Chapter 4

"They fall in line, one at a time ready to play. No time to lose, we've got to move, steady your hand"

"Gah, what if he hits me when he wakes up?" Tweek asked himself aloud while he tugged on his blonde roots. Kyle had a feeling the "he" Tweek was referring to was him and he smiled in his sleep.

"It's alright, Tweek, I'm up, I'm a very light sleeper," Kyle mumbled as he opened his eyes, rubbed them and then sat up in the bed he now shared with a friend. Friend. He grinned at the thought. Who would have guessed he would have made a friend in a place like this? And just within a day of his arrival.

"Oh go-good. I have been th-thinking about how to wake you u-up for the past hour," at this Kyle arched his brow.

"Tweek, how much sleep did you actually get?" the Jew saw the boy's mouth turn into a frown.

"About two hours, b-but it's ok Kyle really. I have never been able to sleep well, being a c-coffee addict, and a paranoid freak you get used to sleepless n-nights," Tweek shrugged and looked to Kyle's sleeping brother and father. "I would wake them u-up so we can head to the showers. The earlier the better, they don't k-keep the water hot for very long," Tweek began to stand to give Kyle and his family space when Kyle gently touched his shoulder, thankfully Tweek saw it coming towards him so he did not panic this time.

"You're not a freak Tweek, some day I'll convince you of that," the blonde chuckled quietly and shrugged off Kyle's hand.

"There you go again reminding me of that friend again," Kyle bit his lip to stop a stupid grin from forming on his face. There he went again speaking of this friend of his without his stutter.

"Your friend sounds like a good person, I would like to know about them someday," this made Tweek blush, but at the same time his features gave off pure despair.

"S-Sure Kyle, now hurry up and wake your family,"

/

Tweek was right, not that Kyle had doubted him at all, but the hot water did run out very quickly even though the four of them, along with several other early risers who knew the secret of the water, arrived in the showers first. From the showers they dressed and Tweek led them to the cafeteria for breakfast. "They only give us black coffee to drink?" Kyle asked in disbelief after they sat down together at a very crowded table, every single table in the room was crowded; some even stood or sat on the floor. Tweek held back a groan and shrugged.

"Doesn't exactly help my c-coffee addiction, but at least we get s-something. If you can manage it t-try to make your bread last. W-we don't get anything until d-dinner and it's e-even less."

"Didn't the Commandant say yesterday at the welcoming we get lunch? And how exactly do you make it last?" Kyle asked out of curiosity while his father and brother looked for the same information.

"Lunch doesn't m-mean food Kyle, here lunch just means a b-break and some water," Tweek said like it was no big deal, like he was so used to not having to eat during the day. Tweek then began to break apart his bread and stuffed a few pieces in his sock; Kyle gave a look of uncertainty.

"Isn't that a little unsanitary? I mean doesn't the bread get soggy from sweating since we'll be working?" Kyle instantly regretted what he said from the way Tweek seemed to almost curl in on himself. Here he was giving them tips since he had been at the camp for so long, with no friends and everyone seemed to think he was already crazy.

"Tweek I'm sorry. I've just always been sort of a neat freak," and there he went again wanting to kick himself. Nice choice of words there Kyle. "Shit what I mean is-"

"Gah Kyle stop! I'm supposed to be the paranoid one re-remember?" Kyle attempted to smile but still felt very guilty. "Just tr-trust me ok n-neat freak?" now Kyle really smiled and his insecurities went away and the two shared a laugh.

"I will Tweek," and to prove it Kyle broke apart his bread and stuffed a few pieces in his sock, his father and brother doing the same; Tweek smiled proudly feeling like he had done something right for once.

Kyle and his family listened to Tweek intently while he explained the roll call to them. Pretty much the only important thing they needed to remember was to not move no matter what, no matter how tired, how lethargic, how hot or sick; they were to not move or they would be punished, severely. He informed them that roll call lasted for hours at a time, especially if the name caller messed up he would start all over from the beginning. Kyle prayed that wouldn't happen today, hell or ever for that matter.

Everyone lined up in the yard for roll call, there was no organization, no one was in alphabetical order, just lines and lines and lines of men, boys, and children. In the middle of the roll call circle was the fat Commandant Cartman, Kyle tried not to throw up his breakfast, surrounded by several soldiers with clip boards; there were more soldiers standing at attention with guns at the ready. The roll call began.

Just like the lines, the names were not in alphabetical order either. 'How very inefficient' Kyle grumbled to himself while listening for the names in the roll call. There were so many names, so many prisoners. It was complete madness to Kyle. While the soldiers were calling out the names on the lists, Kyle noticed the Commandant was walking around with his hands entwined behind his back and was looking around at all the prisoners as if he was looking for something. It didn't take long for him to find the prey the Commandant had been looking for, Kyle. For the second time their eyes locked, but this time Kyle couldn't exactly read the Commandant like he could the day before. Why was he looking at him? What did he want?

"Gah Kyle stop looking at him, look down," Tweek whispered at his side through clenched teeth while names were being called around him. Kyle heard his warning but couldn't break his gaze from the Commandant, he couldn't back down and didn't understand why. "K-Kyle please," Tweek practically begged in warning and finally Kyle conceded. He broke the Commandant's gaze and now looked down at the dirt beneath his shoes; he was sure that fat soldier had the most stupid looking grin on his face. For a very short moment Kyle raised his gaze, not his head, to look at the Commandant one last time as if saying this isn't over, and looked back down; he was in fact grinning.

"Ike Broflovski!"

"Here!" Ike shouted as he raised his hand then put it back down.

"Gerald Broflovski!"

"Here!" Gerald did the same as Ike, the names may not have been in alphabetical order, but the families names were kept together.

"Kyle Broflovski!"

"Here!" Kyle shouted and dared to look at the Commandant again and wished he hadn't. From a stupid grin, his smiled twisted to something wicked and maniacal and he had a haunted look in his amber eyes. When the soldier called out another name, the Commandant looked away from Kyle and went about his observing duties at the roll call. Kyle's heart plummeted when he realized what the Commandant was waiting for, his name. The only reason he watched Kyle was because he wanted to know his name. Why? Why did he want to know? Did he want to know his brother and fathers name too? Was he planning something for them? What the hell was his game?

"Tweek Tweak!" hearing Tweek's name broke him out of his mild anxiety attack, but Tweek didn't answer. Kyle glanced at his side and saw something familiar. Tweek was staring at the soldier who had called out his name.'Pot calling the kettle,' Kyle mocked but knew this was no time for jokes even if they were in his head. Tweek's blue eyes were fixed on a soldier with black hair and blue eyes, but instead of being defiant like Kyle had been, Tweek seemed terrified. He knew this soldier was new to the camp like the Commandant because that soldier was with him when they captured Kyle's family, so maybe Tweek was just scared of someone new? But something told Kyle that wasn't the case at all.

"Tweek Tweak!" the soldier called out again, this time sounding very irritated. Because they were standing shoulder to shoulder, Kyle felt Tweek begin to shake next to him. Kyle used his pinky finger to wrap around Tweek's to assure him he would be ok. "Answer him Tweek," he whispered in warning while squeezing his pinky.

"Gah here!" Tweek shouted in panic coming out of hisown panic attack. The roll call continued and after several minutes a name was called out but instead of a simple 'here' a man said 'dead'.

"Bring him to the center!" a soldier ordered and then a man moved through the crowd dragging the emaciated body of a dead man. The man left his dead corpse on the ground and returned to his place in line. This happened several more times during the roll call and each time Kyle could barely believe what he was seeing. People were actually dying here and that frightened him, not for him, but for his family, especially his mother because he had no way of knowing how she was from day to day.

Kyle looked at the forming pile of bodies and vowed that his brother, father, and now Tweek, would never end up in that pile. If Kyle could help it, they would never be knocking on death's door.

Just as Kyle's feet started going numb the roll call was finally over. "Body fetcher's, get these corpses out of my sight, the rest of you report to your work stations!" the Commandant ordered and the crowd dispersed. Kyle glanced over just in time to see men wheel over carts and began to load the bodies on them.

"Ike, Kyle, look away my sons," Gerald quietly ordered his sons and without hesitation Kyle obeyed, silently praying for those long gone in the pile.

/

Kyle had no idea what time it was, late afternoon for sure, but who the hell knew what the actual time was? Tweek hadn't been wrong in saying that "lunch" was nothing more than a break with water and Kyle never realized how much a blessing a small sip of water could be. He, his family, and Tweek were sent digging in the trenches today with countless others. No one knew why they dug these trenches, but if it was an order then they must obey without question. It wouldn't have been that bad of a work day if it wasn't so damn hot, or if the soldiers who stood guard over them didn't talk to tease them. That was what annoyed Kyle the most, the mockery, like the Nazi soldiers were so much better than them. But they weren't, even though they were monsters they were still equals.

Every now and then when Kyle would look up from the dirt his shovel penetrated, he could have sworn he saw the fat Commandant watching him, but then when he would rub the sun from his eyes he would be gone. He blamed it on the heat, assuming he was just seeing things because he was so hot. He knew it was futile to wish, but he really did wish the soldiers would keep water on hand at all times for them. Damn them.

"Evening roll call is almost here, the sun is about to set," Tweek whispered to Kyle when a guard looked away from their direction. Kyle nodded in understanding and finished loading the last of the dirt into a wheelbarrow. He placed his shovel in the dirt, wiped the sweat from his brow and then began to push his wheelbarrow to a nearby pile of dirt. Just when he was feet from the dump pile, a heavy brute body knocked hard into him, causing his wheelbarrow to topple over.

"My my Kaahl, you really should watch where you're going," the Commandant clicked his tongue and said in a mocking manner. Kyle was hit with a flurry of emotions all at one time, but he knew he had to control them or else it would mean trouble.

So he did want to know my name earlier and he's making fun of it. What an asshole. Kyle grinned to himself, for it was very hard to hold down the laughter forming in his gut. "916509," Kyle said plainly looking down at the Commandant's boots.

"What was that Jew?" Cartman snapped in fury.

"My number is 916509, sir," Kyle was being insubordinate he knew, but he wasn't about to cower like a frightened puppy, he would stand his ground. Besides, he didn't want this Nazi to use his name, it didn't sound right coming from a beast like him.

"And here I was thinking you would think I was a nice Commandant for learning your name Kaahl," Kyle winced at how he toyed with his name, like he was a snake attempting to entrance his prey. "Not all Commandant's even care to know their prisoners names, and here I am trying to be kind and show you that I'm not so bad," Cartman waved a finger in front of his face and clicked his tongue again. "You're so ungrateful Jew, but that's why isn't it? You're a Jew, you're all ungrateful aren't you Kaahl?"

"Stop calling me that!" Kyle shouted in annoyance and finally met the Commandant's eyes in pure rage. For a moment Cartman stared at him with eyes wide, as if shocked beyond belief that Kyle dared to look him in the eyes, let alone shouting at him. From shock came his twisted grin and a flicker of wickedness in his eyes. Shit.

"I was going to be nice and let you leave that pile there for the night, but I've had a change of heart," shocker, Kyle rolled his eyes, an action that Commandant Cartman saw and backhanded him across the face. "You will pick up this pile before the evening roll call, which is I think in twenty minutes, better hurry, I don't think you want to know what happens if you miss evening roll call," Kyle glared at Cartman while holding his stinging cheek, still refusing to tuck his tail between his legs. Cartman turned to leave but spoke over his shoulder. "Oh and Kaahl, no shovel this time," he waved at the Jew and took his leave.

Kyle wanted nothing more than to throw a wad of dirt at the back of his fat head, but he didn't want to be punished, or even killed. For now he would behave, at least the Commandant now knew he had fangs and would bite if necessary.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Kyle righted himself and began to load back up the dirt with his bear hands. He caught Tweek's eye whom he could tell was silently asking if he wanted his help, Kyle shook his head. No. He would do this on his own, to prove that he could do it and that the Commandant wouldn't get to him.

Kyle worked fast, very fast while scooping up the dirt and putting it in the wheelbarrow. He was almost done with the pile when he heard a whistle blow, signaling everyone to line up for the evening roll call. Shit. And Kyle moved faster, faster, ignoring the blisters forming on his fingertips. He would finish this, he would get this done even if his fingers bled. Finally he was down to the last bit while the lines were forming. Kyle rushed the wheelbarrow to the dirt pile, dumped it, and then ran to his place in line, practically skidding to a halt next to Tweek just as the final whistle blew.

Just like earlier, as to not draw attention to themselves, Tweek this time wrapped his pinky around Kyle's and squeezed as if saying he was happy he made it and congratulated him silently. Kyle squeezed back, trying to get his breathing under control while the soldiers began to call out the prisoners names. While names were being called around him he was the to seek out Commandant Cartman this time and when their eyes met, Kyle smirked proudly as if to say "I won" but from the shrug Cartman gave him in return, Kyle knew this was only the beginning.