Camp Majdanek

Chapter 8: The Dead Can't Help You

     Thomas and his team haven't found out how to rescue us yet. I was going to attempt to find a way to escape, then show it to my family. But I would have to plan things out like what time to go when is the least possible chance of the soldiers catching me. Today was the day. None of the soldiers were out at four o'clock sharp and that was my time to run.

The time came and I was ready. I hadn't told my family because I didn't want them to worry. I snuck away into the woods and past the commander's shed. I walked as stealthily as possible and hoped no one would catch me. The shed was at the end of the camp.

A door opened and a soldier walked out. I ducked but made a thump as I fell. He turned around. He had seen me. He walked over, grabbed my arm and forced me into the shed. He pushed me against the wall. He slapped me across the face. My immediate reaction was to slap back. What was I doing? I did it before I could think. He cringed. What was his response going to be? He grabbed my throat and pushed me against the wall and pulled out a handgun from his pocket. He held me against the wall and put the gun to my throat. This was clearly the end. They had no fear of killing people. He cocked the gun and put his hand on the trigger. This was definitely the end.

He pulled the trigger, but nothing came. The gun was empty. He went to get bullets. This may be my only chance to escape. I made a run for it. e came after me, but I disappeared in the woods before he could catch me. I ran through the trees, the branches ripping my skin. I tripped on a branch and hit my chest hard. I got back up and continued to run. I did until my legs couldn't carry me anymore. I couldn't run forever though. Where would I go? Soon enough I came to a barbed-wire fence about ten feet high. I didn't know where to go now. I was trapped. My only choice was to go back to the camp and possibly get murdered.

I walked back, hoping I wouldn't get caught. I walked as quietly as I could be. Being cautious with every step so I wouldn't be heard. The crunching of the leaves made it harder. I heard a snap of a branch that wasn't mine. I stood absolutely still. I heard someone approaching me.

A gunshot split through the air that made my ears ring. The footsteps became quicker like running. I ran too; away. Back to the camp. I hoped I was going in the right direction.

After being chased, I came to a clearing. I was back at the camp. I ran behind a barrack and hid. The man came around the corner and aimed the gun at me. I flinched. Thomas jumped in front of me, but the man had already pulled the trigger.

Watching him being shot was like watching something in slow motion.

Thomas, my only friend here. A brother of a good friend. Our only chance of escaping was now dead and motionless on the cold ground. I ran towards him, crying. I barely knew him, yet I was sobbing over him. Or maybe just witnessing death itself.

"Get away or I'll shoot you too, " the Nazi said.

I slowly got up and walked away.

Two deaths in less than a week were unbearable. It took me a long time to cope and get over it. I could still not wrap my head around the fact that Julia was gone. And Thomas, an American who was willing to help, just died in front of my eyes. Witnessing two deaths was nothing like I had ever imagined.

I was at that point where I had gone through so much pain and agony that I wanted to die myself.

Then I thought about God, why did God let this happen? God can get us out of this. My only hope was to pray.