1 Chapter 1

"HELP ME!"

"PLEASE!"

"SOMEONE!"

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!"

The voices full of emotion screamed into my ears as I bolted up the sandy beach with all my effort. I wanted to escape this place. This absolute hell.

I didn't run away from home just to die on the beaches of Waitangi, I came here to have tales about me written for years to come, to praise my heroic deeds in the great war. I don't want to die here!

"AAAAHHHHH--!"

The blood splattered onto my face, neck, shoulder and dark blue uniform as the man next to me's head exploded from a bullet. I dropped to the ground instantly, just like in training.

That's right, just like in training. Just like in...

"Just like in training."

Slowly taking deep breaths, I tried to regain my composure inside this hell hole but vomited my pathetic excuse of a breakfast up as soon as I saw the fellas body. The bullet had pierced through the centre of his forehead but had also caused his right eye to fall out of its socket and soak in it's own blood.

The gruesome scene was common here, in Waitangi, especially since the Māori had a massive advantage, being on those mountains while we were forced to charge them only to be shot dead one after the other.

The once beautiful, white and sandy beaches were now soaked, flooded and dyed with crimson blood. The bodies had begun to pile up and form a natural barricade of sorts against the barrage of bullets from above.

Gulping, I slowly unslung my rifle from my left shoulder and moved the corpse on top of me, in a hope to grant me some protection. Peering through the sights on my gun, I speedily searched for a Māori soldier to come into view so I could pop his head off and vent some frustration on him.

My wish was granted as a young boy, no older than fourteen broke through a line of soldiers, swinging his axe wildly like a bloodthirsty beast. I lined up my sights and waited until he grappled a small, blonde boy, no older than himself.

A trace of hesitation crossed his eyes and I licked my lips at the clear display of weakness, which gave me the window I needed to line up my shot completely.

BANG!

The bullet left my rifle as I watched it move towards his neck in slow motion.

TUNK!

I watched as the bullet pierced through the left side of his neck, straight out the other side. The blood sprayed everywhere, covering my ally in the child's blood. I should have felt bad.

I didn't. I didn't feel much at all as I watched his expression go from confusion to watching his own body slump and blood spray from his neck. I was a bit disappointed by the fact that I didn't kill him instantly, but I can make up for that by killing more people.

"Oi Jessie, get a move on up the beach, were making the final push before we conquer the country!" A man with brown hair, brown eyes and well toned build encouraged and ordered at me at the same time.

"Yea, yea sir. Lets fuckin do this aye?" I smiled in return.

The man who I conversed with was both my superior, and my friend, Henry Laddle. He'd gotten promoted by preaching the bible in camp once by a senior officer when he was drunk. The idiot got promoted but always shirked his responsibilities onto me.

"Your more of a bother then fun to hang around huh?" I said bluntly to his face.

"Bloody oath, isn't that like that the 75th time you've told me this?" He smirked

"Wh-Why are you taking pride in that?!"

Giving me a shrug as an answer, he sped up as his focus returned to what it should be in a hell of blood and death.

"Five Māori men up front lads!! Bloody kill em all!" Some random soldier shouted with excitement.

The gunshots went off rapidly, as the men were littered with holes, mowing them down.

"LADS!!! WE'VE DONE IT! WE HAVE CONQUERED NEW ZEALAND!" The supreme captain screamed at the top of his lungs.

Simultaneously, all the Australian soldiers threw down their weapons and cheered.

"YEAAA!"

I cheered along with them, but not as loudly since I didn't want them to recognize my voice as something that didn't belong on a battlefield. My voice, that of a woman's, Jessica Kelly.