Locked Away (GerIta)

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

~

Ludwig sat on the cot again, rubbing his eyes gently as he sighed. He had his uniform back on, except for the coat and turned to watch Feliciano sleep.

Romano might not even be there. He could be gone already... Physically or mentally.

Ludwig didn't know what to feel about this situation. He was sure he wanted to help Feliciano but he also wanted to get them as far away from this place as possible.

The German had a few plans formulated in his head but didn't know which one, if any, would be useful until they tracked i down. He grunted and held his head in his hands. Soon, Ludwig felt arms around him and he loosened up.

"Feliciano," he breathed out, sighing softly afterwards. "I have to head out soon."

The Italian nodded and laid his head on Ludwig's back. "Is this gonna work?"

Ludwig nodded but froze up halfway through it. He took one of Feliciano's hands and squeezed it gently. He wanted to assure him and tell him that yes, it would all be okay. But you could never tell these days.

Sighing for the third time, he replied in a soft voice, "I don't know."

~

Feliciano was left in the bunker, guarding himself with a gun. He couldn't go with Ludwig, he would get killed. The German decided it would be the best course of action even though Feliciano demanded to go with him.

Ludwig had come up with a plan, one that would keep Feliciano and his family safe. One that would get him far away from this war-torn hell hole. The Italian had no idea about the real plan but Ludwig knew it was better that way. If he knew, he would never agree to follow through.

Now it was a matter of forcing him.

~

Ludwig marched into the camp like he belonged there, like it was his job to be there. That's what all the soldiers thought anyway.

This camp was much smaller than the one he'd been stationed at before. All of the guards were young.

Young and stupid.

Ludwig scanned their faces and knew they were fine young men, but their eyes had not seen and their ears had not heard, not truly, what it meant to be a guard inside a concentration camp.

He spoke to the head of the camp, who was also too young, and explained to him that he was sent here to monitor the treatment of certain prisoners and that he was sorry that there had been no word sent in advance.

The male in front of him eyed him carefully and for a second Ludwig thought he had seen through his lie but he nodded and shook his hand, introducing himself.

Ludwig didn't bother to remember his name, he didn't want to and he wouldn't be sticking around for too long. The German was shown around the camp first and then he was brought to the place he knew Romano would be.

The worn down, wooden stalls stood side by side. They were about three feet in width and only 6 feet tall. This is where they kept troublesome prisoners. The prisoners who they thought would get more harm done by going insane instead of just killing them.

Ludwig kept his stoic expression but his heart dropped in his chest as he heard screams coming from one and soft bangs coming from the other, probably someone head butting the wall.

The German was asked if this is what he came for and answered with a small nod, keeping his head high.

"I'm monitoring the way you treat them." He spoke clearly and gained a slightly confused look from the guard standing beside him, as if he were here to protect the prisoners. "To see if you are pushing them to their absolute limits." He hissed and the soldier nodded, fearing him.

Ludwig clenched his fist a little more, wondering if this would take longer than he had planned.

~

Feliciano sat on the cot, clutching the pistol Ludwig had left him in his hands. He bit his lip and looked around, trying to find something that could distract him from the anxiety building in his chest.

The Italian took Ludwig's shirt that was haphazardly tossed to the side in the heat of the moment that morning. He blushed slightly and rubbed the cuff of the sleeve, images flashing in his head of fingers fumbling with the buttons, hands running all over his chest.

God, his skin was so smooth...

Feliciano shook his head and put the shirt back down. He leaned back against the concrete wall and sighed, closing his eyes. The sun was already beginning to set and he wondered when Ludwig would return. If he would return. And whether or not Romano would be with him.

He didn't even know what would happen next. Everything these days was just spur of the moment. You decided as you went along and there was no plan, no confidence. Only hope.

Tiny, slim, pitiful shreds of hope.

~

To be continued...