Remember Auschwitz

Chapter 1- Arbeit Macht Frei


Some said where they were going was a better place than the Ghetto. Others said they were just being moved to another one. Some had heard they were being sent off to be murdered. All that could be for certain at this point in time was that it was cold. Every man and boy in the train car huddled together for warmth while the freezing wind whistled its way through the small, barbwire fenced windows. The monotonous noise blending with the sounds of the train while it sped along on tracks. The car reeked of putrid men. With being concealed away inside this moving cell each, everyone defecated and urinated in the four corners. No one really slept. During the darkness of night everyone stood and closed their eyes, only hoping for their journey to end. But tonight, a young, auburn haired Italian could not even pretend to rest. He stood, rocking on his feet to keep his balance in the moving train. No, Feliciano Vargas was too busy mourning over how his life had changed ever since the beginning of the war. He and his brother, Lovino, were taken from their home in Italy after being pointed out to the Nazis as homosexuals. Feliciano didn't understand. Wasn't it only the Jews who were being sent to ghettos? Apparently not. He remembered the screaming and shouting when the ghetto was being liquidated. He remembered seeing the German SS beating some of the Jews. He remembers a man falling dead at his and his brother's feet. A whole blown through his skull while his blood flowed from his head and seeping into their thin fabric shoes. And the way the officer grunted with satisfaction as he turned away from the murdered man. And then seeing women and children being torn from their husbands and fathers. And then being shoved into these wooden cells on wheels.

"Feliciano." He flinched out of his trance when he heard his brother break the silence. He turned his head to his twin, trying to make out his face in the darkness. The small amount of moonlight aiding a bit.

"Si?" He spoke softly.

"You can't sleep either?" He wrapped one arm around his little brother's thin shoulders. Moving to keep him warm.

"Not really." Feli answered, turning his head to look out the window once more, gazing up at the waxing moon. Lovino made a soft grunt, following his gaze. The two twins stood in silence again. Staring at the half moon. Both in deep thought until Feliciano broke the quiet. "Hey Fratello..." Lovino hummed in response "Where do you think we are? What country?" Lovino thought for a moment before speaking.

"Somewhere near the Polish boarder I think. We've been traveling for what? Going on four days."

"Where do you think we're going?" Feliciano muttered quietly. Lovino sipped in some air before speaking.

"Russia maybe..." He smirked, his green hazel eyes glinting in the soft moonlight. "Maybe they're sending us to be bait... Hah! I bet we're all going to be mowed down with machine guns the moment we get off!" Some men hushed at the loud Italian, and Lovino turned his head to glare into the darkness. "Vaffanculo!" He cursed at them before clicking with his tongue and turning his attention back to his younger brother. Feliciano's eyes were glued out the window. His face carrying a sad expression. Lovino frowned, hugging him with the one arm around his shoulder. "Hey... I was kidding. We're probably being sent to a larger ghetto outside of Germany." Feliciano sighed.

"I hope you're right fratello." He pulled his eyes away from the moon long enough to hug his brother lightly around his middle. Lovino hugged back.

"We'll be alright Feliciano. I'm here to help protect you anyway. If any of those Germans lay a damn finger on you there'll be hell." He scoffed, trying to lighten the mood. But Feli just nodded and returned to the window, sighing as he rested his arms along the bottom of the window, watching the snowy landscape pass in the moonlight, his foggy breath disappearing in the wind. Lovino sighed, pulling back his arm and turning away.

"Don't freeze" He called as he returned to the huddle of men in the center of the car. Feli lowered his head, resting his forehead against his arms. He stared at his feet for a while. In his blood, dirt and sweat stained cloth. Feeling the cold numb his extremities. He slowly closed his eyes, letting his mind drift off into a realm of dreams.

...

Feliciano woke up what must have been an hour or so later to the loud screech of the train whistle. He looked around for a moment, no one else had been woken up. He then shifted his eyes out the window, taking in the light. It must be early in the morning now. The sun still below the horizon, but the sky a blue-ish grey. He then shifted so he could look towards the front of the train. His eyes focusing through the early morning fog.

A large brick building stood off in the quickly approaching distance. It had one large, thick tower with an arched tunnel in the center. Two long rectangular wings off to either side. The rails leading right through the short tunnel. A thick blanket of snow covering the ground and roof. Large metal fences set up with rows of barbed wire.

As the train got closer Feliciano could see men in pale olive uniforms. Suddenly the train pulled on it's brakes. And the cart jerked and everyone stumbled, some falling to the ground. It had woken everyone in every cart. And now there was great commotion. Lovino shoved past people, shouting insults as he made his way to look out the window.

"Feliciano!" He said worriedly as he got to him, looking at his emotionless face.

"Fratello... where are we?" He mumbled, eyes glued to the large building and mass of SS officers beginning to congregate towards where the train was headed. Lovino looked out the window. His face paling as he recognized the officers. Feliciano looked to his brother, his amber eyes trying to read the expression on his elder brother's face. "Fratello?"

"A Concentration camp"


Ludwig sighed heavily, sitting in a car being driven by his albino brother.

"Trust me Lud, You're going to love this job. You get paid well, eat and drink all you want. And you're going to serve the Fatherland." He chuckled a bit to himself. Ludwig looked down and fixed his uniform, adjusting his iron cross pin on his breast pocket. The Albino German looked over at him briefly. "What? Do you not want to gain honor and serve in the name of Deutschland?" Ludwig shoot his head.

"Nein Gilbert... It's just I don't think counting money and mailing it back to the Fatherland is a very interesting job." He looked up as they passed the side of the camp, buildings after buildings passing behind an endless barbed wire fence. Gilbert scoffed.

"Do you think that pistol on your belt is for counting money? You get to do more than sit at a desk. You get to be a real officer. Just like the awesome me! Keseses.." He let out his signature laugh.

"Wunderbar." He smirked, sitting up and putting on his SS cap on over his perfectly aligned blond hair as the Officers gate came into view.

"Ja, Just remember Lud. Every scrawny prisoner here is inferior. They are all spots of dirt to our Aryan world. It's our job to make sure each and every speck is destroyed. No one can be left to pollute the world." Gilbert said as he pulled up to the gate, other officers moving to open it.

"Ja, of course." Ludwig replied. His cold crystal blue eyes scanned the words above the large Iron Gate's doors swinging open. Ludwig snickered to himself. What a perfect sentiment of false hope.

Arbeit Macht Frei

'Work makes you free'


Well here we go guys. I'm back from my long break. Sorry to disappear on ya there. And sorry for not giving you guys the sequel you all wanted, but hey. I was busy planning this.

I think my writing has gotten a whole lot better, and look! I'm making this one historically accurate! I have learned so much about the holocaust and Auschwitz, so you don't have to worry or be bugged about it being historically wrong. I just hope you all like this new story.

So tell me what you think so far and if you want me to continue.

Please Review and I love you all~

Till Next Time

Ciao~