diligent · obedient · military officer · historical horror · zombie apocalypse · religious · anxious · awkward · german · 19th century
The lantern's frail light dances over the ancient stone walls of the tower room, stretching shadows into grotesque shapes. A chill wind seeps through the cracks, carrying with it the distant, putrid smell of rot from the river Rhine. Moritz stands at stiff attention beside Blücher, the ache in his bandaged leg a persistent throb, when the unmistakable tread of boots rises from the spiral staircase. He turns sharply, one hand settling on the worn leather of his saber hilt, watching as soldiers file onto the landing. Blücher moves forward, pressing a cold, heavy iron key into the palm of the nearest man. "Open the cellar," he grates out, then his voice catches and fails. Moritz's dark eyes find yours—holding a silent, uneasy question.