Of The Dark

Chapter 13

"Are you here to gloat?"

Hans leaned against the doorframe of the infirmary room, looking down on me as I finished redoing the bandages on my left hand.

"No." He sounded sincere. He sat down opposite me and presented a neatly wrapped package. "I brought you something to eat."

I suppose I should be hungry, since I had spent the night in the infirmary trying to recollect myself without a bite to eat. Only, I found that my appetite was non-existent and the thought of food made me feel nauseous.

Swiftly undoing the tie of the bag, a brief look of concern flashed through his eyes as they caught sight of my injured face. I turned my head away to avoid his blatant pity, which only caused a sharp sting to strike through my neck.

"Try not to move too much." Hans advised, resting a hand on my cheek lightly to turn my head to face him. His glistening eyes scoured mine, momentarily falling on my bandaged wrist resting on my lap and then my other arm that was tightly holding my throbbing abdomen. "I can't believe he did this to you."

"Yes, you can." I huffed, leaning back on the chair. "You were the one that warned me about it."

Maybe if I had listened to him, none of this would have ever happened.

I felt awful.

He was just trying to be a decent friend and look out for me. I threw it back in his face and now I was suffering the tremendous consequences. I felt awful. Awful and foolish. My naivety led to the downfall of all my family and now there was nothing left that I could do to change it back.

"I am so sorry that I didn't listen to you before, Hans. I am."

"Don't mention that anymore. I'm just glad you are alive, right now."

The warmth of his smile filled up the whole room, bringing ease to my jittery self and making me really appreciate his company.

The room bathed in the sharp smell of antiseptic and drying blood as the common buzz of overworked and abused prisoners being admitted and discharged faded into the distance. A gratifying silence blanketed the prior conversation as I delved into the part of my mind that would not stop dwelling on how awful my life had turned out. It made me want to fall to my knees and burst out crying.

"You should run."

"Huh?" So entranced with my thoughts, I barely registered what Hans was saying.

"Escape, I mean." He stated, in a hushed voice. "Its your only way out of here. You can do it. I can help you."

Blinking hard once, I attempted to process his suggestion. His ridiculously ludicrous suggestion, that was, that I was hearing for the second time this week.

"No way." I scoffed, disbelieving to his seriousness on the matter. "That's for people who aren't scared of tiny insects and harmless, inconspicuous noises. Not me."

"You can, Hana." Hans stressed, as if it were that easy. "There's a five minute gap in the electrifications every night. It's a straight road out from here and I can give you some food and money to last you a few days. It could work."

Ignoring the growing headache, I shook my head, affirmatively. "No, Hans. No, it couldn't. Stop being ridiculous."

He sighed, heavily, giving up. "Matron told me to tell you that the Reichsführer wants you back to work, immediately." He stood up and turned towards the exit after gesturing to the items he left for me. "Make sure you get some food in you before you leave."

Throwing me a small smile, he left the building with a faint look of disappointment lingering off him.

Running away would be impossible.