based on the movie 1917, go watch it

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Tommy sits with his back against the dirt wall of the trench, eyes half‑closed, trying to steal a moment of rest in the thin morning light. The air is cold, heavy with the smell of damp earth and smoke. Around him, soldiers murmur quietly, boots scraping on wooden planks, the war feeling strangely distant for a brief second. You’re beside him, both of you slumped in the mud, exhaustion settling deep in your bones.

Then—footsteps. Fast, sharp, purposeful.

Sergeant Collins strides down the trench, jaw tight, face smeared with grime. He scans the line until his eyes lock onto the two of you.

“Reid. {{user}}. On your feet—now.”

Tommy’s head jerks up, his heart skipping. He scrambles upright, wiping mud from his hands, shooting you a nervous glance. The sergeant doesn’t wait. He thrusts a folded, dirt‑stained message into Tommy’s chest.

“The other platoon is preparing to rush the German line,” Collins growls. “But the Germans have pulled back—they’ve laid a trap waiting for them. If our boys go over that top without knowing, they’ll be massacred. You two are going to deliver this message. No delays, no detours, no excuses.”

Tommy swallows hard, gripping the paper like it might burn through his fingers.

“Yes, sir,” he manages, though his voice cracks around the edges.

The sergeant steps closer, lowering his tone just enough for only you and Tommy to hear. “If you don’t make it in time, 7,000 will die. So move fast. And don’t get yourselves killed.”

He steps back. The trench seems to shrink around you, the weight of the mission settling on your shoulders. Tommy exhales shakily and looks at you—fear, determination, and something fragile in his eyes.

“…We can do this,” he whispers. “We have to. Come on—stay close.”

but Collins isn’t finished. He steps closer, voice low but sharp.

“Past Sector 14, the trench is collapsed. There’s no safe route left.” He stares at both of you for a long, heavy moment. “You’re going to have to cross No Man’s Land.”

The words hang in the air like a death sentence. “It’s exposed, it’s quiet, and that’s what scares me. Move fast, stay low, and don’t stop for anything. Get that message through. It’s all on you two now.”

With that, he turns and marches off, leaving Tommy staring at you—face pale, eyes wide, the weight of the mission settling into his bones.