236 Untimely

On my knees and on the ground while leaning forward from pain, I could feel a burning sensation from where that girl had stabbed me in the back. With my left hand, I applied pressure to that wound, hoping to stop the bleeding. However, that girl must have turned the blade somewhat as the wound wasn't small.

"A-are you alright?" Muria's voice trembled and her face seemed to have lost its earlier calm.

"I'm fine," I forced a smile and responded to her question.

In all reality, I am not fine. My body trembled from the sharp and lingering pain as well as the drop in temperature of my body. As the blood gushed out from my wound, so did the warmth in my body. Slowly slipping away was my vitality. If I want to survive, then my best chance would be to find an actual doctor that could patch up the wound, but...it will be rather difficult to do. Besides, that is if the wound does not get infected. The future is obscured for me right now, as if a dark and heavy fog had now descended from the heavens out of nowhere and onto the path before me. Yet, now is not the time to think. I must get Muria out of the city.

"Let's go," I said as I forced myself to get up from the ground by using the nearby wall as a support, using my hands to slowly crawl up.

"But your wound," Muria frowned. "You're gonna bleed out. We must at least get you bandaged up. There's a first aid kit at home. Let's—"

"There's no time!" I shouted out loud and immediately regretted it.

I peeked over at Muria's face, hoping that she is not hurt by my behavior. On her face, there was no look of sadness. Instead, there was an angry frown.

"I'm not going if you don't listen," she said.

I stared at her face with my mouth slightly open from surprise.

"I am your wife, your partner for the rest of your life," she continued. "It is my duty to make sure that you don't do anything reckless."

Based on that determined look on her face, it seems as if no compromise can be made. Even though she is the more reasonable type and would be willing to listen to my side of argument, if there is something that she made up her mind about, something that is extremely dear or vital to her, then there is no point in wasting time to try and change her mind. Instead of trying to argue with her and waste precious time, it is more beneficial to go along with her.

"Fine," I sighed.

A smile appeared on her face, replacing that frown from earlier. "You wait here," she said as she sat me down and propped my upper back against the wall on the side of the road to avoid the incoming traffic of people trying to escape the city. The number of people rushing out seemed to have diminished significantly as the street was more open and less congested than before. "I'll head home and grab the first aid kit."

"Take this." I handed her my pistol which she accepted without saying anything, probably knowing that this is something that I wouldn't compromise over.

"I'll be back soon."

She smiled as she disappeared around the corner and ran towards our home, leaving me resting on the side of the road in the umbrage of a nearby tree. To pass time, I observed the panicking crowd as they quickly rushed towards the northern exit of the city, scrambling along with what little they could carry with them. No one noticed me sitting here because no one had the leisure to notice me. Every one is pumped with adrenaline as they fought to keep themselves and their family alive. In times like these, it's everyone for themselves, so I regret nothing now. I understand that concept. If she seeks revenge on me, then that is her right to do so, and she accomplished it.

A gentle breeze blew by as the world around me seemed to fade to white with my eyes slowly losing the light. The chaotic and frenzy noises of the city faded away, leaving me a mere shell of myself as consciousness started slipping away. As if an anesthesia had been injected into me, I could feel a sense of great tranquility. The rape of the city and massacre seemed so distant, so far away that it didn't feel like it's a problem for me to worry about. It's...so calm and peaceful. The frantic footsteps of parents as they dragged along behind them their children seemed oddly rhythmic. Their legs as if pendulums used to hypnotize people, lulled me into a state of drowsiness.

If I were to fall asleep now...I'll be able to sleep peacefully.

There will be no disturbances that could wake me, and I will finally get the rest that I deserve.

I'm tired, I thought as my eyelids became increasingly heavy.

It's so comfortable, just sitting here with my back limp against the wall. Even though I was feeling cold just earlier, it felt as if the cold had numbed my senses, making me oblivious to the cold. I couldn't feel the cold anymore, so what's the difference between feeling cold and feeling warm? They' are the same, both equally comfortable if you are unable to sense any of it.

If I were to fall asleep now, no one would blame me. No one would. Maybe Muria, but she'll understand. She'll...where is she?

With my eyelids half-closed I moved my eyes without moving any other part of my body in search of her.

She's...not back yet. Did she abandon me?

A feeling of joy entered my drowsy mind.

Then good for her. Go and live on.

Each breath that I took became more and more tiresome, requiring great effort and input of energy on my end. It's...so tiring that my body could no longer force itself to maintain the rate. Each breath that I took was shallower than the previous, and the frequency of breathing started to gradually decrease as well as the light surrounded my consciousness.

"Alevian?" I heard someone call my name followed with a gentle shake of my body. "Alevian?"

The voice is...so familiar, and it slowly became louder and louder until I was dragged out of the light and back into the physical realm.

On her knees next to me with a concerned look on her face was Muria, whose eyes seemed to have teared up somewhat as there were clear fluids that reflected the light somewhat. On the ground next to her was the old first aid kit that she had retrieved as well as the pistol that I had given to her.

"Don't worry," I whispered. "I'm just tired. I didn't sleep at all last night cause I was on guard duty."

"Don't scare me like that," Muria said in a weeping voice. "Let's get you bandaged up."

I lifted up my shirt that was now soaked with my blood, causing the white fabric to be dyed with spots of dark red. When I looked over, I saw that the ground around me had small puddles of my blood. As I regained my senses, I could feel the blood gushing out of that wound, and even with the bandage wrapped tightly around it, that sensation did not stop.

When I saw what Muria had just bandaged up, I immediately knew that all efforts are pointless now. I've simply lost too much blood and the bleeding doesn't seem like it will be stopping anytime soon. I glanced over at her serious and worried countenance as she wrapped the bandage around me, taking in that hopeful and determined expression, I couldn't bring myself to stop her. If I were to speak up now, she'll most definitely cry.

"Slowly," Muria whispered softly to me as she helped me up.

Even though I had risen at an extremely slow pace, I still felt light-headed as the world around me darkened. I almost passed out from my low blood pressure, but I can't. Not yet. I must get Muria out of this city first. I'm going to bleed out soon...but please. Please just let me get her out of the city. Please...

As we slowly crept towards the northern exit of the city, the road had cleared out. No other civilians are using this street anymore, meaning that the ones who could get away had probably escaped the city already, leaving just Muria and I limping over towards the opened gates. Our progress was frustratingly slow, and that was because of me. I am unable to walk without Muria's support, and even with her support, I am simply limping as I leaned most of my weight on her small frame. The loss of blood had weakened me severely, and it's effects are blatantly obvious. But even then, Muria did not abandon me.

I glanced over at her from the corner of my eye once again, taking in that determined expression on her face and that silent resolve in her eyes. I am so glad that she is my wife. Even though we do not know each other as well as husband and wife should, I am still glad. She's a great person, but she's just unlucky that her marriage partner was me.

"T-thank you," I weakly muttered, but it would appear that she did not hear me. In fact, I didn't hear myself say it as well.

The silence of this empty road was soon dispelled when a truck drove by and stopped not too far ahead of us. Muria halted, and when I looked up, I saw that our path to safety was severed by the soldiers dropped off by the Jorzan truck.

"Shut the gates!" a man with a scar on his face and dressed in a Jorzan officer's uniform barked to the other Jorzan soldiers in their language. "Don't let anymore of these rats out."

"Sir," a Jorzan soldier notified his officer as he aimed his rifle in our direction. "Two individuals."

"That girl looks mighty fine," another soldier commented as he licked his lips.

"Do what you want," the officer shook his head and said.

"Yes sir," the soldiers smiled as they slowly encircled the two of us and approached.

"That guy looks half dead already," a soldier commented with an evil smile that was distorted by desire and a thirst for destruction.

"Leave him to die," another said. "That girl...we can take turns with her."

With great difficulty, I slowly lifted my head up, glaring at the five Jorzan soldiers that had us trapped. My breathing intensified as beads of sweat formed on my forehead from the great stress this simple behavior had placed on my body. My legs trembled and threatened to give way and it would have if not for Muria's body supporting mine.

"Damn," a Jorzan soldier commented with a lustful smile. "Look at those boobs! Oh God!!!"

My right arm was around Muria's shoulder for support, so I reached my left hand to my belt and retrieved the holstered pistol. After quickly disengaging the safety, I pointed the pistol directly in front of me and at the group of Jorzan soldiers, causing them to quickly tense up and aim their rifles at me.

I grimaced and clenched my teeth together as I forced my body to endure the pain and weakness as I retracted my right arm from Muria to stand on my own. Slowly, I took a step forward to stand between Muria and the Jorzan soldiers. My knees still trembled. There was no way for me to deal with that. But...in the very end, I was able to stand my ground.

"Back off!" I barked at them, using my last burst of adrenaline to force my body to move.

"Drop the gun!" I heard a soldier shout in Vilhemian.

"What's going on?" the officer walked over with both hands behind his back and a stern expression on his scarred face. "Oh?" The officer appeared mightily amused by the sight of me holding up the pistol and standing between them and my wife. "That pistol...are you a Vilheim soldier?"

I didn't respond to his question. I was too tired to respond. If I were to do anything to break this delicate balance my body was in, I am certain to collapse. In fact, it was the most I could do to keep my arm from trembling.

"A soldier dressed in civilian clothing," the officer nodded. "You're a runaway." He then laughed.

"What a coward," a nearby Jorzan soldier chuckled and commented.

"No he's not," the officer shook his head and said as he stepped through the semi circle of Jorzan soldiers. "He's a true warrior, unlike those others who fled."

"How's that?" the soldier asked.

"He stayed behind to protect his woman," the officer smiled and pointed out. "How admirable while your comrades just fled, leaving their Capital for the taking." The man shook his head in disappointment. "I like you. You're honorable. If you were one of us, then I would definitely have a medal given to you. But since you're one of them Vilhemians..." the man's smile disappeared as his facial expression was replaced with a dangerous expression. "Your honor must be trampled."

With a movement by the general that was so fast that it was invisible to my fatigued eyes, my left arm fell to the ground with a thud. With great horror in my trembling eyes, I slowly looked over at the stump and saw as what little blood still remained in my body started gushing out.

"A...a Caster?" I muttered in disbelief as my eyes quickly darted back to the officer.

"Have fun boys," the officer turned around and simply stood there with his two arms behind his back as he looked over at the closing gate down the street.

With me having been disarmed, the soldiers quickly rushed over towards us. Two of them pinned me down onto the ground, while the other three grabbed Muria and threw her onto the ground. With one on either side of her holding down her arms, the third soldier began ripping apart her clothing, cutting open her blouse to expose her chest and also ripping off her pants.

"Let go of me!" Muria kicked and resisted, but it was of no avail.

"Damn this is beautiful," the soldier commented with a lustful look on his face as he inserted a finger into her.

"Stop!" I cried out and tried to force the two man off of my. Yet...my body was too weak to do anything...

"Sir!" the soldier shouted as he quickly retracted his finger. "She's a virgin."

"Sir," the other soldier then said. "I think you should have the first taste. This is your catch after all."

"If you all insist," the officer turned around with a smile on his face as he started unbuckling his belt and pulling down his pants. "Watch carefully Vilhemian soldier," the man said with a taunting and evil smile on his face.

"Arhhhh!" A cry of pain echoed through the empty street as tears streamed down from Muria's eyes after the man forcefully inserted himself into her virgin and pure body, violating her and tainting her.

"Get away from her!" I shouted, tearing my vocal chords with the amount of strain I placed on them. A final surge of energy entered my body as I freed my right arm. However, my body was still pinned down. Yet...even in this desperate situation, I reached my hand out towards her, hoping that a miracle could somehow happen. Nothing happened.

All I could do was watch as Muria cried as the man continued to thrust himself in her, licking on her breasts and forcing his tongue into Muria's mouth just after that. After that, the other soldier removed his pants and shoved his penis into Muria's mouth, grabbing onto her hair in a violent and forceful manner and slapping her across the face when she resisted.

It wasn't too long before they were finished and released their white and yet disgustingly dark fluid into her. At that moment, I truly gave up. I cursed these men as well as this world. I cursed the fact that I only died after witnessing that horrible scene.

Yet...nothing can change the fact that I had failed to uphold that promise I had made to her...

Her face...that last smile she directed towards me, even though she had and will be enduring hell...it was as if, in the end, she's trying to tell me to not worry. Even in the end...she's thinking about me...