Unerwarteter Besucher

Unexpected Visitor

The more you love a memory, the stronger and stranger it is.

Liesel remained there for a fair amount of time. She heard Rudy come down for dinner at some point, but she still made no motion to get up. She dug her nails into her scalp and forced herself to at least do something productive. She grabbed a pencil on the opposite side of the desk and turned to the part where she had last left off when editing her story. Of course, it was the part where she had been talking about Rudy. She muttered something under her breath, but it wasn't understandable.

She worked hastily. She scribbled out words and crossed sentences out with such intensity that she almost ripped through the paper. She got through a good ten pages before her hand began to hurt and she put down the pencil. She jumped, seeing someone at the other end of the room. Rudy leaned in the doorway, narrowing his blue eyes on her. "Are you going to eat?" She noticed he had a plate of food in his hands. She shook her head, turning back to her book, wondering to herself how long he had been standing there. Rolling his eyes, he walked over, slid the plate across the desk, and then took a seat beside her. "You have to eat."

"I don't have to do anything." She snorted.

Rudy snatched her book and replaced it with the plate of food. "But you're choosing to edit that."

"Choosing and forcing are two different things, Saukerl!"

"Saumensch, what's your problem?"

"Nothing!" She answered a little too quickly.

He put his hands up in a surrendering position, not wanting to fight with her, but curious all the same to find out what was with the mood swings. She had a right to be sad earlier, and she had a right to be sad now, but he didn't understand the harshness of her tone. She stared blankly at the food before her, and then shifted to look at the book that was now in Rudy's possession. "Give me my book back." She said warningly.

"What are you going to do about it?" He smiled, getting up and backing away as fast as he could with the cast on. He shook the book at her tauntingly.

Liesel couldn't see his point, for he had an injured leg and really wouldn't stand a chance against her. Either way, she leaped up and dashed after him, coming upon him within seconds. Being taller than her, he easily kept it out of her reach. She didn't want to attack him and hurt him even more, so she was left with having to try and jump up for the book. "Rudy, I'm not in the mood!" She snapped, clawing at his arm and ripping his flesh to draw a thin line of blood.

"Yes, you're in more of a kill Rudy mood." He smiled, maneuvering away from her and limping out of the room. She kept up with him easily, still attempting to get her book back.

"Saukerl!" She snarled.

"That's not going to get your book back." He said with a cocky smile.

"Oh, and what will?" She tried jumping again.

Rudy's eyes shimmered, his words echoing that of the past. "How about a kiss, Saumensch?"

Liesel felt her heart drop, but tried not to let the emotion set in her eyes. Do it, do it, do it, her mind chanted. Just say yes. She narrowed her chocolate eyes, shouting back, "NO!" but she couldn't help but smile.

He sighed. "I figured that would be your answer." And with his arm, he pushed her out of the way and managed to get a few steps ahead again.

She went after him again, jumping up and grabbing on to her book. She ripped it out of Rudy's hands and held it up triumphantly.

"I let you have it," He said.

She crossed her arms and stared him down, but in the end, she was the one that was being stared down. Grumbling, she turned around and marched back into the library. "Saumensch," Rudy hissed, following her into the room. "You need to eat!" He said, shoving the plate back towards her. They were back at square one.

"I'm not hungry," She replied, grabbing the pencil and reopening her book.

"That's not a good enough answer."

"You need to eat more than I do! You have the broken leg!"

"What does a broken leg have to do with eating?"

She glared at him.

"Lighten up, will you?"

"No!"

"What's gotten into you? You were fine earlier." He snapped.

"Nothing, Rudy! Just drop it! Can't you leave me alone?"

Her words pierced Rudy like a dagger to the heart. He felt his heart sink, and he shrunk away into the shadows of the library, not bothering with Liesel anymore. Fine, if she wants to be like that, I don't care.

Liesel looked up to see him sitting with his head lowered and looking like a struck puppy. He was only trying to help, she heard her Papa's voice whisper. "Rudy, I-"

They heard a car pull up in the driveway. They both jumped up from their seats and rushed to the great room, looking for the Hermann's. Liesel wanted to see them, wish them goodnight, and then get away from Rudy.

When the door finally opened, both of them were in shock to see both Hermann's dripping wet, their faces lit by the lighting in the room, but looking rather pale. They both were staring awkwardly at Rudy.

The two children were standing by each other's side, Liesel looking as if she wanted to be anywhere but there.

Liesel took a step back, and the two adults came in. Every smile they had shared in that few minutes past was gone now. The two Hermann's were dead serious, and something looked terribly wrong. Rudy averted his eyes at the two advancing adults. "Is…is something wrong?" he stammered out.

Nobody had to say anything. Behind them, the door had been left open. Standing on the porch, silhouetted by the rain, was a man in shreds. His face was darkened, for he wasn't standing completely in the light of the porch. He took a step inside, his jacket dripping wet and making puddles on the ground. His dark hair was plastered to his face, and his eyes were a dark shade of blue. His eyes locked on Rudy.

Rudy and Liesel both gasped at the same time.

*** THAT MAN? ***

Alex Steiner.

"Rudy?" The man's voice was very husky and soft, sounding as if it gave him a great deal of pain to say that name.

"Papa?" Rudy whispered softly, walking slowly forward.

The man's eyes lit up as he ran forward and embraced his son. Rudy didn't mind the wet. He wondered when the last time his father had worn anything warm was, for he was shivering and shaking, which made him wonder if it was from the cold or from seeing him alive. Rudy felt tears streaming down his face, and he heard his father crying, too, holding him tighter, not ever wanting to let go.

*** DUDEN DICTIONARY MEANING #9 ***

Neid – Envy:

A feel of covetousness or discontent to another's possessions

Related Words: covet, desire,thirst, yearn.

Standing off to the side, with her hair in her face, the Book Thief stood with her eyes locked on the sight before her. She felt something growing inside her stomach. It wasn't the butterfly feeling she had felt earlier. It was a reproachful feeling. One that made her ache with unease. Ordinarily, she would've been happy for Rudy. But now, she wasn't.

She stared at Alex and Rudy Steiner with jealousy. The first thing she thought? He isn't alone. She dwelled on this for a moment. Alex Steiner was alive, very much alive, indeed. He was walking fine. He was breathing. But what else did this mean? I'm alone. Herr Steiner was fine. He was walking. He was breathing. He could make money. He could take Rudy home. He could take him away from her. She saw the teary joy in Rudy's eyes as he held onto his father. She felt herself beginning to burn, then. The horrible pit in her stomach grew and grew until it consumed her whole body.

"Herr Steiner, it is so good to see you again," Herr Hermann said happily. Father and son broke up, and Herr Steiner shook Herr Hermann's hand gratefully.

"Thank you, so much - for keeping him safe." He said graciously, his other hand clasped on Rudy's shoulder.

"It was no problem at all," Ilsa said, stepping in. "We were astonished he was alive. Everyone else was wiped out."

And what am I? Liesel thought, slowly slinking back into the shadows. Just like that, she was forgotten. She felt regret seeping in for yelling at Rudy earlier. She wanted to kick herself for bringing up the fact that Herr Steiner might still be alive. She felt as though she had jinxed them.

But how was it a jinx? She had reunited father and son.

Ah, but it was a jinx.

For now father was leaving with son.

Tears filling her eyes, she ran up the stairs.

*** IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING ***

No one even noticed she was gone.

End Chapter


A/N: Sorry for being late with this, and that it's really short. It was difficult to write. I don't know why. Thanks, again, for all your kind reviews. :) Keep an eye out for the next chapter!