Alfred looked around in the barrack, about half of the beds were empty. He was starting to worry about his own life. The POWs had died of starvation, exhaustion and the cold of the winter. And spring was at least a whole month away.
Alfred was scared, he didn't want to die yet. But every day it was getting harder and harder to get up from bed, he didn't have much energy left and it felt like the snow they had to remove each day, was getting heavier.
The war needed to end soon otherwise he doubt if he would make until peace. But he had to write to his family one last time, they had to know what happened to him. Alfred knew his mother had to be close to a mental breakdown if she didn't know what happened with her son.
But the prisoners weren't allowed to write any letters, the Germans were scared the letter had code language in it to tell the enemy valuable information about behind the German frontline.
He had to find a possibility to send a letter. And the biggest chance of succeeding was when he could get a German to send it.
And it was like signing his own death sentence if he asked one of the guards in the camp, Alfred could only turn to one specific guard with blond hair and icy blue piercing eyes, although Alfred didn't know how he would react to this request. He did use him to escape out of the camp and it had been clear that Ludwig got really angry about that.
Absentminded his hand went to the red scar on his leg. No, he had to ask really careful, watching his words closely. One slight mistake and it could end much worse than just not being able to send a letter. Alfred reminded the cell he had been staying in for weeks and weeks. A shiver went up his spine, ever after he got put back in the barrack, he always made sure he wasn't alone. Alfred just couldn't cope with loneliness anymore.
He couldn't ask Arthur for help, the Brit would just scold him for being such a daredevil and preventing him to talk to Ludwig. Gilbert would do probably the same, trying to convince Alfred that the guards weren't anything like human anymore, not able to have mercy with anyone.
But Alfred knew for sure that Ludwig had a bit of humanity left, unlike most guards around here, he wasn't sadistic and cruel. Okey, maybe he shouldn't have shot Alfred when he tried to run away, but the Amercian was also slowly starting to understand why he shot him. If he hadn't, Alfred would have got away and that would end up in a lot of problems for the guards. It was and is their job to keep the prisoners inside of the camp.
Because the new tactics had worked even better than expected, the guards did their patrols with only one other German. And most of the time, the two guards split up to check the camp quicker, so they could return to the warm quarters quicker. Alfred hoped they did also this night.
Risking waiting for nothing, he waited outside of the barrack, standing in the shadow. When he was almost about to give up and return to his bed, he heard footsteps. Alfred waited a little longer, just to be sure it was really Ludwig and not just some other random German.
When Alfred saw it was Ludwig, he stepped out of the shadows. Ludwig heard the snow cracking behind him and grabbed his pistol, aiming at Alfred. ''Whooh! Ich bin es'' Alfred said, stopping in his tracks. Ludwig recognized his voice and put his pistol back. ''Don't startle me'' he said, a bit irritated. ''What is wrong? Why is you out of barrack?''
Alfred ignored the question and started talking. ''I have been in this camp for months and months now. My family has no idea where I am or if I'm even alive'' he said. Ludwig looked suspiciously at him but kept quiet. ''Can you help me? Can you sent a letter to my family for me?'' he asked, praying the German would help him.
But Ludwig was clearly not going to help him out. ''You are try escape again'' he snarled irritated, reaching for his pistol again. ''You will not send letter, you will not spy and send America information.'' Alfred shook his head, a bit worried, hoping Ludwig would keep his voice down to not alarm the other guard. ''No, I just want my family to know I'm still alive.'' But Ludwig wasn't easily convinced, he had learned from his previous mistake.
''Get back in the barrack and shut up. One more word and you will go to cell'' he threatened while pointing at the building with the isolating cells. ''No, no, don't. I only want them to know I'm still alive'' Alfred said, slightly worried while quickly pacing back inside of the barrack, when he looked over his shoulder, he could see Ludwig glancing at him. He was actually a bit surprised Ludwig had reacted this aggressive, threatening with locking him away in solitary confinement.
Alfred sighed deeply, that didn't go really well. Ludwig had thought he had again tried to escape and trying to send valuable information back to the American army.
When he layed in his bed, he was thinking about how he now could get a message to his family. Ludwig wasn't an option any more. Alfred sighed deeply, pulling the blanket over himself to protect him against the cold.