Through These Eyes
Chapter 2: Memories Under the Rain
Fall 25th, 1940
Not far from Mary's Library,
Mineral Town,
1600 hrs
"C'mon Karen! Run! Run! Keep running we'll cover!" It's raining….and it's all screwed up….
"I AM RUNNING! JUST TAKE THOSE NAZIS OUT!" Everything went upside down today…
(PAKOOM)
"AAAARRGHHH!"
"KAREN!" Everything wouldn't end up like this….if only we haven't been too greedy…..
(2 hours earlier)
"Alright…..you know what we're doing right?" I ask my friends as they load their arms
"Yeah…" Mary nods as she fixes her glasses while her Mauser 98K Sniper Rifle stands ready
"Raid a supply depot, kill the high ranking officer, kill Nazis, take supplies, and get out….usual routine….man I should've been out of this place last season if only those Nazis didn't come up….not to mention today's weather…..I hate rain…." Kai sighs as he loads his MG42 with the belt round
"Stop complaining Kai, we're in this together…." Rick replies as he examines his med-pack
"Alright. We know what to do…." As for me… "I want safeties off and extra ammo ready at hand. This is a combat zone." I was leading this assault after I got word of a German mining camp by the lake. Not to mention, they're stacked with supplies of weapons and ammos….which is good
"Alright….on my signal…we give the jump on them, kick their asses, grab crates, and go back, take a good drink of one of doc's terrible medicine, and have cold chow…."
"That's my line Kai…." Kai turn his head and chuckle
"Yeah, I know. So what? I always wanted to say that…"
"Right……." I nod while smiling sarcastically "Alright, on my signal, we're gonna' give the jump on them. Ready?" They all nod as we lie in wait for the chance
"NOW! ATTACK! KILL THOSE SONS OF BITCHES!" We charge out of our positions as one of the patrol turns his back on us. The rest, is like routine ambushes….every kraut kisses the dirt
The situation around the lake seems clear as we search the bodies and every nook in the camp while Kai's on guard. We notice for a while that a bridge had been constructed…and it seems to lead to the mine in the center of the lake
"You all stay outside, and stay on guard. I'll go check…" I cross the bridge slowly, creeping up as I get closer and closer to the island. Somehow, I got this eerie feeling that something is watching me from the water…but who cares for now?
I reach the lake and cock my MP40 as I change a new magazine. The mine inside is quite dark, but thanks to the light sticks and a few lamp set by the Germans, this place is sufficient enough for people to barge in and see if it's clear. As I walk deeper into the mine, I notice two dark figures by one of the corners
"Hands up!" I point the MP-40 to the figure as they shot back at me with a surprise. As I come closer, the more I know who one of them is... "….Ann?"
I was right…..it WAS Ann
"Karen…." She looks back at me; her face is dirty, and there are bruises all over her body. Blisters are even visible in her palm
"W….what're you doing here? I thought you've escaped with Jack!" I ask her and notice that the other person behind her, a German medic, started to lower his hands. "YOU keep your hands up kraut!"
"No, Karen don't shoot! He's been treating me a couple of times…..well, not only me, but the others as well….." I sigh and lower my gun
"Alright…..we'll talk later, this area is hostile….TOO hostile to be around. Let's go, we're going back…" She nods
As I walk outside with Ann and the doctor, I pause and stop my tracks as Rick make signs that a kraut Armored Patrol is passing by: A Panzer II tank, and 5 infantrymen armed with K98ks and MP-40…..sadly, this group is alerted due to my stupidity….and aggressiveness. I was thinking back there….to capture the tank with a grenade thrown into the hatch….that way, we could return back without fearing being captured. But our insufficient equipments nearly get us all killed.
They notice us and our moves first….
The tank rotates its turret and blows the bridge while my friends were being pinned by their tank's coaxial machinegun and infantry. I swim to the shore towards my friends, while Ann return to the mine after kraut infantry showed up from inside the mine and shot the doctor on sight screaming: "Traitor! Töten ihn! Schiessen!" Then two other krauts showed up and shot the doctor in the head; which threatened Ann to return. In the meantime, they're trying to gut me. As I reach the shore I toss a smoke grenade, (one of Rick's finest achievements….using bamboo and other stuff from Doctor Tim) covering us from the tank's line of fire with clouds of smokes
"Now run! Retreat! Back to town!" As we run down the mountain, I turn around and shout: "ANN! I PROMISE I'LL GET YOU OUT OF THERE!" before we're chased down to town under the rain
(Present)
"C'mon, help me……her…." I…almost can't hear the sounds around me….
"Mary! Keep….ing…..kill...all!" I can hear the sounds of bullets whizzing, the sounds of Mary's rifle fire…but I can't hear anything else….
Just the rain…..
Shellshock…..
The pain……
Everything….seems to turn….dark…
(1 Hour later)
"Karen? Karen?" I open my eyes slowly as a voice called me
"Ughh….." I tried to sit up strait, but was halted by the wound "Whoa, whoa…..slow down….it misses the artery, you're ok." Rick had been taking care of me while I'm out…..
I pause for a moment and look at the surroundings were in. The place looks quite familiar, only the roof is missing…..
"Where are we?" I ask as I examine the remains of this structure
"We're in your home….the supermarket….or what's left of it." I turn to Rick as he sit beside me, just like what we used to do back then before the Nazis came.
"Yeah…..I still remember……there's the counter…." I point at the counter, where my dad usually charges people for what they buy….
"This is where we sell all sorts of ingredients for cooking…."
"This is the door to my house….which we're leaning on right now…." There was nothing remaining beyond this door…I can see through the cracks
"There's where we sell basket, rucksack, fish food, wrapping paper, and of course, the blue feather…." I pause for a moment and smile "Hey Rick!" I call out
"Yeah?"
"Remember back then when you bought the Blue Feather and play around with it……" Rick's face turns red in seconds before he looks away "D…don't remind me of that time…"
"Aw, c'mon…..it's such a cute event….you're like going to me and say with the blue feather 'Will you marry me' and all. I was…dumbfounded that time but then you laugh out loud and say that it was only a joke."
"Yeah…..then we had a fight…"
"That's right…..man, now I wish I know what my face looks like when you said that…" Rick giggles and started laughing "Man…it was hilarious…."
"Yeah…" Then it goes silent as I remember some events from the past "Say Rick…."
"Yeah?"
"You remember when we're around 7-8 years old that there's this boy who came to the village…?"
"Yes I do, why?"
"Well….Ann says she met him in the foot of Mothers hill, playing alone and all….." Rick nods "So what's up with him?" He asks
"Back then, I used to envy Ann since he found that boy, and the fact that she's closer to him rather than I who're just introduced to…" I pause
"I got a crush on that boy…..a huge one….." I pause again and sigh "But it's over when he leaves the island….." I pause again as I lean more on the wall
"Ann went to his-would-be farm, and found out that he's going away. A music box….yeah, a music box is what he gave to her; and a promise he'll return….Ann misses this little boy so much that I have to listen to her talking about him almost all day after he left."
"So….what's up with this boy?" Rick asks
"He has returned…and left again….Rick, I KNOW that boy. I know who he is!" Rick's eyes lit up "Don't tell me it's…."
"Yes Rick, its farm boy…its Jack." Rick nods, confirming it "Yes….it is him…I knew it….there's always one characteristic I remember about that boy: he always wears a cap of orange and blue, and rarely takes that off. Not to mention, his adaptation to the environment is quick as well…" He stops "But how come Ann is after Cliff now if she is really misses this boy?"
I chuckle for a second and answer "Well, Ann mistook Cliff for the boy. She found Cliff in the flower field, the SAME spot to where Jack is when they first met."
"But you told Ann after Jack arrived, didn't you?" I pause and try to remember "Did I…?"
"Yeah you did! It's the 5th of Spring when you visit the bar and take 6 shots of…..oh…wait…" Rick pause "I was drunk…..right Rick?"
"Yes…..and she thinks it's not serious. Why don't you tell her now….well, after we get her out of there." I smirk and laugh for a second "Well, let her figure it out by herself…..how fun would it be if I told her, right?" Rick chuckle and smile at me "Damn straight you are."
There was a moment of silent for a few minutes as we sit together, poured by drops of rain as it gets harder, and harder. Kai and Mary is outside, watching the horizon if the Germans had given up their search for us. Well, for once it'll stay like this for a couple of minutes…or hours….but…without my expectations, Rick places his right hand on my left…
"R…Rick?" I blush heavily as I try to look at his face who seems to be getting serious at that moment
"Karen, I-I know I'm not serious back then…but……" He ravages his med-pack and pulls out a…. "But if I ask you now, will you…marry me?"
A blue feather….
I was stunned by his actions, making me unable to look at his face. I was flustered, totally washed out by this feeling of joy as I look at the blue feather that was a little bit painted in blood
"I…I know this blue feather is a bit messed up, and I know this is quite a sudden so…" I smile as small tears started rolling down my cheeks "Oh Rick you don't have to…." I leap at him….
And kiss him in his lips….
"I will…." Then we began kissing again as if nothing had happened around us….
"Uh….sorry to disturb…cough…your business…" We stood up and turn our heads at Kai who're smiling vigorously at us "But….the Germans had given up their search…..we can…..well, you know…get back to our hide out….then maybe you guys can…continue?"
We stood up straight and straighten our gears together as we try to steal glances at each other
"Ehm…yes, yes….lets go back…"
The rain…..it brings back memories about that day when he proposes me. Not to mention, in a dangerous combat zone where the Angel of Death lie in wait for its next victim. After we return to the tunnels, Kai announce to everyone of what he saw, and of course, since we got no place else to hide it, we blurted it out. The pastor smiles as he gave his blessings to us, and says that the wedding ceremony will be at the church; after all this combat settled. After that, he carry me to my room and….well, you know what happen…
(Karen's Diary)
Fall 25th, 1940
Dear,
Diary,
Well…so many things are quite unexpected these days…I was married to Rick, and…it's like a dream come true. My knight in shining armor is there all these years accompanying me in hardship as my closes friend: Rick Burton. Never expected it, but it was really something I could never imagine…
"Karen? You're done?"
"Just a minute!"
Well, I shouldn't make him wait for too long, didn't I?
(Back to Karen)
I close the diary and walk up slowly to Rick as I dim the oil lamp that lit the room. Slowly…just slow enough to seduce him…..before I make my move….
"Karen?" Rick asks as I crawl up to his face slowly
"Yes?" I answer, rather teasing
"You're still…a virgin, are you?" I smile and chuckle to him "Tonight, not anymore. Are you?" Rick smile back as he took of his glasses
"Well, tonight will be my last night I guess…" He kisses me one last time before he helps me to bed….
Author's Note:
OK….I know its been a very long update, almost forgotten probably, but I've manage to type another one after skimming A Farmer's Courage and plans to re-typing it again….fixing all the early mistakes. So, this chapter took quite an effort to type since I'm out of ideas as well. Please, leave a review or something here…..criticism….will is considered constructive, unless there are harsh words in there. But, this is what I can bring for now, so yeah….I'm trying to sum up the next chapter for this fic, and I guess it'll be done in a few more days. So update should be quite fast for this weeks and months….not to mention, I'm in my school break. Well, enjoy.
PS: For readers (such as Wing Omega), I'm really, really sorry for this long update that...seems to take on forever. I've been working on multiple fics at one (A Farmer's Courage II: Vietnam 67', A Farmer's Courage (Re-typing, re-editing), Shinobis in Indonesia (My friends, but I decided to assist on it), The Inn Keeper's Daughter (drafting..), Reminiscence of the Far Past, and Reason to Live (Gunslinger Girl).). Not to mention, homeworks and projects from school. Well, I'm at break now, so you can expect updates on some of those later in the future.
Sorry for thelong update. Thank you