I practically sprinted home after school. I didn't care how far it was or how hard it was to breathe through my tears and sobbing. Thankfully our front door was unlocked. I thrust the door open and slammed it shut behind me. My parents stood there crying and I practically fell into their arms. Tears streamed down all of our faces.
There was a knock at our door. Wiping my tears and taking a deep breath I opened the door. It was Skylar.
"Come in."
"I saw you running home from school today. Is everything alright?" Skylar looked concerned.
We sat down on the white couch in the front room.
"I'm leaving for New York tomorrow morning," I said solemnly.
"That's good, right? A vacation from school."
"No, it isn't. I'm being forced to go there as my duty for the Reich. I'll be a symbol of the proper example of a citizen of the Reich and be a standard to meet. The thing is I have an arranged boyfriend, Major Klemm and I won't be coming back," I paused.
"Well, you've always told me about wanting a boyfriend," Skylar was clearly trying to cheer me up.
"Ya, but I'd rather choose my own. Also, I won't be able to contact anyone here in Wisconsin. Neither family or friend."
"Wait, why?"
"According to Obergruppenfuhrer Smith, I can't have any distractions that get in the way of my duty for the Reich."
"That's not fair!" Skylar exclaimed standing up.
I just looked up at her sadly,"It isn't, but there's nothing any of us can do about it. Believe me once I get status in New York and leverage I'm going to try whatever it takes to see you and my family again. Trust me."
"I do," Skylar said hugging me.
We hugged for a while before saying our final goodbyes.
"I'll miss you, Alex."
"I'll miss you more, Skylar."
Skylar then left for her own house. She knew that for me saying goodbye to my parents would be the hardest part of all of this. They were the people I held closest to my heart.
Ultimately we decided to have a family movie night like we usually did on weekends. We all snuggled up together on the couch in the family room. Even Branch curled up by my chest. We would have talked all through the night, but none of us were able to speak. We were all too choked up.
By the time the movie ended we all just chose to sleep in our position curled up with each other. All of us knew this would be the last time we'd see other, especially in this intimate of a manner of affection.
---
Morning came too soon. Sunlight came in through the two windows in the family room. We all got up and went through our normal morning process. Or at least as normal as it could be for the scenario. After eating my breakfast which was just a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, I looked out the window. I saw the normal traffic of school buses picking students up to take them to school for extra training, since it was Saturday. A place I knew I would never see again.
I ran to my parents when a parade of black cars approached our block. We hugged so tight it was as if a hurricane threatened to separate us. There was a knock at the door. My dad stood straight and went to open the door. It was Major Klemm.
"Is Alexandra ready?"
Physically I was, but mentally I was nowhere close to ready.
My dad glanced sadly in my direction. I gave him a reassuring smile and he turned back to Major Klemm saying," She is."
Major Klemm turned his attention to me. Reaching his hand out he said,"Come on, Alexandra."
Silently I smiled softly towards my parents as I took Major Klemm's hand in my own. We walked to the single black car in our small driveway and Major Klemm opened the door for me. Before getting in I noticed my parents standing in the driveway. I smiled my best smile and waved a final goodbye before getting into the right back seat of the car. The Major shut the door behind me and got in on the left side.
"Drive," he ordered the driver.
The engine roared to life as the car joined the middle of the parade of black cars. I waved to my parents through the window of the car. I kept looking out the window of the car. I felt Major Klemm's gaze on me the entire time. The whole city was in the streets looking at the parade it seemed. Finally, I saw Skylar. Once she saw me in the window she waved frantically. I waved back smiling. But then she was gone. They all were gone. When we passed the city limits and were in the Wisconsin countryside I was still looking out my window. I was in my own thoughts when Major Klemm's stern, monotone voice ringed in my thoughts.
"Why do you simply look out your window? The city is gone. There's no interesting scenery to entertain yourself."
I turned my gaze to face him. His eyes were unwavering, but there seemed like a slightly softer gaze than before.
"This familiar countryside is just as much a part of my home to me as the city and people were, Major."
"Call me Lawrence," he paused and placing his hand gently on my own added,"Please."
"Alright. Lawrence. But, you do understand my reasoning?"
"I do. Perhaps we could look at the countryside together?"
I looked at his hand still laying on mine and then at his bright blue eyes,"Sure. If you want."
He seemed to have a hint of smile on his face as he leaned so his chest was against my back and his right arm wrapped around my waist. He laid his chin on my left shoulder and looked out the window with me.
---
I ended up waking to Lawrence gently shaking my shoulder. I had passed out somewhere along the drive to the airport.
"We're here, sweetheart." The driver came around and opened Lawrence's door who opened mine and helped me out of the car.
The airport was fairly large. After walking for a bit to stretch our legs. We all walked to a smaller plane specifically reserved for Nazi officials. The whole walk to the plane was terrifying. I had SS officers on all sides of me. There was no place to run. And no place to hide. Thoughts were racing through my head as I glanced around. I tried to focus on taking deep breaths and calming myself. After all, this was my new life and I had to keep telling myself this.
Once again all eyes were on me it seemed. Do they know who I am? Or are they just drawn towards the group of SS officers surrounding a brown haired, brown eyed girl?
I glanced to my left where Lawrence was walking stock straight. His sky blue eyes were shooting lasers directly in front of him and his gaze was unwavering. Watching him made me realize I was falling into my bad habit, slouching. Quickly I pulled my shoulders back, straightened my back, and turned my gaze forward, adjusting my head so it was in line with my spine.
My expression showed nothing but a monotone, stoic, girl. In reality, though, I screaming on the inside. I wanted to run and hide. Run back to the life I had before they came. My boring, repetitive, old life where I had my family and friends. I could tell myself that this was my new life and I should suck it up, but that didn't change how I was feeling deep down.
By this point in the trek we made our way to the gate we were departing from. The plane was already loading, so we went out of the doors onto runway. Two officers led the procession as Lawrence took his right arm and pushed me in front of him. The other two officers were behind him.
The plane was adorned with a red line across its side and swastika on its tail. Usually I loved to travel and planes never intimidated me. Now, though, I felt like I was walking to a flying prison. Walking up the staircase to the door felt like I was an animal in the chute at a slaughterhouse. Eventually I made it in the plane. The flight attendants smiled and welcomed us aboard. I smiled and softly said,"Thank you."
Mine and Lawrence's seats were directly in the front left side of the plane. I sat in the window seat and Lawrence seated himself directly next to me on my right side. The first two officers were directly across the aisle for me and Lawrence and the last two were directly behind us.
I nervously glanced out the window and observed the other planes' activity with intense curiosity. An excited grin lit up my face as I remembered all the flights I'd been on in the past. I loved seeing the terrain of the Earth below us during the day and the lights at night. For whatever reason I found it fascinating.
Lawrence snapped me out of my thoughts when he asked,"What are you grinning about?" His face was stern but I saw a slight curiosity in his eyes. He had taken his hat off and was resting it on his lap, so his hair has slightly rustled.
"I'm just remembering the excitement I get on planes."
"What's so special about planes?"
"It's fascinating to see the Earth so small when the planes in the air. I always claimed the window seat when my parents and I travelled, so I could stare out the window and observe."
"Hmm," Lawrence hummed in thought.
I noticed a booklet in German in the pocket just in front of my seat. I grabbed it and started reading. Knowledge of German wasn't required in the Greater Nazi Reich, but it was highly recommended. Starting when I was about 12 years old I took the personal liberty of teaching myself the language through books, study courses, and extra classes. Part of my reasoning was because both my parents and myself thought it was best since we lived in the Greater Nazi Reich, especially if I wanted to go to 'higher places' and I personally liked the way German sounded. I found it entertaining to speak as well.
Lawrence placed his left arm on the arm rest and was leaning over my shoulder. His gaze shifted between my eyes as they scanned and analyzed the text intensely and the booklet. The book was talking about ways to be a good citizen of the Reich, what makes the Reich great, and some history of the government and the Reich itself. The purpose was really to reinforce and remind those in the Greater Nazi Reich as to what they should be grateful for and look up to.
Eventually I might be referenced in these pages alongside the Fuhrer and the other leaders of the Reich," I thought as I tried to make light of my new situation. After all, like I had told Skyler, if I made it to a high enough standing in high society of the Reich. I could bring them back to me and I could get back to them. Just maybe.
"Do you understand German?" Lawrence inquired.
"Ya, I do. I've been learning since I was about 12 years old," I responded trying to finish the sentence I was reading.
I shut the book and placed it back in the pocket of the airplane as I felt the plane roar into life as it moved backwards to line up with the take-off/landing strip. I leaned backwards sighing as I realized that there was no going back now. My life was going to change forever. It already changed forever.
I closed my eyes briefly before glancing out of the window as the plane took off. I felt a hand gently grasping my hand. Glancing to my right I noticed Lawrence's left hand enveloping mine. I returned the gesture as I noticed him reading a book held gently in his right hand. Now I was the one to lean closer and glance between his sky blue eyes and the text they so intently scanned. From my angle I couldn't quite see as I was sitting straight forward. I nervously placed my left hand on his upper arm as I shifted sideways in my seat. I tilted my head ever-so-slightly to the right so it was barely touching his shoulder. The text was in German and the cover was red. As I read a bit, it seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite remember the book that the text belonged to. Lawrence glanced down at the unusual sensation that was my hand on his upper arm. He noticed my eyes on his book and I felt his breath next to my right ear as he quietly asked,"Are you interested in my book?"
Stolen from analysis of the book I jumped slightly as I looked at him smiling slightly nervously as I responded,"I guess. I noticed it was in German and I became curious."
He had a small smile on his face. Something that I never guessed I would see on his face, but I assumed it was a rarity so I took it gratefully. He gestured to the text as he asked,"Do you recognize it?"
"I do, but I can't quite connect to a title off the top of my head," I replied shaking my head slightly as I looked back at his book.
Gently he took his left hand from mine as he grabbed a bookmark to mark his place. He shut the book and flashed the front cover in my direction. In bright, shining gold lettering the title read Mein Kampf.
I mentally slapped myself upside my head for not connecting the writing as to that of the Fuhrer himself in what was considered his 'classic work' in the Reich.
"I should have realized that the moment I started reading that page," I said shaking my head and laughing softly.
"You've read it?" Lawrence said with a small smile still on his face.
"Multiple times," I said looking up at him.
I turned to look out the window. If I was going to be on a plane, even if it was to a life that I didn't really want, I was going to take advantage of my window seat for what it was worth. I noticed Lake Michigan as the plane finished its flight over the Great Lake. There were small towns bustling with normal lives of normal citizens of the Reich. Lives similar to what I had just recently left behind. I leaned on my left hand as I gazed out the window in deep thought. Subconsciously, I began reminiscing about my friends, family, and every other aspect of the life I was forced to leave behind in Wisconsin. Lawrence didn't seem like the worst person I could have been matched with. But he was an Aryan. A tall, blonde hair, blue eye Sturmbannfuhrer. No matter how many times he smiled. No matter how many times he showed any signs of care or anything that might be what I've said I want in a relationship, he was still one of the people that ripped me from all that I held dear. I felt Lawrence's gaze burrowing into my head again. Just like when he observed me at school. Sighing I brushed it off and stared as I noticed the outskirts of New York City coming into view of the window.
The pilot came over the plane's speakers announcing that we were coming in for landing. I buckled myself into my seat as ordered and glanced out the window once more as the plane landed. Once the plane was stopped completely I began to attempt to reach for the carry-on that I usually have on plane trips only to realize that I didn't have anything. The only things I had from my Wisconsin were the clothes I was wearing. Lawrence noticed my habitual movement as he returned his hat to his head. The two SS officers sitting on the right side of the aisle went before us and Lawrence gestured with his hand and a slight bow of his head to go ahead of him. Walking through the New York airport was similar to the previous trek through the first airport. SS officers on practically all sides of me as I stood as straight as I could be. The only difference this time was that, in addition to the usual civilian spectators, there was press. Flashing lights from cameras that could blind a person it seemed. Reporters with their pens and pads in hand and the reporters by the cameramen holding cameras and asking questions. So many questions. There were Honorguard troops controlling the crowd, but it was still overwhelming.
I didn't know what to do, so I stepped closer to the only shelter my brain could go to. Major Klemm. To think that I despised him for taking me from my family, yet he was who I went to for protection and support. We finally made it to another pitch black car. Lawrence quickly opened the car door for me and I scooted to the opposite of the car. He then got in the right side and the officer who would drive the car shut the door for him.
"Drive," Lawrence once again ordered.
"Where are we going?" I quietly asked as I glanced out of the window nervously.
"To our place," Lawrence said nonchalantly placing his hand on mine.
I glanced over to him trying to analyze his expressions. He sighed deeply looking down before looking forward with a military stoic demeanor. His bright eyes reverted back to their piercing, threatening selves that I noticed when we first met. He looked like an eagle who would nab his prey as he wished. When I noticed him glance towards me I simply turned my attention to look out the window. We were going through downtown New York City to the place I would now call home. A place I would have to share with the officer who I didn't know what to think of. A man who I not only despised but had to learn to at least act like I loved in public eye.
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