A Soundless World a World War 2 book

A Long Day

Annie felt something poking her. She slapped it away. It kept poking her and she eventually flopped over onto her back. It was Timothy leaning over her with a tired smile. "Time to wake up." he said. "What time is it?" Annie asked. "How should I know? It's not like I have a clock." Annie smiled and then quickly jumped up hitting her head to Timothy's. "Sorry" Annie mumbled, rubbing her head. Annie quickly got dressed and met Timothy and Ruth at the door. It was still dark out. Annie was now fully awake. "Ready to warn everybody and possibly get shot in the process?" Timothy asked, trying to look peppy. Annie groaned. She had forgotten about that. "You know we don't have to do this." Timothy said. "We're only kids." "No we're not." Annie replied. "We haven't been kids since they drove us through that gate."

Annie went to her assigned spot and waited for her time of rebellion.

After Annie finished signing directions she added in some quick signs but made it look like part of the orders that had been given. Everybody's faces grew grim, but the soldiers didn't seem to notice except one, but hopefully he thought the extra signs put in said "have fun digging all day!" When they really said. "They're having you dig your grave." The soldier walked on and Annie let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She would have to be careful around that soldier because she knew that soldier out of all of the soldiers DID know sign language. She knew this because he had helped her learn.

After Annie knew for sure that the soldier was gone she finally moved from her spot only to be called back again to tell one of the deaf "workers", as the soldiers called them, that he was digging all wrong. She was then called on by other soldiers telling her to sign similar things to the "workers". But as Annie signed the complaints instead of the deaf signing back their complaints they asked Annie questions about how much she knew, Annie felt terrible when she wasn't able to answer any of them. People had had hope to escape alive, and Annie had just ripped that away from them. Maybe she shouldn't have told them what this camp really was, but then again,now, in the place of hope was defiance. These people weren't going out without a fight.

Annie was exhausted after a day of running from one guard to another signing complaint about how someone wasn't digging right. She was also starting to get a headache from not being able to answer the questions of the innocents who had just been told the truth about the camp, but Annie's day just got worse. As Annie walked to the quarters a soldier approached her. Annie tried to get around him but the soldier blocked her. Annie saw Timothy looking towards the seen. She waved her hand for him to go and then signed to him,with their secret sign language, that she would be fine. Timothy hesitated but turned around and walked inside.

"What do you want James?" Annie said knowing she shouldn't call him by his name, and James's glare proved her suspicion of the fact. "Not here." James said. "Why?" Annie knew she shouldn't question James, or any other soldier for that matter, but she couldn't resist. He had been her friend, practically her older brother, but now. James grabbed Annie's arm, she tried to get away from his grip but couldn't, his grip was too tight. Annie wanted to scream for help, but the only person who would come to help would be Timothy and she wasn't taking the risk of him getting in trouble.

James and Annie walked into a soldier's quarters, probably James's. Why had he brought her here? What was he going to do to her? Annie couldn't keep the questions from spilling out. "Why are we here? What are you going to do to me?" Annie was tired and scared, she couldn't hide the tremble in her voice. James dropped Annie's arm and sat down on the cot. James looked tired, really tired. Annie's concern for James showed on her face clearly before she could shove it aside. James gave  a half-smile at her concern. "I'm fine." he said. "I wasn't concerned." James raised his eyebrows still smiling. He had always been able to see through her lies. Annie ignored him and walked to the other side of the room, getting as far away from James as she could.

"Look, Annie..." Annie glared at James. How dare he talk like they were still friends, like nothing had happened. James looked away but not before Annie saw the guilt written on his face. James turned back to her, his face blank, except for the hint of concern in his eyes. "I'm not going to do anything to you but we don't have much time and I need you to listen to me." James was surprised by Annie's angry reply. "I can't listen remember? Or did I just imagine you being there the day I lost my hearing?" Annie's voice rose at the same rate as her anger. James got up and slowly approached Annie with, what looked like, caution. "Annie, calm down, we don't want anyone to get suspicious of what's going on in here." James said calmly. "Oh we don't huh?" Tears stung Annie's eyes threatening to  recreate the Genesis flood. Annie backed up to the wall. "Get away from me." Annie's voice was quiet but deadly. James didn't stop. "Get Away FROM ME!"  Annie's voice slowly got louder. She couldn't keep the rage in any longer. James had finally reached and was now holding her in a hug that said everything that needed to be said. Annie opened the floodgates. "why? why?" Annie asked in between sobs. Why had James gone to the army? Why was life so hard? They stood there, in that hug, for what seemed like eternity. 

"I'm so sorry." James said. Annie knew what he meant. He was sorry for leaving and he was sorry he couldn't protect her from the terrors of life. "I should get back I don't want Timothy to get suspicious and come looking." James smiled. " What?" Annie asked. Not knowing what the smile meant. "I approve." James said. "Of what?" Annie asked even more confused. "Timothy." James said. Annie's face was lit up with surprise. "You like him don't you?" The red in Annie's cheeks did the answering for her. Then her face dropped. "what is it?" James asked with concern. "I can't fall in love, ever. This is a death camp." James gave a half smile. "You're not going to die. You're going to grow up get married and have kids, if I have anything to say about it."

Annie's face filled with understanding. "No! If you're caught you would be killed!" Annie said, giving James a pleading look. "One life? Or many?" James said looking down on Annie with proudness. Why was he proud of her? What had she accomplished? "When?" She asked quietly knowing there was no way to convince James this was a death wish. "In two days, you, Timothy's family, and two other families." James said with a confidence Annie would never understand. She frowned. "How?" Annie didn't want to look at James but having too if she wanted an answer. "I can't tell you, but I have a plan, trust me." James said. "I do trust you." Annie's eyes filled with tears once more and she couldn't keep her voice steady as she asked a promise of James."Promise me you'll stay safe." An expectant look covered Annie's face. "I promise."

When Annie got back to her quarters Timothy was waiting for her. Annie could tell there were so many question that he wanted to ask her but he stopped himself when he saw her puffy eyes. Timothy rapped her in a hug. That hug gave Annie hope. Maybe James would come with them, maybe they wouldn't be caught escaping, maybe they would all have a life of freedom. Annie stopped going through the maybes and let herself fall into the warmth of the hug, she felt safe,hopeful, and ready for the life ahead.At some point Timothy had guided Annie back to her cot, laid her down, and put the blanket securely around her. As Annie fell asleep from the exhaustion of the day she couldn't help one more maybe enter her mind. Maybe someday she would fall in love, and have kids and maybe that special someone she fell in  love with would be Timothy.