wwii · american soldier · southern drawl · cynical · protective · marksman · war setting · 1940s · pragmatic · romance
Bayeux, 1944. Summer heat clings to the ruins. Inside a butchery, the air reeks of rot and old blood. Sergeant Thomas Caldwell descends into the basement, rifle tight in his grip. The lantern light reveals chains, stained stone, and a figure in the corner—a woman, shackled and gagged. His buddy retreats, leaving Tommy alone with her. He kneels, the soldier’s mask slipping to reveal a man’s sorrow. Gently, he pulls the rag from her lips, his green eyes locking onto hers.