It was another chilling evening of 1935 in Berlin. The streets were scanty and the few people who walked by did so with no or little chattering even the automobiles that plied the streets seemed to share in the solemn silence. It had been so ever since Paul von Hindenburg died a year ago. The death of the president had led to the ultimate takeover of power by Hitler and the Nazi Party; a political metamorphosis that plunged the already troubled state into a frenzy of racial and anti-semitic executions. A day never passed without these streets witnessing life getting snuffed out of men, women and children for the 'crime' of having a black skin or Jewish blood running through their veins.
Among the bored pedestrians was a middle-aged man supporting a young woman, who looked distraught, as they walked home. It had only been ten minutes since they had witnessed the shooting of Bartholomew, the Jewish septuagenarian who ran the bakery downtown, by men of the Kriminalpolizei. It was the third execution Lina was witnessing that week and it was just Tuesday. Only God knew how many more murders were to unfold that week. Lina had let out a scream that pierced right through her husband's heart at the blazing sound of the gun. Jurgen had snuggled her as they watched the lifeless body of the poor old man touch the ground with a thudding sound. They were made to watch it. All civilians had to. It was the patriotic thing to do. At least, that was what the Nazi government decreed. Hitler had vowed to exterminate every 'impure' blood living in Germany and it was only just the beginning.
"Jurgen, I can't... We can't do this anymore. We've got to talk." A troubled Lina said, shrieking as they entered into their home.
"Talk, but to whom, Lina? They are our friends, remember? We just can't turn them in like that." Jurgen whispered, equally troubled.
"But what if people find out? We could be killed for sabotaging the orders of the Führer!" She burst into tears.
Jurgen drew her into his arms, kissed her on the head and rubbed her arms as though he was trying to rub off her fright literally.
"Shhh.. It's going to be okay. We'll figure it out. It'll be over soon." He lied, for he had no idea how much longer the killings would continue or how much longer they could keep harbouring the Jewish family hiding in the basement of their home.
"I'm scared, Jurgen. I'm really sc... Jurgen!" Lina gasped as she caught sight of a silhouette of a figure by the window.
"Who's there?" She queried, pointing to the window just as the figure retreated.
Jurgen, taking the cue, ran to the door, flung it open and ran after the eavesdropper while his wife just stood there, confounded.
After a brief moment of pursuit, he returned with an unconscious captive.
"Oh my God!" Lina screamed as soon as she recognised the seemingly lifeless body of their neighbour, Günther. He had a reputation of being a diehard supporter of Hitler and had even been rumoured to be a Gestapo operative.
"Is he dead? Did you kill him?"
"No, Lina. I just knocked him unconscious." Jurgen assured her.
Moments later, Günther woke to find the couple staring at him who was now bound hands and feet to a chair.
"Günther, why were you spying on us?" Jurgen interrogated him.
"Are you both crazy? What's all this? Let me loose at once!" Günther retorted.
"Tell me, Günther. What did you hear?" Jurgen asked again.
"Enough to know that you're harbouring Jews in your home! You must really be crazy." Günther yelled with anger written all over his face.
"Please, you have to promise that you won't tell anyone about this, Günther. An innocent family will be murdered if you do." Lina pleaded.
"And betray my own fatherland?" Günther spat on her face. "Never, I'll rather die first!"
"See, I told you, he can't be reasoned with. He's too blinded by hate." Jurgen said to his wife.
"You know, I've always suspected you two to be up to something. But I never imagined you'd betray Germany, you saboteurs! You'll betray your own fatherland for some impure Je..."
Just before Günther could finish, Jurgen knocked him unconscious again.
"We have to do it!" Jurgen said, looking at his wife.
This is my entry to The Ink Well Summer Contest. Word count is 733. To participate, click
HERE for detailed information.
I made use of the 28th log line: A couple in Nazi Germany who have been hiding Jews in their basement suddenly realize that their neighbors are spying on them.