tightly that he couldn't feel his entire arm but he could crudely move it. The feeling was just uncomfortable to move. Aemylth on the other hand reached to him and calm him down with her psyche as she sends a wave of positive energy towards Castor. Making him feel drowsy in the process. Now he can freely move his arm slightly but the tingling nerves were still there. Castor chuckles at the feeling and smiles.

"Why are you giggling?" Aemylth said as she inquired Castor in low-gothic. He was baffled that the eldar could speak gothic.

"You speak gothic?" Castor said in amazement as he stare at her with awe.

"Yes, I do since your language is too simple and it only took me 1 month to comprehend it." She smirkingly said as she grins to Castor with her head tilted to the side.

Castor was relieved that they can communicate but what brought Castor to raise his eye brow was why didn't he knew. Out of all the eldar he had encountered — they either speak in an archaic dialect or not spoke at all since he killed a lot when he first had his battle with them. So why her? Why can she speak fluent gothic than any of the other eldar?

Both races could have benefited so much if they just sit down and have a talk. He will never know and probably never would learn why. Right now he needs to focus on surviving and meet up with his squad pronto.

But he has to stay and chat with the eldar that he saved — she saved me after all so I would at least give one of the wooden miniatures. Unbeknownst to Castor though is the eldar packing her things and was about to walk away from him.

"W-wait... Where are you going?" Castor said and reached his hand out — only to withdraw due to the pain.

"I must go back to my kind as they would wonder where I am." She said coldly and turns her head away from him.

Castor didn't know what to do and saw an eldar wooden figure that he carved days ago. He picks it up and throws it to the eldar. She catches it without even to turn around and looks at it. It was carved in a crude manner but the sculpture reminded it was her so she turns her head towards Castor.

Only to see him grin at her and waves his hand like an idiot but this made he smile though. Out of all the interactions that she had experience with her kind were nothing but lacking emotion but this human made her feel special. So she would then toss him the rag doll that she sewed for him. Castor clumsily catches it and holds it firm with his left arm. Then when she was about to take her leave, Castor called out to her.

"Wait whats your name?!" Castor said anxiously; he doesn't know why he was so nervous but he needs to know her name.

"Aemylth." She said without turning her back to face Castor.

"Castor Lorr but you can call me Castor." He returned with his name.

She nods and puts on her Banshee mask and jumps to the dense forest where she disappeared after. Castor sits there, looking at the direction where Aemylth went and stayed like that for a good two minutes doing nothing but pack his gear. He puts on his tunic and was about to button it until he hears 3 guys yelling. Is it my squad or is it another imperial force that is passing by.

I didn't found out who it was until I saw Czevak, Felix and Domitian running away from a bear like creature that he remembers it looking the same creature that attacked Aemylth and is that the Sergeant on top of it?

They ran like idiots as they didn't acknowledge I was there as they pass me. I sat there, doing nothing but watch while they struggle to find a way to evade it's clutches. So I opened the ration bar that was in my backpack.

I was having trouble peeling it due to my right arm still not able to move properly. But I managed to open it slightly. This however made the creature look at me as it drools and made a snot. While Sergeant Anya tries to strangle it with her bare arms.

"Oh s*it not again..." Castor gasps as he realized that he made a big mistake.

The creature doesn't hesitates to dash towards Castor as he opens the ration bar further. Then puts it on his mouth to hold, grabs a frag grenade that was near him and wraps it with his torn out clothes. He patiently waits when he is at a reasonable distance with the creature.

When Sgt. Anya saw Castor she yelled. "Oh no you don't!"

Then violently stabs her swiss knife at the creatures nape. While I subconsciously pulled the pin and throw it at the beast. The giant creature then drops to the ground flat on its belly as the grenade slip underneath it. Sgt. Anya drops her face at the creatures fur and lifts her hand to form a fist in triumph.

The other squad now saw Castor on top of the hill near to a light brown wall. They were all both surprised and overjoyed that he was alive but before they all could have a big group hug. The grenade underneath the belly of the creature exploded and lifted Anya up in the air to crashed the approaching boys that were about to stack on me.

They all groaned in pain and Czevak being Czevak carries Sgt. Anya like a damsel in distress. She in return smiles and uppercuts his lower jaw line — forcing him to drop her as she fell bottom flat on the ground.

"Castor! You didn't die from grox manure!" Felix said in glee and gets himself up while pushing Domitian over.

"H-hold on Felix, I'm- *Pu!*" before I could finish my sentence, Felix went ahead and gave me da hug. Disregarding the bandage that was in my arm — making his right arm feel more cramped as Felix applies pressure on his torso.

Domitian and Czevak then followed suit and hug me. Creating even more aches in my arm. While Sgt. Anya gets up and cleans the dust on her bottom. All while smiling at the group like a mother who was seeing her children found their lost brother. Until the two Skitarii rangers came up behind her as they stood side by side like robots. They didn't do anything as they just followed us while the 3 men were running for their lives.

"Tape?" One of them said as it raises the same silver round roll in their hands. Sgt. Anya rolls her eyes and turns her back away from the two Skitarii rangers. One of them even lifts a 'I don't know' sign.

"Alright boys, thats enough cuddling for one afternoon. We have new orders to pack our things and meet up with the 1st heavy infantry company in 20:00 hours." Sgt. Anya said as she grabs her lasgun.

They all made a thumbs up while staying in the group hug. Even Castor agreed and was the last to raise his thumb but without shaking painfully. So they went and pack their things and helped Castor get back on his feet. He will need to be treated by the medics so he could recover faster. I sometimes wish I was in a different squad but he doesn't regret spending his time with these morons. He wonders if he could see Aemylth again.

*****

At the Aeldari base of operations.

"Aemylth! Where were you?" Elris said as she walks next to Aemylth.

"Oh, I was just chasing after those two Mon'Keigh. Nothing more." Aemylth replied in honesty as she doesn't want to lie to her friend. Elris then turns her attention to the wooden sculpture that she was holding.

"What's that on your hand?" Elris said as she snatch the peculiar object Aemylth was holding.

"That's a trophy from my hunt." Aemylth said and grumpily takes the wooden sculpture away from Elris.

"What a strange trophy you picked? You sure you didn't spot anything thats more interesting that this ugly thing?" Elris said as she takes a closer look at it and is disgusted at how it is form. There was a short silence and Aemylth holds it tightly with her gentle and slender hands.

"No... I think I'll might keep it." Aemylth said and enters her shrine temple with the figure in her hands. Underneath that Banshee mask was a slight smile that she made.