Frozen Darkness

Don't look back

I stared blankly at the wall clock. It was 12:36, almost time to go home. Actually, i cant even call it home. The orphanage i was staying in was not welcoming as a "home" should be.

"Miss Adamiak, why are you not paying attention?" The professor remarked. Quickly realising that i spaced out, i came to reality. "Im sorry. Can I excuse myself to the bathroom? I promise it wont take long." The adult gave me an understanding look as i got up and quickly left.

After i dried my hands off, I headed back to class. I couldn't help but admire the paintings exposed on the walls of the hallway. The frames were shining in the badly illuminated corridor. I passed a corner, starting to see the classroom which i have left earlier. The silence that was followed by my footsteps got interrupted by a terrified scream. My heart was beating rapidly as I realised what had just happened. Without a warning a hand dragged me into a dark room.

BANG

Screams of horrified students continued to pour as concern took over my brain. What was happening? My breathing got worse by the second. Nazis were attacking. After all, this was the only Jewish school left in Białystok. I turned around to see who pulled me in the room and i saw a middle aged woman hiding between some bookshelves. The Mathematics teacher. I got up quickly and hid behind a desk swarmed by clutches of books and papers. In my mind all that i could think of in this moment was my brother. I hope he is safe wherever he is.

10 minutes passed till the entering of the library. The doors swung wide open as two men with loaded pistols entered the room as they saw the old woman hiding between books. Terrified she spoke: "proszę nie strzelać. Jestem mamą trójki dzieci. oni mnie potrzebują!" (please don't shoot. I am a mother of three children. they need me!)

BANG

Blood spilled over the floor colouring the papers on the ground in a dark-red colour. I couldn't breathe. I could smell the sour aroma of it. The nazis soon left the room after not finding anyone else.

I was shaking. Of course i expected this to happen someday but i didn't know how it felt. How it felt to see someone lose their life. I was thinking of an escape route. Wherever it was, I was about to risk my life. Luckily the school had only 2 floors. If i jumped out the window i would land in some rose bushes. They would hurt but surely not as much as getting shot. I stood up barley keeping my balance and walked to the window. I sat on the windows sill. I moved my legs over the edge and accidentally fell face first into the rose thorns. I exclaimed in pain as blood dipped down my eyelash. My forehead was bleeding, leaving a wine red trail behind. Salty tears formed at the base of my eye. The only feeling i had was pain. Pure pain. My skin tightened around my body in a uncomfortable way. I stood up looking at my surroundings. I saw a forest nearby. I took my chances and ran for my life. The pain was unbearable but i had to do it. I had to do it for my brother. He needed to be safe. He was safe. I taught to myself.

. . . .

Dry blood was covering my face. Nobody cared though. It was the second year of war so people normalised it. Of course i still got a few weirded out faces but I couldn't care less. My brother was staying at a foster family. He was safe. I could contact him once i got somewhere safe. Firstly i had to find where. I then remembered the cut newspaper i founded on a bench the other day. There were some ships evacuating people in America. I think East Prussia was the place where the ships left from. I was walking to the train station. I looked at the trips. There was one to Lithuania crossing Prussia in 2 hours. I had to get a ticket. Białystok was a city full of Jews like me. Of course Hitler knew that. He knows everything. Everything except that Jews are not stupid. I was actually running away and he couldn't stop me. I was headed to freedom. A light smile made its way over to my lips. I was escaping.

Time flew quicker then i expected. 30 more mins and the train arrived. I decided its a great time to go get my ticket. I headed to the cashier and stood in line. The stations building was beautiful. Pillars where supporting the outer roof while curved lines were personifying the roofs edges. Baby angels were sculpted on the upper part of the cylinders while a fence surrounded the enclosed space. As i examined the buildings architecture, i slowly got in front of the line. I opened my mouth to buy a ticket with some money i worked for back at the orphanage when a siren started playing. We were getting bombarded. Of course they would ruin the only way Jews could escape this nightmare. Fearfully i followed strangers into an anti bomb shelter. How could I escape now.

I overheard a group of injured adults talking about a truck they have that they can escape in to Prussia. Without waiting for more details I hopped in the conversation asking if they can take me too offering all the money that i had. Hesitantly they accepted. I had a getaway plan now. After all, i would be safe

Hiii! It's my first book so i hope you like the first chapter. Total words: 1014. I might make the next chapter today or tomorrow but i dont know how often i will update. If you want ask me any question and ill answer (if it is not about spoilers) anyways, thank you for your time and see ya in the next chapter!