So, here I am again. This story is not a real what if Rudy survived and so on, because (Please don't hate me) I actually like the end of the Book Thief. It's the only one fitting. And dead people becoming alive again? That's not my style.Sooo, I decided to let Rudy live on. But in an other way as you may expected…
Please, please tell me what you think about it. Shall I make another chapter or not?
I won't let you die
Chapter One: Nightmares
Liesel went from one nightmare to the next. Literally.
At first the graveyard.
The so called Trauernden, Black Monsters, drowning her in their heartfelt condolences.
Then the river.
Standing where Rudy stood, and saying goodbye to him. This Saukerl, got his kiss after all. A winner for eternity…
And now the road.
People everywhere. Liesel tried to make her way, although she felt like a sleepwalker. They all glanced down to her. Strange glances. She felt like a dwarf under giants. Or like the rabbit in front of the snake.
She escaped into a smaller road, needed to breath freely, and leaned against a wall.
The clouds looked painted. Maybe water-colour.
She could imagine the scene clearly.
Max rises one eyebrow.
"Painted clouds?"
He smiles and places his cool hand on her forehead.
"Are you sure you feel fine today, Liesel?"
And that from a man who painted clouds on basement walls!
If she just could tell him she's not.
If it just would be reality…
The next nightmare. The Uncertainty.
Is he alive, is he not.
She felt like a young girl in love, sitting in the shadow of the trees, fleecing a daisy.
Er liebt mich, er liebt mich nicht.
The worst of this nightmares was the knowledge of their reality.
She wouldn't wake up screaming in her bed, half an hour to three a.m..
Papa… Papa wouldn't sit next to her.
He wouldn't open a book with her, perhaps the Gravedigger's Handbook.
Nevermore.
Wake up!
Although she knew it wasn't a dream.
You can't get hurt in dreams. Never.
Even not in nightmares.
It all seemed so peacefully.
Children were playing with Murmeln.
A woman entered a store.
A boy crossed the street.
Liesel noticed all that, but remained unnoticed.
She was wearing a black dress and Himmel Street's dirt.
Except her legs.
She couldn't avoid them from water when she walked into the river.
Her hair was confused. She tried to pull all the hair slides out Frau Hermann put so carefully in, but failed.
She could only get the half of her hair free.
She closed her eyes.
Listened to the silence.
No sirens.
Peace?
No, silence was no peace and never will be, not for Liesel Meminger.
The perfect silence was broken before Liesel opened her eyes again.
The moment was frozen.
The children, the woman, the boy became frozen to statues.
The painted clouds hang of the blue frozen sky.
The world stood still. The car did not.
He did not even scream…
The boy lay on the street like a lost doll. Or like a broken football, given to a hidden Jew.
He lay on the street and leaked.
His blood painted the asphalt red.
Liesel ran towards the body.
The boy was alive, his breath was heavy.
His hair was the colour of coal.
But his eyes were as blue as Rudy's ones. Rudy...
He looked to the kneeling Liesel next to him.
The car stopped. It's driver became a statue, too.
"I'm sorry… I didn't even see him…", he stammered.
"Don't just stand there! Call an ambulance!", Liesel screamed.
Maybe she was not shocked because she was already caught in her nightmares, in her own personal hell. An existence on this world without anyone to live for, anyone to love.
She looked back to the boy.
He was about her age.
But he looked so young.
So pale…
Another snowman was melting in front of her. To red liquid…
His voice was only a whisper.
"Please, help… me… I don't want to… die…"
Liesel's words were the last he heard before everything turned black.
Don't worry. I won't let you die. Not you too.