Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Unwashed Sin

The booming thunder is drowned out by the cracks of gunfire. The armed patrol falls in an instant, followed by the screams of women and children running towards their homes. With every couple flashes from Alexander's barrel another person falls, a woman holding a baby, a child with a toy, a man firing a pistol. As bodies continue to hit the floor the streets become awash with red. A heavy rain starts to fall when Alexander's unit advances into the village. House to house, room to room, his platoon followed orders, not leaving a single soul. In the last building to clear Alexander gets ambushed by a man and woman. Losing a handle on his rifle he takes out his knife. Tackling the woman to the ground, Alexander stabs her through the sternum. Looking up from the woman, Alexander sees the man dead on the floor with two holes in his chest with one of his men checking their corners. Leaving the last room of the final home, Alexander walks outside, some of his men are sitting holding his head, others stand unmoving while staring at the deceased. Out of the corner of his eyes Alexander sees a lone boy no more than 6 disappearing into the treeline. Jogging to where the child vanished he spots their tracks, following for only 2 minutes he sees the boy in a tree. Looking down, his body is soaked in gunk. Blood drips from his hands onto his M4A1. The smell of gunpowder fills Alexander's nose. Raising the rifle's muzzle at the young boy, tears begin to pool in the corners of his eyes. Brushing his finger over the trigger, Alexander slowly pulls.