Chapter 8
Hey Everyone! Happy 2021! I'm back with another chapter! I apologize for the delay as I've been busy with work as well as dealing with really serious bouts of depression. Thank you so much for all your reviews! You guys are so sweet! :) PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter! God Bless. :)
-Innocentia999 (my previous name was vegter999 and innocentia999 is my new pen name just so you guys know)
Warning: This chapter will contain content that may be disturbing. Viewer discretion advised.
Lilla's POV:
The next morning I could hardly keep from trembling in fear as Volkenrath escorted me to the Heim's. Yet, it was not merely her presence that had me worried this time, but of what possible punishment might be awaiting me at the residence for snapping at Officer Heim yesterday. His reasons for not having me immediately punished confused me, until a horrifying thought had occurred to my mind last night. Perhaps he was simply taking his time in coming up with the worst possible plan for me, or perhaps his plan was simply to keep me in fear of when he might possibly lash out and exact his harsh retribution.
The trembling of my hands only further increased when Volkenrath rang the doorbell. As we waited for an answer she watched me like a hawk would it's prey. I tried to hide the shaking of my hands but, she glanced down and noticed.
She said nothing, but just gave me a knowing cruel smile.
The door opened and there he stood. His German Shepherd, whose name I had learned was Artur and who I had encountered within the house over the past few weeks when he was with Officer Heim or with his Father, stood beside him. When I locked eyes with him, his hackles rose and he growled at me. Officer Heim noticed. He grinned and stroked the dog's head with the back of his fingers.
"No Artur, let's let the Jew be for now, after all she needs her hands and legs to work" he said coldly, gazing at me while he spoke.
Well at least I know he's not planning to make me the dog's lunch...for now.
He turned to Volkenrath.
"Johanna you may go."
So that was her first name.
She grinned and stroked his arm for a moment.
"I'll see you at dinner tonight Rupert" she replied, her voice velvety and seductive. Officer Heim stiffened in irritation at the contact as she turned and sauntered away.
Officer Heim jerked his head in the direction of the inside of the house and I was given no choice but to follow him and Artur.
To my surprise he strode passed his office and I soon found myself in the kitchen. On the counter lay a tray of my usual meager dinner of bread, and tiny pieces of cheese and sausage.
"Eat it quickly" he instructed.
"But sir, it is not yet time for my dinner."
"Don't you think I know that? I'm giving you your dinner in advance since you won't be going back at the normal time. You're serving dinner to my family and some of the other Officers tonight" he bit back irritably, though I noticed his words did not carry their usual sting today.
Well that solves the riddle of what Volkenrath meant when she said she'd see him at dinner tonight. Not that I care anyway.
I still made no move towards the food however. Why would he give me my meal in advance instead of simply letting me be deprived of it due to the fact that I had to stay later? Perhaps it was poisoned or contained some sort of drug. I wouldn't put it past him. Officer Heim had certainly proved himself to be a rather unpredictable man if nothing else.
"Well, if you won't eat it, Artur will" he said, beginning to stride towards the plate.
"Wait! No I'll eat it" I said, rushing to the plate and sitting down at the kitchen counter, seeing no reason as to why he would willfully poison his own dog that he seemed so fond of.
As I began to munch on the food Officer Heim took a seat against the wall and Artur obediently plopped himself down on the floor on his belly next to Officer Heim's chair. Most likely both of them were there to make sure I didn't attempt an escape or steal anything from the kitchen.
As I chewed I found myself deep in thought and once again mystified over what crime exactly that I had committed against these people that I should be starved, whipped, humiliated and have my every move observed day in and day out as if I was some sort of grave threat to humanity.
"Why what?" Officer Heim inquired, and I jumped at the sound of his voice, having been so deep in my pondering that I'd almost forgotten he was there.
"I'm sorry sir?" I asked, confused at his address.
"You mumbled why and naturally I asked why what?" he explained. His eyes were still hard, but I was astonished to see also a spark of genuine curiosity in them.
"I'm sorry sir I didn't mean to disturb you" I muttered, concentrating once again on my food as I did not want to engage him in conversation anymore than I had to.
"That's not an answer" he replied, bluntly.
I threw down the piece of sausage, quickly becoming tired of his prodding and turned to him.
"Why does it matter to you what I think?!"
"Why won't you just answer a simple question!" he snapped back.
"Because I don't trust you and I never will!"
He glared at me intensely and I half-expected him to start beating me to death or order me to be tortured.
"Fine have it your way then!" he snapped and proceeded to ignore me.
There it was again. A second time that he could've easily used force against me to get his way or simply killed me but he didn't. Why?
I resolved to think on it no more as I finished my meal and went about my duties for the day. After I had scrubbed the laundry I began hanging it outside on a rope to dry, with Officer Heim and Artur watching my every move. I could feel his eyes boring into my back but, I did my best not to pay him any mind.
Once that was done I was escorted back inside the house and Officer Heim sat at his desk as usual. Only this time he pulled out a new sheet and put it in his typewriter in a huff. I thought it strange as he usually didn't work on his typewriter until later in the afternoon, but given the way he was furiously hitting the keys I deduced that he was probably using his work to help cope with his emotions.
My curiosity at what might be on those sheets was once again stimulated as I watched him out of the corner of my eye while scrubbing the floor.
"Rupert!" a man's voice whom I'd never heard before called from down the hall through the open office door.
"Ja (yes) Grandfather!"
"I need your help!"
Officer Heim sighed and got up from his desk, and headed into the hall, not even realizing he'd knocked over one of the finished sheets he'd pulled from the typewriter off the desk and onto the floor.
My heartbeat sped up as I realized this was my chance.
Quickly checking to make sure he was gone, I scrambled to the sheet and lifted it from the floor, my eyes scanning the first paragraph.
Karl gazed around him, unable to see where his mysterious assailant had disappeared to. Fog covered the dark street and the only reason he was able to discern his way was because of several street lamps casting their glow upon the lane. He strode in the direction of the nearby inn, intent on seeking out probably the only man who could give him the information he needed concerning the identity of the victim of the murder. He pushed the door open and the sound and smell of alcohol and loud laughter assaulted his senses.
My eyebrows knit together in confusion as I skimmed the rest of the page, which seemed to be a part of a novel and not an official document. He was a writer? Like me?
I shook my head at that thought. No we are nothing alike and never will be. Goodness knows how many countless of my people he's murdered and harmed, not to mention he has made me basically his slave.
All of a sudden I heard his footsteps striding back towards the office and I hurriedly placed the sheet back on the desk and resumed my duty of floor scrubbing.
When he entered the room and sighed irritably after sitting down at his desk, I tried to appear as if I hadn't seen anything. Yet the question still haunted my mind: why would a Nazi be writing a novel and even more importantly why on earth did he seem so secretive about it?
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As the day faded into evening Officer Heim escorted me back to the kitchen, where there were several large dishes of vegetables, meat, potatoes and fresh bread laid out. Despite myself my stomach rumbled and my mouth watered at the sight of the delicacies before me. I hadn't had a decent meal probably since I had been arrested with my family in Hungary well over a month ago.
"Take these out to the table in the dining room" he commanded.
I felt irritation once again rise within me at his tone, but I decided to bite my tongue and wordlessly pick up the dishes. As I headed to the dining room Officer Heim was, of course, escorting me, and my irritability level proceeded to move even further up. Could I not just have one moment where I wasn't constantly watched! After all the dishes were placed on the table, many of the fellow Officers started to arrive as well as the other members of the Heim family. Officer Heim ordered me to stand in the room in case anyone needed their drinks refilled. The table consisted so far of Officer Heim, the elder Officer Heim, Frau Heim, Peter, an elderly couple who I assumed to be Officer Heim's grandparents that Peter had mentioned were coming the other day and Volkenrath, who by now had commandeered the seat closest to Officer Heim, much to his apparent chagrin.
"Rupert!"
I jumped at the sound of the loud shout as a dark haired male SS Officer strolled into the room with two of the other female Officers I recognized from the camp, one on each arm and they were giggling at something he'd said. Like Volkenrath, tonight they were attired in skirts and heels.
"Wilhelm" Officer Heim nodded, acknowledging his presence.
"Oh come on thats no way to greet your friend is it?" Wilhelm teased as he plopped himself down on a chair opposite Officer Heim after the two female officers took seats on either side of him.
Wilhelm's eyes then alighted on me, his lip curling in distaste, but he thankfully said nothing.
I spaced out, my mind wandering as they all tucked into their meals and began to converse with each other, basically ignoring me except for the occasional request for a drink to be refilled. My feet began to hurt from standing in place on the hard floor in my uncomfortable shoes but I did my best to ignore it.
The elder Officer Heim suddenly held his glass up in a gesture for me to refill it before placing it back down on the table. I silently plodded over and began to pour the liquid in but just as I turned to leave the table I accidentally knocked the glass over and spilled the liquid...right into his lap.
"You stupid Jew!" he yelled, standing up from the table, his face contorted with rage.
"I'm sorry sir it was an accident..." I didn't get to finish my sentence as he smacked me so hard in the face that I fell to the floor.
He then dragged me from the room out into the hall as I screamed.
"Stop! Please let go of me!" I cried, tears in my voice.
"Shut up!" he shouted striking me across the head and then throwing me down on the floor, proceeding to kick me in my ribs, my head, my stomach as I screamed. As he struck my head again with his foot, I began to see stars in my vision.
Then suddenly the blows ceased. I was then slowly rolled over onto my back and the last thing I saw was the face of the younger Officer Heim gazing down at me before my head fell to the side and everything went black.
Wow this was another hard chapter to write but, by the grace of God I did it! PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think and whether or not I should continue. God Bless.