We were all going to die anyway, right? [SHORT STORY]

The Beginning

It all began in the year 1940, on the 10th of May. That was when the Nazis came. I wasn't that surprised. Deep down I knew that we wouldn't be spared, even though we decided to stay neutral. I peeked out the taped up windows once or twice that week, Mother told me not to but I did anyway. That was the first time I saw their soldiers. Dressed in black with brass buttons, medals, and armbands. They carried long guns by their side, marching around our once beautiful city which was left crumbled down, destroyed.

Everything seemed to happen so quickly. The Nazis came, the next minute they bombed Rotterdam. Then that morning Father told me that the Dutch had surrendered. The Dutch government and Royal family had apparently escaped to England the night prior to that, obviously terrified of the Nazis.

"Very loyal indeed...pfft. Abandoning your own people, leaving them to suffer on their own..."

Mother glared at me when I said that, but I didn't really care. We were all going to die anyway, right? The Jews, of course, had it worse, but one day the Germans would come knocking at our door and force papa or me to labor in one of those factories. Our family had it easier than most people though. My family owned a farming business. In order to sustain ourselves, we would sell our hard grown crops and slaughtered animals on the first floor of the shophouse. The Germans would often pop by our place to collect their supply of food to supply their military. Basically, they depended on us, that was what I liked to say.

I still remember that day clearly. That was the day I almost died. I'm kind of exaggerating, but it was the day our whole family decided to put our lives at risk. It was the Summer of the year 1941 when he appeared at our doorstep. That was when we brought him into hiding. Aziel stayed with us from that day on, hiding in a secret room behind a false wall in my room.

I slid the wall to the side cautiously and peeked in. Aziel sat in the corner of the room, as usual, doodling in a notebook I gave him on his birthday. I motioned for him to come out, and he did so cautiously.

"You sure the coast is clear?"

"If it wasn't I wouldn't have called you out."

"True...Any good news? Have the Germans all died and all burnt to death in a fire pit, all their ashes never to be seen again?"

"Haha, you wish... Things have gotten worse. The Japanese are allying with the Germans now. On the 10th of January...two days ago. They invaded the Dutch East Indies. Now even us Dutch are not safe...Our neighbors, the Jansens, have been arrested for no apparent reason. They're on the hunt for laborers... My dad and mom have a lower chance of being taken away though since we provide the Nazis their food. But I'm not sure what might happen to me...I may have to join you in hiding if the situation gets worse."

"Yes join me! It's really entertaining inside here, I really enjoy myself in there!" Aziel remarked sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

I stuck out my tongue and thrust him a book that laid at my side, "To entertain you. We better get to bed, it's getting late. Night Aziel."

"Yes sweet dreams indeed... I'll dream about the Nazis all drowning in the sea." he uttered, disappearing behind that secret wall.

"Julian, hide. It's not safe. They're coming for you. No one is safe here."

"Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"The docks, 12pm sharp. You're going to fire."