Behind Enemy Lines

Entry Sixteen

August 23, 1944

“Dig faster you filthy rats!” a German officer yelled out as he shot his gun in the air.

We dug twice as fast with three times as much fear as before. I didn’t understand why the officers were suddenly being so hostile to everyone. It all started a few weeks ago, when a group of soldiers entered the camp, they all seemed to have been in a hurry to talk to someone.

“Do you honestly know what’s going on Mika?” I heard Ivanka asked as we shoveled.

“I don’t know I bet it’s probably not a good sign at all” I whispered as I continued to shovel faster.

A few officers came our way, shouting and spitting at us. We all didn’t know what was going on and I was scared out of my mind. As soon as they left our sight I turned to Ivanka quickly. “How is my sister?” I asked as I shoved another pile of dirt.

Ivanka froze on her spot, her lips quivered. Her silence was beginning to worry me. “I don’t know…I mean that soldier came into our cabin last night and snuck her out.” She whispered.

I felt my fist tighten around the shovel. I didn’t have to ask who that soldier was.

“Struvolski!” I heard someone call out. I turned to the side and saw Torren standing there, he looked out of breath and also he looked pissed off. “Come with me right now.” He ordered.

I hesitated at first, but eventually I dropped my shovel and did as told. Torren began to walk, eventually leading us back to the medical building and down to the furnace again. “Why are we here?” I whispered.

Torren looked back to me, this time his eyes held sadness. “Mika I’m sorry to say this…but your sister Druka is dead.” He said quietly.

Druka is dead…

I shook my head, words unable to leave my lips. I didn’t want it to be true; I didn’t want to believe him. “You’re lying.” I hissed; tears betrayed me as they slid from my eyes. “Why would you lie to me Torren!” I sobbed.

“The last thing I want to do is to hurt you Mika. I’m telling you the truth, if you don’t believe me then look over to that table.” He said as he pointed over to the table near the furnace. I saw something underneath the blanket. I walked over and lifted the top of the blanket, there was Druka, dead as a door nail.

My legs gave out and I found it hard to breath. Druka was gone, everyone was gone. I was alone to rott in this hell.

“Mika!” Torren shouted as he ran to my side and helped me up. “Mika, please don’t let this affect you, I promise you I’ll get you out of here.” He said as he gently stroked my cheek.

“How did she die?” I asked.

“Do you really what to know?”

“Yes” I looked over to him. “I want to know how my sister died.”

Torren let on a sigh as he recovered Druka and opened the furnace. The intense heat wave welcomed me with a slap. “It was Valtren. I know he killed your sister. I did an autopsy and found his semen all over her opening, I believe he raped her then strangled her. Early this morning some soldiers found her naked body hanging from a tree. Everyone though she committed suicide.” He informed.

My mind felt numb.

Valtren killed my father and he killed my sister. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one who gassed the chamber where my mother died too. “Am I going to die too?” I asked.

Torren roughly grabbed my shoulders and brought me closer to him, his scent overwhelmed me. “No, you’re not going to die. You have me, and you also have Lukas.” He informed.

I stared deeply into Torren’s eyes. I wanted to get lost in that sea of chocolate brown. Torren stared at me too; I wondered what was going through his mind. As we stared at each other, the space between us became smaller and smaller until I could practically feel his breath on my skin.

“Torren…we shouldn’t..” I whispered.

“I know. But I want to do this anyways.” He said as he pressed those full lips against mine. So many thoughts were racing, so many words left unsaid.

We parted lips and stared at each other some more. This felt so wrong, everything felt so wrong. “Take me back to my cabin” I said. I needed some time to think about this, about what I was getting myself into.

Torren nodded in agreement and escorted me out of the building. I caught a glimpse of a few soldiers beating up a young Jewish boy. The sudden thought of Valten came to mind and my body began to shake. How could such a human be able to walk the earth doing what they do? How could anyone find pleasure in killing?