Quick note! As it turns out, I really didn't have that much left to edit. So here's the rest of the year 1939. Also (I realized this after posting) I should make a quick note that "Schatten" translates directly to Shadow. I don't want there to be any confusion. Thanks! -Anne
The next morning, Scarlett and Schatten were sitting across from each other. Both had a book, Scarlett read out loud as Schatten doodled on the pages. "One-eins, two-zwei, Schatten, hörst du mich auf?"
"Hm?" he looked up, "was?"
She slid his book away from him, "Wie heiβt seven?"
"Sieben," he answered, while leaning back with his arms crossed impatiently.
"Gut. Three?"
"Drei."
"Sechs?"
"Six."
"Hm….sehr gut." Scarlett approved and gave him his book back, "Okay Chapter one punkte two: das Verb to be." She turned the page, "I am, you are, it is, we are, they are!"
"Wie heiβt 'to be'?" Schatten asked, somewhat annoyed.
"Hier, perhaps if you stop drawing and pay attention, you would know!" Scarlett pointed to a definition at the top of the page, "Sein."
"Mmm hm." He yawned refocused himself to the book, "Englisch ist doff," English is stupid, he said suddenly with clear distaste. "Why do we have to speak English?" Schatten continued, "Can't England just learn German?"
"Schatten, don't ask stupid questions like that. You are much smarter than that," Scarlett said dismissively as she turned to the next page.
"It's stupid!" he added, slamming his book closed and lying his chin down on it, "I don't understand why I'm here, and I don't understand why I have to learn English. This is all stupid. English is stupid, London is stupid..."
"I think it is time for a break now. Perhaps we can continue later?"
„You can," Schatten growled.
"Are you hungry?" she asked softly, hoping to settle her little brother down.
"Nein." He answered shortly, his arms again crossed across his chest.
"Thirsty?"
"Nein."
"Okay," she sighed, only a little successful, "If you would like something…" Her voice trailed off as Scarlett stood up with her text book and walked softly out of the room. Schatten was left in the bare, lifeless room alone. He stared ahead, silently ranting to himself. The walls were bare and white. Only the brown door was a different color. In the corner, dust gathered, shrouding the linoleum floor with a gray coat. The sole light bulb which hung weakly over his head was dull, but bright in comparison to the rest of the room.
The scratched wooden door opened. And a tall figure walked in with an air of hauteur. Schatten's eyes followed the doctor across the room until he was in front of him. He couldn't help but scowl at the impending lecture. He crossed his arms across his chest and looked up at the doctor as if to say "What?" even though he already knew what the doctor was about to say.
"Thank God no one can understand you," he muttered to himself in English as he began to pace back and forth, shaking his head and rubbing his temples.
"Why don't we ship you back to Germany? Scarlett would suffice," he continued "At least she can suck up her pride and do what she's told!" He became even louder, "You arrogant, pretentious child!" He at last switched to German.
"What are you even talking about?!" he yelled back. Subconsciously, green colored sparks threw the table up against the wall, breaking one of the legs.
"You have been whining since we left Berlin! I could hear you all the way down the hall!" Schatten's eyes flashed neon, and the doctor stumbled back from the intangible force. Schatten stood almost to the back wall, glaring at the doctor, trying to contain himself.
Scarlett came stumbling into the room, her cheeks flushed, "Was ist den los?" what's the matter? she asked frantically. Her jaw dropped at the sight of a table leg at her feet. "Schatten?"
"Nein- er heiβt Shadow." The doctor said solemnly.
"Doch!" Shadow snapped back.
"Shhh…." Scarlett whispered and went to her little brother. She knelt down to his level, and put her hand on his shoulder. "Was ist passiert?" What's happened? she murmured softly.
"Nothing." Shadow continued to glare at the doctor.
Scarlett closed her eyes, knowing that she would regret what she was about to say, "He is only six years old…. One-one must be understanding," she quickly stuttered, "He is young and in a foreign country," She bit her lip and examined the doctor's reaction.
He was silent, condescending as he stared down at Shadow. Scarlett could hear Shadow's angry breathing. The doctor's glare was piercing. It scared Scarlett even. Never, had she seen him so furious. The doctor was another story. She couldn't quite understand what could have possibly made them both so upset. "Ich hasse dich…" I hate you, Shadow murmured.
"Schatten…shh…." Scarlett said, and stroked his arm.
"You know that's not his name," the doctor sneered.
"Yes it is!" Scarlett snapped back, trying to keep herself calm, "Er ist ein Kind! Er is kein Project!" He is a child, not a project!
„Es ist mir egal," it doesn't matter, Shadow mumbled, clearly trying to spite the doctor.
"Continue on with your studies…quietly," the doctor said curtly and exited the room.
"Come, let's go eat," Scarlett said after a long moment of silence and led him out of the room, her hand on his back, though it annoyed Shadow to be touched at all. He involuntarily flinched.
"Nein…I'm not hungry," Shadow said. Scarlett sighed, but stayed quiet. What six year old was not always hungry?
"Well come and sit with me then, I am hungry," Scarlett said.
Scarlett ate with Shadow's silent company. What six year could be quiet? He wasn't paying attention to Scarlett whatsoever. The new kitchen had his attention. He examined everything that he could see. As far as he could tell, most of the items in the kitchen were the same except that everything was in English. He glared at the meaningless words and felt a sudden compulsion to break everything in the room.
"Schatten?" She gave a weak smiled and went back to her food. The empathy helped some, he felt a little bit of the frustration leave him. Hared still burned his throat though. He could feel his hand tremble, wanting to see it destroy the words which taunted him.
