Prologue: 1934, June 23, it's been a year since the Holocaust started. My sister, brother and I hadn't been taken into a Ghetto yet because my mother and father hid us deep in the forest in a cellar covered with bushes. My brother takes cars of my sister and I since he's the oldest. "Adena, can you make breakfast please?" my little sister, Basya, asked "Of course!" I replied. I started to boil some eggs and made toast. I'm Adena and I'm 17. I plan to survive the holocaust at all costs. I know one day I'll see my parents again, I just know it. Chapter One "Adena! Adena! Where are you?!" My brother, Daniel called " What's wrong Daniel?" I asked a little worried " There coming. There in the forest as we speak! Get Basya and hide!!" he demanded I ran to Basya and took her to an even deeper cellar, we hid under a table with a clothe on it. I was praying they wouldn't find our cellar. I heard the soldiers getting closer and closer. *Please please don't let them find us!!!* I could feel Basya shaking with fright, I tried to keep her calm but she was to scared. *Creeeaaaaak* One of them stepped on our cellar door... Where was Daniel? Why wasn't he here with us?! I heard a bang, it was the top cellar door. Daniel... Where are you? I heard voices yelling and crashing noises. " SEARCH THE HOUSE FOR ANYMORE JEWS!!!" A booming voice yelled The bottom cellar down crashed open and I held onto Basya tightly, trying not making a single noise. Tables crashes, fabrics ripped, then the tables Basya and I were hiding under flipped over and a Nazi solider stood in front of us. He looked down at us with cold blue eyes. My waist-length wavy black hair stuck to my olive skin from the static of the clothe, my sister had tear stains as the Nazi pulled us up and shoved us into a truck. We were the only ones in the truck... My brother Daniel has escaped and just as we were being pulled out of the house a grabbed a piece of paper I spotted on the desk. I carefully read it, it was from Daniel. He'd come for Basya and I as soon as he could. Basya continued to cry as we road along the bumpy road. The Nazi that took us stayed watched over us in the back. He has blue eyes and his blond hair came around the middle of his neck, his bangs came over his left eye. His expression was very stern. I was scared, but I acted brave. For Bashya and Daniel. COMMENT ON THE FEEDBACK PLEASE
Chapter Two Our cloths were taken and we were given blue jumpsuits. They hadn't yet taken Basya away from me. She was still shaking but holding her tears back. They same solider was taking us to where we has to go. When we went to the part where our hair was to be shaved I expected my beautiful long hair to be gone. But all they did was cut it to below my shoulder! I didn't ask why. I was to scared to speak. My sister was thrown into a room to sew to uniforms and I was tossed in a yard and told to help build a small new hut. The fences were electric wired. I looked around and only saw one solider. The soldier that had taken my sister and I, and kept an eye on us in the truck. As I worked he circled around us all making sure we were doing everything right. I saw a man around 50 years of age fall down. I looked at the soldier, he hadn't seen. I ran over to the man scared that if the soldier saw, the man would get beaten. He was closer to the guard that I was to him. *Don't let the guard see him* I kept saying as I ran over to the elderly man. I was too late. The soldier looked over at the man and walked over to him. *Oh no!! He's an elderly man don't hurt him!* is all I wanted to shout out. I prepared myself to hear the soldier yelling and beating the man. But... He didn't, the soldier helped the man up and walked away. Many of us looked at the solider. We were probably all thinking the same thing. Why wasn't the man beaten? Several days past. Each day I'd watch the solider and his actions if someone was slacking or fell down. Each time he'd only help them up or tell them to keep the work up without yelling. It had been 14 days since I was taken to the Ghetto. I had only seen my sister twice since then. I'd worry every day about her and Daniel. Was he still free? Or was he in a ghetto to? I had lost at least 20 pounds in the 14 days. I hadn't eaten in 7 days, we were fed only once or twice a week, last meal I had given my last two meals to the elderly man because he looked very very hungry. It was time for another meal and that same soldier was there and it seemed as if he noticed how thin and frail I now was and gave me a little extra food... He was a total opposite of all the other Nazi's who starved people more and beat them when they fell down or weren't doing their job right. I was walking by a room one day only way to the yard when I saw that soldier talking to another. I listened to them at my own risk. "Alexander listen! That girl has to be moved to another yard!!! She's not fit to build huts anymore!" a soldier's yell "But Adena is our best worker! She's still strong even thought she's become a little frail!" He, Alexander, replied Why'd he know my name? Why would a Nazi bother to know the names of the Jewish? They stopped talking and I ran to the yard to make it seem I hadn't been listening. Alexander walked up to me. I was a little nervous but i never show fear or nervousness. "Adena. Do you want to be moved to sewing or would you rather stay here?" he asked firmly " I-I'd like to stay here." I replied boldly He nodded and walked away. His blue eyes didn't seem as cold anymore. He'd give me extra food and allow me to clean myself up. He never yelled at us and never beat us. Just who was he?
Chapter Three 1934, July 17 It was a very cold day for July, The sky was cloudy and the wind blew. We were all still working, nothing to keep the warmth in... My teeth chattered as I worked. How long was I going to be here? Why was this happening? Why do the Germans think the Jewish people are devils? The days dragged by slowly, each day the sake routine. Get up and go to work. We were lacking in the cold that day. Alexander told two men around 50-60 years they'd have to stay late that night to continue working. *That's not fair!* I thought I carefully walked over to Alexander, even though he seemed different I wasn't 100% sure. "Sir, I'll stay late tonight and work instead of them." I said He looked at me with an odd look. The sort of look that wondered why I'd do that. " Very well. You'll stay instead." He replied The two men thanked me for taking the work that night. It's just to unfair that they'd make older people work longer. It was around eleven o'clock and I was alone in the yard, continuing to build the huts. Alexander came out into the yard also. Without everyone else it was quite hard to build a hut. Lifting the boards by myself. They weren't all that light. They were very heavy and it wasn't easy to hold both sides up alone. I climbed up the latter to put a roof board on. I held the one side up and started to nail the boards together. I was almost done the first side when the other side fell and the board ripped out. I tried around three times to nail it back in but each time it would just fall. "Ugh... How am I suppose to do this alone...." I whispered to myself * One more try.* I decided I held the board up again. It almost fell but I reached out as much as I could to catch it, but someone already caught it! It was Alexander!! He got up on a latter and helped with building the hut. He didn't say a word and neither did I. He helped with the rest of the hut that night, it was around 4am when the hut was finished. The cold had kept me from getting tired. An hour later everyone got up and started to work. Another soldier came to the yard that day and watched over with Alexander. We had to build one more hut and we were finished. At least once or twice a day someone would fall or be behind. I knew Alexander wouldn't do anything bad but the other soldier I didn't know what he'd do. They had brought another girl to the yard this morning. She looked around fifteen and she was very thin and frail. I knew she wouldn't be able to lift anything by herself. I was going to go help her as soon as we got this boars in place but the girl tried lifting a board and emmidatly collapsed. Alexander didn't see but the other soldier did. He went up to the girl and started to yell at her and kicked her in the side telling her to get back to work. Alexander turned around to see the other soldier beating the girl. I waited for him to do something about it but he just looked away. The Nazi soldier walked away leaving the girl on the ground. After he was our of sight I ran over to the girl. Her side was bleeding and she had dirt all over her. She looked up at me as I washed the blood away. I knew I could get beaten for this but I wouldn't leave her like this. " Why are you helping me?" She asked in a small voice " I won't let you suffer like this." I replied "Who are you?" her voice was very frail and weak " Adena, what your name?" I answered "Elah..." Alexander looked at us and walked over to us. Elah looked scared as she watched him approach us. He didn't look mad and his expression wasn't cold. He handed me a wet cloth and left. Elah looked surprised. "Who was that and why's he so different?" She asked as I cleaned the dirt away " He's Alexander. But I don't know why he's so different ." I replied
Chapter Four 1934, August 2 It's 11pm and everyone is asleep. I couldn't sleep that night. I overheard that they were going to gas out some of the Jew's. I was scared my sister might be among them and she'd be gases out. It was around twelve when I heard the Nazi's with the Jew's who thought they were just getting to take a shower. I looked out the bared window that I was next to. There were to many of them I couldn't see if my sister was there or not. Minutes later I could hear cries and screams from the tower. I covers my ears trying to block out the noises. " Can't sleep?" a voice said I turned around and it was Alexander. " Oh... Um no." What am I suppose to say to a Nazi? What do I call them? " You can call me by my name. Alexander." it was as if he read my mind. I wanted to ask him a few questions but I was scared to. He looked at me and handed me a package. "Open it." I opened the package and inside was a cute white and blue dress with lace boarders. " Go put it on then come with me." He commanded I went and changed into the lacy blue and white dress, when I came out I followed him. He led me to a forest with a small flowery clearing. " I can tell you want to ask me a question or more. Go ahead." Alexander said "Um ok... Well... Why are you so different from other Nazi's? There rude and hurt people but your kind and help encourage us. Why?" I asked " Everything changed the day I saw you Adena." he replied What's that suppose to mean? " Ok, second: Do you know if my sister Basya is ok?" " She's perfectly fine." he answered " That's good. And lastly, why does Hitler want to wipe out the Jewish people?" " He says there devils because they don't look the same as Germans and they only believe in their own God so that's why he thinks their devils." "Well he's wrong!" I raged " I know." "We'd never hurt anyone!" "I know." " And- wait, did you say 'You know'?" I asked confused " Yes I did. I didn't want to be a Nazi but in order to keep my family safe I had to." he replied with a laugh "Family? Are you married?" I wondered He shook his head. "No, My parents, grandparents, and my little sister." he said The moon shone down into the clearing and fireflies started to fly around, the clearing was beautiful with flowers and petals. " I'm sure once this war is over you'll have an arranged marriage like most soldiers. Right?" " Well my family agreed they'd do that unless I fell inlove before the end of the war." he noted I glances up at him and saw his expression was a small smile. I had never seen him smile before. "When you said everything changed when I came. What do you mean?" I wondered He looked down at me and smiled a little more. " You changed me. I used to be like the other Nazi's, but you kind heart towards everyone changed my ways." he explained to me I didn't know what I should say so stood there waiting until he said something. " I know it's strictly forbidden but, Adena, I've fallen inlove with you. I've fallen inlove with a beautiful Jewish Girl."
Chapter Five We stood there in silence for awhile. The wolves howled and the wind rustled the leaves. His eyes shone in in the moonlight and his face was kind but with worry. He loved me? But isn't that impossible for a German to love a Jewish person? "Well... I think i love you to." I whispered looking down He took my hand in his, the night sky got gloomy, black clouds covered the sky, and thunder and lightening. The rain started to pour down. He moved closer towards me and kissed me. I knew then and there I was in love with a German soldier. It's been a week since that night. Alexander and I have met in the field every night. I watched the clock ticking... 11:58pm... 11:59pm.... Dinnnnggg donnnggg 12:00am. I quietly got up and put a dress on, I tiptoed out of the room and quietly went down the hall to met Alexander. Little did we know, someone saw Alexander and started following him. They hadn't seen me because I left in front. When we got to the clearing we talked about what life was like before the war started. He smiled down at me and kissed my cheek. That's when everything fell apart.... I heard a rustle behind us and thought it was just the wind. But I was totally wrong. " ALEXANDER!!!!!!" I heard a man yell Alexander whipped around to see the Nazi soldier he had talked to a few weeks ago. " A-Adolf!! Wh-what are you doing here?" Alexander stammered " I saw you leave so I followed. At first I thought maybe that girl was another German girl. I see I, to, was wrong. So what is she?" he marched over to me and grabbed my hair and looked at me. "A JEW?!?!" he tossed me on the ground and kicked me side and head, I cringed as he kicked me. I could feel my side and head bleed. Alexander lunged at Adolf knocking him away. They started fighting, What should I do? Is there anything I can do? Alexander looked over at me for a moment, "Leave!!" he ordered I hesitated but I ran off anyways, I was scared. Again. The next day as I was working in the yard Adolf was there looking at each girl. Probably trying to find me... He came over to me and examined my face. He smirked and grabbed me dragging me off. I tried freeing myself but his grip was strong. He tossed me in a room where I saw someone standing. It was a female. "I heard a little rumor that you were caught with one of the German soldiers." she said in stern voice I nodded not making eye contact. "A devil like you doesn't deserve to live, a filthy Jew like you. None of you deserve life!" She went on and on about Jews, she was making me very angry. "Jews are just animals, devils sent down here to kill everyone!!" "Shut up..." I muttered " Excuse me? What did you say?" She asked "SHUT UP!!! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE JEWISH PEOPLE!!! IF ANYTHING YOU HORRIBLE NAZI's ARE THE DEVILS!!!!" I yelled in her face She starred at me in absolute shock. She opened her mouth a few times but closed it again not knowing what to say. She moved her head left and right then slapped me across the face. "Hit me. Kick me. It won't change a thing you witch." I snickered boldly "Leave! Get back to work Jew!" She shouted "As you wish your wickedness." I smirked I walked back to the yard feeling brave. It felt good to get that out.
Chapter Six "Adena! I heard you stood up to the officer!!" Elah said running up to me " Oh... Uh yeah I did..." I replied uneasily " Your the first one ever to stand up to a German!" continued Elah " GET BACK TO WORK YOU TWO!!!" A voice boomed I turned around and saw Adolf instead of Alexander. I decided i'd ask him where Alexander was. " Soldier Adolf." I said boldly He looked at me with a disgusted look. "What do you want Jewish dog?" He growled "Where's Alexander?" I said demandingly "He's confined to the cellar." The cellar? I've heard about the cellar's in the Ghetto's. I had to find him quickly. That night I snuck out of the room and tiptoed to the staircase. I saw black door, I went to the door and carefully took the keys off the hook and slowly opened the door. " Alexander?" I whispered looking around "Adena! What are you doing here?!" He asked standing up I walked up to him taking his hand. We have to get you out of here!! Out of the ghetto and runaway!" I declared He looked down at me and smiled. "I know just the way out." He confirmed without an argument I got the dresses he had given me. I asked him if we could take Basya with us, he easily agreed. I went to the room Basya was in and silently walked to her bed shaking her awake. "Basya, its me Adena! Get up quietly now, don't ask any questions." I commanded She looked at me and smiled. I think she knew we were escaping and got on a coat. We scurried out of the building and to the spot where we'd met Alexander. We ran over to Alexander. "Adena...." Basya cried tugging on my sleeve as she saw Alexander "Shhh... Don't worry. He won't hurt us. He's escaping with us." I assured Alexander pushed on the gate and it swung open to freedom. "Hurry, go." Alexander said pushing us all out We hurried out and we all ran again until we reached a river. Alexander went over to a huge bush and pulled it back revealing a old fashions car. He took a basket out and came back to us. "I knew I'd get us out of here the minute you talked to the Officer, so I got this stuff so you two wouldn't be recognized as Jewish girls." He said About an hour later I looked in the river to see my hair was blond and straight and Bashya's hair was a white-blond. Alexander taught us a lot of German history and traditions so we knew how to act and speak. He gave us new cloths to wear and he changed into something else that didn't make him look like a Nazi. He also told us he owns a house up on a mountain so no one would be able to find us. We got in the car and started our long drive to freedom.
Chapter Seven 1934, August 20 We reached the house a couple hours later. It was huge and had a farm with horses. "Who's taken care of the horses while you were away?" I asked "The maids. Don't worry, they'll keep your secret since they to are Jew's." Alexander replied We walked in and a few maids were cleaning the hallway. "Master Alexander!!! Why are you home?" one of them asked, another maid came up behind her and lightly hit her head whispering something to her. "This is Adena and her sister Basya. We'll be hiding them here until the war is over, please prepare some cloths and two rooms for them." He announced All the maids departed to do as he said, awhile later a maid named Ahava took my sister and I to our rooms. They were huge, the window curtains had been closed and boarded. "Why are the windows boarded?" I wondered "Master Alexander wanted that so no one could see your sister and you." She replied I wandered around the house getting familiar with it. I started thinking about Daniel again. I really hoped he was ok... "Adena!! Come to the dining hall !" Alexander shouted I got up and went downstairs to meet Alexander. We all sat down and started to eat. It was the most delicious meal I had ever eaten! After, we went to the living room and Basya asked me to tell her story. We sat down by the fireplace and I started to tell her a story about two people inlove, but their love wasn't allowed to be so they'd sneak out late at night to meet each other until they got caught. I thought it would be the perfect story to tell her. She didn't know about Alexander and I, she wouldn't understand. She barely understood why the Nazi's wanted to capture all the Jewish people. I tucked her in bed, she fell asleep at the end of the story. I walked to my room after and changed into a pink nightgown. I settle down in bed and watches the stars threw the window. When would the Jewish people be free again...? (Sorry it's so short)
Chapter Eight That morning at breakfast Alexander told Basya and I we'd go horse back riding. I loved riding horses, especially on a sunny day. We saddled up the horses and rod to a beautiful forest. The trees were tall and green, flowers were everywhere, the view was amazing. "I used to come here all the time before the war." We went over to the mountain edge and looked out. The view was even more amazing. Rivers flowing and forest below. This place was the most beautiful place I'd ever been. I picked a rose and put it in my hair. When we got back to the house, one of the maids came running up to Alexander. "Master, a soldier came by looking for you!!" she told us with worry "He said his name is Adolf." she carried on Alexander had a worried look to. "If any soldier comes by again don't tell him we're here." he replied She nodded and went back to work. I went back to my room and sat at my desk. What if we were caught... Basya and I would most likely be killed, and who knows what may happen to Alexander. We stayed hidden for 4 months. It's December 25, 1934. Alexander decided he'd show us what Christmas was like. When I walked downstairs there was an amazing Christmas breakfast on the table. "Wow! This is amazing!" I exclaimed After eating the breakfast, Alexander handed me a box. I opened it and there was a beautiful red dress inside. He gave Basya a box that had a doll in it. That afternoon I went up to my room and changed into the dress. Today was lots of fun. But fun couldn't last forever... We were all downstairs when there was a loud bang on the door. Alexander took me and Basya to two different spots in the house to hide, the maid told Alexander to hide to. She answered the door and threes Nazi's came in. "WE KNOW YOUR HIDING A JEW IN HERE!!!" Adolf yelled I guess they thought the maid told the truth about Alexander. She has told Adolf Alexander and I weren't here before. They pushed her away and searched the house, I couldn't hear them anymore. I waited patiently... Then I heard a loud booming noise... I then heard the Nazi's coming back and they left. Alexander came over to me silently pulling me up from the hiding spot. "What was that noise..." I asked shakily "That was a gun." He replied We went over to Basya's hiding spot to tell her she could come out. "Basya, you can come out now." I said to her I knelt down to get her, but when I went to get her... There was a small stream of blood... My sister Basya... Was dead...
Chapter Nine I layed in my bed staring out the window. My little sister.... She was dead... My mother, father, and Daniel could be anywhere. *knock knock knock* " "Adena...?" Alexander whispered coming in my room "Yes?" I replied "I am so sorry about your sister..." he sympathized I wiped my tears away and looks at him. "It's not your fault..." January 34, 1935 I rode Stardust, a beautiful white horse, out to a clearing of flowers. I dismounted and walked to the center of the clearing where Basya's grave was. I placed threes white roses on it. She always loved white roses. I went to the mountain edge and watched the rivers below. I heard a crunching noise behind me. I assumed it was Alexander. "Adena?" I heard a familiar voice say I turned around to see Daniel! "DANIEL!!!" I shrieked giving him a huge hug "You escaped!" he said with joy and hugging me back "Well I did have some help... Daniel have I something to tell you.." I said hesitantly "I... I already know Basya is dead... I saw her grave a few days ago..." he replied "Come with me, I have to tell you something else..." We mounted Stardust and we rode back threw the forest, he looked around admiring the scenery. We finally reached the house. "Adena, why are we here? Someone could see us!" Daniel said worriedly "This is where I've been living. The person who owns the house is the one who rescued Basya and I." I opened the door and walked in, Daniel following close behind. I went to the living room where Alexander was lighting the fireplace. He turned around and looked at us. "Alexander, this is my brother Daniel, he's been in the forest around the clearing for a few days now. And Daniel, this is Alexander. The man who helped Basya and I." I introduced They looked at each other with no expressions. "He's a Nazi." Daniel said coldly "He's untrustable. He'll give you up eventually." Daniel continued "Your wrong!! He won't! It's been months and he hasn't!!" I yelled at Daniel "Ahava, show Daniel a room he can us." Alexander ordered Daniel follow Ahava giving Alexander a cold look Daniel will understand. I'm just happy I'm finally with him again.
Chapter 10 February 1, 1935 Daniel left last night. He and I were continuing to argue about Alexander. Daniel just couldn't be convinced that he had changed, that Alexander wasn't one of 'them' anymore. Alexander kept apologizing and saying it's his fault Daniel left. We were still being looked for. They probably wouldn't come back to the house though. The next day I went out to pick some flowers for the house, I got roses and iris's. I put the in vases around the house when I got back. I love living here. That night when I went to my room I saw something on the desk. I picked it up and unwrapped it. Inside was a brown leathered journal. Thats when I decided to write about my life in the Ghetto, escaping, and being in hiding, again. February 10, 1935 It's the present day I'm writing about. I fell ill a couple days ago. One of the maids is taking care of me since we can't contact a doctor. We don't know what illness it is but we're hoping it's just a small cold. It's a rainy Sunday, I watched the rain fall down threw the window. "How are you feeling?" Alexander asked coming in "Not that well...." I replied in a small voice He sat down next to me and gave me some medicine that the maid said might help. A few days past by and I was just getting worse. The rain was nonstop, Alexander came everyday and stayed with me. Several days later Adena was moved to a hospital that my family owned. She was safe there and taken good care of. They said Adena would be better in a month or so. ~ Alexander *This is the end of book one. If you really loved this story you can wall me or comment in feedback to get me to write a book 2*