Once They Came

Chapter 1

It has been a year since the Soviet Union, Russians, had taken over Lithuania, now Lithuania was like a possession of Russia, but of course — you get used to that. Eventually.

This year, 1941, I expected it to be no different. Follow the rules, stay inside, don't speak Lithuanian, don't do this, that, blah, blah, blah.

But I was wrong to think so, today is June 14. Recently, I've heard rumors that people had been arrested or taken away the past week, in trucks or animal wagons in the darkness of night.

No one knows where they were taken, but those who get out of the truck, and know where they are taken, tell stories, myths and tales. Some people did not believe the witnesses. But deep inside, I knew it was true. I think everyone knows.

 I always calmed myself down by telling myself, those people did something to the Soviet Secret Police. I have done nothing. I'm just an original and innocent person! It normally helped...

"Gylfie! Mathew! Dinner time!" I heard my mother cry to my brother and me. I pushed my chair back, heading toward the door.

"Coming, Ma!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. I looked at the clock. 6:00 in the evening. I raced to the bottom floor, and unexpectedly saw that, somehow, my brother had gotten downstairs first. I looked at him, pouting as I stuck out my tongue.

This was a day when my brother would call himself 13 and a half years old. Every single year he would claim 'now I'm 13 and a quarter year old' or 'I'm 13 and 1 day years old'. I don't understand why my parents support him. I never did these things, all these 10 years. I'm turning 11 soon, and I'm only celebrating one birthday.

We finished eating quickly. While cleaning the kitchen, I heard someone knock on the door three times. Bang. Bang. Bang.

At first, I didn't know what it was. But it became, quickly, obvious. My mom frowned, as she reluctantly opened the door.

Her horrified face said it all—we were next. It was the Secret Soviet Police. This police wasn't as good as in other countries. They worked for the Soviet Union. They sent people to this 'mythical' Siberia.

My mother backed up, as a few men walked in. Why were they here? We didn't do anything! She told me a week ago that da was doing something dangerous. How dangerous? No clue.

"Give us 3o minutes. We need it. There are 4 of us?" Ma begged quickly. I stared at her, confused. I had never seen my mother acting like this. Not begging people, ever. She was one of the strongest people I knew!

"20 minutes. Go." the policeman replied in a monotone voice.