Chapter 14 -

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Third Person POV

"Yesterday an officer of the German Wehrmacht was killed by one Benoit Labarie, a resident on the Montmort estate." The Viscount spoke to the people of Bussy. "Any person guilty of providing him with shelter, aid or protection or who knows his whereabouts is required to report this information to German headquarters within 48 hours of this notice or they will incur immediate execution by firing squad."

"Lieutenant, I would like to talk to you." The chief commander called to Bruno as he stood beside the Viscount. "Come along, Viscount."

"Herr Major, on behalf of the people of Bussy I must offer my most humble apology." The Viscount mumbled. "I had no idea he would lash out that way."

"You said he was a communist; a thief who'd threatened your wife. What exactly did you expect?" The chief commander glared as he lit a cigar. "According to the laws of occupation... the Mayor is responsible for the actions of his constituents. This means if the farmer isn't found within forty eight hours... you will face the firing squad in his place."

"But Herr Major...I am the Viscount." He muttered as he looked towards the Germans in front of him. "That's unheard of."

"Viscount. General Wolf wanted me to round up five men at random." He mockingly laughs in reply to him. "You should be thankful I persuaded him to make an example out of you alone."

Herr Major looked to the other soldiers in the room; Bruno standing beside him as he looked down; unable to look in the Viscounts eyes.

"Take him off." He demands as the Viscount is grabbed by the arms.

"No, Herr Major, I'm the Viscount, this isn't possible." He shouts and pleas, but it is no use. "Herr Major, please!"

The screams continued down the hallway as they dragged him roughly.

"Herr Major."

"The day before Bonnet was murdered, he wanted to talk to me about one of his fellow officers." He says to Bruno as he tries to put on his best poker face. "Do you know who he was referring to?"

"No, I do not." Bruno coughed as he respectfully spoke to his major.

"You'll be in charge of the execution." He tells Bruno; making his heart break slightly – knowing he feels like a murderer; knowing he will upset Amelia. "Go tell your men to search everywhere. No exceptions. Teach these people a lesson, find anything suspicious; you know the drill. Now go at once!"

"Yes, sir." Bruno salutes as he leaves the room; mentally slapping himself as he walks away.

*

"Oh. How romantic." Madame Angellier sighed as she saw the things from last night still out. "I'm going to have to talk to his commanding officer."

"-No you won't" I snap as Benoit walks out. She looks to him and back to me.

"Who knows?" She asked as she looked around the house; checking outdoors as well.

"No one." I answer as Benoit sits down.

"Not even his wife?" She frowns and I shake my head.

"I couldn't risk it." I mutter as she walked away, ushering us to follow.

"You should have asked me first." She snapped as she opened the laundry closet; revealing a small; secret room. "My grandfather put this here during the last war. Get in. Quickly. Don't make a sound."

Benoit gets in as we cover it back up; making it as if it was never even there.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask her as we go downstairs.

"Seeing him dressed in Gaston's clothes, it made me think, it could be my son." She holds it together; I think for once, I found compassion towards this women as she stood in front of me; showing some emotion.

"They're here." I gasp as I hear doors slam.

"Madame." One soldier says as he comes in the house and goes towards to Madame Angellier. "We are looking for Benoit Labarie."

"Amelia" I hear Bruno call for me as I walk away from everyone else. "Amelia please."

I walk away further as he grabs my hand gently; pushing me to the wall slightly.

"Amelia, I could not make it." He mutters. I look away from him as he brushes my hair behind my ear. "Amelia, tell me. Something is wrong."

"I made a mistake." I mutter as he makes me look to him.

"Have your feelings changed?" He asks me.

"Yes" I stutter, lying to myself and him.

"You are lying" He leans close to me as he brushes his lips against mine, which drives me insane and I want to kiss him so much more than before.

"Sir" Someone calls to him as Bruno pulls away from me. "Sir, up here. We've found something in the laundry cupboard."

I look to Bruno and then away quickly as he walks up the stairs with Madame and I with them as the go to the closet.

           

Third Person POV

"What is this?" The German spat in Leah's face as she looked away from him as they shoved some Jewish papers in her face.

"She's a Jew." One shouted as they grabbed her.

"Where is your daughter?" They yelled to her; slapping her around the face. But she refused to speak to them.

"Where's your daughter?" They scream once more.

"She's with her father." She replied as they gripped her hair.

"We'll come back for her." They snarled as they grabbed the woman and shoved her in the truck; sending her off to her death – leaving her small child behind – motherless and fatherless; totally alone.

           

Amelia's POV

Madame and I stood back as Bruno tapped the back of the closet; my heart beating faster and faster by the minute. Bruno stood back and looked to the sheets on the side and looked back to Madame and I.

"A wake is being held for Officer Bonnet, but we don't have enough table linen, so could we borrow some of yours?" Bruno asked as he looked to Madame.

"It belonged to my mother." She answered, trying not to sound relieved. "I trust you will return it in its original state."

"Of course." He nodded his head and the others grabbed the sheets as they walked back down the stairs. I leant against the wall slightly; leaning my head back, relieved they did not find anything.

tuP$7

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