~ Chapter four ~
I wake to the sound of gunshots. I blink and remember where I am. Although what’s going on, I have no idea. A gun shoots directly beside me and a loud pitched keening rockets through my ears.
I kick out like wild and start screaming. This is not how I’m going to go out, not after all this. Shot whilst tied down in a damn box.
The door opens and it’s still dim outside, I couldn’t have slept for very long. A man stands before me, but I have no idea who he is – he could be one of the men from before or someone else.
He shouts something but it’s muffled, I can barely hear it amongst the gunshots – let alone understand it.
He goes to grab my leg but I kick out – there’s no way in hell I trust him. He continues to shout but I continue to kick. He drags me out anyway and as soon as he legs go, I launch myself at him.
He catches me at the wrists, stopping me as I continue to fight to get away. I realise dimly that the gunshots have stopped, just one every few seconds. And then the words become clear.
“I’m tryin’ to help you! Stop it!”
I stop instantly, my heart hammering. I want nothing more than to fall over and throw up. I feel sick to my core. I notice a nasty scratch across his cheek. I feel silly and girly for it, I should have hit him with my fist – but papa always taught me that when it comes to life or death, it doesn’t matter how you fight as long as you live.
I stand there wheezing weakly and he doesn’t let go. “Are you alright now? Not gonna to attack me?”
I nod tiredly and he lets go of my wrists. I look around quickly to see several men walking around and checking that the German soldiers are dead.
“Who are you?” I ask him, my eyes meeting his.
He, like me, holds the eye contact. “We’re a special elite team sent to scout out nearby hostile camps.”
“Oh.” I run a hand through my hair.
“And you are?”
“No one important.” I shrug. “Are the others alive?”
I point in the direction of the boxes, confused and worried when I notice the other members of his team opening them up and shaking their heads.
“One of the soldiers here... when he realised that there was no way any of them would be gettin’ out – he started to shoot at the crates.”
I run a hand over my face and then I think about it. What if mama was in one of those?
I turn; my head full and heavy. He shouts at me but I bolt in the direction of the first box. They are four in total. I open it up to find the face of a young girl. Not someone from my village.
I let out a noise of disgust and back away.
“Who’re you looking for?” The man asks following behind.
I don’t respond, just move onto the next box. I realise that the others have stopped looking in the remaining two boxes.
He follows me as I move to the next three boxes – all with deceased people within. I open the fifth box and a low moaning makes me hesitate.
“What?” He asks.
I crawl into the small crate. “Are you okay?”
A low whimpering. I move closer until I’m above the girl. She can’t be any older than fourteen. Her face in the dim light is shaded but terrified.
