𝒻𝒶𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 - 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐫𝐤

~ 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 4~

timorous
/ˈtɪm(ə)rəs/
adjective
1. showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence

~~~~

All four of them now sit awake on the cold, wet sand whilst looking out at the sea, saying nothing to each other. After all- there was nothing to say, they all felt drained of energy and hope from the previous events that had occurred whilst Lila still grieved for her best friend- not knowing if she could ever get over Liz's death.

Lila sat with both legs resting on the ground and leaning on her hands which lay on the ground slightly behind her body whilst the three men sit with their legs crossed. They all watch as a man drops his riffle onto the ground and go into the sea, like he's about to swim home but they all know he won't make it. Lila stands up and starts to approach him.

"Hey! Soldier! You won't make it! Don't do it!" She called out whilst speeding her walk to a sprint to try and get to him but he's already swimming away, Lila watch's as a wave crashes over him then his body disappears into the sea. He lost his life like all of the other men did in this war. Tears filled her eyes for what felt like the tenth time as she just stood there.

"Lila?" She turned to see Tommy.

"I tried... I tried. I really did. He- he didn't listen. I tried-" she went to continue to speak to with tears now streaming down her face but she was cut off when she was pulled into a hug by Tommy.

"It's okay... it's okay, you did what you could. C'mon- let's go back to the others" He unwrapped Lila from the hug and gave her a sad smile and guided her back to where Alex and Gibson stayed sat. Once they reached them Alex looked up at her in pity and stood up with open arms causing her to fall into him whilst she started crying again.

Alex rubbed circles into her back and whispered sweet nothings into her ear to calm her down. After a few minutes Lila finally calmed down and she sat back inbetween Alex who is now on her right and Tommy who is now on her left.

They sat silently once again until Lila spoke up whilst looking over at Tommy.

"I have a brother you know" she said causing him to look over at her with raised eyebrows indicating that she should continue, "his name is George. My mums name is Louise and my dads name was Roger. My dad went to war but he never came back, they said he died in action- died as a hero. But that's not how I see it... I see it as he was forced to leave his family on October 19th 1939. Forced to leave only to die. But... what more can be done. My brother- George is adorable to me, he's only a year younger than me- 17, but I love him to bits" a small smile came onto Lila's face and Tommy listened to each word intently, "my mum though... she didn't want me to come out here- especially after what happened to dad but I convinced her that I'm going to come here, be safe and come home, so we're getting home. All four of us" She finished looking around at the other three who nodded along with her speech.

After she said that she twisted herself towards Alex and then put herself in a laying position which he soon followed.

"We'll get home Lila. I promise." He smiled at her causing her to nod her head.

"I know." After a while Lila's eyes slowly closed and she fell asleep. Alex looked down at her and gently raised her head to place his life jacket under her head so she had a pillow then turned himself so their bodies formed a t shape and rested his head on her thigh with his feet pointing towards Tommy and Gibson and also closed his eyes.

After both Alex and Lila were completely asleep Tommy glanced over at them since both of them were being quite quiet and felt a pang of jealousy hit his chest at how close they were but the words 'she's like a sister to me' rang through his head calming the feeling that raged inside of him, he looks back down at the can he held and continued to stab it with the knife in his possession, he finally broke through the exterior and pushed the hole he made to his lips.

Gibson leaned forwards to have some of the contents and Alex sat up at the noise made causing Lila to wake up from the movement. She looks around in confusion still slightly dishevelled from previously being asleep.

"Hey." Alex called whilst proceeding to stand up and running towards what looked like a group of men travelling across the beach.

"Hey! Highlanders!" The rest of them proceeded to get to their feet and follow the boy who ran off.

"Hey highlanders! What's that way?"

"A boat, she's grounded, but when the tide comes in she's not!" One called back, the other four followed on to their group and if they seemed to have any objection towards them joining they didn't say anything.

"Where's the crew?"

"Probably got spooked after we had aground, scattered up the beach."

"Why?" Alex asked curious to know why.

"Because we're outside the perimeter, enemy could be right there." One guy pointed over at a hill that was a mixture of grass and sand causing a shiver to go up Lilas spine, the Germans could be right there and they won't even know, they could be killed right there and then on the spot because of how careless they're being, but they don't care. They're desperate to get home.

Tommy noticed Lila freeze her eyesight on the slight hill in the distance and gently placed a hand on the small of her back breaking her out of her trance causing her to whip her head towards him and crack him a small smile.

"Alright, let's shut ourself inside there boys, wait for the high tide."

"How longs that?"

"Maybe three hours." Lilas eyes widened, that's a long time to be shut up in the small cabin, but if it meant getting home then she was down to do anything with all of the stuff that she's been put through and one thought went through her head.

It's time to go home.