Strawberry Red

Chapter 31 Ruby

Louis was growing a lot these days. He was seven months old and already started to babble. He usually tried to repeat whatever Ruby or Otto said but it always came out as a babble. Furthermore, Louis was a very curious infant. He'd obverse Ruby's every move when he was awake. And he even crawled around the apartment. They had to baby-proof the apartment because he grasped everything in his reach.

It was no doubt that Louis also had Davies' genetics. His head was covered with red hair. Ruby had read that a lot of babies had blue eyes right after birth and then later the colour changed. But Louis' eye colour remained the same shade of blue like his father's.

It was a normal Saturday in late February. Ruby finished writing letters to Rosie and Helen and got ready to buy groceries at the market. She wore a simple greyish dress and grabbed her shopping bag.

"I'm going to be out for around two hours," said Ruby to Otto. "If he's hungry there's some potatoes he can have."

"I know, Ruby. Don't worry, I've got it," answered Otto. He was sitting on the floor next to Louis trying to get him to stand up. So far Otto had no luck. Louis was more interested in rolling around on the carpet.

"Of course." Ruby kissed Louis on his forehead and left the apartment. She still was extremely anxious and worried every time she left Louis alone. It felt as a part of her wasn't with her. She had carried him for nine months in her womb and protected him. But now she felt as if she couldn't protect him anymore.

Ruby walked down the narrow street to the market. It was a rather hot day for February. The sun was shining bright, and birds were singing in the trees. Kids were playing on the street and ruins of destroyed houses. It almost didn't seem as if they were at war. But the destroyed homes and streets were proof which constantly reminded everyone of the uncertainty of their future.

Ruby was done with getting their weekly rations after half an hour. She headed back home when a man crossed her path. "Mrs. Ruby Cleven."

Ruby internally froze. But for her son and Buck's sake she kept a cool head and ignored the man. She kept on walking home, taking a slightly different route in case he was following her. She didn't want to endanger Louis and Otto.

"Mrs. Ruby Cleven," repeated the man louder than before. A couple of people turned their head around to watch the scene unfold. "You are under arrest for espionage."

This caught Ruby's attention even more. She threw her shopping bag at the man and started running. She sprinted back down the street in hopes to disappear amongst the crowded market. She squeezed past people to cross the marketplace. On the other end of the marketplace was an alley in which she could easily disappear. Her breathing rigged as she kept going. She tried to not let other notice her fear. It felt as if the people were closing in on her, ratting her out.

"I'm afraid I cannot let you leave," said the man. He had grabbed her arm and pulled her close. This time he pointed a gun at her head. "If you want to live, you'll come with me without a fuss."

Ruby knew her chances of fleeing were rapidly dropping by every moment she spent in the man's presence. But he held her at gunpoint, there was nothing she could do now beside going with him.

"Fine, I'll go with you," responded Ruby through gritted teeth. He harshly pushed her off the marketplace and into a car. Then everything went black.

Ruby woke up tied to a chair with a pounding head. There was no light in the room which she was held captive. She heard water dripping in the corner and cars driving outside. She probably was in the cellar of a police station. She had heard stories of the Gestapo. They often had small rooms beneath stations to interrogate their targets.