The Dead of the Dawn

Klaus' talk with Marie

The roaring of the train passed as Marie stepped off of it. She clutched her coat tight to her body, hoping that it will give some kind of warmth. But the cold seeped into her skin. She was shivering like crazy. But she had to keep going. It was all she could hold on to.

She already had many feelings that the camp will be hell, but she prayed she would survive it (even though that was almost impossible, she hoped that she could be her own anchor).

She went through hell before this, her family is dead, she's cold, and scared. But somehow she's still standing strong. Her father always said she was a warrior, so she wouldn't give up on him. Even if he isn't by her side.

Despair slowly stuck into her as she thought about her father. She missed him. As she would always miss him nowadays.

She quickly pushed those thoughts away as a Nazi yelled something over the train. She guessed he was supposed to lead them to their destination. She picked up her feet and followed the Nazi's to the camp.

When she got their, it wasn't rainbows and sunshine.

She heard some gun shots behind, and she immediately knew some people were already killed. Everyone ran like hell after that. She kept trying to find her way through the crowd. But to no avail, she stepped in front of a Nazi.

She was looking down at his shoes, until she rose her head to look up at him. He was staring intently at her, his hands gripping her shoulders in place. His eyes were a crystal blue, but was laced with curiosity. She apologized and tried to step away from his grip. But it was like iron; maybe steel.

"Are you okay?" He asked. Now his eyes laced with concern. She nodded quickly, surprised that a Nazi would be concern with her safety.

He held onto her tighter. "What's your name?" This man was asking to many questions.

Way to many questions.

She debated on whether telling or not telling him her name. But decided she had no choice.

"Abella. Marie Abella." She responded. He nodded and let her go.

She assumed she would be seeing him again. He looked familiar. She had sworn she'd seen him once...or twice.

She heard people were already killed in "gas chambers". She preferred hiding in the dark. As it was the only way to survive.

She felt like she'd been was already killed. Being the ones to survive, she was depressed. She just wanted this nightmare to be over. She'd rather be with her family, but they were gone by now.

Though Marie had to stay alive for her family.

It was the only way to avenge them.

The pain from carrying a cart over her shoulder wasn't as bad as being tortured.

Her scars didn't hurt as much anymore. She's gotten used to them by now.

The remaining survivors had to work, carry carts and bags until their backs and shoulders burned.

And even though she had to sleep on the ground, nothing was worse than being beaten to a pulp-

"Hey you, over there!"

She knew straight away that she was being called for. Marie turned around slowly, hoping this wasn't the time she would be killed.

The Nazi she saw the other day was walking towards her. He didn't look mad, but determined.

He grabbed her arm, she tried to pull away, but it was a stupid decision because he held onto her tighter, and dragged her into a corner.

"I need to speak with you, Marie." he said. She escaped from his grip, but stayed still.

"I'm not going to hurt you." he said slowly, as if reading her mind.

"Okay," she coughed into her hand. "But what's your name. You can't just expect me to talk to you if I don't know your name."

"Klaus. My name is Klaus."

He started to approach her as if not trying to scare a deer off.

But she wasn't the deer in this situation.

"I was a friend of your fathers." he began. "After your family died and you were being taken away, I knew you were coming here. Even though I didn't know your name, I had to find a way to know you."

Her breathing started to become uneven. Who did this man think he was?

"How can I trust you?" she asked. "How can I trust you to not betray me?"

He thought about this for a moment, and then responded.
"Who can you trust anyway? But I am doing this for your father. And for you."

Trusting Klaus was dangerous, not just because he was a Nazi, but because she didn't know him well to know he was really a friend of her fathers. But Yvette would have trusted him, her mother, too.

"I'll protect you, Marie. I'll be your friend. I'll even learn to love you."

And that was the last straw.

"Okay," she said, out of breath and tired as hell. "okay."