Chapter one; Saying goodbye.

"Got any plans for when your on leave?"

I didn't have to look up from the dark, dingy ditch we were living in. Too busy tryigng to keep the rats from getting at my boots. Or, climbing up the trouser leg. Now, that would be a huge problem. The year was 1863 During the middle of the civil war. When the north was fighting against the south. Never, had I ever imagined to be spending my time in a trench, surrpunded by the smell of death, mud and smoke. I had expected to be at home, ignoring my father dissaproving with everything I had ever spoke off. Or to be settled down with a wife and kids. War, was not the answer in my books. Though, without the war would I have met the men I had? It didn't sound like that would of been possible. The friends I had gathered up; all because of this american crisis. My main favourite, was a boy a year younger than myself. Only 22. Or, turning 22. His birthday was in a few dyas time. William or 'Will' as he had others call him would sit up on gaurd most of the nights with me. Keeping a eye out for any unauthorized movements. But usually, it would just turn into a night of talking.

The air was thick and warm within the Antietam, MD. The date was.. God, it had been so long since I had last checked the actual date. I knew, it was sometime around septemeber. From all I knew, it had to be around the 17th. The bodies around me all lay snooring within there mindless dreams. The odd few still awake down the line of the trench to keep a eye out. Every mile or so. Will, had chosen to keep me awake. Though it was infact both our nights to get some sleep, Will wanted someone to watch out while he wrote a letter. Not that it would get sent for annother three days. It would be a two days march towards the town they were planning on meeting there next General. There last, had been killed on there last attack. Sr. James Fillion, the second in command had taken over the lead. Planning on getting the troops out of there quickly, and as quietly as he could. To presead with the war, and to infact get someone who was quilified to lead the men. I was sat, with a helmet over my head, covering my blue eyes from the dark, smokey night. No lights were aloud to be on. It could blow our whole position down. With my arms holding tightly to my loaded rifle, I chose to ignore Will's idiotic question and at least itry/i to get some shut eye.

"Hey! Don't go falling asleep on me, man. I need someone to keep watch while I write this." A hard kick to my head from Williams boot caused me to sit up, and adjust my helmet. Glaring to the Tenessee male sitting - well more of laying- beside me.

"Why are you even trying to write it? You can hardly see, and it won't be sent for a while." I pointed out matter-oh-factly.

"Still not the point. I promised her I'd write every chance I got. And this; well this is a chance, ain't it?" I couldn't help but droll my deep blue gaze at the answer of my friend.

"I'd hardly call this a chance. We are suppost to be getting rest. We have to walk around 18 miles in the morning." I stated, leaning back on the dirt walls of the ditch they were resting in.

"Ahh, come on Damo' old buddie. Y'know sarge won't mind if we're half asleep while walking. It's not like he's going to be making us run drills or anything." William scoffed, nudging me with his foot once more. I just shrugged, and pulled my helmet forward slightly. Blocking off my sight once again. Hopefully he'd get the point I didn't want to chat. That tonight, I wanted to sleep for once.

"You didn't answer my question."

"I see no need to. Does it really matter what I may, or may not be doing when I return home for a few weeks." I replied, keeping my uncomfortable pose. A light chuckle was what I heard in responce from Will. Causing me to pull my helmet back once more, and look to him- while still leaning against the dirt.

"When I get off. I'm getting married. Hey, you should come." Annother nudge, causing me to grunt to myself.

"Sure, I'll put that on my 'to-do' list." I scoffed to myself, looking up to the clear starry night. Though the smell of smoke; from the debre of the guns was still visible, it was still a clear sky. Something, I had almost forgotten about.

"I'm serious. You can be the best man. Waring a cowboy hat and everything." That statement caused me to chuckle, a small smile appearing on both mine and William's lips. "I doubt my father would allow that." Not like there was anything new with that statement. My father dissagreed with most things I spoke of. But then again, it never stoped me from actually speaking or doing the things I wanted.

"Tell me about your dad. You never speak of home." Will asked, sitting up and leaning against the dirt while watching me closely. Well, from what he could see of me anyway.

"There isn't much to tell." I shrugged, moving my rifle to the side of me and crossing my arms over my stomach.

"Brothers? Sisters? Hot maids?" Will pressed on. A toying sound to his rich Tennessee accent.

"A brother." I answered, giving a smile to myself. I hadn't spoken to Stefan since I left for the war. What had it been? 9-10 months? Time sure did pass quickly. It seemed like it was only yesterday I was hugging my younger brother goodbye.

"What's he like?"

"Like any other brother? Stefan is.. different." I answered. But my answer only caused William to become more interested. He, had been alongside me for most of there many months. From the moment the Tennessee regament had joined with the Virginia regament. I, had been his right hand man. His best friend threwout the war. I caught glims of my friends look, and sighed. No getting out of this one. "Stefan... He's.. fun. Knows how to cheer you up after somethign wrong. Always taking my side. I remember this one time-" I scoffed while speaking, obviously enjoying the thought of my brother. Since I refused to think of home during my time away. It would only make me miss it more. "- I was ill. Damn food had a glitch to it, I guess. But Stefan.. he stuck by my side. I even threw up on his feet. Want to know what he did?" I chuckled, looking to my hands and smiling. "He told me it was alright.. and that I could clean it up when I was well." William joined in with my small laugh, and nodded. "Sounds like a good kid."

"He is. Y'know. Most brothers dislike there younger siblings. Since they tend to get in the way. Me and Stefan.. we're close. He's.. He's my best friend." I smiled to myself, giving a nod of my head. "Well, you tell Stefan I said 'hey, and that I plan on meeting him very soon." William laughed, returning his eyes back to the paper, and writing. "I will." I noted, leaning my head back once again and looking to the sky again. For the first moment in a long time, I realised I missed home. All of the soldiers here did, that was obvious. But me? I only missed the person there worth caring about. Maybe once William was finished writing, and if they had time tomorrow; I could write a small letter to him. Telling him how things were. Couldn't be so bad. I smiled to myself, before letting my eyes close. William, finally let the me get some good erned sleep.

6Hrs. Latter.

"DAMON! COME ON WAKE UP!"

The bellowing sound of loud bangs, and bullets flying caused my eyes to tare open and my body to jult up. William was beside me, shakeing me violently. "Good god, man. You were out like a log! I thought for a moment you were hit!" It was hard to even hear Will's voice over the yells of other men.

"What's going on!" I called over, putting my hands to my head to ease the headache that was building already.

"We're under attack! Sarge gave the orders to get the hell out of here. Front line are going to old the 'ates back while we make a run." Will yelled, grabbing his rifle and dashing up the dirt. The rain, had picked up. Due to the amount of pollution being misted in the air. Toxic rain, otherwise known as. I was not far behind from William. Grabbing my own rifle, and heading up after him. Trying to keep my feet from falling from under me. William, was making a clear shot for the trees. As were most men. It was hard trying to run and dodge bullets at the same time. Never the less, I prayed to god my legs wouldn't fail me. I had to hand it to William though, he could run. At times, I found myself wondering if I would ever be able to catch up with the boy. That was until the shadow I was rushing after fell to the floor. They had to have been minutes away from the line. Obviously one of the bullets had hit him. I, was the first to rush to him. Why wouldn't I? He was my only good friend here. The one I could trust the most. Others were rushing passed, trying to get out of the way. I threw my rifle to the floor, and imeditly looked to the wond on his shoulder. My hands, tried desperatly to stop the blood, but I was shaking too much to even know what I was doing!

"I-I-I'm...hit.." William's stuttering, out of breath voiced called, but I could barely hear it over the yells of other men fighting. "Don't worry! I'll get you out of here! You keep holding on alright! Think of Annabeth!" I yelled loudly, looking round for any officer to at least help me to get him out of the way of fire. Everywhere I looked there were bullets. Bodies laying on the floor. The air was filled with yells, screams and orders. Misting with smoke, and dirt. Explosions. Loud ones. The rain didn't help either. My attention was stolen back to my friend on the floor at the touch on my shirt. Pulling me down to his level.

"Y-y-you got to get out of here!" William yelled, blood spitting from his mouth and onto my face. You think anyone would be creeped out by this. The fact a persons blood was running over your flesh. But this; this wasn't the place to be fussy on hygien.

"I'm not leaving you!" I called back. But the look in William's eye said it all. The boys hand tore away from my shirt, and riffled up to the pocket on his own shirt. Pulling out the letter he had been writing only hours ago. William took my hand, and pushed the letter into it. Never minding that the rain would ruin the paper. With annother spit up of blood, he put his hand onto my shoulder, pulling me back down. "Give.. give that to.. A-a-AnnaBeth. Tell her..I-I-I'm sorry." His voice coughed, pushing me away. I looked at the boy, starstuck. "No! I'm not leaving you!"

"You have to get out of here.. GO!" William had the enough stength to push me away and into the mud. I stumbled to my feet, bullets plying pass me. Never taking my eyes of my true friend. "GO!" William yelled again. His body trembiling from the wond on his left shoulder. I nodded, and rushed off. Grabbing my rifle and thowing it over my shoulder. The letter in my hand, tightly sealed off. Taking once glance back to my friend, I said goodbye within my mind. I knew, in that moment, I was never going to see William alive again. I made it, there and then; my goal to get this letter to Annabeth. No matter the consicuences.

Rushing in and out of tree's, it was as if the Sarge- as William called him- wasn't able to hold the line back. I had ran, and ran. But the bullets just kept coming. Hitting people alongside me. But I pressed on, rushing for saftey. I couldn't die. I had to get this note out to William's family, to Annabeth. I had to return home, and see Stefan once again.

A large, ripping pain ruffled threw the my shoulder, and left leg. Sending me stumbling to the floor, and sliding down a hill into a well hidden ditch. To far down the hill for the enimies to see. It felt as if I had landed in a puddle. But at one look, I realised it wasn't a normal puddle caused by the rain. It was a puddle of my own blood. I felt paralyzed. Not being able to move my shoulder. Once stable, in the floating muck of mid, rain and blood, I looked down to the wond. Once glance was all it took. I had been shot in the back of the shoulder, and the bullet had went right threw. As for my leg, I was too sore to even move my body. Laying there on my back, he watched the rain falling. Listened to the screams filling the air. The bullets hitting of things. Bangs from explosions. I accepted what was going to become of me. I was going to die here, but even though it didn't harm me much; I knew Stefan would understand. I just prayed someone came along and found the letter. Got it to William's family. My eyes blurred, but made out a single shadow. From what I thought, I could of sworn, it was a angel. Coming to take me from this devils making.

"Close your eyes."

The voice whispered close to my ear, and slowly, my eyes closed. Wandering into the darkness. I would be free.