*SNEAK PEEK* Survivor: A WWII Novel
a prologue
innocent children…
…enemies of the state
Content Warnings: Mentions of violence/torture
Berlin was cold that night.
Even the multiple blazes raging across the city did little to warm it.
It had only been a few hours since the sky had rained fire as the RAF roared overhead, unleashing countless bombs upon the already stricken land.
The mocking wind crept through the rubble-wasted streets and alleyways, fanning the flames with a gleeful delight.
A lone man walked down one of these streets, paying little attention to the city fragments strewn across his path. A body lay entangled amongst the wreckage of a house, but he kept walking.
He carried on through a few more streets until he reached one shrouded in smoke.
A slight smile crept across his face as he stepped into the fire fog, covering his mouth with a handkerchief.
The air was thick with soot and the putrid smell of burning debris.
In the distance, a woman screamed for her children.
So, the war has taken them too.
The few people stumbling around here took no notice of the tall man walking through what once were their homes. They were too absorbed with grief and shock to care.
“Dietrich?” A deep voice whispered from the shadows.
“Is that you, Gustav?” The man replied, his voice revealing a subtle doubt.
“Yes, it’s me.” Another man stepped out from the darkness, his face speckled with ash.
“Thank goodness!” Dietrich slipped a sigh of relief. “The bombing tonight worked in our favour; there is too much chaos to watch everyone.”
“Indeed,” Gustav nodded, but his face bore grief. “I just feel so sorry for these poor people. Hitler is destroying our beloved country.”
“There won’t be much of a country left if it continues like this.” Dietrich’s tone was tense. “Here,” he drew his hand into his coat, pulling out a crisp white envelope. “I have the letter.”
“You have risked so much with this,” Gustav whispered. “Do you think they have any idea?”
Dietrich looked out into the smoky haze. “I don’t know; there are eyes and ears everywhere. But at least I can know I tried to stop it.” He turned back to his friend. “Before you take it, I must know that you fully understand the risks. If my comrades find out that you are in possession of this letter, they will do whatever it takes to get it back. You will be violently interrogated until you talk, and they won’t hesitate to use the same means on your family. And if you do give the information, they will still shoot you.” He gripped Gustav’s shoulder, looking straight into his eyes. “They will stop at nothing to get it back.”
The man’s face was pale, but firm with resolve. “I understand, and I will take it.”
“Thank you, Gustav!” He passed the letter.
* * *
Whack!
The officer slammed his fist into Dietrich’s bloodied face. “You know, I have many ways to make you talk.”
Dietrich glanced at him with one eye; the other one bruised and swollen shut—“I guess you will have to try them all then.”
The officer smirked, taking a seat in front of him. “I will be delighted to do so.” He pulled a cigarette out, lit it, and leaned back into his chair. “Now tell me, what would you like me to try first?” His tone was smooth in a perfectly terrifying way as he slowly cracked each of his fingers.
Dietrich swallowed hard. “I don’t care.”
The officer took another puff. “How do you think your wife will respond when she sees how different you look? That is, after I’m done with you.” He slowly breathed out a wisp of smoke. “Oh, I forgot. You won’t be seeing her again.” He stood up, laughing cruelly.
Dietrich scanned the room; his heart was thudding so loudly that he was convinced the officer could hear it.
To his right lay a table, and upon this rested an assortment of tools of terror. His face paled as he looked at them.
“Well, if you don’t want to choose, I might as well get started.” The officer stepped towards the table, rolling up his sleeves.
“I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.” He grinned.
A couple of hours later, the bloodstained officer left the room.
“Thank you,” he whispered as he closed the door.