The Last Shinto

by Cursedsoldier

During the Korean War an American soldier is cut off from his unit during the Chinese invasion. After taking shelter in an abandoned shrine, he surrenders himself to his fate. Unbeknownst to him his fate is about to snatched up by something other than death.

1. Intro

Intro

All I could feel was the bitter cold. I was so tired and on the verge of collapse. Where was everyone? They were gone, I was alone. They were coming. They were coming. The wind swirled around me. I had to hide, I needed to get out of the cold.

I was trudging my way upward through the snow, and the snow was going into my boots. I was headed upward it must have been a mountain, but it was pitch black and I could not see. It was so cold. I collapsed in the snow and lay a moment before forcing myself up again. Then I noticed the silhouette of a small structure in front of me.

I moved closer and saw it was something like a shack. I walked up some stone steps to the door. I grabbed the iron handle which chilled my hand even through my glove. After trying to force it a couple of times the door swung open. My initial relief from opening the door was short lived.

I shined my dying flashlight in the building which had nothing but a strange statue in the shape of a woman. I closed the door, unstrapped my gun, laid it up against the stone wall, and I sat down beside it. It was still bitterly cold in the building but at least I was out of the wind. Now it was thirst that bothered me, my mouth was so dry. I tried to drink from my canteen, but the water was frozen.

I laid up against the wall and breathed deeply. Each breathe brought in freezing cold air which chilled me to the core. Then I remembered the flask in my coat laying on my chest. I struggled to restrain myself, but I had to resist. I had to stay awake, my eyes drooped. I could do nothing but think, long to be home. Was there any way I could get out of this? Where was my squad? Where was the enemy? I had to fight, I had to resist.

After sitting for an endless amount of time I began clawing at my chest. Finally, I could bare it no longer and ripped my coat open. It was the flask still warm against my chest. I sucked down several gulps and soon it was empty. I got a warm sensation and was finally at peace. I allowed my eyes to close. I drifted off to sleep knowing that it was unlikely I would ever wake up again. But I could take it no more, I just wanted my misery to end.