r/shortscarystories
5 days ago
clyde2003
He Told Me To Run
Mrs. Evelyn Hart
Providence, Rhode Island
November 10th, 1944
Dear Evelyn,
I pray this letter finds you. I don’t know if the censors will let it pass. But I have to write it. You deserve the truth, not the “official” version. The real one.
Will was my brother in all but blood. You knew him as your husband. I knew him as the one person in this war who kept me sane and alive.
We were dug in on a ridge near Vossenack. Snow had fallen overnight, muffling everything like the forest was holding its breath. Our orders were to drop any Kraut moving through the valley below.
Will took the shots. I called them. By midday, he’d put down six. Most were clean hits, center mass, one to the head. We whispered between shots, small talk to keep the cold and the anxiety at bay. Then the sixth one moved.
I watched through the scope. The man Will had just dropped, his chest wide open, steam rising out of him, twitched. I thought it was nerves. But then he pushed himself upright. Slow. With purpose. His head hung to one side, like his neck was snapped, but he stood.
Will asked what I saw. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t breathe.
Then the others began to rise.
One had a bullet through his eye. Another dragged his bowels behind him. But they moved, oh my God, they moved. Like marionettes pulled by something too far removed from this world. Their eyes… their eyes were empty. Devoid of any humanity. Any soul.
I told Will what I was seeing. He thought I was losing my marbles.
Until they reached the tree line.
He worked the bolt fast, steady as always. Put one back down. Another dropped, but only for a second. They kept coming. No screams. No orders. Just the sound of boots dragging across snow and bone grinding against bone.
Will didn’t flinch. He fired again. And again. Then his rifle jammed.
He looked at me and said, “Run. Now.”
I refused.
He hit me hard, knocked the wind out of me, and turned to face them. Sidearm drawn. Feet planted. Like he’d already made peace with it.
I ran.
I found a shell hole and buried myself like a coward. I don’t know how long I stayed down there. I only know I heard his pistol fire once.
When I came back, the ridge was quiet. No sign of the bodies. Just drag marks in the snow and Will’s helmet, caved in on one side. His rifle was gone. The snow was splashed in crimson.
I don’t know where he went. Maybe they took him. Maybe he got up too. I honestly hope he's dead. It's more merciful that way. God forgive me, I don’t know what I saw. I only know he saved me, Evelyn.
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
Yours in grief,
Corporal Benjamin Cole
26th Infantry Regiment
United States Army