A/N: I know, I know, it has been much too long for my standards. But I had to wait for fresh inspiration to hit me with this story, and figure out where to take it. Also, I got hooked into the Downton Abbey world happily (highly recommend - while I love writing about the best romance in a movie in this forum, in DA I found the best romance on television and have begun writing for that too, as my latest story on this site shows).
Don't lose faith! I started this story and will finish it.
Six
"Boy! Get down here or you will be late!"
The sudden shout from downstairs caused Rolf Gruber's fingers to slip around the razor he was holding, and he nicked the side of his chin. In response to this, he gave a soft exclamation of pain and threw the razor in the sink in frustration.
"Oh, here, let me help you with that," came a voice from the doorway. Rolf immediately felt more at peace when he heard the quiet, gentle, and compassionate voice of his little sister, the exact opposite of the loud, harsh, critical voice of their father. Looking at her in the mirror, he watched her set down a newly washed pile of folded towels near the tub and approached him. Without thinking twice, she raised her wrist and pressed her own sleeve to the nick.
"Mina, don't, it's fine, really –" said Rolf, but his sister interrupted him.
"Better your clothes than mine this morning, brother," said Mina, a long strand of blond hair – the same light color as her brother's – that had come loose from her long braid resting against her cheek. "If Father sees even a speckle on your new uniform, you won't get out of this house alive."
Rolf had to smile at her. Sometimes he could have sworn his sister was the reincarnation of their mother. If it weren't for her, Rolf would have already run away from their tyrannical father.
But he would not run away without his sister, and each day brought them one tiny step closer to that dream.
After a few seconds, Mina removed the pressure and her hand. "Go now," she said, giving him a complicated look. Neither of them exactly liked Rolf's new job, but they had to be grateful to it, to a certain extent, because it meant one less reason for their father to pick on them. Rolf leaned down and kissed her nose – a gesture he always did to convey his love for her – and hurriedly left the bathroom.
On the stairs, he made sure to descend at a reasonable pace, so as not to make a racket and get a scolding from his father. Speaking of which, Werner Gruber was standing in the front hall, tying his best tie in front of the hall mirror, also wearing his best suit. That meant, to Rolf's relief, that his father was going out of the house. Though Rolf would also be out of the house, it meant that Mina could have some peace to either finish the housework or steal some precious minutes to practice her music.
Once Rolf arrived at the bottom of the stairs, his father turned to him with the most scrutinizing look imaginable. Rolf stood straight, tall and still, the way any man in uniform would be expected to stand under inspection. At least I know any inspection I am subject to now will not be nearly as bad as the one I receive now.
After what seemed like a very long minute, Werner nodded gruffly and turned back to the mirror to finish with his tie. Rolf gave an inaudible sigh of relief, knowing silence meant he'd passed the inspection. With his father, no words were better than any words at all. Wanting to ensure he left his father in a proper mood – and curious to know what he was up to – Rolf said casually, "You look very smart today, Father."
The seventeen-year-old didn't expect a thank you, and didn't get one. "I have a meeting today, ensuring my new position downtown. What a relief it is to finally have a government smart enough to recognize true worth."
More like stupid enough, thought Rolf, but he was careful to give a small, pleasant smile in response. This was, after all, good news. If his father was successful today, that would mean he would be out of the house – and away from him and Mina – much more often.
"Well, good luck, Father, I'm off," he said as he walked to the door. But he was stopped by a hand gripping his upper arm in a vice-like grip, stopping him and turning him around to look at his father.
"You listen, boy," the older man said, his colorless gray eyes piercing. "I expect nothing but perfect reports about your behavior. Your behavior and performance reflects on my name, and I will not tolerate anything that will ruin my chances in this new position. I hear one negative report, and you will be sorry. Understand?"
It took all of Rolf's determination and years of practice to keep his expression neutral and unfazed by his father's threat. "Yes, Father."
Werner slowly let go of his son's arm without looking away. Eventually, he nodded and said dismissively, "Go now, or you'll be late."
Rolf didn't need to be asked twice to get away from him. Without another word, Rolf slung his bag over his shoulder and exited the house. It took all of his self-control not to slam the door or kick his bike as he unchained it from the fence.
Thankfully, Rolf's bike ride allowed him to the perfect opportunity to expel the negative energy any encounter with his father gave him. He had given up the hope that his father would change long ago, and there was nothing left to do now but endure him as long as he needed to, until he'd reached his goal that would allow him and Mina to escape from him.
In the meantime, he hoped that this new enlistment in the Third Reich would pacify his father at least a little bit, and that the new position his father would acquire would keep his attention away from his children.
His ride to his destination was about a half hour in length, and Rolf ended up at a building near the outskirts of Salzburg that looked like a small, old factory. It seemed that the Nazi party had taken it over as one of their many outposts in Salzburg. But, as Rolf parked and locked his bike, he saw that this must be one of their more remote or secretive places. Only a few cars and bikes were parked by it, and he barely saw any signs of life from the building. Perhaps all cadets start here, or perhaps I have some sort of assignment already.
In the weeks leading up to the Anschluss, he and many other young men had gone through training in the Third Reich, so that they could be ready to show themselves when the Anschluss was made official. Rolf felt disgusted by it: there really had been no hope for Austria remaining independent once Hitler came to power. He'd wanted his place of birth from the start, and Austria had died months before the Anschluss had dealt it the final blow. They hadn't even tried to disguise it or deny it.
Sighing and making sure he looked presentable, Rolf headed for the building entrance and prayed that, whatever he would be asked to do, it would not be one of the more terrible tasks he felt sure this party would set themselves.
Upon entering the building, he came into a small, dingy lobby, where a soldier not much older than him sat behind a large desk. Sighting Rolf, the officer stood up and gave the Nazi salute. "Heil Hitler!"
"Heil Hitler!" Rolf responded. "Private Rolf Gruber, reporting for duty, sir."
"Ah, yes, Gruber," said the soldier. "You are expected and a bit early, as well. A good start for you. I'm junior lieutenant Amsel. May I please have your papers so you can get started?"
Rolf did as he was told, and was given other papers to read over and sign. After both men were finished, Amsel stepped out from behind the desk and spoke to Rolf. "It's amazing, you know, how many of our young men have volunteered to join our ranks. We hardly know what to do with all of them! Thankfully, we do have a special assignment for you. Apparently, our gauleiter Zeller and your father are old school friends. Upon learning you joined our ranks, Zeller picked you out for this solitary task. It'll be boring, but we need someone trustworthy. Do you accept?"
As if I had any other choice, thought Rolf. But he responded with a nod, standing stick straight at the ready. "Yes, sir. I am prepared for anything."
Amsel came close to chuckling, but nodded and motioned for Rolf to follow him. As they went down a set of dark stairs down, Amsel spoke, "We're holding a political prisoner here, a known enemy of the party, and a real threat if not under our control. He was apprehended yesterday, and basically your job will be to guard his cell." They reached the bottom of the staircase underground, and continued down a long, dark hallway, only lit by a few lamps. "It's going to be a lot of standing and sitting around, so don't hesitate to bring a book with you. And don't worry about him trying to escape; only the gauleiter and I have the keys to the cell, and he has no windows."
As they continued down the hallway, some truly horrible sounds sounded louder and louder in Rolf's ears: taunting voices, menacing laughter, painful grunts, and the sounds of impact on a human body. Amsel cleared his throat rather uncomfortably. "They should be done in a minute or so; like I said, you are a bit early."
Why try to hide it? Rolf thought in disgust. They're ensuring he won't even have the strength to try and escape.
"Can I offer you some advice?" asked Amsel, once they had stopped outside of the door at the end of the hall, from which the terrible sounds were coming.
"Of course, sir," Rolf managed to choke out, desperately trying to ignore the sounds. Amsel continued in a low voice only Rolf could hear.
"I've been told the prisoner is a smart man with experience. Don't listen or even acknowledge him if he tries to talk to you. And don't communicate with him, either. Zeller really has it out for this man, and if he learns you've been talking to him, the prisoner won't be the only one who gets punished."
Rolf nodded, who did not plan to endanger himself or his sister to the wrath of his father or the Nazis. "Understood, sir."
Only a few seconds later, the sounds ceased and the door opened. Out came three men, looking pleased with themselves. Two were tall, muscled Nazi soldiers in uniform, while the third looked his father's age, a small man with a gray mustache and a face like a rat. He had the biggest smile of all. "Ah, is this young Gruber?" he said lowly, once the door to the cell was closed and locked.
"Yes, sir," said Amsel. "All ready to start."
Rolf saluted the gauleiter Zeller, eager to start off on the right foot. "Heil Hitler."
Zeller responded, and then said. "I'm just about to go and meet with your father; it's nice to see you are his spitting image at that age. I've no doubt your made of the same excellent stuff, as well. It gives me great pleasure to know this task will be performed to the best it can be."
"That's exactly what I intend to do, sir," said young Rolf, disgusted to be compared to his father like that, but relieved that he was in the monster's good graces.
"Well, I'll leave you to it," said Zeller. "Ansel, men, let's go."
The four Nazis walked away down the hallway, talking amongst themselves. Rolf positioned himself by the door. A particularly joyous comment made by Zeller traveled to his ear.
"…got the ostrich right where I want him. Just goes to show what happens when the great Captain Von Trapp lives in false, naïve hopes and goes against us…"
Rolf felt his entire mind and all five senses prick at that. His eyes widened and his mouth opened into a silent gasp. Did he just say…no…it couldn't be…It just can't be!
Noticing that the door had a special slot to slip food through, Rolf carefully squatted down and, silently, lifted the slot to peek through.
The light in the cell was very dim, just a low-watt bulb in a corner. But the cell was so small, it was enough to cast light upon a prostrate figure on the floor. His clothes were torn and dirty, his hair was a mess, and he seemed not to have any strength in him. Though the face was bloody and bruised, Rolf could see enough of it to make him realize that, unfortunately, he hadn't misheard Zeller.
Rolf shot away from the door, his hands covering his mouth as a feeling of nausea and horror washed over him.
I've been asked to guard the entrance to hell…