Author's Note: I know what you're thinking….didn't I just update A Special Present? Yes, I did and I really don't like having posting a new fic in the same category as one I'm already working on but I actually got this idea in DC and I've only know started to work out the kinks and write it. I actually have the next two chapters written and I wanted to get it posted soon…and because I think acciodanrad9 was going virtually strangle me if I didn't post it soon. So, I hope you have to read and review both of my Keith fics!

As I said in the summary this is a crossover fic between the movies, Jakob the Liar and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. If you have seen either of these movies, you will know that they are both Holocaust movies. Although this story features a 'futuristic Holocaust' the idea of which I actually got from the book Gathering Blue, I will use much information from the Holocaust in this story and so I WILL WARN YOU NOW if you do not like reading about the Holocaust, DO NOT read this story. While it won't be overly depressing or graphic there will be some mature scenes in it, so if you are uncomfortable, don't read it!

Okay, now that that's cleared up, please read the first chapter of the first Keith crossover fic and PLEASE review!

The Color Yellow

Chapter 1

A Silver Colored Sky

That's how we survived…we relied on the little things: a dark joke, a sunny day, a hopeful rumor.

--from Jakob The Liar

Year: 2143

The sky was silver, when it all began.

Later, he would wonder what had caused him to remember such an insignificant detail and to describe so uniquely. The sky wasn't really silver; it was gray, dull gray and drab like the baggy clothes that turned him into nothing but meaningless gray blob.

But that had been his method throughout his entire life: see the bright side of everything, even when it was apparent there wasn't or shouldn't be a bright side.

So, on that gray day as he stood clinging to chain link fence and stared unseeing at the barren tree that was a mere six feet away from him, Keith Zetterstrom decided that the sky was silver.

And his lips twisted themselves into a smile. He held it for several minutes, as if to memorize how to do it. All Keith ever saw were thin lines of lips, as if the muscles had stopped working from disuse and that was the best they could manage. No one really smiled anymore.

Despite his efforts, Keith's smile quickly morphed into a frown as he remembered his mother's smile. She had a beautiful smile. Whenever he had a bad day at school, all she had to do was smile at him and ask how his day had gone. With these simple actions, the memory of the day would melt away and he would lie for fear of having that smile leave her lips and his now happy mood would leave him as well.

But his mother wasn't around to smile at him anymore and there was no school to come home from.

And there hadn't been in over a year.

He didn't really know why he came to this spot nearly every day and curled his fingers through the interlocking metal. There was nothing really that interesting to look at, save for the tree and the cracked pavement of the road beyond it. There were other trees alongside the fence, tall pines whose purpose was to hide the fence and those who lived inside it from the view of outsiders. The trees went on for how far Keith didn't know but the road had long been deserted, so it was the perfect place for him to come and think, no one would find him here.

Or so he thought.

"What are you thinking about now, Keith?" sighed a voice tiredly.

"Not escape plans, if that's what you're thinking," Keith replied without turning around. He knew exactly who it was anyway. It was Kurt, one of his roommates. " 'Cause, I mean, even I'll admit they would never work, but sometimes it's nice to give the Bulls a bone to pick." And he couldn't help but smirk at the thought.

"Well, that 'bone' nearly got you a first class ticket to the Lab and you don't want that, do you?" Kurt inquired. "And besides, you nearly gave Kevin a heart attack."

"Kevin nearly has a heart attack every other week," Keith answered nonchalantly. "The guy seriously needs to chill out sometimes. I can take care of myself."

"Not when you plan reckless schemes, you can't!"

"I wasn't actually gonna go through with any of them! I'm not that stupid!" Keith snapped as he pivoted around to face Kurt who like Keith, wore the same baggy gray clothes. Kurt was only two years older than Keith (who was seventeen) but was much taller and muscular than him so he appeared much older. He had a round hard face with short dark brown hair and hazel eyes that were staring at Keith so intensely that the younger boy had the strangest feeling that Kurt was reading his mind.

"Did you come and find me just 'cause Kevin told you too or do you have a better reason?" Keith asked finally.

"No, it was my own decision to come and find you."

"Okay…why?"

"Billy." Was the only reply and at the mention of the name, Keith's eyes widened and he launched into a sprint back toward the main compound.

He found Billy in what had once been a candy store, on the outskirts of the compound. Keith couldn't understand why Billy would come here of all places, as the store was in shambles. The shelves were empty save for a few dust bunnies and the glass case under the blank cash register was littered with faded wrappers and mouse droppings. The only things that were still in any working order the stools that ran along a counter that had once served ice cream.

On one of these stools was Billy.

He looked as if he had tried to squeeze every part of his body on the round seat, minimal as it was. His chin was on his knees and he looked to be in danger of falling off, but when Keith arrived, his face brightened and he immediately leapt off of the stool and ran to his friend, crying with delight. "Keith!"

"Billy, what are you doing? I thought you were in trouble!" said Keith as he crouched down to his young friend's level. Like Keith, Billy wore a brunt orange armband around his upper arm. The orange was the only sign of color in the dismal shop.

"I was…sort of," Billy admitted. "I—I had another dream again and I came here to think so none of my roommates would bother me."

"Those guys makin' fun of you again, huh?"

"Yeah and it's only 'cause I'm the youngest! Why can't I stay with you?"

" 'Cause it's against the rules, bud. You know if I made the rules, we sure as hell wouldn't be locked up in this place." And my parents would still be alive, Keith added to himself.

"Yeah, I know," Billy said with a sigh.

Keith offered him a friendly grin. "Hey, you know what? Even I get made fun of sometimes."

"Really?"

"Remember my various escape plans?"

"Oh, yeah!"

"Yeah, Kevin and Kurt didn't like me bragging about them, sayin' how they would save us all and they ignored me for awhile because of it."

"Do you think any of them would've worked?" Billy asked hopefully.

"No, not really," Keith admitted truthfully. Then, he stood up and took Billy be the hand. As they walked out of the old shop, Keith said, "The least I can do is walk you back to your apartment, how's that sound?"

"Okay!"

As they walked back through the compound to Billy's apartment, they passed many of their fellow inmates who were dressed like them in gray shirt and pants. Many of them had orange armbands like themselves, but there were a few who sported different colored ones such as red, tan and purple. When they had cleared the main area, Keith asked Billy, "So what was your dream about this time?"

"It was the same as the other ones," Billy replied, looking intently down at his worn shoes. "It was about the day they took my parents away."

Keith nodded silently but gave Billy's hand a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm afraid, I'm going to forget what they look like," Billy continued. "I mean, I have a picture but it's not a very good one."

"Don't worry," said Keith. "They're you're parents, you'll never forget them."

"You think so?"

"Uh-huh. People we love, tend to stick with us."

It was then that they arrived at Billy's apartment. It looked very much like the other apartment buildings in the compound; tall, gray and somber. There was not a soul in sight as two boys approached the front door, yet when they were not five feet from it, the door flew open and a girl appeared on the step. She wore an old black dress with a woven white shawl around her shoulders. Her long dark brown hair framed her pinched pale face, but despite her ragged appearance, she was actually very pretty. When she saw Keith and Billy standing in front of her, her face split into a large smile that brightened her face considerably as she exclaimed happily. "Billy! There you are! I was wondering if I was going to have to send Dad out to look for you."

"Keith's the only who can find me," Billy declared. "Especially after Brian and his gang are making fun of me."

The girl sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. "One of these days, I'm going to have to teach them a thing or two."

"I actually wouldn't mind seeing that," said Keith with a slight smirk. "I'm sure that if you're implying what I think you are, you'd make Markus reconsider his relationship with you, Rachel."

At the sound of her boyfriend's name, Rachel blushed deeply and Keith couldn't help but smirk as he added, "Would you like me to send him over tonight?"

"If you can make start talking again," said Rachel. "He's been so quiet the past few days, I'm starting to worry."

"He told me that he has a lot on his mind," said Keith.

"Anything specific?"

"Nope. Sorry."

"That's all right, I'm sure he'll come around eventually." Although she looked doubtful as she took Billy by the hand and said, "Well, thanks for bringing Billy back, Keith. I'll see you around."

"Yeah, see you guys later."

"Bye, Keith!" Billy called as he turned to go inside.

"See ya, buddy."

When the door had closed behind them, Keith turned and began heading back to his own home.

He returned to the fence later, at dusk. He knew he was taking a risk as it was getting close to curfew, but the siren had not gone off yet so he knew he still had some time.

He resumed his same position and stared out at the darkening sky, letting his mind wander. He tried not think of his parents or his life before he had come to live at Lodlin, the official name of the compound. Although they were nothing but happy memories he eventually become so sad as he reminisced that he nearly began to cry. And crying, he had been taught through his stay at Lodlin, showed weakness and vulnerability which in turn meant punishment. So Keith had taught himself to never cry or show his true feelings, not even when he was completely alone like now.

He was just thinking about going back to his apartment and facing Kevin's wrath for being out so close to curfew, when he heard something that he had not heard in nearly a year and as he listened, stock still the sound grew louder and louder. Then finally, he watched the source of it come into view along the road that he had thought was out of use.

It was a car.

Author's Note: Well, there you have it. The first chapter to my new Keith fic! And, yes I know horrible cliffy! Again, I usually don't like to upload more than one story especially for the same category but I figure in case any of you get depressed reading this one, you can always switch over to A Special Present. Anyway, PLEASE review! I love to hear your thoughts on my work!