Another day passed, even warmer than the one before. People were starting to get nervous – how long were they going to have to stay here? And what would happen after this?

Enoch was sure he would've gone completely mad if it hadn't been for Victor and Bronwyn. The sibling somehow managed to crack a joke every once in a while, Bronwyn knew a few songs by heart and Victor explained to him how to play poker – which was a bit confusing since they didn't have any playing cards.

Even better; Claire's fever was gone. She hadn't said much after she'd left the infirmary but it seemed to him that she didn't mind having him around – she crawled onto his lap whenever Victor was telling stories or held his hand whenever he went somewhere. They'd decided on speaking in French when she was around in an attempt to make her feel more comfortable, and it seemed to be working.

He hadn't talked to or even seen Horace for the last two days, and he was starting to regret the fact that he'd yelled at him. Horace hadn't deserved it – he'd helped Enoch and the only thing he'd wanted to do was to let him know there was still hope. And even though Enoch was very sceptical – or, as he preferred to call it, "realistic" – about the whole situation, he should've at least appreciated his effort.

But when he'd walked by the infirmary to try and catch a glimpse of the blonde boy he was nowhere to be seen; something that made his guilt even bigger.

And so another two days went by, two days of boredom and an anxious feeling that never really went away, even in sleep. Because then, when everything went quiet, the people in Vélodrome were left alone with their thoughts and in the dark their seemingly unavoidable doom seemed to be closer than ever.

They weren't wrong.

Enoch and Victor were one of the first people to wake up that morning. Claire had fallen asleep with her head on Enoch's lap, Victor's jacket draped around her shoulders, so he was trying his best not to move or speak to loud.

This effort was immediately lost when the stadium was suddenly filled with loud voices.

Victor stopped talking. The two of them exchanged concerned glances before the muscular young man stood up. Enoch couldn't see what was happening in the centre of the stadium, so he glanced up at his friend and asked quietly: 'What's going on?'

Victor frowned, his eyes still on whatever was going on. It was hard to understand what the voices were saying but they were not the only ones who'd heard them.

'Soldiers.' Victor shot a quick glance at Enoch. 'Far more than usual. Something is going to happen.'

Claire slowly lifter her head off his lap and Victor's jacket fell off her as she sat upright, rubbing her eyes and yawning. 'Enoch… What is happening?'

'Nothing, Claire,' he said automatically, picking up the jacket from the dirty ground. 'Or at least I think so…'

Bronwyn had opened her eyes as well and now stood next to her brother, more worried than Enoch had seen her during the last few days. Carefully, he lifted Claire off the ground so the girl could sit on his arm, and he looked down at the centre of the Vélodrome.

About thirty soldiers had gathered around the entrance and were all talking to each other, leaning on their guns and their hats under their arms. It seemed as if they were waiting for something, or someone.

'Why do you think they're here?' Victor asked, still staring at the soldiers.

'I don't think anyone really knows for sure,' Enoch mumbled. 'But I don't think we're going to like it.'

It didn't take long before every single person in the stadium was awake, and the voices of the soldiers were drowned out by those of the thousands of Jews.

'Good God.' When Victor spoke again, his voice sounded a little shaky. 'I think – I think they're going to let us out of here.'

This might've sounded like a positive thing, but Enoch knew it wasn't. They weren't just going to let them go, especially not after going through so much trouble.

He could see a few nurses talking among themselves, shooting nervous glances at the soldiers. A few seconds later he recognized Alain Somnusson and after that his son, a few meters behind him. It seemed like they didn't have a single clue about what was going on either, but from this distance it was impossible to hear what they were discussing or even read their lips.

'We have to make sure we stay together.' Bronwyn carefully placed a hand on Claire's back. 'Whatever is going to happen.'

'Yes, I know.' Enoch looked at her, a stern look in his eyes. Claire had wrapped her arms around his neck and as he held her close he glanced at the people around him. Most of them had gotten up as well, talking to friends and families in nervous whispers. They knew something was going to happen.

And it didn't take long before they found out what this "something" was.

Because only an hour later, the soldiers split up, dividing themselves over the stands. Next to Enoch, Bronwyn looked a little pale as she grabbed her brother's arm.

'It's going to be okay, Wyn.' Enoch could hear how Victor murmured this to his sister but even though he desperately wanted it to be true, he knew it wasn't.

'Victor and Bronwyn Bruntley?' The three of them looked around at the same time. Instinctively, Enoch pulled Claire even closer and Victor stepped past him, towards the armed soldier. 'Yes?'

'Down to the entrance.' He nodded to the steps that led down to the centre of the stadium. 'Now.'

'But –'

'Does it look like I want to argue about this? Go!'

Enoch's mind went completely blank. 'Wait, hold on – I need to come with them –'

'No, you don't.' The soldier stepped towards him, gripping his gun. 'you go down once one of us tells you, understood?'

Enoch pressed his lips together and stayed silent. He refused to give the man the satisfaction of an obeying answer.

'Stay safe, Enoch,' Bronwyn whispered, right before pressing a kiss on his cheek. He and Victor only exchanged worried glances, before the siblings reached the steps and disappeared out of sight.

'Where are they going?' Enoch asked. 'What are you –'

But the soldier was already out of earshot, leaving a frustrated Enoch behind. He wasn't just going to let this happen. As soon as possible, he made his way to the steps as well. He made sure Claire wouldn't fall p the only reason he didn't put her down was because he was afraid he'd lose her.

'Enoch!'

It only took him a few minutes to find them again, which was impressive since the crowd in the centre of the stadium was gigantic. As soon as he and Bronwyn locked eyes, the girl made her way towards him and took Claire out of his arms. She was surprisingly strong and didn't have any problems with carrying her.

'I thought they wouldn't let you come with us...'

'I wasn't going to let them separate us. We have to stay together.'

Victor placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a grim smile. 'Glad you're here, Enoch.'

'Yeah, me too.' He sounded a little breathless and he took a few seconds to regain control over himself. 'Any idea where –'

'Hey, you!'

Enoch turned around and froze as if he'd been nailed to the ground. The soldier that had ordered him to stay had noticed him and was pushing people aside to get to him.

'Shit,' he mumbled, automatically stepping backwards right before realising that there was nowhere to go. The soldier was still walking towards him, an almost menacing look on his face. Only a few meters and he would reach him, grab him, drag him away and –

'Monsieur?'

Enoch pressed his eyes shut before opening them again, just to make sure what he saw was real.

Horace had cut the soldier off just in time and prevented him from getting to Enoch. 'Monsieur, I need your help. If you could come with me?'

And he led the soldier, who was too bewildered to react, away from Enoch. Just before he disappeared out of sight, however, their eyes met, and Horace smiled.

'My God...' Behind him, Victor let out a deep sigh. 'Who was that?'

'I...' Enoch finally got himself to move again, but kept staring at the place where Horace had disappeared. 'It – it doesn't matter.'

It did matter, of course. Horace stepped in just in time, and he didn't want to know what would've happened if he hadn't.

Why had he done that? The last time they'd spoken, Enoch had yelled at him and he still felt guilty about it since he still hadn't gotten the chance to apologize.

And how he never would.

Because only minutes later, they were ordered to leave the stadium, while the soldiers prevented them from disobeying or sneaking away.

Bronwyn, who was still carrying Claire, looked at her brother, who was staring straight ahead, and then at Enoch. 'Where are they taking us?'

Neither of them answered her question, but they didn't have to wait long to find out.

As soon as they heard the sound of a train slowly coming to a halt Enoch realised where they were and what was going to happen.

'Please don't push each other, people! There's room for everyone!' he could hear a man yell. He highly doubted that this would be the case, but since there was no time to argue about anything he quietly followed Victor into one of the carriages. They definitely weren't meant for passengers, but for luggage or animals – which seemed ironically enough very appropriate.

When Bronwyn lifted Claire up towards him he took the girl into his arms. If he needed to, he would carry her until they'd reached their destination.

So this was how he would travel to his death. By train, with almost thirty other people in a closed off, small space. Everyone seemed to hold their breath as the doors were closed.