Thread: A Light in the Darkness (Madam Mim & Sync)

Good night, Miri, the young man replied as she stood and headed back upstairs. There wasnt a lot else he could have said in that moment, anyway they were both right, he knew that. If she stayed in Munich, hoping for a way out, more-than-likely shed find herself escorted to Dachau, at least to start with if she went with him, she might be shot simply for accompanying him. Neither prospect was in any way appealing to Gunther, but he knew that no-other real option existed, and Miris chances of survival did increase slightly if she came with him. The kiss on his forehead lingered, though, and, as he settled himself on the couch once more, he couldnt work out why maybe because it was the first time shed done it? It was slightly disturbing to him that he kept thinking about that kiss, that his skin kept reliving the brief contactbut eventually, as he became more comfortable, he drifted into a sound, solid sleep. He probably didnt sleep for as long as his body might have liked, but that couldnt be helped the family still had their daily business to go about, and he was going to get in the way if he stayed on the couch. It was Ester whod first attempted to rouse him, and he jokingly told her to go away and let him sleep even as he was starting to shift and get ready to rise by the time Abner had come down the stairs he was up and dressed in his grubby uniform. There was chatter to be had in the house, although it was somewhat muted he listened, but didnt take part unless he was asked it wasnt his family to get involved in, although he could be and was polite. Abner made his way to his business that no longer officially opened, the two older girls went to work at the tailor doing a job that brought in a little money but was doing work for people they generally despised, and the two younger boys went to a school that was largely illegalleaving himself and Frau Heinz alone in the house. He helped he where he could and as she asked he recognised polite conversation and joined her in it, knowing that he was not able to contribute in any meaningful way due to recent circumstances. But he was happy to not be alone. Ester and Miri returned a couple of hours after lunch with armloads of work sewing Nazi armbands onto officers jackets and coats, mostly. Gunther could go the rest of his life without seeing that symbol and be quite happy about it, but work was work, and the family appeared to agree with him not unreasonably, he knew. Then the knock at the door, the voice announcing itself to be an officer of the SSand the family started looking around wildly. Gunther knew why if they came in, saw him and recognised himthe entire family would be hauled off, and it would be a blessing if they were then taken to Dachau. The two older girls were closer to the door, so couldnt start rushing around, Abner and the boys werent backthat left Shoshana. Gunther looked at her, wide-eyed, hoping shed understand his concerns. Had the couch been tidied up from him sleeping in it? He thought it had. His boots were still by the side of the couch, could they be hidden somehow? He had no further time for any other communication as he darted into the cupboard in the small washroom and pulled the door closed as best he could, using fingertips to grasp the latch to hold the door closed. No sooner had he finished hiding than the door was opened and two Nazi officers made their way into the apartment the officers knew who lived here and didnt feel the need for particular niceties or politeness, no more than was absolutely necessary. The first officer was tall, skinny, older, an ugly scar on his right cheek the other was younger, a junior officer more solid, not quite as tall, and wore glasses. Guten abend, Frau Heinz, Scarface greeted imperiously as Shoshana strode into the living room, his voice tenor-pitched and cold and demanding, the woman deliberately placing herself between the officers and the couch and hoping that would be enough. We have come to check on the work being done by your two daughters. They have some jackets that need to be completed quicker than others, may we see them to know whether they can be ready tomorrow morning?