Love in a Death Camp (Beta Reader: Kylelover101)

Chapter 3

(Stan Marsh)

I wake up when I hear the guard crashing through the front door of the barracks. Actually I don't think wake up is the proper word. I'm not even sure I fell asleep last night. Images of both my dead boyfriend and the boy from the train flashed before my eyes. Those of us who have been here a long time, are up and outside for morning role call in 30 seconds. (It's best not to keep the guards waiting) A few newcomers straggle behind and they will be sorry. When they finally get outside the guard grabs them and pulls them to the front of the line. He has them strip naked and kneel down. The Nazi proceeds to kick their faces into the dirt. I look at the broken faces of the sorry souls. Well at least the heats off me for a little while. Being the rag for this camp whenever the guards are out of new recruits to torture they come to me. Lets just say iv had my face kicked into the ground more than a few times.

I've come to hate mealtime. At least when I eat nothing my stomach understands. But its almost like they've engineered meals to be insufficanint, my stomach will naw away painfully all day.

I yawn from the lack of sleep knowing fully well I'm dead on my feet. It's on days like today I miss the simple luxuries I used to take for granted. Like a nice warm cup of coffee. I look up from my soup as I hear the doors open. The new arrivals come poring in. I study them as they walk through the door, scared shitless, as they should be. Most of them wont last through the month being worked to death, starved to death, killed by the guards... I've seen it all.

The redheaded boy from last night comes walking in, cringing with his head down. I try to look away but I can't help myself. I study him as he gets his food and my fears are confirmed: a weakling destined to die. He can only become dead weight if my heart forces me to take him under my wing. He's looking around for a place to sit. I'm thinking probably with someone who looks like they won't drop dead in a second. His eyes catch mine for just a moment and I immediately stare down at my soup. "Did he se me?" I think. I take a peek up for just a second. "Damn!" I mutter under my breath as he walks towards my table. He takes a seat without saying much. I can see he's nervous probably at a loss for words. Complete and utter fear in his eyes. I study him, flicking my eyes up for half a second at a time while he's eating. I begin to cry. He looks exactly like Jacob in every way. His facial features, his red hair that's been shaved off, even the frightened look on his face. Out of all the horrible things that have happened to me here, being in the presence of this boy is the most painful. I want to throw my arms over him and protect him from the horrors that await. However I know that doing so would be committing suicide.

I raise my head my tear filled eyes staring into his as I try to convey my message 'Go away, please. I can't afford to get attached to you.' But he doesn't do anything, just sits there, nervously staring up at me every once in a while. His eyes dart down to the pink triangle on my shirt and for a second I'm never happier to be wearing it. It's the one thing that seems to repulse everyone I come across in this god forsaken place and for once it can help me repulsing someone I might otherwise be compelled to risk my life for.

I wait for it. The shriek of disgust, the banging of fists on the table, the storming away from me that is bound to take place. But it doesn't happen and his eyes come back up to mine more hopeful than ever. My mouth hangs open in shock. A one in a million shot that I'd meet another homosexual like me. My heart melts and I know there is no way I could ever watch this delicate flower in pain without at least trying to help. One way or another im going to end up dying for this kid.

Its been about a week since the redheaded kid arrived in camp. Irony, which seems to love me these days made sure that he was assigned to my barracks two bunks up from me infact. Although I have to admit I might have underestimated him, he's done a halfway decent job of taking care of himself (which has negated any need for me to step in and risk my own life). He smiles at my sweetly every now and then. I'm a little more friendlier than I was when I first met him and try to flash a smile that conveys friendship.

Were outside for morning role, when the Blockestate comes marching over. Its usually the sergeants who take count and when a higher ranking officer appears, it usually means that something happened. The Blockestate is a giant of a man, who wears a menacing black uniform. He's come to inform us that contraband food was found in the barracks. He asks us to identify the person and when no one comes forward he tells us the consequences of harboring a criminal. Still no one comes forward and the Blockestate screams YOU! The redheaded boy from the train is pulled out in front of the barracks. As they are dragging him up in front of everyone I can see his eyes full of fear, (which oddly enough pulls at my heart) my heart acts before my brain.

"IT WAS ME!" I shout.

There is a gasp from the crowd as I make the admission. I clasp my hand over my mouth but its already too late. I can see the Blockestate looking over satisfied. I get the feeling even he knows I'm lying but he despises me along with everyone else and will surely take the opportunity to punish me.

The guard approaches me and proceeds to punch me in the gut than drag my writhing body in front of the barracks. As I look at the people I have come too know I wonder if this will be the end. Shot for a crime I didn't commit for a boy who's name I don't even know. I knew that boy would be the death of me. The guards strip me of my clothes and knees me in the crotch. I fall over and they take their turns kicking and spitting on me. Insulting me, cursing me...let it all come to me, don't hurt that boy... After their done they leave me riving in pain on the ground and announce that as punishment I will be required to perform extra work duties and my rations will be cut in half. When I look back up at the crowd most of them are in the process of dispersing however there is one redhead Jew who is staring at me in disbelief and tearing up.

When I get back to the barracks im dead on my feet. My extra work duty has caused me to miss my meager dinner meal however I'm so tired I don't really care. I flop down and almost immediately fall asleep on the hard wooden bunk.

At around three in the morning, I feel myself being shaken awake. I open my eyes and there is just enoph moonlight for me to see it's the red haired kid. He has a serious look in eyes and I can tell he wants to say something to me probably about what happened today. He's just about to talk and I have to clasp my hand over his mouth as I jump out of bed. Its not safe to talk about such things in the barracks. Even among us there are inmates who spy for the Nazis' in exchange for food and other favors. I put my finger to my lips as I lead him across the barracks and he seems to understand. I swing open the loose board and we both walk through to the little clearing behind the barracks that faces to train tracks. It's well fenced off from the outside world so guards rarely have a reason to come back here. We lean against the back of the building as I look up at the stars while the redhead struggles for words.

"I don't know how I can ever thank you for what you did today." The redhead says in a shaky voice. His green eyes watering up. "I'm ashamed to say I wouldn't have been brave enough to do the same."

I'm about to lecture him on the stupidity of my actions when he pulls something from his pants.

"I thought I could start by bringing you some food. Its my fault your rations where cut in the first place."

I look at the moldy piece of bread that the boy holds in his hand and now it's my eyes that start to get teary. I realize this most have came from the boy's own plate. No one here has ever done something like this for me. I haven't experienced this kind of kindness since Jacob...Jacob. I take the piece of bread and chew it down savoring every last bite. I jump up and hug him and he must be surprised because he squeals, but when I pull away he has the biggest smile.

After the food we sit and discuss our lives before the war. His name is Kyle Broflovski. He's roughly around my age and a Jew from a prominent family in Germany. He tells me his father was a famous lawyer, before the war that is, he even held a position in the pre Hitler government. He tells me about his fathers death and his brother Ike. He starts to tear up as he admits the fact that he doesn't know what happened to him and that he's likely dead. He cares a lot about his younger brother and he falls apart at the thought of anything happening to him. Without even really thinking I place my arm around his head and bring it down to rest in my chest just like I used to do with Jacob. His safe place he called it. I can feel Kyle's crying begin to subside and he turns his head so he can look into my eyes without moving from his safe place. I tell him about my past. My father and his disownment of me, my experiments with various guys and finally my story with Jacob. I can see a look of deep sadness in his eyes as I tell him how I watch Jacob murdered. Shot dead in front of me by the same people who are currently making our lives hell.

"You know you are incredibly like him." I say smiling down at him.

We just sit there for the longest time staring into each others eyes. There is a lot of sadness but also a lot of hope and love behind those green eyes and I instinctively lean in for a kiss.

Blockestate- High ranking Nazi