Disclaimer: I do not own WOWP or the song(s) I used. Any story/incident used about the Holocaust is purely fictional. No offense is intended. Disclaimed for the whole fic.
Prologue
The room was dark, the tiny four windows closed, lights shut off, door locked. Seven little children sat at a corner, cuddled next to each other, hugging their knees closer to their chest. Two adults paced the room, ticking with anticipation and fear with each heavy breath they took.
The attacks had already begun. It could be their turn any time. 'They' would search for them, find them, and put an end to their miserable lives any time. But humans still cling to hope and even two seconds of extra life, so they weren't giving up without hiding.
Bang!
The banging on the doors began, about ten armed men slamming on it mercilessly. The nine helpless human souls hid behind a small table and two small chairs, hoping against hope that it would protect them.
The door broke, falling to the ground with a thud, and lights were flicked on. Hurried footsteps could be heard around the room, their ruthless hands reaching out to muffle the helpless screams.
BHAM!
Ahhhhh!
Blood…blood and blood…
"All my dreams are scattered,
All my dear ones are away.
A season came,
I lost my happiness, found sorrow.
Life is not conscious at all…
I did not know that
The blood from the heart
Will flow through my eyes.
The news was correct.
My world would be shattered.
Only darkness would remain.
In just one moment…."
-An approximate translation of
'Bikhre sabhi sapne hain'
From 'Bas Ek Pal'
He sat in the chair, looking down at the ground, eyes unfocused, vision blurred, mind blank. His hands lay numb by his side, his legs dead and unmoving.
"Justin, honey", his mother placed the plate on the coffee table, and ran a hand through his hair softly. "It's time to eat."
His eyes never moved, his head never shook in response, his limbs didn't shift either. He still sat motionless, as if he hadn't heard her.
Theresa sighed in defeat. It had been three years, three years since Justin had become emotionless and unresponsive, three years since anyone had last heard his voice, or seen his eyes move, three wretched years during which he did not respond to any kind of therapy. She stuffed the food in a spoon, forced it into his mouth, force-feeding him, just like she did when he was a baby.
"Your father and I were planning another vacation." She spoke, a smile on her face, even though she knew he wouldn't respond- a mother never gives up hope. "Aren't you excited honey?"
The only response was his regular breathing, and his mouth closing against the intruding spoon.
A daring phone call interrupted their tender moment, and Theresa frowned. "I will be right back, okay?" she assured him, and answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Hey mom." Alex whispered on the other end.
"Oh, Alex… it's you." Her mother huffed in relief.
"Umm, yeah, it's me." Alex replied in confusion. "Why? Did I disturb you or something? Are you busy?"
Theresa shook her head. "No, I was… I was just feeding your brother."
"Oh." Her voice fell immediately, no matter how hard she tried to conceal the fact that she cared. "H-how is h-he?"
Her mother looked at Justin's frozen figure and sighed. "Just like he was the last time you called…. I still don't get it… how did he become like this? Why?"
There was the sound of a sharp inhalation on the other end. "Umm, mom, I am sorry but, I've gotta go now. I'll call back later, okay?"
"Okay." Her mother barely managed to say before she hung up.
"This is not right Alex. This is totally unfair…why did you do this? Look at what you did! You searched for every single emotion in every corner of my heart, found them, and killed them all, brutally, ruthlessly. Like the massive holocaust… I can't feel anything anymore, Alex. Nothing at all…"
She quickly folded the crumbled paper and stuffed it in her purse, trying to hide it from her eyesight, trying to protect herself from her guilt. That was the last letter she had ever received from him, the last words he spoke to her, before all of this happened.
She quickly grabbed her jacket, locked her room, and headed out of the office. The driver opened the door of her car, and she climbed in, sitting in the back seat. Lifting up the glass of the window against the bright city lights, and hiding her eyes behind big fat sunglasses, she stared off blankly at space, not comprehending anything at all.
Her mother's words rang in her ears. How did he become like this?
Ten years back…
"Justin." She smiled at him in amusement, after watching him sulk for two whole days. "Seriously, dude, you've got to get over your three month-old history book."
He still kept his eyes fixed on the floor, sniffling quietly. "You know what's different about this book? I was really enjoying reading about the world wars."
"Wow, look, Mr. Peace is reading about big boring wars." She teased.
He finally looked up and glared at her. "I want my book back Alex."
She scoffed and ignored him.
"I am gonna tell mom and dad." He warned in a fully unconvincing voice.
She scoffed again. "No you wouldn't. At least not if you love yourself….Then again, you do a lot of homework, so maybe you don't."
He growled in frustration, standing up and grabbing her arm. "Just give it back to me!" he demanded in exasperation.
She stuck her tongue out at him, yanked her arm away from his grasp, and happily headed up the stairs.
He banged his hand in the table in frustration. Why couldn't Alex just listen to him? And why wouldn't she place her terms before him already? What did she want? Homework? Money? Spells? What?
His thoughts were interrupted when a big fat book crashed into the floor, thrown from upstairs.
"ALEX!"
(A/N: I rewrote this chapter 4 times :| Part of this story is set in the past (teenage years), and part in future (adult years). The next 10-15 chapter will be in flashback, narrating the past. Don't worry about keeping the characters in-character, even though it's angst with a serious theme. So, what do you think? Comments and criticism are both welcome. Feel free to ask questions too. Please tell me what you think!)
P.S: need angst-y songs for the fic. Send me recommendations through PMs, I will look up the lyrics. :)