CHAPTER TWO

1944, Germany

"I didn't think you would come."

The relief in his eyes made my own lower to the ground with guilt. We've been meeting in secrecy ever since he had been moved to the ghetto, but the patrolling soldiers are making it harder each time. Getting caught with any boy would put me in a world of trouble, let alone with a Jew.

"I'm sorry," I apologised.

The way those brown eyes kept darting sceptically over our surrounds made me realise how much things have changed. Gideon never held fear, until the day they forced him and hundreds of others into the ghetto. Now, it's as if he's scared of his own shadow.

"No," he replied softly on approach. "I'm glad you're here. I've missed you."

The warmth of his calloused hands made my lips part with a heated flush. Our feelings toward one another have always been something we needed to hide. We were already two worlds apart, even before the war.

The rich and the poor.

Gideon looked down at me before wrapping me in a tight hug. It's been weeks since we've been together, and no doubt it'll be longer before the next time we meet. It pains me having to let him go, not knowing if he'll survive this new world.

"I have something for you," I said as he released me from his hold. Taking off my satchel to rummage through the contents, I pulled out a package wrapped in wax paper and string. "It's food, for you and your family."

Gideon gave a small smile as he accepted the package. "Thank you."

The touch of his lingering fingers continued to brush over my hand. The time we have with our secret meetings are always fleeting, as we can never be too careful. It's hardly enough time to savour each other's company, but at least its something.

There's other who aren't so fortunate.

Gideon paused stiffly as we stared into one another eyes, before he leant in with a kiss. The press of his chapped lips felt desperate but passionate. We've only ever kissed a handful of times, but each and every one of them always made me melt from the inside.

"Well," tisked a pitched voice. "This is a surprise."

Pulling away from each other in an instant, we turned to face the two soldiers stalking down the dark alleyway. The faces of the men eventually emerged from the shadows, only to appear utterly recognisable as they happened to be the same two men on my way to school this morning.

The eerie young soldier approached us with hunched shoulders and slow threatening steps, like that of a stalking lion. Gideon shifted away to create a protective distance between the both of us, which seemed to lure the attention of the young soldier. He who stilled carried the rifle.

"Please," I begged with a step in Gideons direction.

"Girl!" called the comrade with a snap of his fingers. "Look at me."

Commanding my attention to himself with a gesture of his gloved hand, my eyes flickered between the three men in panic. The moment of confusion gave enough time for the comrade to inch his way over, before taking me into his arms.

"Stop," I squirmed, as the comrade smelt heavily of cigarettes. "Please!"

"What were you going to do?" taunted the young soldier, having now decided to completely ignore my presence. Gideon remained silent with his head bowed low in submission. "Why so shy? There was nothing wrong with your before."

The soldier grew impatient as he shoved Gideon, only to still fail in eliciting the kind of response he was after. Shoving him again, the force of the push caused the wax papered package to drop from Gideons hands as he stumbled backwards.

"What's this?" questioned the soldier as he saw the spilt food. "Smuggling goods into the ghetto is against the rules. Don't you know that, Jew?"

There wasn't an ounce of hesitation or remorse as the young soldier stepped forward to deliver a hard punch. Crumpling to his knees, Gideon clutched his stomach with a string of raspy coughs. The attack was frightening and the violence sickening.

"Stop it!" I pleaded. "It's mine. The food is mine. I gave it to him."

The soldier glared in my direction before thrusting his black boot up into Gideons face. Gasping in shock and horror, thick red blood began to dribble from Gideons nose. The assaults to follow were merciless as the soldier began to beat him, one punch and kick at a time.

"Please!" I cried out.

"Is that how she begs?" snickered the soldier with a grin. Crouching in front of Gideon, the young man scoffed with a tilt of his head. "I've heard stories about Jewish boys. They cut you, don't they?"

Gideon was too weak to speak as he continued to groan and suffer on the ground. The young soldier seemed disappointed in the lack of an answer. Getting up from his crouched position, he turned his attention to me before approaching.

"You should know all about it," he sneered in my face. "Since you're his whore."

"That's enough!" ordered the comrade as his arms tightened around me.

It was enough to keep me still, but not enough to stop my abrupt retort. Spitting as hard as I could, the soldier flinched back as the translucent glob hit him in the face. Watching him grimace and wipe it away with disgust, the anger on his face grew as his complexion turned a bright shade of red.

"You little –."

"I said that's enough," hissed the comrade as the soldier went to strike me.

The veins on the young man's face protruded fiercely as he glared down at me with pure hatred. Backing away, my heart pounded and knees drew weak as he reached for his rifle. Flailing in my captor's arm, the comrade began to drag me away and toward the alley.

"No" I said with a shake of my head. "No, what is he doing? Please, don't let him do this!"

"You're a stupid girl," hissed the comrade as he continued to pull me along like a rag doll.

Fumbling to the end of the alleyway and back onto the walkway, my desperate pleas continued to echo along the abandoned street. The sound of crude mutterings and pain filled beating could still be heard, along with my continuous call of his name.

"Gideon!"

Twisting in the man's arms, my last bout of energy was enough to set me free, only to be halted by the ear-splitting bang of a gunshot. The heart shattering sound drove deep enough to petrify my every muscle, before finally allowing me collapse.

Darkness.