A Fear For Life by Delaney S. (classic fiction .TXT) 📕

A bomb explodes, sending thousands running for their lives. The year is 1942, and the explosion takes place in Leningrad, Russia. A young girl cowards in the corner of a public restroom of an abandoned department store. She is alone. Her name is Lena. Lena stifles a sob.

A clattering sound can be heard as someone opens the door to the women’s room. She freezes eyes wide in terror. A young boy walks in.

“Who…who are you? Are you German?” Lena asks, terrified.
“No. my name is Zach, and I am a Jewish boy, living with my elder brother Michael. My parents have been ripped from our home and their former lives, and taken to chortkov prison by the Gestapo. My sister objected and clung to my mother’s legs. They shot her on the spot; she was only three years old. But here, come meet Michael,” Zach said.
Lena follows Zach out of the bathroom and the department store, only to find dead bodies everywhere, with the exception of a boy of about fifteen years, standing in the middle. She hides behind Zach, fearing for her life. “Who is that?” Lena asks shyly.
Zach ignores Lena. “Michael! Michael! Over here!” Zach flails his arms about, only to accidentally smack Lena’s face in the process. “What happened Michael!? Are you alright?” Zach asks as Michael limps over, his leg oozing blood.

Michael says, “I’ll tell you back at the clearing. Now, apologize to this young girl.”
“for what!? I didn’t do nothing to her!” Zach stated.

“Anything. Didn’t do ANYTHING to her. And you did. While you were attracting German soldiers, you smacked her across the face. Let’s get back to the clearing.” Michael said.

As Michael and Zach walked towards the woods, Lena stayed put. She was too shocked at the surrounding dead bodies to follow them.

“Are you coming?” Zach asked Lena.
“Yes. Lena follows after Zach and Michael, far into the woods. They come upon lots of thorn bushes and willow trees. Michael wiggled through, followed by Zach and Lena. Once they entered, Lena took in all that was surrounding her. It was amazing, with a lake, a fire pit, and even its own bunker. Not like Germans could find them anyways.

“It’s beautiful,” Lena murmurs in awe.

When it gets dark outside, Michael and Zach start to make a fire to cook the rabbit Michael had caught earlier that day.

“so what happened?” Zach asks as he acknowledges Michael’s bandaged leg.
“I saw that a German Nazi was going to set off the bomb in the marketplace, so I ran to take cover. Another Nazi saw me and shot. Well, he got my leg, but just then, the bomb went off, and the soldier was distracted. I got up and limped away. And there you saw me, when you came out with the girl. Speaking of the girl, who are you?” Michael asks Lena.
“My name is Lena Goldman. I am eight years of age. My brother turned on my family, and killed my thirteen year old sister, along with my parents. I narrowly escaped him, and now I am on the run from my brother. The Nazis have no Idea he was ever Jewish. My brother’s name is Benjamin Goldman, but has taken the last name of Hecht.” Said Lena. Zach and Michael were shocked. How could such a young girl be exposed to such horrors?

“Well, it sounds like you can stay with-“

“Get out! Out, out, out you Jews! Michael was interrupted by and ss German officer.

“Lena! Zach! Get in the bunker!” Michael forcefully whispered. Zach, Lena, and Michael scramble into the cold, damp bunker.

“Lena, I’m sorry,” Zach says through sobs.

“For what?” Lena asks, puzzled.

“Well, for slapping you back there.”

“Zach, it’s-“suddenly, light floods the inside of the bunker.

“Out you stinking Jews! You reek of poverty!”

Michael, Zach, and Lena are silent as they follow the ss guards. Michael was when following Zach, because of his injured leg. The guard following Michael shoved him in the back with his gun. Zach ran to him as he fell to the ground, trying to support his weight. They collapsed to the ground.

“Get up, Jews!”

The three soldiers took Michael, Zach, and Lena to a blue truck and locked them in. there were about thirty other men and women, along with about twelve young children locked up into the small truck.

“Where are we going?” Lena asks a frail old lady.

“Chortkov prison.” She replied stiffly.

“Chortkov!?” Zach cried out. “tell me, do you know grant and Janet Lands? They are mine and my Brother Michael’s parents. Please tell me if you know them, we NEED to know if they are alive.”

“Son, you are very mature for your age. Then again, all of the children in this truck have seen too much to live happy lives.
“I am not sure who you are speaking of. I am also terribly sorry you, and your brother and sister are here, without parents.” the old lady said. And with that, she fell asleep.

“But she’s not my sis-“

“Come on Zach, she’s asleep. Leave her be.” Michael interrupted.

At about ten o’ clock, everyone was asleep, with the exception of Michael. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen to the three of them, let alone the whole truck. He was also very perplexed about his parents. They very well could have died already, beaten to death, or maybe shot. Whatever the case, he still have hope.

Suddenly, the doors to the truck opened, causing the people leaning against the doors to tumble out into the mud.

“Stupid Jews!” soldiers yelled, as they spat upon them.

Lena awoke sharply, silent tears streaming down her face.

Publication Date: 04-15-2011

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