Itching and scratchy, I couldn't get comfortable. Travelling day and night, the only time they stopped the trucks were when the men driving needed a break. Other than that, we were constantly on the move. Hearing my stomach growl, they had not given us the luxury of having food since we had left, which by now would have been two days. Neither were we given time to relieve ourselves outside the truck. Instead we had been given a tin bucket that we could us and empty through one of the gaps between the wooden panels below. It was barbaric and inhumane to say the least, but neither of us girls voiced any complaints. None of us wanted to be killed or beaten.
Holding up my right arm, I grimaced as a flea or bug of some description wriggled its way up my limb. The truck was infested with them. I assumed it hadn't been cleaned at all as far as I could tell "I don't know how much longer I can do this" complained a blonde haired girl, maybe a few years younger than me. Watching as she clutched her stomach, I could see she wasn't well "I'm starving. When are they going to feed us?"
"Hush Meredith" scolded what looked to be her older sister "they'll give us food soon. Just hold on. I'm sure we're almost there" comforting herself in the hold of her sister, Meredith silently moped and whined. Folding my arms closer to my ribs, I could feel the coldness of the night seeping through. Rubbing my arms, none of us had anything other than the clothes on our back from when they took us. Huddling together, that was all we could do to stay warm.
"Why didn't they ask?" whispered a girl to my left, with mousy brown hair and a narrow shaped nose.
"What are you talking about Laura?" questioned Hannah, a red headed girl who I went to school with. Friendly most days, she could be rude and pompous; her family were rich.
"Why didn't they ask if we were Jews? That's what they came here for. Isn't it? Too get rid of the Jews" knitting my brows in confusion, I had never thought about it. When remembering back to that night the soldiers broke into my home. I suddenly realised they had never asked about whether or not we were Jews. They just took us. Of course, none of the people I knew in town were of that religion, but still, there could have of at least been one. So why didn't they ask?
"Maybe they don't care. I herd on the radio that they're taking all sorts of people to the concentration camps. It doesn't matter if you're a Jew or not. If they think you're bad, then they'll do with you what they like" spoke Hannah in a reply. I understood what she was saying, and it's true. Her point could very well be the answer, but we won't know until we get to where ever it is we're going.
"…my uncle was sent to one of them…one of those camps" spoke a girl my age from down the end of the truck. Leaning with her short cut hair on the metal bar next to her, she already had a look of defeat on her face "my aunty said that they do horrible things to you there…that they work you until you die. That your skin turns black and your body turns to bone…she told me he would be dead by now. That he wasn't ever coming back" feeling a breath catch in my throat. I didn't dare want to think that's where we were going. That my life was already over.
Jumping awake, I looked up and around but couldn't see. It was too dark. Hearing the back of the truck open with a groan, I listened as all the girls shuffled not knowing what to do. Squinting, several rays of light were shined into our eyes "Come on. Get out…now...do as I say!" barked a soldier. Quickly moving, we got out one by one, forming a line. Glancing around, I could tell we were somewhere remote in the woods. Feeling rough hands push us around, we were led in the wind and dark to an unknown place in the middle of nowhere. Stumbling for ten minutes, my fingers began to feel numb and blue.
Hearing noises and ruffling, I looked around to see our destination to be a large compound building wrapped completely around with high metal fencing. Lit up bright with watch lights, countless of soldiers patrolled, either on foot with dogs or in the tower with rifles. Continuing to push us, we entered the threshold and were now inside the muddied court yard. Approaching a door and putting his gun over onto his back, the soldier from before, pressed a few unknown keys before the thick metal doors opened "Bewegen Sie sich entlang ... Ich weiß nicht die ganze Nacht haben" (Move along…I don't have all night) grumbled the same man in German.
Finally entering, I winced as the loud doors behind us clicked shut. Peering around, the place we were now standing in was nothing but a brightly lit, wide tunnel like hallway made out of grey cement; above us on the roof rested several pipes. The compound must be underground as well. Rubbing my arms feeling warmer, I had slowly stopped shivering.
Continuing our journey, we passed one or two men in lab coats before reaching a large room. Ushering us in, we definitely had more space to move. Not speaking another word, the soldiers shut the door behind them before leaving us all alone. Looking around, I found the walls to be made of cement, the floor were tiles and there were no windows; just bright lights from above "Delilah. Where are we? Where are they going?" squealed Meredith to her older sister. So that was her name, Delilah.
"I don't know" pulling Meredith close to keep her safe, I could see Delilah has a worried expression. This definitely wasn't a camp, but if it was. It would be a very odd one.
Snapping our heads to the door, it once again opened and several men in the same white lab coats walked in with hoses, buckets and rags "Stand in line along the wall, oldest to youngest" spoke a thin older perhaps in his early forties, with wispy black hair. Looking him up and down, he wore thin wire framed glasses and a fancy tailored vest and dress pants under his coat.
Following his instructions, we shuffled ourselves into position "I am Dr. Gregov" he announced while standing in front of us, a clipboard and pen in hand "you will address me as this. Nothing else. Am I understood?" his voice calm, but clear. This man screamed wicked and danger.
"Yes" we all answered clearly. Knowing that he would probably yell at us like the military man from before if we did not.
"Good. Then we will begin" looking down to his clipboard, he continued "when I call your name, I want you to raise your hand. Do not speak" waiting a second for the command to sink in, Dr Gregov started "Berlina…" turning my head slightly, I watched as a girl perhaps fourteen raised her hand. Nodding, Gregov wrote something down before continuing "Amelia" raising my hand instantly, he looked to me and did the same.
Waiting, the list wasn't very long, ten or thirteen at the most "Now all of you…strip. Clothes, jewellery, anything on your persons" grasping the item, a thicker man had shoved a black plastic bag into my hands "…and put it all into the bag given to you" feeling my face morph into shock and embarrassment, I couldn't believe what he was asking. He wanted us to strip, in front of everyone. In front of him, and them.
Snapping my head left and right, I could see the others internally thinking the same thing. One by one though, they all obeyed his instructions and eventually, even me. Slowing reaching up, I unclipped my earrings first before starting on my clothes. Pulling my shoes off with my feet, I lifted my skirt. I was trying to hide as much skin as possible. Even if it was fruitless. No matter what I do, they're going to see me. All of me. Reaching under my dress, I unhooked my black stockings before sliding them down my legs. Popping the white buttons of my dark grey dress, a chill ran across my exposed chest and stomach. Shrugging the fabric off my shoulders, I dropping the dress to the ground before crouching down to my knees. Shoving all my items into the bag I stood up and wrapped my arms around my exposed parts. I feel so naked. So vulnerable. This wasn't right.
When we had all finished undressing, we stood pressed against the wall "Вымойте их. Я хочу, чтобы их чистыми, прежде чем они должны быть проверены" (Wash them…I want them clean before they are inspected) frowning, I didn't know what the Doctor had said. He wasn't speaking German like the soldier. It was Russian, I think.
Nodding from the command, the other scientist grabbed the buckets and rags. Watching them come toward us, a young brown haired man in a lab coat and blue tie approached me. Quickly looking him up and down, he had youthful clear skin and brown eyes; he was maybe in his twenties. He reminded of the popular boys from home. The ones always chasing the girls and buying them jewellery or flowers. He didn't look like someone who should be working here.
Dabbing a cloth into the soapy water, I squealed as he leaned down and started to scrub at my skin. The water was freezing. Tugging me here and there, he washed around my arms, face and legs. Backing away with wide eyes, I shook my head as he had gone to wash my private area. Grabbing me by the wrist with his free hand, he tried to pull me toward him but I didn't budge. There wasn't a thing in this world that would ever allow him to go anywhere near 'there' "Что это? Что не так?" (What is it? What's wrong?) Spoke Gregov as he walked over to us, clearly seeing the fuss I was making.
Pulling away from the young man with the blue tie, again, I tried to get away but couldn't. The man's hold was too tight "Она не позволит мне мыть ее" (She won't let me wash her) grumbled the young man before me to Dr. Gregov. Why couldn't they speak German or English?
Looking me up and down, Gregov let out a puff of air before smacking me lightly across the face. Wincing it still stung, but I knew it wasn't the worst "Stop being difficult girl" smacking me again, I could feel my left cheek starting to go red "trouble comes to bad little girls that are difficult" keeping my head down, I could feel tears form in my eyes as Gregov walked away. Letting out a huff, the young man dabbed the rag back into the water again, before reaching down again to wash my body.
Leaning closer to me, his Russian accent was thick as he whispered "Do not disobey him" he said referring to Gregov "I've seen bad things happen to people that have…do what he says and you will live" nodding at the unforeseen kindness of his warning, he finished cleaning me before handing me a set of clothes. A long washed out grey dress, it wasn't much "put this on" doing as he said, I was very much thankful for the coverage of my body. Pulling my shoulder slightly, he tugged me around him before giving me a push "now, keep moving. I will show you to your room"
Turning my head slightly behind me, I whispered "My room? What about-"
Interrupting me, he turned my head to face forward "Forget about them. It will be better that way. I doubt you will see them again" with his hand on my shoulder, he guided me down the cement tunnels corridors. Reaching a door, he opened it with a thick metal key. The room I was pushed into wasn't as big as the other one, just big enough for a single bed and sink; another bright light above illuminating it all "I will bring you food shortly"
Going to close the door, I gushed "Wait" looking to me, I continued "will I see you again" I said referring to the future. Hoping deep inside me, I wanted the man that had shown me kindness to come back. I didn't want to be stuck with anyone else. Not in a place like this, with a man like Gregov.
Nodding his head "…I've been assigned to look after you. You should be so lucky" he continued before looking down, and I knew. Under the circumstances, I was very lucky.