The Cuckoo's Cage

Chapter Five: Part Two

Anna shot up, now charging wildly up the first flight of stairs. A large noise sounded, like someone moving furniture. She kept racing, the dragging of something heavy across the floor filling her ears. As she reached the top floor, there was a muffled cry coming from Maria's room. Anna dashed to the door, trying desperately to open it. It didn't budge.

"Maria," she hissed through the door. No answer. She pressed her ear against the door. She could hear heavy breathing, and the unmistakeable sound of a metal headboard moving against the wall. Anna started to throw herself at the door, trying to get it to move. She felt it give a little. It wasn't locked. Something heavy was pressed against it. "Maria!?" she called again, ignoring the pain in her shoulder as she shoved and shoved. The door opened a small way, but simply wouldn't shift any further. She peered inside, trying so hard to see. The room was dark, only a small amount of moonlight fitting through a gap in the curtain. She could make out Ernst's body on the bed and Maria underneath. "Ernst, stop!" Anna screamed, pounding her fist on the door. "Ernst don't! Please, leave her alone!"

"Anna!" screeched a voice behind her. It was Ilse. She grabbed Anna from behind, pulling her away from the door as best she could. Anna struggled against her, gripping the door as Ilse fought to maintain her grip.

"Get off me!" Anna spat as Ilse's hand flew to her mouth.

"Do you want the children to hear you?" she hissed. At that Eric started crying downstairs, Anna feeling ferocious tears sting her own eyes. "You can't stop it!" Ilse said, Anna fighting less and less. "You have to let it happen now." Anna stopped, sinking to her knees as Ilse let her go. She sat against the door, her stomach queasy and her head light. A door to her left opened, Brigitte stepping out. "See to Eric," Ilse barked. Dutifully, she ran down the stairs, clearly happy to be free of the noise emanating from Maria's room. Ilse sat opposite Anna, watching her. Every grunt Anna heard made her jump, as though it were stinging her. "What did you do?" Ilse asked her quietly.

"I..." Anna started, tears rolling down her face. It was her fault. All of this.

"Dangling him on tender hooks was your first mistake," Ilse said, clearly unaffected by what her husband was doing. "You got cocky."

"I didn't think he would do this," admitted Anna.

"Because you're just a stupid little girl," sighed Ilse, rubbing her tired eyes. "He's too much for any woman to handle. You can't tame him."

"Tame him?" Anna whispered, incredulous at her lack of compassion.

"Maria at least knows to just let it all happen," continued Ilse. "Much less painful that way."

"You're vile," spat Anna. Ilse glared at her, narrowing her eyes.

"See? You're just a petulant child, throwing your toys out of the pram, because you can't get your own way." There was pause, Anna's eyes screwed shut to try and block out the grunting. "I'm going down to bed," said Ilse, almost laconically. She got up, standing over Anna. "Good luck talking your way out of this one," she sneered loftily, then left Anna alone.

She wanted to leave. She wanted to run far away where no one could find her. But she couldn't leave Maria alone. This was all her fault. How could she be so reckless?! Everyone tried to warn her. They had all along. But she had always thought she was only gambling with her own life. She never would have taunted him if she had known Maria was still in the firing line. It seemed like an age before it was over. The house was still again. Eric was quiet, Brigitte shuffling back to her room. Finally, the chest of drawers behind the door moved. Anna scrambled up, standing right in the doorway as he strode out. He stopped, pausing to look at her tear-stricken face. He stepped towards her slowly, gripping her hair as he pressed her back against the nearby wall.