The Cuckoo's Cage

Chapter Nineteen: Part Two

"What do you mean?" she managed. "What's that got to do with the Standartenführer?

"Who's fucking child is it?!" he cried, Anna's hand resting protectively on her stomach. There was a knock at the door, but they both ignored it.

"What on earth has she said to you?" she questioned, trying so hard to sound offended. "That the child isn't yours?"

"Yes."

"And you believed her?" she said. "Of course she would say that! She's trying to turn you against me!"

"I thought so too," he said. "But then I spoke to the Doctor. About how to tell if you were further along."

"Everyone's pregnancy is different..." she said, trying her best to hold it together.

"Then where is your Doctor's report from town?" he spat. She said nothing. "Show me the report he gave you and show me that they're all lying to me."

"Ernst..." she began, but she knew. She knew there was no point in lying any more. Her time was up. "I'm so sorry." He looked totally and utterly broken, almost wavering on the spot.

"You've made a fool out of me," he said in a low voice, his breathing heavy.

"What?! No, never!" she insisted, trying to step towards him, but his glare was so crazed she stopped. "I truly thought it was yours," she sobbed, the words flooding out of her mouth. "I promise you! When the Doctor told me I was..."

"You've known for over a month?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"I was so frightened to tell you!" she insisted. "I didn't want to lose you!"

"So, you just humiliate me instead?" he spat. Anna just sobbed, looking at her stomach now. "Is it his?" She didn't respond. He walked over to her, standing so close she could hear him breathe. "Is it his?" he repeated through gritted teeth. Anna nodded, her thumb stroking her growing bump. Ernst reached forward and grabbed her face roughly, forcing her to look at him. "I thought you loved me?!" he murmured.

"I do!" she cried. "I made a mistake..."

"A mistake!" he yelled. "You fucking whore!" He drew his hand back and smacked her square across the jaw, Anna stumbling back as another, heavier knock on the door came.

"Ernst, please!" she begged, clutching her stinging jaw.

"Don't you dare!" he cried. She tried to go to him to comfort him, but he whipped round and back handed her, sending her tumbling to the floor.

"Please!" she begged again, slurring as her face began to swell, but he ignored her, his whole body seething with rage as he kicked her in the chest. She scrunched her body instinctively into a ball, desperately trying to protect her stomach as he kept kicking and kicking. She could hear frantic pounding on the door, somebody yelling at them to come out. She was terrified, more so than she had ever been before. She knew what Ernst's rage could do. He finally drew back and smashed his crystal decanter, the glass and brandy spilling all over the floor. He threw everything off his desk, letting out a cry of rage as Anna tried to drag herself up onto her elbows. As he went to start on her again the door finally burst open, Freddie stumbling inside. Ernst went to hit him too, but Freddie managed to restrain him.

"Herr Commandant stop!" he cried, trying to hold him back. Keller and Ilse followed him in, looking around at what had happened. When Ernst stopped struggling, Freddie dashed straight over to Anna, trying to sit her up as Ilse attended to Ernst. "Anna, it's all right," said Freddie softly. "I'm here." She clung to him as he sat her up slowly, her breathing ragged. "Can somebody get me some ice?" he yelled, looking over her cuts. Anna's eyes opened finally and were met with Keller's. He looked torn, as though he wasn't sure who to go to in this moment. Then Anna cried out again, doubling over in pain. She was in agony, clutching Freddie tightly as her stomach churned violently. Then her thighs felt hot, and wet. She looked down, touching them tentatively. As she drew her fingers back, they were covered in blood.