Chapter 15
The fear remains, like a black hole in my body, spreading like a fungus. Tear after tear that made no difference to the ever-tightening hand gripping my arm painfully. In the dim light, I could see Artur. He refused to look away from me, even when his lips trembled. He didn't want to look away…
The man dragging me roughly pulled me forward, so we now travelled in a straight line. He had brutal strength, which just made my head spin even more. This man, this boy, had no regard about what happened to us, whatsoever… I turned my head, just a little bit, and made eye contact with Liesl. Her face was pale, of course, but no tear streaks were upon her white skin. Maybe she wanted to remain strong for us, or that she was incapable of crying at this moment in time.
"Stop here," I heard the boy at the back say gruffly and we slowed.
The gripping hand left my arm, and I felt a sudden urge to run, until familiar hands were placed on my shoulders, and I was filled with warmth. Liesl obediently lead us towards the edge of a small cliff, and we sat with our backs against it. The youngest boy watched us with his little beady eyes, a gun pointed in our direction.
"I'm going to do what Herr Gedney told me to do…" she whispered.
"I'm… I'm going to look after you. Both of you, and I swear if one of those wretched boys even lay a finger on you the last thing they'll see is my sweaty palm breaking their button noses…" she growled.
Artur, who had been managing to hold it together for so long, leaned towards her and sobbed into her chest. She held him silently, rocking him slowly and gently, and I just rested my head on her shoulder. She removed one arm from around Artur and moved it, so it was around me instead.
"Liesl," I whispered, and she slowly turned her head to meet my scared, brown eyes, "what's going to happen to us?"
Liesl didn't respond, and instead looked down. Artur looked at me and we locked eyes. In them, I could see fear. He wasn't trying to hide it, or at least dull it a bit. He was generally frightened, like I was. The fact that if we tried to run, we would be shot, made the feeling ripple in my stomach. Heck, we were putting our safety in the hands of a seventeen-year-old… Yes, she was very protective of us, but doesn't mean she'll be able to keep us from getting hurt…
I decided to focus my entire attention on Artur's eyes. They were still that same stormy green, but not the shade that is easy to describe. It was like they were both green and grey at the same time, with hints of sage green managing to push their way through. I expected him to look away, and to feel uncomfortable, but he didn't. Instead, he remained staring into my own, and we sat there, just for a few moments, before one of the boys began talking.
"You know the Von Trapps better than any one, who are these two?" the one with the short black hair asked, turning to a boy with light blonde hair.
"That one is Brigitta," he said gruffly, pointing to me. I shivered under his gaze.
"And she's… Liesl…" his eyes went soft for a moment, before hardening again.
"And the boy?" the youngest one asked.
The blonde-haired boy shrugged, and again Artur snuggled, terrified, into Liesl's side. Liesl's hand vibrated angrily around my waist, and as I looked into her eyes, I saw the usually warm, blue was replaced by an icy grey…
"Then he is of no use to us, why don't we just send him back. He'll get lost in that forest anyway," the black-haired boy said, getting up.
The blonde shook his head.
"No, Hans, if this boy grew up in the area then surely he'll be able to find his way back. We'll just have to bring him along, and explain to Herr Zeller why,"
Herr Zeller… Just the name made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle uncomfortably. No matter how hard I tried, he was always there, in my mind. That ugly moustache ruffled by the chilly wind as we attempted and failed to leave before the show…
Oh, how I wish I was back with my family, to be hugged awkwardly by father again. I regret ever feeling uncomfortable about it, I just want him to be nearby… I wish I could spend more time with him, but I missed that opportunity… we all did…