Winter Wind
The moment passed as Rudy broke eye contact, his eyes lingering on the stairs. Liesel could hear a slow shuffling coming from the kitchen upstairs.
"Is that your Mama?" Rudy asked.
Liesel shook her head, bringing a finger to her lips. They both listened in suspense. There was a loud crash.
"I'm going to check it out." Rudy said walk-running toward the stairs.
"Saukerl!" Liesel hissed, "My parents don't know you're here!"
Her words fell upon the deaf ears of an impulsive boy. She could do nothing, but run right after him. Thankfully Rudy stopped just at the top of the stairs. He peered through the small opening of the door. What they saw was oddly familiar. He was difficult to make out in the dark, but his actions were loud and clear: he was stealing. The thief's back was to them as he quickly searched through the kitchen drawers. The glint of a hunter's knife, reflected in the moonlight. Rudy had left the window open. Liesel's breath caught in her throat, as the man turned around. She covered her mouth in case he could somehow hear her terrified breathing. He didn't see them and continued to ransack the kitchen for food. His footsteps were getting closer. Liesel was sure if her heart raced any faster it would rip out of her chest and take flight. She grabbed Rudy's hand and squeezed. This was the end, she thought.
This was the end, Rudy thought. Hey, but even if it was he sure as hell was not going to go down without a fight. Liesel was shaking beside him, her palms cold with fear as he held her hand. Rudy's body spiked with adrenaline as his mind got a sickening idea. Even if he were to die tonight, this man would never lay a hand on Liesel. Rudy turned to look at Liesel, she looked up at him. The message was clear and they both understood what was being said. Rudy lifted Liesel's hand to his lips and kissed it once. There were tears running freely down her face, she desperately shook her head in protest, refusing to let him go. Rudy smiled at her. Then he pushed her. She would only have a few cuts and bruises from the wooden stairs. She would be the one to survive, Rudy thought as he slammed the door shut. The lock was broken and therefore could never be closed completely lest the one in the basement would be trapped from inside. That is until someone from outside came in and opened it.
It didn't take long for the man to overpower the fourteen year old boy. The knife came down onto his by now tired and beat up body. Whether it was from the book thief's screams or the blood everywhere, the kitchen was painted red. His soul was a fiery yellow. He watched his killer make a swift escape through the window as Liesel's parents raced down the stairs. Of course, by then it was already too late. He wandered over to the sobbing book thief.
"I'm here! I'm here!" He cried over and over again to a girl that could not hear.
Rosa Hubermann was short and fast. She was first to witness the scene. Her whole body was fear. She stared at the body as if in a trance. It was the Steiner boy.
But he is too young, she wept. He was only a boy. Hans Hubermann held a metal bat in his hand, he ordered his wife to not leave the boy's side. He searched the house for the killer, but the man was long gone. Later on, Hans accompanied by Alex Steiner, Kurt Steiner, and the police conducted a manhunt. Babara Steiner sobbed uncontrollably over her son, cradling his head.
"Oh God... my baby. My baby..."
No one dared to console her. The basement door had long since opened, but Liesel remained on the stairs. She could not utter a single word, she was in denial.
Disclaimer: I don't own TBT.