*hello again! Once again no beta! So if you see mistakes let me know and I will fix them! Just for clarification purposes this is another flashback chapter. I realize that some of the stuff I have in here like the scene with the crowd is not historically correct, most likely people would have scattered, but it's my story and I took liberties! *

Life Left Behind Chapter 4

The streets were calm, no noise could be heard save the sound of footsteps as a lone soldier made his way down the grey cobble stones streets. His green uniform blended into the darkness as he eyed the buildings he passed. A gloved hand held tightly to the gun at his side, ready for trouble if he should stumble upon it. He stopped in front of a row of houses, all boarded up and abandoned. He eyed the boards looking for any signs of tampering.

Inside the two lovers took no notice, to enwrapped with each other. The moved together in the dim moonlight, bodies glistening with sweat whispered words and pants filling the air. Lips touched as they pushed themselves together, finding completion with each other.

The two men lay curled around each other in the darkness, feeling safe in the other's arms. Hours passed by, the darkness beginning to wane until the smallest sliver of light could be seen. Slowly Hugo removed himself from his lover's arms, moving to retrieve his clothes. He pulled on his pants as quietly as he could, slipping on his shoes as well. He sat back down next to Dieter as he buttoned up his shirt, enjoying the closeness.

A hand reached out grasping his, stilling his actions. Hugo turned looking down at the man still lounging on the floor. He smiled as he looked into Dieter's sleep filled eyes.

"You have to go?" Dieter asked quietly.

Hugo nodded mutely, allowing his fingers to entangle with Dieter's.

"Work." He muttered.

Dieter leaned up to give the man a kiss.

"Have fun."

Hugo smiled down at his lover.

"I'll bring you something from the market." He promised.

Dieter smiled up at him.

"Thank you."

Hugo bent down, pressing his lips to Dieter's tightly, before reaching his feet and heading back down the dark hall. He glanced on last time back at Dieter before slipping back into the darkness of the early morning.

Hugo walked down the streets slowly enjoying the sight of the sun rising in the sky. Still too early for most people to be up, and it was shift change for the posts for Nazi's patrolling the area. It was as peaceful as life could get. A perfect way to start his day, a night with Dieter and the day spent with Jonah, his adopted father at his bookshop.

Jonah was a huge man, he towered over Hugo, and weighed more than Dieter and Hugo combined, at least that is what Jonah told him. He had a head of close cropped mousey grey hair, glass blue eyes, and a big red nose. The man always seemed to smile, a contagious habit that Hugo seemed to be somewhat immune to, though he was the only one.

Jonah had been a friend of his parent's before they died, as close as family, and that's exactly what he had become, his only family aside from Dieter. The man had owned the bookshop since before he was born, receiving it after the death of his own father. The main level of the building served as the actual store while the floor above served as a home for both Jonah and him. It was small but it was nice. The only place Hugo felt truly safe anymore.

Jonah had originally suggested hiding Dieter in the cellar under the shop, but Dieter would not hear it. He did not want other's endangering themselves for his well being. Besides he would always insist Hitler was a passing fade and this would all disappear in a few months. Hugo tried to believe him, but in the back of his mind he felt Dieter's words ring hollow. After all, look what Hitler had been able to accomplish so far without being stopped. The Jewish businesses had all been run out; their proprietors either rounded up or shot. Hugo had tried to tell Dieter this but the man did not want to listen. Then again, it was hard to hear what the country was doing to its own people. It was his way of coping; Hugo just wished it would not get him killed.

Hugo took out his keys, unlocking the front door.

"Jonah!" He called, shutting the door behind him.

A head popped out from behind a counter, short grey hair in chaos, blue eyes wide in surprise.

"You nearly scared me to death boy!" The man's voice boomed thru the store.

Hugo smiled unapologetically making his way over to the counter.

"What are you doing?" He asked peering down at the other man.

The mad snorted handing a book up to him. Hugo eyed the red leather bound book, his eyes quickly catching the title on the side.

"Mien Kumph."

Jonah nodded. The big man rose to his feet, slapping a piece of paper down on the counter.

"The Fuhrer as given us a new list of approved books."

Hugo glanced down at the list tossing the book in his hands over his shoulder carelessly.

"Any of the readable?"

Jonah shrugged.

"Depends."

Hugo arched a brow.

"Depends on what?" He asked.

"Depends if you're a bigot or not."

Jonah leaned down plucking up a pile of books.

"By the way," He said. "Grab that piece of trash off the floor would you? I don't want to be shot just because you feel like throwing books around."

Hugo snorted turning to eye the red book on the floor with disgust.

"I think we should burn it."He muttered.

"Oh yes," Jonah agreed in a sarcastic voice. "Then we can run off to Berlin and set the author on fire as well!"

Hugo glanced at Jonah a smile on his face.

"You know my birthday is coming up."

Jonah frowned turning from his books to look at him.

"And you want me to kill Hitler for you for your birthday?"

Hugo nodded.

Jonah narrowed his eyes.

"Between the two of us I'd say you're more likely to be able to pull that off."

Hugo walked over to the red book picking it up from the floor.

"And why is that?"

"You're not a sixty three year old man that is a built like a tank."

Hugo placed the book back on the counter.

"I suppose you want me to go thru our inventory and take out the undesirables from out collection."

Jonah sighed.

"You better do it; the officer that delivered the letter said he would be back tomorrow afternoon to inspect."

Hugo nodded grabbing the list and moving the closest book shelf.

"Can we at least kill him?"

Jonah rolled his eyes.

"Do you want to kill every Nazi officer you come across?"

"Naturally." Hugo said with a brilliant smile.

Jonah shook his head. The boy was going to drive him insane. At least it was all in jest. He knew the boy did not have it in him to hurt others.

The two men worked diligently, silence broken by the occasional random conversation. A few people stopped by the store, but for the most part it was quiet. Hugo was almost done with the list assigned to him, finally making his way to the last section where the children's books were held, under the main window.

He frowned, glancing down at the list. Even children's books were dangerous to the Fuhrer's beliefs. Hugo shook his head kneeling down on the floor. Suddenly movement caught his eye. He glanced up in time to catch a man run passed the window, his face pale in fear.

Hugo snorted, probably forgot his stove on. He was about to go back to work when another man ran passed, looking just as panicked as the first. Hugo frowned rising to his feet.

He heard yells, watched as people began to make their way past the store front, mother's tightly grasping the hands of their children, fear etched on their faces.

"What's that now?" Jonah asked from behind him.

Hugo shook his head in confusion. He placed the books in his hands on the counter before making his way back to the window. More people came flocking past, the same fear as the others on their faces. Jonah moved up next to him watching the people run.

"Something has got them spooked." The big man muttered.

Hugo moved out the door, standing in front of the store. A young man about his age came running past. Hugo quickly grabbed the man's lapel, pulling him over to the store front. The man looked at him in terror, wide eyes quickly appraising Hugo.

"What is going on?" Hugo asked in a stern voice, catching the man's attention. He heard footsteps behind him and knew Jonah had come to stand behind him.

"Gestapo!" The man gasped out a hand rising to grasp Hugo's.

"What about them?" Hugo asked, eyes narrowing.

The man licked his lips nervously his head jerking back down the street. "They found a Jew hiding in one of the old buildings. They are searing houses, shooting people in the streets."

Hugo felt his blood run cold. They found a Jew, not many just one, hiding alone. Hugo let go of the man, letting him fall to the ground and began to run.

"Hugo!" He heard Jonah call from behind him, but he did not turn.

He ran faster than he had ever before, his lungs scorching for air, He passed the people fleeing the Gestapo, trying to get home before the Nazi's searched them or accused them of being conspirators. He sprinted thru the old familiar streets only one thing on his mind; Dieter. He had to get to Dieter. If they were doing house checks they would find him. Unless it was him they had found first.

Hugo felt tears begin to sting his eyes. No, it couldn't be Dieter. He had been careful, they both were. He turned the corner of the block Dieter lived on, coming to a halt instantly. Life seemed to freeze all around him. Nothing moved he could hear no sound. All he could do was the nightmare before him.

A small crowd gathered in the street, creating a circle around a group of men in military uniforms and the black outfits of the SS. A broken, bloody man stood between two Nazi soldiers, being held at attention. Dieter.

Dieter's face was covered in blood, His beautiful nose, clearly broken, now one giant purple bruse. His brown hair, darkend by blood was matted down to his brow, his eyes clouded in pain. His shirt was ripped; hanging open exposing a bruised and cut chest, the Jewish Star of David had been carved on his chest, the blood from the wound soaking the top of his pants. The front of his pants stained with blood and urine. His shoes were gone, leaving him standing barefoot on the cobblestone street.

A man in a black trench coat stood before him, eyeing Dieter with a smile from under a crocked nose. His hair neatly parted and slicked into place, resembling a coffered model. The man wore the red patch on his shoulder, clearly showing the world his allegiance, his gun raised in front of his poor captive.

Hugo could not breath could not move, he could stare at the man he loved in horror. He needed to save him.

Suddenly the world came alive around him, sounds began to enter his mind, and people began to move. Hugo began to push his way into the crowd eyes fixed on Dieter. Suddenly Dieter's eyes widened, the gloss covering them turning to terror. Hugo opened his mouth to shout his name. Dieter's head flew back, blood and grey brain matter exploding from his hair. Hugo froze. Dieter's body crumpled to the ground, in a boneless heap, gore surrounding him.

Hugo could not move, could not breath, the world falling back into silence, his mouth still open as if to speak. A hand landed on his shoulder, but he did not care. Nothing mattered at this moment. He felt some one tug at him, then warm breath on his skin.

"Come away boy." Someone whispered in his ear.

The hand tugged harder.

"Come away son!"

Hugo allowed himself to be tugged along eyes still on Dieter's crumpled form.

"You can do nothing for him now!" The voice frantically whispered in his ear.

Strong arms wrapped around him pulling him away from Dieter, until he could see him no more. Once Dieter was gone from his vision he took notice of the man dragging him along.

Jonah looked frantic, his face white as a ghost as he held tightly onto Hugo, his eyes scanning the street as he pulled the young man along.

The walk back to the shop was a haze. Jonah deposited Hugo on the floor quickly moving to bolt the door and close the curtains over the windows, blocking out the world.

Once everything was tightly sealed, the older man kneeled before him, staring intently at him. Hugo starred back unable to do anything else, just a mass of bones with no purpose. He watched as Johan's hand reached out and touched his face, but he didn't feel it. He felt nothing. The man retracted his hand, fingers wet. Jonah pulled out a handkerchief, leaning towards Hugo. He slowly began to wipe at his face.

"It will be okay." Jonah croaked out. He pulled the young man into his arms. "It will be all right."

Hugo did not know how long they stayed like that, huddled on the floor, Jonah holding him. All he knew was that it was night when the man let him go and ushered him back into the kitchen. He had made him sit at the table, while he fiddled around the stove. A few moments later a bowel was place in front of his face, a spoon forced into his hand.

"Here, eat something." Jonah said quietly.

Hugo stared at the liquid in the bowel, unable to find the energy to move.

He heard the sound of a chair being pulled across wood and looked up to see Jonah taking a seat next to him. The man reached out grasping Hugo affectionately by the back of his neck.

"You have to eat something."

Hugo blinked his sore eyes.

"I can't." He croaked out thru chapped lips.

Jonah nodded his head after a moment, his eyes filling with unshed tears.

"Okay." He said softly.

He let go of Hugo and moved the bowel from the table.

"Why don't you lie down?" He said kneeling down by Hugo's side. "Try and get some rest. The soup will be on the stove if you find yourself hungry."

Hugo nodded. He rose to his feet and made his way to his room. He did not turn the light on or bother to change his clothes; he simply toppled into his bed.

As darkness of the night settled around him, all he could see was the man in black, standing before Dieter. The smug smile, the crooked nose, the thin lips. He memorized that face, every detail he could think of. He replayed the man pulling the trigger in his mind, the expressions that crossed the Aryan's face as the bullet left the chamber and entered his prey. The way the man moved, the way his leather clad fingers flexed around his gun. He memorized it all, better than any photograph.

When he woke up the next morning he did not cry, he would never cry again. He had a mission, crying would get him nowhere. He changed his clothes and packed a book, tuning out Jonah's worried voice as the man asked questions. He would not involve Jonah, the man had done enough for him, and he did not need to be pulled into this madness. He left the bookstore, giving Jonah once last hug, giving him the last shred of humanity he could muster, before heading out, not looking back as he made his way down the street.

He would go, he would fight, and he would join their army of hate. He would get his revenge.