Beyond the trees the light shone. If they could just make it through the darkness of the forest they would survive.

He rallied his men, ‘One last effort, push through!’

Bullets flew, splinters of wood stung, shells exploded, dirt and debris sprayed around them.

Gradually they made the advance up the slope. Higgins fell, Young had disappeared, but around him the bloodied uniforms of his unit clustered.

They made it, they broke through the darkness. Open ground lay ahead, the enemy could no longer hide.

He stopped in his tracks, the remains of his unit froze next to him.

The line of 2cm KwK 30 L/55 auto-cannons, mounted atop the Panzer MKII tanks, pointed directly at them.

Before he could order the retreat, hell reigned down upon them.

He saw what lay beyond the light in the sky.

This is a response to the #writephoto Prompt – Beyond curated over at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Click on the link to read other stories inspired by the image.