Icy Heart and Warm Love

Chapter Thirty-Six

Kalda didn't like what she was seeing; in fact, Kalda hated what she was seeing.

People of all ages were either in a chamber screaming and then silenced after a minute, or they were being pulled apart at the limbs by getting stretched in ways that they never should be stretched.

No one should have to through all of this, Kalda thought to herself. What have they done wrong?

Kalda stopped walking when Prussia stopped walking, seeing three men come up to them; Kalda hid behind her caretaker, not wanting to be seen by the other men.

"General," one said. "It's been a vhile."

"I see zhat nozhing has changed," Prussia answered sternly, not even bothering to greet them. "Did you not receive your orders?"

"Ve did, but zhese two vanted to ignore zhem," another soldier answered, ratting his friends out.

"Ve did not!" a third stated.

"I don't vant to hear it!" Prussia interrupted their soon-to-be-qurrel, clearly becoming angry. "Vhat's zhe point of running a Death Camp when no one obeys zhe orders of zheir superior?"

"Please don't yell at zhem, vati," Kalda said in a low and timid voice, doing her best male voice and German accent that she could. "Zhey didn't know."

"Who's zhis?" the first soldier asked.

"He is a boy my brozher und I took in from zhe street," Prussia explained, calming down. "Apparently some people aren't as kind to zheir family members as zhey should be."

Kalda knew that his answer was slightly true, and it hurt her heart to think about it.

My Italian brothers didn't drive me away, Kalda thought sadly. I drew myself away from them.

"Vhat's his name?" the second soldier asked.

"Max," Prussia answered. "Not very German, but ve figured zhat he must be from somevhere else."

"Not very blonde and blue-eyed like zhe rest of us, eh?" the third soldier wondered.

"Like I said, he must have grown up somevhere else," Prussia answered defensively.

There was silence, except for the screams, smells, and sights from inside the building, and Kalda nudged Prussia in his back with her elbow to make him face her.

"Mister Beilschmidt," Kalda started, "I don't feel so good."

(A/N: Five digital cookie emojis for whoever gets this reference. 🤣)

Prussia didn't have any time to react as Kalda ran out of the open door, vomiting by the side of the building.

Everything in there is horrible! Kalda cried. I can't stand watching that!

"Max?" Prussia asked, walking outside with the other three soldiers.

They gasped once they saw what had happened.

"I-I zhrew up," Kalda stated, sniffling.

"Maybe zhis isn't zhe right job for him," the third soldier stated.

"He vill be fine," Prussia replied with a glare. "Ve vere all like zhis on zhe first day, remember?"

"I can't go back in zhere!" Kalda told him through her tears. "I just can't!"

"And you don't have to," Prussia smiled. "Vhy don't you go und talk to zhat lonely boy over zhere?"

Kalda nodded, running over to the boy.