Chapter Four

Germany 1940

Eleanore looked into his face, a small smirk playing on his perverse lips. Eleanore started to back up, fumbling over her things she had thrown in her state of haste. She felt her back hit the hard windowsill that extended from the wall, causing her to take a sharp intake of air. She still had her bag clenched in her hand, shaking as the officer moved towards her with hurried steps. His boots thudded against the wooden floors, his eyes intent on her. She tried to dodge him, but his powerful arms grabbed her by the dress and threw Eleanore onto the bed. As she sat up, Eleanore was immediately pinned to the mattress by Burnard as he grabbed her biceps.

As he adjusted himself, Eleanore used a free arm to strike his nose with the palm of her hand. The officer grabbed his nose as red blood shot from the injured cavern.

"You bitch!" Burnard yelled, wiping the blood from under his nose.

Eleanore grabbed her bag and bolted for the door, moving as quick as she could. Just as she made it to the locked door, she was tackled to the hard wood and forced onto her back.

Burnard leaned down, pressing his mouth to her right ear.

"Stiglitz can't save you now, Fräulein," A smile had crept back on his mouth, laughing softly. As one hand controlled her wrists, the other began moving up her thigh. Eleanore's heart began pounding in her chest, as she tried fighting off the large solider.

"Stop!" She screamed as the memories of her fourteenth birthday flooded her mind, remembering the texture of the rock against her exposed thighs. Her dress pulled up and his body pressed against hers. He was right, Stiglitz wasn't here to save her as she saw him take out a silver knife.

The officer ripped the top of her dress open, exposing her brassier to the cold air. Using his knife, he cut down the middle just between her breasts. Her bosom fell out as he pulled the two sides open. Leaning down to kiss them, Burnard was met with a glob of spit.

"You pig!" Eleanore screamed. The officer threw the knife away and laughed maniacally, his voice filling the room as he used the back of his arm to wipe the spit from his face.

"I've wanted this for so long, you American slut," Burnard groaned as he kissed her neck, biting at her feverishly.

She stopped fighting, lying deadly still as tears built up in her the corners of her eyes. Her eyes were set on the ceiling, her mouth was somewhat open. She sat up ever so slightly to re-fix her eyes on Burnard. The tears let loose from their hold and streamed down the sides of her face.

"So have I, Burnard. So have I."

Blam.

Blam.

Blam.

Blam.

Blam.

Blam.

Eleanore stood, stripping her dress and bra from her body. She used the clean side of the dress to wipe the blood from her face. Once she was finished, Eleanore threw them in the laundry chute that was cleverly hidden from sight. The slide was large and made a direct passage to the lower level of the house where her grandmother's maid could collect them before washing. Eleanore looked at the body of Burnard and glanced back at the chute. She put on a long black dress to conceal any blood that might still be on her. She touched up her make-up and made sure she looked as normal as she could.

Eleanore began dragging Burnard's cumbersome body to the chute, blood staining the floor in a crooked line. Just before she dropped the body in the slide, she checked his pockets for anything useful. She took the money, his gun, and the medal that was pinned to his jacket. She shoved him head first into the chute, hearing him land against the sturdy door at the bottom. Eleanore grabbed the knife as well and stuffed the items into her bag. She wiped the floors down before finally unlocking the door and leaving her room.

Eleanore opened the safe in her grandfather's study. She pulled out the stacks of German money along with a small pistol. Eleanore pulled out envelopes and looked through her grandfather's correspondents, hoping to find somewhere she could go. Germany wasn't safe anymore.

Eleanore prayed for one of the letters to be from someone in England. Unfortunately, as Eleanore flipped through the stack of letters, she could only find letters from France. She studied each one and packed them into her bag and flew to the back door. Eleanore fled through the dark night, avoiding the Gestapo by hiding in the shadows.

She ran to the farm nearby, where Herr Meyer lived. The man who delivered milk to the Vogel's had always been very close to the family. Eleanore rapped on the door and broke down when no one answered. She knew that if she went into the home she would only find more bodies. Eleanore immediately went to the barn, finding the horses startled. She laid down in the large pile of hay, covering herself with the scratchy bedding. It might have bothered her skin, but it was warm. The horses were constantly moving around, not allowing Eleanore to sleep soundly.

That was probably a good thing.

Once the sun began to rise, Eleanore moved to the most gentle horse. She opened the door and saddled the strong stallion after opening the gates for the other animals to run free. She mounted the white animal by grabbing his long mane. Eleanore rubbed the cheeks of the animal to let him know it was alright.

Eleanore rode the stallion through the long fields, the horse happily stretching his legs. Once they made it to a more urbanized area, Eleanore bid the horse farewell. She knew that she was heading in the direction of France. Assuming she could get to the out skirts of Reims by nightfall, Eleanore could find the family her grandfather wrote to.

While Eleanore was walking along the road, she flagged down a small black car.

"Excuse me sir, are you going to France?" She asked him over the sound of the engine.

The man shook his head and continued on his way.

Eleanore had asked six other drivers after the first car, becoming disenchanted as she continued on her way.

Finally a livestock truck was coming towards her so she once again flagged down the truck. Eleanore opened the door and asked the man the same question she had been asking people all day.

"Excuse me are you going to France?" The man nodded his head. "Reims?"

"No ma'am, Suippes."

"I'll ride in the back." The man nodded his head and Eleanore jumped into the back with the sheep. Eleanore determined Suippes would be close enough to her destination and knew she could find someone to take her the rest of the way.