lollimewirepirate-ninja- this may top the previous intense level…
ThatRandomReview- hm nope not a bad thing, it would really suck to be brainwashed like that
Sweetstar25- last! Glad you like the story
PASTA300- Here's the finish, glad you enjoy twisted Germany! And the depression may get worse
IWantsRussia-Glad you like my works, thanks for the favorting and following, glad you like this work, and here's the end!
Thanks to all for reading, reviewing, following, and favorting. Please enjoy the final chapter to You've Become a Monster!
Chapter 16
In the courtyard, Ludwig commanded the firing squad. Seven men, dressed in SS uniforms, their faces shadowed by the dim lighting stood, polished killing machines. Only glimpses of their faces were seen when the guns went off.
Gilbert was cuffed, in a long line of other men. Next to him was Strauffenburg, and they were at the very end of the chain.
"Are all…these men in your plot?" he asked, eyes wide as another man died.
"Some of these men I have never seen before…"[1]
I'm dying tonight… Gil thought, heart racing
Strauffenburg shook his head, sighing "What a shame…"
Gil was quiet as he looked around. Ludwig stood by the squad, barking orders to them. Stone walls surrounded them, armed guards patrolling the perimeter. The Nazi banner fluttered in the light wind. The dim light danced over the silky red of the banner. He shook his head in disgust.
"You see the banner there, Gilbert?" Strauffenburg asked quietly, as the firing squad went off again.
"Yes…" he spoke back, looking at the ground.
"Why is the banner red?"
"I thought you said it was stupid and didn't matter?" Gil said, looking at him.
"Staring at Death changes that."
Gilbert nodded, and looked back to the banner. "I…I don't know." He said, shrugging.
The chain was growing steadily shorter, death inching closer to them.
Strauffenburg was quiet, and Gil shut his eyes, tilting his head back. Funny, how alive he felt, when death was so near.
The wind was warm, and soft. Like a gentle touch, caressing his face, and messing with the tendrils of his hair. It smelled heavily of blood and gunpowder, but the warm wind brought a fresh smell, of flowers, and grass.
A small smiled tugged at his lips, fondly remembering the good points of his life. Friends, soldiers he had come to know well. Battles, where he stood victorious. Kings, that knew what they were doing, the laughs he shared in particular with Fritz. But as the wing blew again, memories of an empty field, where he found a small blonde haired boy crossed his mind.
He smiled sadly, eyes watering slightly. He remembered that scared little boy, that he took as his own, the small boy that he raised as his own brother. He saw the thunderstorms, that scared the young boy. He remembered telling him bedtime stories to calm him down, or even sharing the same bed if he wouldn't relax. He could recall every moment, when tears spilled from the boys blue eyes. His smile grew wider, and sadder. He would hug the small boy for as long as it took to halt the tears…he hated when the boy cried. More than he hated looking soft. He shook his head slightly, recalling teaching the young boy to sword fight, and later shoot a gun. He remembered long nights, teaching the boy how to be a leader, a good man…and wars, that took him away for long periods of time. The bitter time away. But then, the sweet reunions that always followed…he remembered the pride in the young boy he had, when he finally became a country. He remembered sticking by the young boy, through everything. Even, a war against his own friends.
The chains were jerked, and he opened his eyes, looking at the young boy from his memories, now a full grown powerful man. A madman…a killer.
"You stupid Prussian rat." He spat
"Brother." was Gil's only, and short reply.
Ludwig smacked him across the face, and stomped off, to order another death. Only 3 men were left. Nikolas, Strauffenburg, and him.
Nikolas was dragged off, and Gil looked away, not able to watch.
A sharp ear splitting crack of rifles rang out, and he heard a soft thump.
Nikolas, was dead.
Strauffenburg stole one last glance "Pleasure to know you Gil…see you on the other side." He tilted his head, in a slight bow. Then two men came, and dragged him off to the firing squad.
Gil sat alone, staring blankly at the Nazi banner on the wall.
He stared at it until he heard the rifles report again.
"Honor to die with you…" he muttered, as men crossed over to drag him to the squad.
Gilbert stared at the seven men, feet sinking in the bloody soil, he was over powered with the reek of blood.
Blood…the Nazi banner…red.
He stared down the barrels of the guns, a small smile on his face. He knew why the Nazi banner was red. From blood, blood spilt in the name of the cursed Reich. Innocent and good blood.
"READY!" Ludwig bellowed
The guns were loaded, and held ready to raise.
"AIM!" he thundered.
The guns went to shoulders.
Gilbert looked right at his brother.
"I love you…my brother." He said loudly, so it was heard, and no doubt about it
"FIRE!" Ludwig yelled, though his eyes grew wide as he heard Gil speak
A black eagle streaked across the sky, crying out, a lonely, and sharp caw.
Gilbert's pale body hit the ground, body filled with bullet holes, bleeding.
The proud Prussian was gone. The soldier, had fallen. The black eagle himself, was no more.
Gilbert Bielschdmit, was dead.
Ludwig stood stiff, and rigid, his eyes showing a mix of emotions.
Men advanced to take the body away, and he waved them off.
"Tell Hitler…the job is finished..." he spoke, his tone low and soft.
The men ran off. He looked at the firing squad. "Get lost."
The men walked off briskly.
Ludwig walked up to the dead body of his brother, and kneeled in the blood soaked soil. His blue eyes were wide, and pain swirled in them, the dark aurora gone from him. His eyes were wide and frightened, looking much like the young boy from Gil's memory.
His hands shook as he pulled his brother's body into his arms. Wishing, hoping, praying, he wasn't dead. Wanting and needing him to be alive. He wanted his brother…his protector, his leader and role model, to be alive.
Most of all, he wanted that awkward yet comforting hug that would stop the tears from falling.
He hugged his brother tightly, blood soaking him, but he didn't care. Tears fell onto Gil's mangled chest, and Ludwig shook from sobs.
"G-Gil…w-wake up…" he stuttered, sounding like a young boy, not a Nazi general
He hoped it would be like the fairytales Gil told him, and that death wasn't permanent. That maybe if he cried enough, Gil would come back.
But the albino's body remained stiff and cold.
Ludwig cried, long and hard, alone in the bloody courtyard. Bodies stacked, leering at him. Testament to his monstrous ways.
He looked at Gil through tear stained eyes, holding him close.
"I-I love you to brother…I wish…you knew that…" he spoke quietly, his voice barely above a whisper
He lay Gil on the ground, and stood, tearing off his Iron Cross, black gloves, hat, jacket and medals, until he stood in boots, black pants, and his bloody white shirt. Kneeling back down, he held his brother again. Dressed down from his murderer clothes, now somewhat worthy, to be near his brother.
Something poked him in the side, and his shaking hand went into Gil's pocket, drawing out the second Prussian Cross…the one he took off so long ago.
Trembling, he put it in his pocket. Wanting to wear it, but not good enough for it.
He closed his brother's eyes, and stopped crying, and looked around, then back to his brother.
His voice broken, sad, and lonely, he said quietly "You were right…you were always right…I will change brother…I'll be a good leader, I'll be worthy of your last name…and of this Cross…I am sorry brother, my brother…for not seeing it….I see it now… I have become a monster."
End
There ends the story, of Gil and Ludwig. Now, I know the ending may piss a few people off, but first off, the entire story was a train wreck, there's no way a happy ending would fit. It wasn't meant to be. And second, maybe it isn't about the happy ending, maybe its about the story itself, and the events that lead to the end.
Now, thoughts on the story overall, and this chapter would be great. I'd appreciate it, How did the story make you feel, and did you like it, love it, or hate it.
[1] Lot of innocent people died in the July Plot- the killing of members of Valkyrie