Chapter 21

     

It was a calm, summer night. Crickets chirped; fireflies buzzed. The soft wind danced through the moonlit fields as my family and I fell into a deep sleep. 

I was ever so close to some nice sleep, until something struck my curiosity. A quiet click echoed in the hot, humid air. Then a  ch-chick.  Before I knew, a loud BAM slashed through the night like a knight's stunning blade. All silence was lost in the never ending land. I stayed frozen in shock. My heart raced so fast; I felt as if my chest would rip open. Could that really be? If so, why so late at night? Why here!

I lunged my numb body out of bed and walked through the narrow halls. There was abrupt commotion outside. Reaching my parents bedroom was never such a difficult task. Screams echoing through the air and in my head. Trying my best to focus, I finally reached my parents room. I could hear my parents footsteps from behind the door. I reached out with my weary hand and pulled the door open.

My mother turned to me. “Marriyum? Is that you?” Her face was filled with indescribable fear. 

“Yes mother, it's Marriyum,” I revealed as my voice trembled. I took a small step through the doorway. My father's head was peeking out the window. He stared into my eyes.

“We must leave… now,” he said calmly, walking away from the window. How can he be so calm at a time like this? I thought. He quickly looked around. Then looked behind me. “Where is Genana?” he asked, concerningly.

Oh no! “I need to go get her!” I panicked. I bolted through the narrow halls. Unfortunately,  I didn’t realize my mother was shouting. It was until I saw the man in all black attire, right in front of me.

He carried a gun so intimidating; just the sight of it would be enough to kill you. Although, it wasn’t just his gun. Everything about him was intimidating. From his long black boots, to his shiny leather cap. Even his slim, dainty mustache. The word Nazi ran wild in my head. Nazi, Nazi, Nazi! Over and over. You could almost see the fear coming off me. I stumbled backwards in alarm. THUD!

“Aghhh!” I screeched. Pain flowed throughout my body, paralyzing me. A vicious pounding vibrated throughout my skull. My eyes started to water, but I held back. He glared down at me, his eyes like daggers.

“Pathetic Jew,” he laughed.

I awoke on a compact train with many other passengers. There were no seats, so everyone was sprawled out on the cold, metal floors. No windows either, only a tall door leading to the next cart of the train. The walls were bare with the same dull grey metal as the floors. On top of the floors and walls, nail marks and scratches gave off an unpleasant feel. 

Everyone else on the train also seemed as drained as I did. Children sobbing as their parents put all their efforts into calming them down. Their faces said it all; they went through what I went through. Suddenly, I remembered something. Jolting into an upright position, My family! I thought, as my head throbbed. “Agh, darn it” I murmured. I nervously looked around, hoping to see at least one of my parents, or maybe my sister. Nobody. I let out a small sigh. I wanted to cry even more now. But I was too weak, too tired to even cry. All I had left was an empty, hopeless feeling.

The train came to an uneasy halt. I steadily opened my sore, red eyes. As I waited for them to regain focus, I heard a man shouting throughout the train: “Everyone off now!” The door was hastily pulled open in order to get the many who were aboard out swiftly. “Everyone off now!” he repeated. Everyone flooded outside, pushing and trampling anyone in their way. With my head injured, it was difficult to do something as simple as standing. It wasn’t any better outside, in fact there seemed to be even more people.

As I exited outside I was greeted by black, cloudy skies. I carefully scanned the area. Sharp wire fencing surrounded the territory. Within those fences was multiple worn down buildings, all of them made of the same muted brick. Armed men guarded every side and every corner. I looked up at the sad skies again. This is it, the ghettos we all feared.

-Rachel Drozdyk