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Lord, forgive me for I have sinned before you.
Wash away my sin, purify me, and help me to turn from this sin.
Lead me to walk in your way instead, leaving behind my old life and starting a new life in you.
“Go! To the Morteau Farm.” Hans yelled as he slid into the passenger seat of the car which was being driven by Kurt.
As they drove along Hans fueled his hunger for revenge by thinking of every single transgression the Morteaus have made against him. He also thought of Otto, and the horror on his face as Hans asked The Colonel if he could take hostages from the farms as well.
They were going to get a taste of his revenge today. And he is going to enjoy every last bit.
The car abruptly stopped as Hans snapped back to reality. They were here. Kurt turned off the engine.
“I’ll wait in the car. Call if you need me.” Kurt said as Hans gleefully agreed.
He spotted a German motorcycle parked not too far from their car. Must be Otto’s.
Hans stepped out of the car as he slowly made his way towards the house.
The Morteau dog barked vigorously at him. Hans had always found it very annoying; he should fix that.
BANG!
A yelp was heard as the gunshot rang out through the farm.
Inside the house, Otto stood in front of Jeanne protectively as footsteps approached the front door.
“MADAME MORTEAU!” Hans called, making his way towards the house. Jeanne laid her hand on Otto’s back as footsteps got closer to the door.
“I’M COMING!” Jeanne felt her stomach sink as Hans stepped into the doorway.
Otto pulled his gun out as he aimed it towards the door.
Hans emerges from the doorway and finds a gun being aimed at him. He looked surprised but then relaxed his expression.
Jeanne held onto Otto’s shoulder as he stood in front of her. The two Germans then began an exchange of words that she couldn’t understand.
“Oh, mein lieber Otto, du würdest es nicht wagen.”
(“Oh, my dear Otto, you wouldn’t dare.”)
“Verschwinde, Hans.”
(“Get out, Hans.”)
“Oder was? Willst du mich erschießen?”
(“Or what? You’re gonna shoot me?”)
“Ich werde es tun, wenn ich es muss.”
(“I will if I have to.”)
“Dann tun Sie es. Oder vielleicht sollte ich dein Freundin zuerst erschießen.”
(“Do it then. Or maybe I should shoot your girlfriend first.”)
Suddenly Hans’s rifle was aimed at Jeanne as she gasped and backed away behind Otto.
Just then, Otto had had enough. He aimed his gun at Hans and with a loud bang, Hans fell onto the floor, writhing in pain.
Jeanne screamed as Otto grabbed her hand and held it.
Hans clutched his stomach as he bled onto the wooden floor. Was he really dying? Right here? Like this?
Otto looked at him with a faint expression of pity.
“Otto… You…” Hans coughed. This wasn’t supposed to happen. It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.
“I hate you.” Hans grunted in pain.
Otto sighed. A faint hint of sadness whirling in his eyes. He let go of Jeanne’s hand as he walked towards Hans.
“I really thought you were a better man.” Otto said as he kicked Hans’s rifle away, seeing as Hans was trying to reach for it.
“Turns out you weren’t as great as I thought.” Otto added, furrowing his eyebrows. Hans continued to cough up blood as he glared at Otto and Jeanne.
Jeanne grabbed his hand again.
“Otto…” Jeanne murmured as Otto sighed and caressed her hand.
“I know.” He responded simply.
“Are you going to help me?” Hans asked as he pressed on his own wound to suppress the bleeding.
Otto shook his head.
“Why?!” Hans asked as he groaned.
“You know why.” Otto responded. Hans went quiet for a moment then smiled.
He let out a strained laugh.
“I’ll never know what you saw in me.” Hans remarked.
“I saw a potential for better change.” Otto replied. Hans replied with a light chuckle.
“Why would I? My ways have taken me this far.” Hans responded.
“Well, it’s not going to take you further now.” Otto lets go of Jeanne’s hand and approaches Hans, looking down at him.
“Otto.” Hans called. Otto tilted his head.
“I hate to say this but…”
“I’m scared.”
Otto knelt beside him.
“Your parents will be waiting for you when you’re there.” Otto said as he patted Hans’s head before standing back up.
Hans stared ahead as he thought of all of his worst moments.
His mother yelling, his father dying, him digging food out the trash just to eat, him struggling to stay warm on the eastern front, him being a completely inconsiderate jerk to the townspeople of Grangeville.
What a miserable life he led.
Hans had never feared the thought of death, in fact, he always thought of it as a sweet release from his miserable existence but in this very moment where he’s actually dying, all he could think about is the fear of what follows.
In his last moments he prayed for a god. He never thought he’d ever believe in one, especially all he had to endure, but, in his fear, he wishes there was one and that they would forgive all his sins.
Hans closed his eyes and with one last gasp of air, he was gone.
The silence in the room was deafening.
Just then, Otto heard someone else.
“Hans?” A young voice called as Otto raised his gun again and aimed it at the door.
Just then Kurt appeared from the door and stumbled back at the sight of Hans lying in a pool of blood and Otto with his gun drawn.
"Otto, did you-" Otto cut him off by aiming his gun closed at him.
“Get out of here, Kurt. I don’t want to have to shoot you too.” Otto said as Kurt stammered.
"O-Otto, I-" Kurt was cut off by a loud bang as he stumbled back out of shock. He looked down at himself. No wounds.
He then looked to his side and saw a hole in the door.
“Go back to Colonel Von Krieger and tell him you found no one.” Otto said as he lowered his gun. Kurt looked at Hans, then at Otto and then at Jeanne. He stammered for a moment before Otto shooed him.
“GO!” He shouted as Kurt backed away then nodded and left.
Otto began to tear up as he breathed a sigh of relief. Jeanne held him tightly as he held her back.
“God abandoned us.” His mother would say.
But today he called desperately for God.
He prayed for his transgressions to be forgiven.
He prayed for God to accept his repentance.
He prayed.
In his fear, he prayed.