Chapter Seven: Strike Two
When we awoke in the morning, I asked Abegayle to accompany me to the cafeteria to have breakfast, she accepted. When we got there it was empty, there were a few prisoners sitting at a small wooden table, as well as some soldiers sitting at the head table at the end of the cafeteria, I told Abegayle that I would be back "You know the rules, I cannot eat with you, I will see you after your meal" Abegayle nodded and smiled, I left and approached the head table, as Abegayle lined up for her food. The soldiers asked me to sit with then and a prisoner brought me a plate or liverwurst and potatoes, I thanked him. I sat and looked up at Abegayle, she was getting served, she thanked the soldier and he spat at her, she picked up the cloth on her tray and wiped her face off as she continued to a table.
"Major?" All I could think about was her, and what we shared last night, "Derek?" I then realized that the others at my table were talking to me "Yes" I looked at the soldier that had said my name "What are you looking at, Major?" another soldier interrupted me before I had the chance to answer "He's starring at that Jewish girl you know, The looker, he is probably all tired out, or in love" another soldier spoke "You cannot let them get to you, no matter how good they may be" I then realized that Lieutenant Barnes was not in the cafeteria, "Where is Barnes?" the soldiers smirked "He took you up on your offer and picked" I looked up, "really who was that" " Some girl named Hannah" "Do you know her last name?" "She's that girl's sister" I grabbed him by the collar knocking plated to the ground, Abegayle looked over at me "Where did he take her?" the soldier pleaded "let go, I'm guessing too your uncle's hut, he's away on business" I threw him back and ran out the door, Abegayle followed.
"Derek! Derek!" Abegayle called after me, "Go to the hut, NOW, and stay there" Abegayle obeyed. I walked to my uncle's hut, and knocked on the door, there was no answer; I grabbed my key that my uncle had given me and opened the door, there was something in the way, it would not open as easy. Once inside I saw her she was shoved in the corner all curled up with her head in her lap, crying, I knelt down beside her and asked if she was okay, if she was unharmed. She shook her head and began to cry again. "Where is Barnes, Hannah? Hannah pointed over by the door, "A" I said "No wonder it was difficult to get in, Good Job!" I smile and she laughed a little, "What did you do to him?" Hannah did not want to answer, she shook her head "I hit him with a whiskey bottle, do you think he will be mad when he wakes up?" I laughed "I think he will be pissed, C'mon, Let's get you to your sister" Hannah looked at me and grabbed my arm "I don't want her to know, she will be so angry" I glanced down at her "No, don't worry she won't be she'll understand" Hannah thought for a second "Will she really?" I held out my hand "Of coarse, she will understand" Hannah smiled, and reached for my hand, I slowly helped her out of the hut and we headed for mine.
"Hannah!" when we walked through the door of the hut Abegayle saw her sister and her face light up, with noticing the pain on her sister's face, she looked worried "What happened?" Hannah looked at me, I helped her sit on a chair "its okay, you can tell her" Abegayle looked at me "Tell me what? Hannah?" Hannah spoke quietly "Can you tell her? Please Derek, not in front of me for I cannot bear to hear it" "Sure" I said as I escorted Abegayle outside.
"What happened?" Abegayle did not even give me a chance to close the door " Lieutenant Barnes, He choose her, and he hurt her too" " and you let him do it" "No, Abegayle, It was not like that I did not know of it, that is why I stormed out of the cafeteria" Abegayle sat on the bench outside my hut and looked up at the sky, she was angry, she had the same face that day when she got signed in, I sat down next to her and put my arm around her "It's okay, She's safe" "I know that, but she still had it happen to her, I never wanted that for her…any of this" I brushed her hair out of her eyes, and kissed her softly on the check "Don't worry, she'll never have to go through that again" Abegayle looked at me concerned, "Why, What are you going to do?" I looked at her "Something Drastic" I then walked away; Abegayle went into the hut to tend to her sister.