Chapter Six: Fate


I stayed down in the wine cellar for the rest of the day.

I was curled up on the cot and as the day passed, no one bothered to come down to look for me. To be honest I didn't want anyone around. I didn't want to have to face anyone. I hadn't stopped shaking since the encounter I had and even when I finally did was when I thought I was going to fall asleep but the image of the rifle in my face and Amon right behind it was enough to make my eyes pop open again.

Despite the image, I desperately wanted to know what happened with Lisiek. I wanted to know if he was all right, if he even was alive. I tried to think of how everything happened. It was like a flash of events and my head was buzzing I thought I wasn't going to keep everything in order in how they happened.

I'm not sure how much time had passed but thinking back to when I ran out of Commandant Amon's bedroom and until now when I heard a familiar voice, it might've been a couple hours. The voice was rather familiar, even if it was muffled it was enough to make me get up from the cot and start to sneak up the stairs.

The closer I got to the door it was easy to figure out who it was.

It was Herr Direktor.

I reached the top and slowly turned the knob of the door to open it just a crack to hear him better.

"You came to my villa over one Jew boy?" Commandant gave what sounded like a small chuckle but he didn't seem quite too amused as I could tell his tone quickly turned serious.

"I know it may seem rather ludicrous but if you had no use for him I could've made of use of him in my factory."

My heart was beating all the way into my throat. I had a feeling of whom they were talking about.

"Ha, still gnawing on that factory business you keep talking about? Why put so much effort in something that won't matter at the end of the war? Do you want some wine?"

I froze for only a second until Herr Direktor spoke again.

"I don't think you are understanding me, Amon. Business is business it doesn't matter whether or not if there's a war. The Americans are a good example, don't you think?" He didn't wait for an answer.

"What I am asking is if you do not want him after he recovers then I will be more than happy to take him as one of my staff. I know you have been very cautious about shooting workers of mine I just want to have good business with you and your workers, that is all."

There was a pause and I took the opportunity to open the door just a bit more if I could even catch a glimpse of either one of them. To my dismay I couldn't but I knew they were nearby. The pause lingered for a while before Commandant sighed heavily with what sounded like a forced laugh.

"I suppose there is no harm done in it. Once he recovers you can take him, he's yours. But I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. I'm not sure of what good he'll be with a hole in his stomach and only one good eye." The Commandant replied sarcastically.

"But I guess you do know… It's one thing to do business with these people, let alone hire a maimed worker, ja?"

Herr Direktor chuckled softly. "That's one way to look at it. As long as this agreement is settled between the both of us is what matters, of course."

It sounded as though Commandant started walking away from Herr Direktor, along with a swig of something to drink, and Amon spoke again.

"It's probably the only thing that's settled around here."


After the small visit from Herr Direktor, it wasn't long until Helen came down and found me back on the cot again. I didn't even acknowledge her at all but her soft footsteps came closer as she leaned down and gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Eila… please come upstairs. Commandant wants us both to be up there…" She started softly but I didn't say anything. She tried again.

"Please, Eila. I can't explain much of everything but I can tell you that Lisiek is alright… for now." Despite her soft voice and how it was just above a whisper, I felt completely paralyzed by it. To hear that he was all right!

It didn't even seem to register before she grabbed my wrist to pull me up onto my feet. It was such a fluid motion as I followed her up the stairs and into the dining room where Commandant was sitting, waiting.

Without much being said, Helen quickly took a seat nearby his side and from her apron she took out a small emery board. She started to quietly file his nails and as she continued to do so, I stood at the head of the table on the opposite side.

It was the most nerve wrecking feeling to watch in silence as Helen continued to file his nails and Commandant hadn't even said a word to me. Instead he was most fixated on his nails and even inspected while Helen did it. For some reason I felt that I should maybe turn around and leave but I remembered that he wanted for the both of us to be up here, I just had yet to know what my reason was.

I actually felt that maybe he forgot that I even had come up. His attention would go to the paperwork he had on his table and as he went to turn the page I noticed how close he leaned in towards Helen. I clenched my hands into fists, biting my lip while Helen continued to file away but I knew she must've felt him get too close. In the end he only sighed and leaned back in his chair to take a long, deep gaze as Helen continued.

Even as I stood I felt that I was still lying on the cot. I was overwhelmed with what to feel. I wanted to cry knowing that Lisiek was all right… somewhere in this camp but at the same time I felt that itch of fear knowing that I was standing not too far away from a man who could kill me if he wanted and not lose any sleep over it. For reason I thought maybe he would pull a hand rifle on me and just shoot me in front of Helen, but no such thing happened. Instead I went back to thinking about Lisiek, the talk, and remembered what was said…

"I'm not sure of what good he'll be with a hole in his stomach and only one good eye."

"Eila."

I froze when I heard my name and my eyes immediately went to Commandant. I noticed within an instant that Helen was no longer by his side to file his nails. I felt myself start to break out in a sweat and swallowed deeply. It was just him and I but unlike the many times we were left alone I was always ready, or at least I liked to think that.

Remembering that he had said my name I wanted to answer quickly but my voice gave my obvious fear away. "Y-yes?"

He had been looking down at his paperwork the whole time until I answered. His dark eyes met mine along with his stoic face. He wrinkled his nose a little and it was just a feeling that he probably wanted to smirk. His chair creaked against his weight when he leaned back.

"Come over here, closer to me."

I was dreading he would ask that. I swallowed hard again but my throat was dry. With my head bowed low I started to walk over to him but he stopped me suddenly.

"No, no. Crawl to me."

I looked up suddenly at his request but he didn't even flinch. I bit my lip while getting down on my hands and knees and like a child, despite the humiliation I felt, I crawled over to him and sat on my knees once I made it to his side.

The silence was unsettling.

"You put on quite a show earlier today, didn't you?" He started and I could feel that his eyes were boring into my skull. I didn't answer him and simply kept my head bowed low.

"Since you've been here you've been putting quite a lot of shows and it's not just your piano playing." He chuckled softly and the chair creaked again as he must've leaned forward.

"Look at me."

Slowly I raised my eyes to meet his stoic stare.

There was another small bout of silence as he never broke his eyes from mine and instead, leaned back in his chair.

"I've considered the options for you, Eila. Simply killing you doesn't seem sufficient enough to me, nor does putting you back outside with the others to work your fingers to the bone. There's only one other choice I could think of and I'm going to stick to it… Get under the table."

I swallowed hard and carefully moved myself under the table as he asked. I wasn't sure of what was going to happen or how I should even prepare myself. I felt like I was going to throw up.

I was facing his lap, which he gently patted with his palm. I should've known the moment he told me to crawl but I didn't want to just assume, for there could be far more worse things than this, anything but this. I would rather have him kill me instead.

His legs were spread and as I slowly crawled closer I felt like crying.

The belt and buckle were already undone, how I hadn't noticed from the time I got to the floor, I'm not sure but I was shaking as I crawled as close as I could get.

"Do you remember, Eila, how I had told you not to make me regret my decision about bringing in another Jewish girl into the villa?" His tone was casual and his one hand lightly drummed on the table. I didn't answer him.

"Are you going to make me regret it?"

With my head bent low I shook my head. The tears fell from my eyes as I just stared at the floor. Slowly, he scooted the chair backwards. I felt his fingertips under my chin slowly tilt my head up and I was staring into his eyes again. We remained like this for a while before he finally backed out from his chair and got up to exit the room.

"I want you to play the piano for me tonight. Be there at nine o'clock."


When it had become night and after dinner was served, both Helen and I retreated back into the cellar where she explained to me about Lisiek.

"I heard Herr Direktor speak with Commandant about him. Apparently he had just happened to come by the villa when he saw Lisiek get shot at. He saw the bullets miss him until the third one that got him from behind. Lisiek was still alive when other officials saw him and went to go kill him but they shot him in his eye… that's when Herr Direktor ordered for them to stop and quickly took Lisiek to an infirmary."

She had to explain everything slowly for me. From all the events from today I couldn't even comprehend much of what was reality or make believe. I felt a rush of emotions wash over me that I started to cry.

I didn't even realize her hand had reached over to gently hold mine and I looked up at her with teary eyes.

"He's going to be alright, Eila. Herr Direktor managed to get me alone while you were down here and told me that whenever you want to visit him, you can. It might be hard but he said he'll come by again." She smiled the best her tired face could muster. I couldn't even speak and just hugged her instead, but it was short lived when I took notice of the clock when it was a quarter to and I hurried up the stairs to find the piano.

I didn't have to say much when Helen completely understood.

Now it was another waiting game. It had been a while since I had played in front of him before and now it felt like it was the first time I had when I came to the villa. I started going through a series of pieces I knew but at the same time I started to second-guess myself if I actually knew it or not.

It was oddly quiet until I heard the radio turn on. It was a woman singing and it sounded like club music.

"Milosc tak pieknie tlumaczy. Zdrade I klamstwo I grzech. Choc bys ja przeklal w rozpaczy. Ze jest okrutna I zla…"

I heard footsteps that sounded farther away, as if going down a flight of stairs but when I looked up from the piano stool, no one was coming down. I was puzzled as the footsteps kept going. I couldn't help but start to follow them past the dining room, the kitchen, until I heard a voice from down below.

"So… this is where you come to hide from me."

My eyes flickered to the direction of the cellar door to see it had been opened. I swallowed hard when my heart started to beat in my throat again. I went to the door with the urge to go down the steps but a part of me also didn't want to run in with Commandant's temper.

"I came to tell you that you really are a wonderful cook and a well trained servant. I meant it. If you need a reference after the war, I'd be happy to give you one."

With a held breath, I started to quietly make my way down the cellar stairs. It was odd to hear him give compliments when he had just threatened my life not too long ago as well as almost pleasure him from under the table. The thought of it almost made me vomit right on the stairs until he spoke again.

"It must get lonely down here when you're listening to everyone upstairs having such a good time…"

I narrowed my eyes a little at that one but continued my way down.

"Does it? You can answer… But what's the right answer? That's what you're thinking." He chuckled as he continued to obviously walk nearby Helen. "What does he want to hear?" He paused then said, the truth, Helen, is always the right answer."

He continued. "Surely you wouldn't give any of the answers Eila gives, you wouldn't dream of it… but yes, you're right. Sometimes we're both lonely."

I finally made it to the second to the last step and started to peek around the corner, only to whip behind it again when he started walking closer to the stairs.

"Yes, I… I mean,"

He stopped again only to pace back and forth. What was he getting at?

"I would like so much to reach out and touch you in your loneliness. What would that be like, I wonder? I mean…" He nervously chuckled and I peeked again to see him looking at Helen, who remained silent and frozen.

"What would be wrong with that?"

I quirked a brow.

"I realize that you're not a person in the strictest sense of the word, but…" He sighed out of slight frustration. "No, maybe you're right about that too, you know, maybe what's wrong isn't… It's not us. It's… No, it's this."

I blinked in bewilderment… had he just admitted what I think he did?

"I mean, when they compare you to vermin, and to rodents and to lice… I just… " He paused again, and I could see how close he stood behind Helen. She was breathing heavily but quietly and I had the knot in my stomach like when I had gone to follow Lisiek.

"No, you make a good point. You make a very good point." He chuckled again and then moved to stand in front of her, a hand going up to twirl her damp hair in his fingers and I cringed.

"Is this the face of a rat? Are these the eyes of a rat? Hath not a Jew eyes?"

My palms were sweating as I watched him continue to look at Helen, caress her hair, and give gentle touches. It made complete sense to me after seeing all of this…. That what Herr Direktor had said so long ago about how both Helen and I both don't wear the Star because Commandant enjoyed us too much. Though I was surprised he hadn't had me stitch one on my dress just yet.

"Ci wszystko wybaczy. Bo milosc moj mily…"

"I feel for you, Helen…" His hand gently groped her.

"To ja."

"No, I don't think so. You're a Jewish Bitch… you nearly talked me into it, didn't you? Didn't you?"

There was a slap and the sound of someone falling over.

I perked up suddenly, still barely peeking around the corner. I saw Helen turn around in an instant. Her hand covered her mouth to block the blood that was already seeping through her fingers.

He grabbed her from behind her shoulders and tossed her onto the bed like a rag doll. As helpless as she was he climbed on top of her and slapped her face again and again and again.

On the third time he had hit her so hard she fell off the bed.

He was panting heavily and with whatever strength she had she started to crawl away from him. In that moment I couldn't hide anymore. I wasn't going to let him have the opportunity to hurt Lisiek and especially, not to hurt Helen. I quickly ran to where she was desperately trying to escape, yanking her in the opposite direction just in time as Commandant grabbed a shelf of glass and toppled it over.

The glass broke into millions of shards that scattered all over the floor. I tried to get Helen onto her feet but once she saw me she screamed at me to run. I didn't have time to register until she was yanked backwards onto the floor and now I faced Commandant Amon.

"You fucking stupid girl!" He growled and slapped me across the face. I couldn't even recover before he grabbed me around my waist with one arm and dragged me up the stairs.

"EILA!" Helen screamed but I couldn't get loose from his grip. I kicked and screamed all the way up the stairs until he found another door to go outside. He threw me onto the ground of what felt like a patio. Without being able to recover, I felt cold water being thrown at my back.

A flowerpot broke.

"You want to be a fucking hero to everyone, ja?" I felt him step on my back and with what seemed like ease for him he managed to take off his belt completely and then loop it.

He wasted no time and started to whip me.


Welp. Another chapter, everyone! To be honest, the first time I saw the movie and I saw the scene between him and Helen and what he did to her, I honestly wanted to jump in and give him a good beating OTL thus inspired the idea for this fic!

I feel bad Eila had to go through this but in a way, (despite how I could have made it totally avoidable like in the last chapter) to be realistic and as authentic as possible, a Nazi officer wouldn't have even let her off the hook for anything that she's done throughout this story.

-sigh- On a somewhat lighter note, I'll be putting more 'fill-in' scenes as the movie/story progresses. Thank you to the readers and reviewers! You guys rock!