Part Two

Chapter Ten

"The Family Picnic"

Part One

When you are a solider, no matter how much they train you, teach you, show you pictures and stories of war, you're never prepared for the gruesome sights and sounds of it. It is not something you just do. Killing a man is, unspoken but always neutrally understood as, a crime against humanity. Since the beginning, it has been spiritually engraved into us that murder is always negative and there is no other word for it, which could be positive, but war is all about murder and because we are fighting for something that we believe in, murder is necessary.

Hans Jr. is not a murderer, though he has done it countless times for his country, he is NOT a murderer. Hans is simply a survivor, doing his best to stay alive. You may call him cowardly and scum for it. To kill all those people in war and taking innocent lives into camps just so they could die slowly, because you wouldn't be wrong, but you wouldn't be right either. Is life not the most precious thing? If it wasn't, then why bother with birthdays and celebrate New Years? It is because life is so precious and sacred, no matter what religion you are, murder is a crime.

Hans remembers his first days on the front lines into Russia. At first he actually thought he was doing the right thing. To fight for his country is the honor and responsibility of every man and though he doesn't agree that Jews were the cause of their failures in the first Great War, he does agree that Germany is a strong and beautiful land and he would do almost anything to protect it.

When they passed the boarders of Russia, winter was closing in. Russia is, to his understanding, always cold, so they did bring large coats and winter uniforms, but the harsh climate was too great. They were unprepared. Hans was sick, with a high fever, and no means of getting warm, but he couldn't just retreat, because Germans don't surrender! They keep fighting, or die trying.

Hans mounted his rifle on a pile of thick snow, aiming at the enemy. He had trouble doing it too because to him, the whole world looked as if it was spinning. Thanks to his fever. Doing his best to be patient until he was sure, he had a perfect shot of him, he pulled the trigger. Fire bursts from its barrow, like it would from the mouth of a dragon, and the man fell and didn't get up.

Hans pulled the gold lever, a steaming shell flings itself from the side and into the snow, as he aims for another man. Aligning the end of the barrow with the peaking body of the enemy, he took another shot, the sound is more like the cry of a panther, but he missed. Hans continues this action until it was clear they were losing, and Hans was given an order to pull back. Reluctantly, he shot a few more before he stood up and hobbled quickly back for base, running as fast his legs could take him. He wouldn't let his sickness be the cause of his death, so he tried to ignore what couldn't be ignored and continued to follow his commanding officer.

It was on this day, Hans was sure he was going to die. As he trenched across the soft snow, desperately trying to get away alive, he heard gun shots going off as he watched his comrades fall behind him, never getting up. He knew it was coming, like a warning from God. He heard the gun shot and he fell to the ground. First he fell and then he screamed, from surprise, next he saw his wound, a deep crimson, and the pain came last. It was as if something exploded in his leg and left a giant hole in its wake.

He heard footsteps slowly move behind him. In this moment Hans knew he was going to die, but he wasn't going down without one last fight!

…

"HANS WAKE UP!" Rudy cried, trying to pull the young man's hand away from her throat, "STOP IT! IT'S JUST LIESEL!"

The scene suddenly changed. He was no longer in Russia's harsh cold land. He was home and he had Liesel's throat tight in his grip. Immediately he let go, Liesel's body dropped to the floor to a loud thump, as she gasped desperately for air.

Hans didn't understand. What was going on? He hadn't remembered what happened before he… Staring at his hand, and trying to recollect himself, he realized he had just tried to kill his little sister, but… but woul- he would never!

Liesel's large innocent but frightened eyes were stuck on him as if he were some monster. Hans wanted to say something, anything at all, like 'I'm sorry' but it just wouldn't come out. It was as if he'd forgotten how to speak, so he reached out again, trying to be gentle but Liesel moved back as Rudy shielded her from what they thought could have been another attack. No. What's done is done. He can't fix this and not knowing what else to do, he left for work, and continued like nothing happened.

As they watched Hans leave, Liesel pushed Rudy away, suddenly feeling ashamed by the way they reacted. It all just happened so fast, she didn't even have time to react, but...

She touched her neck. His hand print was still very visible, like an angry red scar.

She's positive now, he was unaware of his actions and this knowledge made her feel better.

"Are you okay?" Rudy asked, touching her elbow. Liesel nodded, but she was lying. Physically she was fine, but mentally… She felt like she was going to barf, her heart beating as fast as a hummingbird's wings flap. She just didn't understand. Earlier, she saw Hans asleep on the couch, all ready for work, when she noticed it was time for him to leave, so she went to wake him.

The moment her hand touched his wrist, he opened his eyes, dark menacing and angry eyes, screaming at her, "You think you can kill me!? You communist fuck!" he grabbed for her wrist and pulled close enough so his nose brushed against her cheek, "I will burn you, your people, and your land to the ground before I let you take Germany! You are nothing but the dirt beneath my boots!"

"Hans!" Liesel screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks. She tried to rip her arm away from him, but his grip was too strong.

"You sick, cowardly, PIG!" he continued to shout angrily and he didn't stop. He continued to insult her in every way possible and Liesel wasn't aware of what was really happening. She had thought he'd found out, that she may be a communist, and it frightened her to think of what he would do to her now he knows.

"RUDY!" she cried, hoping he wasn't too far. Suddenly Hans' hand moved from her wrist to her neck and he squeezed tight. Liesel couldn't breathe. Hans was crushing her throat like a can and she could feel it.

"Shut up!" Hans warned.

That's when Rudy ran in and the next part you already know…

Liesel moved her hand away from her neck. She knew Rudy didn't believe her. He could always tell when she was lying to him but thankfully he didn't push it any further. By the time she finished getting ready for school, the bruise on Liesel's neck turned from bright red to a dark purple. It was obviously a hand print and she decided to wear a scarf that day. She didn't want to get her brother in any trouble.

Hans could barely focus on his work and it would have a been nearly impossible if it weren't for the threatening possibility of losing the last of what he has and having to give up everything he worked so hard for. Liesel was definately on that list of things he has and as much as he hates to admit it, Rudy is on that list too. He's a good boy, Hans decided and is a good friend for Liesel, even if he's aware, Rudy does't think of Liesel as a friend. It was quite clear and Hans was no fool.

He was also glad the boy was around for the incident of earlier that morning. He had been thinking about it all day. Luckily, he was on guard duty. Nothing much to do but sit in a tower of the closest work camp, with a rifle and wait for something to happen. It was a perfect time to think and so he did. The war had obviously been eroding his brain and today you would say he was suffering either a form of 'Shell Shock' or 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder', but Hans wasn't aware of it. Infact no one, of that time, were aware of it. All he knew was that he had done something wrong and he had to do something to make up for it.

READER'S NOTE

Sorry about the wait guys... This month is rough! Anyway, you guys know what to do... Please!

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