Warning: Explicit depictions of violence are featured in this chapter.
"How old?"
"How many kilos?"
"What is your health?"
"Go to line A please-"
"Line B please-"
"How many children-"
"Line A-"
"SOMEONE ESCAPED; SEARCH THE AREA!"
In the woods… She's in the woods… find her…
The rain… it's going to flood...
Boots stomping through the mud and rain spread all over…
Trees, grass, leaves, water, water water-
"We've found her!"
"Lieutenant, take aim."
"Lieutenant?"
No… Can't breathe…
"Can you hear me sir?!"
No…
"Take her out."
A deafening blast… I choke…
"Filthy pig-"
"That infant would have been born to a hideous mother-"
I'm drowning…
"Sir?"
"Lieutenant?!"
"Is he breathing?"
The water… The… I… Stop… Stop… STOP-
Ludwig jerked awake, his choking sending tremors through his body. He clutched his chest and covered his mouth as a few more heavy coughs cut through him, and a fair amount of blood spilled into his hand. After a moment, he gathered his bearings and situated himself with his surroundings. He looked around his office study, and then down at the sofa he'd slept on. He heard his clock ticking. It was 6:30. No one's here yet; workday starts at 7:45.
He stood up and reached to his desk for his handkerchief and wiped away the blood on his hand and dripping down his arm, and then left his office to find the restroom.
In his sweatpants and undershirt, the latter stained with blood, he paced through the darkened hallways of the building, footsteps echoing against the tall ceiling. The dark hardwood floors always looked like a night sky, especially when the sun wasn't coming in through the windows yet. It's something Ludwig always admired about this building he hated so much.
He entered the restroom only to find that Sofia was still inside, mopping the floors. She jumped and then kept her head down.
"Excuse me." She muttered, gathering her things to leave.
"No, it's fine;" He said, hoping to save her some trouble. "I'm just going to wash up. You can keep working."
She stopped and carefully began to mop again, her movements calculated to be as quiet as possible. Ludwig knew he wasn't supposed to be there so early anyway, he didn't want to disrupt her work.
He turned the knob on the sink and washed his face with the ice cold water, hoping to wake himself up, and leave the bathroom so Sofia could continue to work comfortably. He peered into the mirror, his harsh face looking back at him and he turned the water off. Then he took a paper towel and left the room, walking back to his study.
Sofia continued to mop, wondering why Ludwig always slept here instead of going home.