Through Blood

Chapter 12: Return

As camp operations overseer, Kristian was going through the list of new prisoners that had arrived in the morning. The camp was starting to run out of capacity. One name on the long list caught his eye. Steinfeld, Julia. Where have I seen that name before? It's strangely familiar.
He finished going through the list and went back to that name. And then he remembered.

He remembered Ivy's best friend in Kiel, her name was Julia and he was sure her family's name had been Steinfeld. He also remembered that she used to have red hair. He felt an itching curiosity to know if this was her.

He went to the section and barrack where she was listed to be. There were too many women in this section, he'd only be able to find her by calling her name. "Julia Steinfeld? Julia Steinfeld come forward!"

A young woman walked towards him, her head bowed and her pale skin dirty.
"Are you Julia Steinfeld?" Kristian asked.
"Yes," she said, looking down at the muddy ground.

Her head was shaved but he recognized her. Her shaven hair and her eyebrows were red and her face freckled. "Come with me," Kristian grabbed her roughly by the arm.

He dragged her all the way to an outer section of the camp that was under construction. His rank was above the guards' and they didn't question him or stop him. He stopped by the edge of the extended fence, a spot few knew was a blind spot for the tower guards.

"Julia, it's me, Kristian. Kristian Köhler."
She continued to look down. "Look at me. Do you remember me? I'm Ivy's brother," he said.
"I remember you," she looked up.
"I'm sorry to have treated you like that, but it'd be too suspicious if I didn't," Kristian frowned.
"How is Ivy?" Julia asked.
"She's well, living in Berlin with her boyfriend, Ülrich and his sisters," he replied.
"I remember Uli, I always knew they'd end up together," she smiled weakly. "What do you want with me?"

Kristian scratched his head and sighed. "I don't know. I just... I can help you, protect you."
"I don't need your protection. And you can't help me," she looked down again.
"I can help keep you safe, just don't do anything that will get you in trouble."
"Oh well that's excellent advice, I would have never thought of it on my own," she remarked.
"Are you here with your family?" Kristian asked, ignoring her sarcasm.
"With my brother. My parents and us were separated as we ran away from you assholes. My brother was shot in the leg upon arrival here, he's in the clinic. I know it's hopeless, I know he'll die in there," she clenched her jaw tightly.

"I remember seeing that. I'll do everything I can to help him recover."
"If you want to really help, kill the bastard that shot him for no reason."
"I can't do that," Kristian said. It was Carver who shot her brother. It would bring me deep pleasure to kill him, believe me, he thought.
"You know, when we were young I used to like you. Thought you were so handsome. I used to run to the field after Bund Deutscher Mädel meetings to watch you play football. You were so good with the ball. I never pictured you as the sadistic type. Never thought you'd end up as a murderer. Say hello to Ivy for me. I'm not sure how much she hates Jews now, but hopefully she turned out more decent than you," Julia said.
"I've had no choice in it, just like you had no choice in being a Jew. I'll give your regards to Ivy," he said and walked away.

~

It was the morning after the attack. The bombings, as it turned out, hadn't damaged Paris. They had been a warning of what's to come. Officer Jung walked into the dining room hastily. Ivy and Gerda were having breakfast. "Herr Jung, won't you join us?" Ivy asked.

"You must pack your things now, Fraulein Köhler, we're leaving in twenty minutes," he said firmly.
"Why?" Ivy put down her coffee.
"I've received a telegram from your father, General Köhler. We must go back to Germany as soon as possible. It isn't safe here," Jung said.
Ivy sighed. "Oma, will you come with us?"
Gerda nodded. "Yes, I want to see your mother and Kristian and the twins. I miss them," she smiled.