The Promise

Chapter 5

Past

I entered the forrest again, and went directly to the bush. It was not be mistaken of the blonde hair. -"You're still there." I smiled, relieved of the thought. -"What do you what?" The girl got up from the ground with tears in her eyes. -"Look,-" I said, -"do you have any where you can hide?" -"What do you care?" The girl said angrily. -"I just saved you, doesn't that mean anything to you?" The girl calmed down again. -"No, my parents were the only ones and now they're in the Gestapo's hands." -"How did you know, they were arrested?" I said surprised. Here I was, worried about the news I had to give her. -"We had made a plan, that if Gestapo came, we would escape through the basement. But when you came,-" you, I hated being a part of that now, -"my parents were trapped in the living room, and I was hiding on the first floor. I saw them be arrested, and when I saw my first opportunity to escape down the stairs, and continue down the basement's stairs I did it." I pulled my hair backwards. I had save that girl from the Gestapo. -"Sorry, but you haven't even told me your name?" I said, and the girl smiled despited it all of the thought. -"No, you're right. I'm Isabell Pazy." The girl reached her hand out. I pulled a lock of my hair aside, and took shake her hand. -"Isabell. That's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl." I smiled at her. She blushed. -"Are you always this flattering?" She laughed. -"No." I laughed of my own silliness. Isabel looked at me. -"And your name was Anton, if I remember correct?" Isabell asked. -"Yes, Anton Engel to be precise." I answered. Isabell smiled. -"Anton, I like your name." -"Thank you." I answered. -"I have never met anyone in my life before, who's name was Anton. I can't even say what kind of person you are just by your name, because I only know you." -"What?" I said confused. -"Can you tell my personality from my name?" -"Of course. Haven't you ever felt like all, let's say for example Adrians are alike? Perhaps they're childish or smart." I thought about that, and yes, Isabell was right. All the Phillips I knew was quite sarcastic and funny, but also very loyal as friends. -"I've never thought of that before now, but you're right." I said. -"I hope all Antons then turn out to be as brave as you before, when you saved me." Isabell smiled wide. I blushed, and looked down at ground. -"I can't wait to find out, what kind of person you are Anton, so that I know how you Antons are." Isabell said. Then the clock stroke me. I had to get back to van, before they would go back to Gestapo's head office. -"Listen,-" I said, -"I don't have much time, before I have to get back, but I know I can help you with a hiding place." Isabell looked confused at me. -"If you meet me at Frankfurt's station tonight at nine at clock, I'll show you a hiding place." I continued, -"You have to trust me, Isabell. I promise you,-" I took her hand in mine, -"I won't hurt you." I looked into Isabell's big confused and frightened brown eyes. I could see at her, that she was thinking it all through and I perfectly understood her. Here was an nazi officer promising a jewish girl, he wouldn't harm her. -"I trust you." Isabell said quietly. I smiled. -"Good, remember at 9 o'clock tonight at Frankfurt's station. Wait for me on track 8." -"I promise, Anton." Isabell squeezed my hand. I let go of her hand. I had to leave her behind for now, and it felt so wrong. -"Remember." I said, and slowly walked backwards ahead of the forrest's opening. Isabell nodded. She seemed so small, as she stood there on bare feet and only wearing her night gown. I then turned around and ran out of the forrest.

The van's door slapped, and the motor started. A van drove in front of us, we followed and another van followed behind us. The daylight was starting to raise I felt, as few sunlights shinned through some of the van's cabinet. I thought of that promise I had made. The girl I had met. Somehow, I knew she had changed everything for me in this war. I squeezed my fits together. I felt one of my fingernails cutting through my closed palm, but I didn't care. I didn't move an inch. Nino looked worried at me. -"Are you alright, Mr. Engel?" I bite my tongue. "Please, just call me Anton." I replied. I saw on point in being formal anymore. -"Alright, then I believe you can call me Nino, from now on." Nino smiled relieved, and handed out his hand to me. I looked at his hand. His fingernails seemed perfect cut, like a girl's and it was obviously to me, that he had never worked a single day in his life. I looked at his hand for while, and then decided not to shake hands with me. I turned my head away from him.

I ran to the van, where Mr. Gyrowetz stood waiting for me. All the other officers had already left in the other vans. -"You took your time, Mr. Engel." Mr. Gyrowetz said irritated. I approached him. -"Sorry, sir I..." *Slap. I took myself to my cheek. -"You better watch out, Mr. Engel." Mr. Gyrowetz pointed a warning finger at me. I bite my tongue. I wasn't afraid of Mr. Gyrowetz, if it hadn't been because of my father's words of respecting men like Mr. Gyrowetz, I would have jump right on him now. I stepped up in the van, I saw Pierre, Phillip, Severin and Nino already was sitting there.  Pierre looked blaming at me. Instead I sat down on the opposite side next to Nino.

None of us said a word the rest of the ride back to the Gestapo headquarter. It felt like the things that had been needed to be said, already had been said. Pierre had angry at me, and who could blame him for that? I was an disappointing fool in the Gestapo. Phillip would properly try to pull out the strings later, when we had arrived back at the headquarter, but I didn't feel like fixing the conflict anyway. Nino would bather me with his friendship request the rest of the stay, I knew somehow, and I just didn't feel like being friends with anyone. Severin would be a torture for me to work with, because he would be that golden member of the Gestapo, a terrible reminder for me of who I truly was made to be. A man fighting for my country. Wasn't that what all men were anyway? No matter what country they came from, no matter religion, colour of skin, language, poor or rich, wasn't we all just men, who was suppose to defend our country, if it ever was threatened? Then the thought hit me. Was my country threatened? Hadn't we ourselves begun the war, because of an idea of bigger nation? Nobody had threatened us, we just decided ourselves to threat other countries. I shaked my head and rolled and rolled my eyes. The only thing that seemed to be clear to me, was Isabell's warm brown eyes.