Chapter 6

Hey guys, I'm back with another chapter! I wanted to let you know that I'm starting a new job soon so I may not be able to update as often as I've been doing, but please keep the reviews coming! I apologize for the delay. Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this story so far! I really love reading your comments! You guys are so sweet :) PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter. God Bless.

-Vegter999

Lilla's POV:

When I got back to the camp and the guards released me, I wasted no time in making my way to the barrack. The moment I entered, I felt a whole solid wall of person slam into me, enveloping me in a hug.

"Lilla thank God you're okay!" Edith exclaimed.

I awkwardly stood there for a second, not expecting such a sudden show of great affection, but I then embraced her back.

"Yes I'm fine" I reassured her. When she released me she began peppering me with questions.

"What happened? What did that officer want? Did he hurt you?"

"Edith, Edith it's fine I'm alright. He did nothing except yell and inform me that I would be cleaning his office and working at his home from now on."

"Why is he having you working there? And why did he have your shoe?" she glanced at me suspiciously.

"I...don't know. Perhaps it slipped off after we went to the barracks after roll call" I lied, not wishing to inform her of my encounter and subsequent rescue operation of the SS officer. Surely, no one in the barrack, not even Edith, would ever understand my reasons for saving him anyway.

I suspected Edith knew I was holding something back but, thankfully she chose not to say anything.

"I'm going to go and rest now. I'm afraid I'm quite exhausted Edith. Please excuse me."

"Of course" she replied, as I headed to my bunk.

I could feel her gaze trailing after me but, at the moment I was too tired to care.

I collapsed upon the mattress and soon enough sleep claimed me.

###

The next morning I managed to escape another beating from Volkenrath as I scurried out the door with the other prisoners. I received my breakfast for the first time since I had arrived at the camp. I cringed as I felt the liquid, which had already gone cold, seep down my throat but I supposed it was better than working in the morning on a completely empty stomach like I had been doing for the past couple of days.

I then remembered my new work post and I felt my stomach knot in fear and anxiety.

I was half hoping I wouldn't have to go after all, but my hopes were quickly dashed.

"169000 come here!" Volkenrath's chilling voice rang across the yard as the other prisoners began to be marched off again to work.

I reluctantly made my way toward her.

When I stopped in front of her she barked "You are to come with me as I'm escorting you to your new work post. And if you so much as try to escape..." she pulled out a gun, aiming it straight at me "I will put bullets in you faster than you can say your number. And I never miss. Understand!"

I nodded.

"Go!" she pointed her finger in the direction I was dragged in yesterday.

I started off, Volkenrath marching so close behind me at times I could feel the gun pressing into my lower back.

When we arrived at the family residence I recognized from yesterday Volkenrath and I stopped at the door, while she rang a doorbell that I hadn't noticed was there the day prior.

We waited for a few moments until the door opened and a woman I had never seen before appeared. She had dark brown hair and a fair complexion and her eyes were a deep blue and appeared somewhat familiar.

"What is it Oberaufseherin Volkenrath?" she inquired, her eyes falling on me for the first time as her brows scrunched together in confusion.

"I have come to deliver this prisoner to your son, Officer Heim. He is expecting her."

Son? So this was the officers mother?

"Of course. He is in his office. I will make sure she gets there. You may return to your duties."
"I beg your pardon Frau Heim but, I think I should see that she gets there myself. I don't want to risk her escaping."

"Of course. I understand. Please come this way."

Volkenrath urged me through the door and we followed Frau Heim until she came to the office door. She rapped delicately yet firmly upon the surface and soon enough a muffled call of "Come in" resounded from inside.

Frau Heim pushed the door open.

"Son Volkenrath is here with the prisoner" she said, stepping slightly to the side so Volkenrath and I could come in.

He glanced up slightly from the paperwork on his desk before returning his eyes to the documents in front of him.

"Good. Volkenrath you may go and come to collect her again in the evening at the end of the workday."

"Of course Officer Heim" she replied, and I detected a faint note of flirtation in her voice before she left the room.

Frau Heim lingered a moment longer, padding her way up to the desk and giving her son an affectionate squeeze on the shoulder before turning to exit the room. When she got to the door she stopped to gaze at me for a few moments. When I met her eyes I could see they had transformed from warmth to coldness as she gazed at me, her orbs almost narrowed in suspicion and her mouth set in a hard line of contempt. She finally closed the door, and I was now alone with Officer Heim.

I stood there for several seconds, my arms behind my back, but he didn't so much as even acknowledge my presence. Instead he just kept silently shuffling through the paperwork on his desk.

I began to feel anger churn inside me like rough waves upon the sea, but I held my tongue.

Finally, he put down his paper and gazed at me, slightly tilting his head to the side as he studied me with narrowed eyes and an icy gaze that made me almost want to shiver.

"Come here" he spoke, gesturing for me to come forward. Though his voice was calm, it still carried an air of authority and left no room for defiance.

I took a few steps closer.

"Closer" he commanded.

I gulped and moved close enough that I was almost right up against the desk.

"Show me your arm."

"Which one?" I replied softly.

"The left."

I displayed the arm with my number tattooed on it.

He gripped my arm and tugged me slightly closer until I was almost leaning over the desk.

He gazed at the number.

"Hmm 169000. Very good."

He released my arm and I stepped back a few paces.

"Your first task is to make the beds and do the laundry. You will do it quickly and efficiently. If I so much as hear of you trying to escape I will make sure you and several of your fellow prisoners are punished in ways you don't even want to think about. Do I make myself perfectly clear?!" he snapped.

"Yes" I responded.

"Good. You may go" he replied dismissively.

I strode more quickly than usual towards the door, eager to just get out of his presence.

When I closed the door behind me, I leant against the wood for a couple of seconds, closing my eyes and taking deep breaths.

You can get through this Lilla. You have to get through this.

I began to make my way up the stairs towards the bedrooms and when I reached the second floor I decided to start with the closest door on my left.

I knocked just in case anyone was in there.

"Come in" called Frau Heim's voice from inside.

I opened the door. She was sitting at her dressing table, holding a rather expensive looking white bead necklace. Beside her a small child with the same blue eyes Frau Heim and Officer Heim possessed and who appeared to be about five or six years old, sat on the floor playing with a small train set.

He stopped when he saw me, his eyes going wide and I imagined how I must look to him with my shaven head and plain and inadequate dress and shoes.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Peter don't ever talk to her" Frau Heim chastised him firmly. She turned to me.

"What is it?" she asked coldly, and I had the urge to snap at her not to talk to me like that but it would do no good as that sort of behavior would only get me punished. So I decided to be civil.

"Forgive me Frau Heim, but Officer Heim said I should begin making the beds and doing the laundry."

"Start with the other rooms first. Now is not a good time to do this one" she snapped.

"Of course. I am sorry for disturbing you."

I closed the door and had to struggle to hold back tears as I headed to the room on the opposite end of the hallway.

###
Once the beds were made and my hands were sore from scrubbing at all the laundry, it was almost noon and would normally be time for the midday meal break. I had no idea if Officer Heim intended to keep to the schedule of the camp that I had been enduring for the past couple of days however.

I supposed I was going to find out however as I was headed to his office to find out what other tasks he had planned for me.

I stopped outside his door and rapped firmly.

"Come in" his voice called.

I opened it to find him still sitting at his desk, only this time he wasn't alone in the room.

A man who appeared similar to him, only older, and who was also wearing the uniform of an SS officer, was sitting in a chair opposite Officer Heim, with a cigarette in his hand, the smoke rising from it and the wisps trailing away in the air.

"Do you have something to say or were you planning on simply standing there and waisting our time?!" the older man snapped and I realized I'd been staring.

I turned to Officer Heim.

"Excuse me sir but, I wanted to inform you that the laundry is done and the beds are made."

Before he could respond, a knock at the door came.

"Come" Officer Heim called.

A man stepped into the room carrying a bowl of very familiar fowl looking soup.

"Set it there" Officer Heim said, gesturing to a small table by the window.

The man obediently set it there without a word, and keeping his eyes cast down, he hurried out of the room.

"I believe I will leave you now. I will return later" the older officer spoke up, stubbing his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Of course Father" Officer Heim replied.

Father? So that's why they appeared so similar.

The elder Officer Heim lifted himself from his chair, and with a final glance as cold as steel aimed in my direction, he exited the room.

I glanced back over at Officer Heim.

"Well quit standing there and eat. And do it quickly as there is more work to be done" he snapped.

He didn't have to tell me twice, as my stomach quaked with hunger as I hurried to the bowl. Yet I remembered what my mother had always taught us and I crossed myself and began to whisper under my breath.

"Bless us O Lord and these thy gifts..."

"What are you doing?" Officer Heim snapped, and he stomped over to me.

"I'm just praying before my meal..."

"Let's get one thing straight right now! I am in charge here. Not whatever silly non-existent deity you believe in. When I say you eat, you eat. Now consume your meal before I have you punished."

I felt anger rise within me, insults directed at me was one thing, but at my God, my rock, my salvation, that was another story entirely. I wanted to scream loudly at him that I would take no more of this, but once again I was forced to do nothing but obey to save myself from punishment.

So without another word, I scarfed down my soup.

Wow was this a hard chapter to write but by the grace of God I did it! My mind keeps fussing at me over whether or not I did a good job. PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think and whether or not I should continue. God Bless.