25 Janvier 1944

The next day, she left around noon to go search something else to eat. She knew they needed something else to eat other than bread and potatoes. She made her way in the outskirts of the city, hoping she would cross path with a farmer, who would kindly offer her a few vegetables against any possible task. She always offered to help in the fields or to do some sewing, cooking, cleaning…

She came back home without anything. The farmers she had encountered had not much for themselves already.

She did this routine every day, and she also started asking around again to obtain a job, even if it was small she was willing to do anything to gain a bit of money. But since the people had become so poor, that didn´t feel the need to by more than strictly necessary. She asked in cafes if they needed a waitress, but everybody had had to fire a few of their workers already. She made her way back home as a few snowflakes were falling down the sky. They got stuck in her fire-coloured hair. She looked up opening her mouth and eating a few flakes, just like she had done when she was little.

She continued her way and as she passed in front of the hotel de ville. She saw an enormous truck being unloaded under the supervision of Offizier Werlak. She tried to not attract his attention but with her hair colour it was a near impossible task. He spotted her nearly right away and she scolded herself for not having taken the long way home. She quickened her pace as he was excusing himself from his co-workers. He made his way up to her quickly.

"Fräulein Clarissa, wo wollen Sie den so schnell hin?/ Miss Clarissa, where you going so quickly?" She froze as she heard his deep, cold voice. She froze as he called her, now she certainly could not avoid him. It was already getting late, she didn´t want Jonathan to worry too much. She slowly turned around. The cold wind breeze ruffled her hair and she shivered. She looked up to him, he was significantly taller than her.

"Na, wie geht es Ihnen den an so einem schönen Wintertag? Ganz schön kühl oder?/How are you doing on such a beautiful winter day? Pretty cold isn´t it?" She could only understand a few words, so she only nodded, not knowing if he would understand French or not. Since he was speaking to her only in German, she assumed he wasn´t able to understand any French. He smiled. The wind picked up again and she shivered again.

"Ihnen ist kalt. Kommen Sie mit./You´re cold. Come with me." He gestured for her to follow him and she didn´t move an inch. He looked at her questioningly and she shook her head, starting to back away. He took a step forward.

"Nein. Kommen Sie mit, Sie können ja dann mit uns essen./ No, come on. You can eat with us." She shook her head again and gestured that she had to go. He insisted again and grabbed her arm, gently leading her with force inside. Everyone was staring at them, some of the soldiers shot her suggestive looks which made her want to run home and snuggle with her brother, forgetting the war, their misery and their worries.

They walked up the stairs and entered a huge dining room. She was offered a seat and he sat down next to her. Soon a few soldiers brought them filled plates. Her vision focused on the piece of meat she was served. She hadn´t eaten meat since 1939. She felt guilty eating this, while others were starving, but she knew she didn´t want to upset the officer. Seeing he had already started eating, she followed.

I should have brought Jonathan. she thought

Suddenly a soldier appeared and Sebastian excused himself, she took this as an opportunity to take the steak and to give it to Tyler later. She rapidly wrapped the precious piece of meat in a tissue and placed it in one of her secret pockets. Sebastian stepped into the room, right away after she had carefully hidden it. He sat down again.

"Tut mir leid Fräulein Clarissa. Meine Männer brauchen immer wieder Hilfe, die können nichts alleine machen. / I´m sorry Miss Clarissa. My man always seek my help, they can´t do anything on their own." He laughed out loud and Clarissa only gave a shy smile, feeling out of place. As he was staring at her she fidgeted with her hands.

"Hat´s Ihnen den geschmeckt? / How did you find the food?" he asked. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise and she swallowed with difficulty.

"Gut/ Good." She said with a strong French accent.

He smiled as he heard her speak a word of German. She still wasn´t looking at him. He started talking mostly about the German language and how he was willing to teach her since she would need it for the future and she had to listen.

After some time, a soldier came again telling him someone important wanted to speak to him, so he bid his goodbyes exposing his wish to see her soon. She was escorted outside by a soldier. Once she had turned into another street, she sprinted home. A panicked Jonathan opened the door and rushed into her arms.

"Où est-ce que tu étais? J´ai eu tellement peur que quelque chose te sois arrivé./ Where have you been? I was so scared something happened to you."

"Je suis là maintenant. Regarde plutôt ce que je t´ai ramené./I´m here now. Look at what I brought you."

She lifted her dress and got a plate out. She un-wrapped the meat and held it out to him. His eyes widened as a surprised gasp escaped his small mouth. He looked up at her, his eyes questioning if it really was for him. She nodded a big smile on her face. He sat down at their old small table. She took out a knife and a fork for him and he started digging in. He carefully ate each piece slowly just as Clary had always told him. It was a technique so his brain would think it was fuller.

Jonathan was beaming for the rest of the night. Clary didn´t eat anything else since she ate the few potatoes her plate had contained. She watched Jonathan eat the whole steak and it made her really happy, at least she had been uncomfortable for a few hours, but it had been worth it. She would do anything to see her brother´s beaming face. Still she didn´t specially want to go back to eat with Officer Werlak. But on the other hand it was only dinner, nothing big could happen.

So this chapter was significantly longer than the others I already posted, the size of my chapters is variable.

Hope you liked it! :D

Eat chocolate!