Painted Faces

It's All Downhill From Here

             Nazi Germany 1939
Rosemary's POV

We bored the train and placed our luggage in the compartments. I followed my mama and papa to our seats and sat down. Once the train lurched to a start I looked out the window. So many people. So much sadness. I watched as a woman tried to beat a young man for taking something from her. Her clothes where torn and her hair was matted. She took a stick and started beating him over the head with it. He held his hands up in an attempt to shield his face. A police officer ran up to her and restrained her. I watched as the scene faded out of sight. The depression has left our nation in shambles. Many people burn their own money to keep warm in the cold weather. But I tired not to think about sadness. I had enough if my own. When I was younger I had a friend who was like me, a handicap. When I was about six years old, I was playing on an abandoned cattle car. I fell off the the wheel rolled over my leg, crushing it. I was never able to walk properly since.
He and I would tease each other about being disabled. We would sit at the edge of the bridge over the river and throw rocks into the water. But that was many years ago.
We where the best of friends until my younger brother, Desmond, fell ill and we traveled all over Germany, desperately trying to find a cure to his unknown illness. It seemed as if I lived most of my life on a train. Watching the years quickly pass by as I stared out the window into the horizon, hoping and praying that life was better beyond where my eyes could see. My brother died a few weeks back and we where returning to our hometown. Perhaps my friend was still there.
I leaned against the bitter cold window. The constant rocking of the train lulled me to sleep.

When I woke, people where exiting the train and mama was shaking my arm. Sleep fogged my mind but I got up and followed everyone else off the train.

Rudie's POV
That night, I laid awake. Ever since the war between our nation and the Allied forces started when Hitler's army invaded Polland, sleep has been rare for me. When I do sleep I am haunted by horrid nightmares.
Six years have past since mama died. I am now 18 years old and I am stuck living in this hell we call home. Even Axel who is 20 years old is not allowed to leave and live on his own. He has considered running away many times. And he finally came up with a plan to persuade papa into letting him leave.
Axel wants to join Hitler's army. Papa was very supportive of the Chancellor *cough* Dictator of Germany. I hate Hitler. I hate his views on the world and the people in it. Our people where too blind to see how horrible he is because of the depression only because he promised an end to the depression. And now we are stuck in a war.
A cool breeze filtered through the window. A pale dawn light has just begun to be noticeable by the time I fell alseep. It was a light sleep and almost every sound woke me up. I awoke to a loud thud. Sunlight was pooling into my room. I got out of bed and went down stairs. Papa laid on the floor.
"No!!!"
I yelled and I ran to his side. He was barely breathing and a broken bottle laid next to his head. Annalise and Axel where thundering down the stairs.
"Someone help! Papa isn't moving!" I yelled desperately.
"Relax, he is just out cold." Axel said cooly as if it didn't matter. I turned and stared him in the eye. "We have to help him! He is the only family we have left! We cannot just let him die!" I yelled. "He cannot breathe! We have to help or he will die!"

"Well that is not our problem anymore! If he wants to give up on us, his children, and himself, let him! I will not stand in the way!! He has never been there for us so why should we?" Axel shouted.
Annalise stood there pale faced and wide eyeed.

So sorry this chapter has been boring... I have kinda had a bit of writer's block resently. But I've got some ideas for the next chapter. Till next time- byez!!😙