War crimes

Short story:
War crimes

Brown and yellow leaves were blown through the air by the autumn wind. Only a few leaves were still hanging on the trees. It was the pine trees scattered around that had their needles still in order. The breeze bristled through the forest ground and sent the fallen leaves back into the sky. A few of those leaves became stuck between the needles and branches of the pine trees as the dark green giants caught more wind than their naked counterparts. As the pine trees casted long shadows along the path, shone upon by an afternoon low sun, three German soldiers wandered through the forest.

“Hey Christoph, let’s have some fun!”
“Naah, I don’t know. We should be back in our base by now.” Christoph answered.
“Gunther, I think I know what you mean... Hehehe...” The third soldier chuckled as he pointed to a small wooden house in the distance.
“Aaah, our genius Muller has a plan!” Gunther noted as he teased Christoph.
“Do what?” Christoph pulled his K98 rifle a bit further up his right shoulder.
“Hahaha, routine inspection.” As Gunther winked back to Christoph.
“Routine inspection?”
“You could say that.” Gunther tapped his luger pistol holster.
“What? Are you saying you’re going to loot?”
“No no no, don’t say that! We have a special phrase for that, don’t we Muller?”
“Contribution to the German army for war efforts.”
“Yes exactly! You know how much invading Poland cost? We should at least have some profit, huh?”
“But...” Christoph stammered.
Gunther shook his head. “You still have to learn a lot of things recruit!”
“Shut up you two, we’re here.”

The three approached the small hinged gate to the front yard. Muller kicked the gate open and grabbed his MP40 from his side. The three entered the front yard and walked up to the front door. Christoph was still hesitant about all this but Gunther unholstered his Luger and banged at the door with the butt of his pistol.
“Routine inspection! Open up!”
They could hear someone shuffling towards the door.
“Routine inspection! Open the door now! Or we will break open your door!”
The shuffling was a bit hastier now.
“Too late.” Said Gunther finally and nodded to Muller who kicked in the door. There was an old man just in front of the fallen door looking in bewilderment at the intruders. The room was messy. There were wolf paintings on the wall while sort like sketches and drawings were scattered on a drawing desk. There wasn’t more in the room except an old wooden chair, bookshelves along the wall, a dull carpet and two doors towards other rooms of which probably a kitchen and a bedroom.
“Err... Misters, how err... could I help you?”
“As we already said, this is just a routine inspection. I recommend you to fully cooperate, so nobody gets hurts, understood?” said Gunther as he waved with his pistol.
The old man just hastily nodded.
“B... But why is my humble house searched? What are you looking for?”
“Dammit! Listen grandpa! I don’t want to hear your shit. Routine inspection, got it?”
“Hey Gunther, he’s just an old man.” Christoph interrupted.
Gunther quickly turned to Christoph and scowled at him. He approached him and whispered.
“You have to show them who’s the boss here. Or they might fight back. And we don’t want that huh?”
In the meantime Muller was searching the room for valuables. He pushed aside books and other things from the bookshelves. Small pots fell to pieces and books tumbled down.
“Do we have something... some threats for the Third Reich?” Gunther asked.
“Nope, still nothing.” Muller answered while Christoph just watched them ravaging the poor old man’s room.

Suddenly a growl sounded behind the three soldiers. They all turned around.
A giant wolf was standing in the door opening Gunther kicked in a moment ago.
“Oh look at that, it seems like grandpa has a puppy. Hey grandpa! Call it to back off!” Gunther commanded.
“Feliks, don’t do it. Go away, they have guns.”
Gunther and Muller started laughing. “Hahahaha, the old retard thinks he can talk to dogs!”
The wolf growled even more menacing at the soldiers.
“Now for serious, grandpa. Call your puppy to back off or we’ll shoot it.”
“Feliks, please...”
Then suddenly the wolf jumped to Gunther. A loud bang sounded from the luger. The giant wolf yelped and fell with a thud in front of Gunther.

“Holy shit!” Muller said. “You almost got sliced man!”
They turned to the old man.
“You! You fucking knew it, didn’t you! How dare you assaulting a German soldier! You’ll pay for that.”
“Please... Please don’t hurt me...”
Gunther raised his luger but Muller then ticked on his shoulder.
“Yeah? You have an idea?”
They smiled and turned to Christoph.
“What?”
“You’re the new guy, so you’re the one who still needs some practice.” Gunther stated.
“Muller, take the terrorist outside.”
“Come on grandpa!” Muller stabbed the barrel of his MP40 in the back of the old man. The unfortunate old man raised his hands and stumbled towards the door.
“Faster you terrorist!”
In the front yard Muller kicked the old man to his knees. Then Muller and Gunther looked at Christoph again.
“But... No, are you serious? ...”
“We need to show the locals here how we deal with terrorists. And the honour is yours. Go ahead.”
“Uh, no. I can’t... I can’t shoot him.”
“He assaulted a German soldier of the Third Reich! That is called a terrorist act!”
“Oh come on, it was just a wolf. You shot it anyway.” Christoph glanced at the limp wolf inside the house.
“It was HIS wolf, and he ordered to attack us. Now shoot the bastard, or are you not patriotic like all Germans?”
“Yes, but please. The old man is unarmed.”
“Hahaha, you want me to give him my pistol or what? Now shoot him!”
“I can’t.”
Gunther raised his luger and shot the old man’s leg. The old man fell to his side and writhed in pain. Birds from nearby trees flew away.
“Now finish it. The sooner you do it, the less he suffers.”
Now Christoph had no choice. He grabbed his K98 and reluctantly aimed at the old man’s head. The old man knew his time had come and looked into the eyes of Christoph. Christoph could see a hint of yellow in the old man’s eyes when he switched off the safety lever. But he closed his own eyes and fired. A loud bang echoed through the forest.

When he opened his eyes, the K98’s bullet had made a terrible mess. There was a gaping hole in the head of the old man and pieces of skull and brain were scattered next to the bullet which had buried itself into the ground. Christoph looked at it with utter shock.
Muller looked at it too, but with distaste rather than shock.
“You shouldn’t have shot him that close. Look at the mess you’ve made.”
Christoph didn’t answer.
Gunther patted his shoulder.
“Well done Christoph. I must admit, the first time was difficult for me too. Now cock your charging handle and we’re out of here.”
Christoph pulled the lever rear and back forth. A smoking bullet case fell into the puddle of blood.

After Muller hanged a sign at the small gate saying ‘Home of a terrorist pig’, the three soldiers left. Christoph was still shocked.
“Hey come on, it isn’t that bad.”
Again Christoph didn’t answer.
“Hey Gunther, let’s leave him a moment alone. He’ll get over it.”
“Jeeze, I didn’t know he’d take this that hard. But well ok... Hey Christoph. Christoph.” Gunther tried to put his arm on Christoph’s shoulder but he pushed away the arm. “We’re going ahead ok? You calm your senses, alright?”
Muller patted Christoph’s shoulder. “You’ll get used to it.”
The shocked German soldier watched his two cruel colleagues march off. Then he sat down on a tree stump pondering about what just happened a moment ago.
He couldn’t believe that he had killed an innocent civilian. This old man was his first kill, much different than he imagined. He thought his first kill would be Polish soldier, but all he had done till this far was suppressing fire. But he didn’t worry, maybe his first kill would be a British or French soldier; they had declared war to Germany a few weeks ago. But no, his first kill was the execution of an innocent aged civilian.
Then he realized it. I have done it. I was the one who pulled the trigger. I was the murderer.
Christoph laid his rifle aside and put his service hat off. He then brushed his hair in frustration.

Suddenly he heard dead leaves being crushed. Was there somebody stalking him? No, it could be the wind. What does it matter? He just killed someone.
Then he heard loud screams in the distance. He stood up. Gunther and Muller! They’re in trouble!
He put on his hat and grabbed his K98.
There was definitely something wrong!
He sprinted down the path. Wind blew through his uniform and leaves whirled up behind his boots. He kept sprinting. Panting, he stopped. He stood there in the middle of the path steady with his K98.
I’m close now. I don’t hear any screaming or gun shots anymore. Maybe they were ambushed by partisans. They could be already captured or even dead. Anyway, if I don’t want to get ambushed, I should not stay on the path.
Christoph left the path into the woods. Brown leaves and twigs cracked under his boots.
So much for stealth...
I should approach them from the other side. I’ll have to make a detour then.
Bended down, he scurried through the forest until he lost sight of the path.
Dammit, where am I now?
He looked at the position of the sun.
It is almost evening, so the sun is in a south west position now. That way.
He continued walking but straight up this time. He expected the partisans to be still at the path.
Suddenly he heard a twig breaking. Anxiously he looked around, turning his rifle to different directions, not knowing where to aim to.
I didn’t break a twig. That’s for sure. Someone was indeed stalking me. Or is the wind still playing tricks on me?
He then heard a sudden movement somewhere behind him. Christoph quickly turned around. He could see leaves wafting down from where the sound came from.
Shit. Why does this forest have pine trees?
He crouched down.
How could the partisans track me like that? Fuck those partisans, if I don’t do anything I’m dead.
“Come out so I can see you!” Christoph yelled.
No answer.
“Show yourself or I will open fire!”
He could hear a soft growl from his vicinity.
Dammit.
Christoph aimed his rifle at the sky and fired a warning shot. The loud bang echoed through the forest and a few forest animals like squirrels and birds were scared away.
He cocked the handle backwards, but before he could push it back forwards, a tremendous force hit his rifle from his hands, sending it meters away. Christoph wanted to turn around to see his attacker but he was immediately knocked out.


Christoph slowly opened his eyes.
Ouch, such a headache...
He looked around and could see he was in a small dark cave. The entrance was covered with a curtain. He wanted to stand up, but noticed he was chained to the wall.
“Hello? Where am I?” He called out, but there was no answer.
Damn, I’m in deep shit now.
Then the curtain was pulled aside and rays of bright yellow moonlight entered the cave.
So it’s evening already...
A large shape entered the cave. He closed the curtains. Christoph couldn’t see the shape clearly, it was too dark.
“Good evening Christoph.” She had a female voice.
“err... Where am I? And how do you know my name?”
“That is not of your concern. But rather why you are here should be the question.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You and your two friends have murdered two of our kin. Feliks and Ulryk”
“Two? I didn’t...”
“You killed Ulryk.”
Then he realized she was talking about the old man today.
“Yes... I’ve killed him...” Christoph gazed down in shame.
“Then you will be punished.”
“What happened to Gunther and Muller?”
“They’re already punished. They’re dead now.”
Christoph stared at the woman with fear.
“But we have a more suitable punishment for you.”
“B... but why?”
“We could see you were ashamed by your crime. You’re different than those cruel murderers.”
And by that, she approached Christoph. Slowly it became clear that she wasn’t human. A thick layer of fur covered her skin, a row of sharp teeth decorated her muzzle, pointy ears topped her head, strong arms with paws were at her side and powerful digitigrade legs moved her towards her victim.
“Wha... what are you!!?”
The werewolf growled at him while her tail pointed horizontally in excitement.
“No! No! Please!” Christoph wringed and pulled at the chains, but he couldn’t escape,
The werewolf bit Christoph’s arm.
“AAAaarrgh!!!” The wolf even bit harder which even caused the bone to break.
Christoph screamed out in agony. Then the wolf released the bite and walked away.
“This is just the beginning.” He said, before leaving the cave and opening the curtains.

Poor Christoph just sobbed and writhed from the pain. Blood dripped down his arm to the cold floor.
The werewolf is gone now at least. I must try to get out of here.
He looked at the open entrance. Something suddenly startled him. The curtain was fully open and moonlight fell into the small cave onto Christoph. He could only gaze at the moon. He became hypnotized by the beauty of it and his panting slowed down.
His wounded arm started to tingle and bone and tissue started to repair itself. Christoph could feel the wound started to heal, but was too enthralled by the moon.
Fur sprouted from his skin. The grayish fur started to expand from the bite wound to his whole body. At the same time his nose and mouth surged forward forming a muzzle. His ears move upwards and became furry pointy ears. His spine grew longer and a fluffy tail made its way out of his back. His boots ripped as his feet grew into big paws which was part of his digitigrade legs. His hands grew into strong paws, ready to slash any prey. Under his healed wound, a bump pushed outwards. His muscles started to grow from there and it was not long before his clothes were ripped apart. His chest broadened and his limbs thickened with solid muscle. Christoph was now a huge werewolf.
He snarled and pulled at the chains. One by one, the chains broke after a short protest. He ran on four paws to the exit. With his lowered ears and relaxed tail, he raised his muzzle and proudly howled at the full moon to announce himself.
On the boulder above the cave, the female werewolf looked at him satisfied.


THE END

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