635798

“Do you remember Marta’s address?” I asked 635798 a few days later.

635798, knitting as usual, nodded feverishly.

I walked over to the bed and dropped the materials Siostra Katarzyna gave me. There were pencils, pens, envelopes, stamps, and plenty of paper. 635798 rummaged through it, amazed.

“If you write a letter and she responds, then she’s another thing you haven’t lost,” I said.

635798 smiled and nearly ran to the table with the supplies. The pen fumbled in her hand. Her faced burned red, embarrassed she lost the ability to perform a simple task. As she wrote, the pen was held so tight that 635798’s knuckles were transparent. It scratched against the table as 635798’s hand moved swiftly over the paper.

I walked over, noticing how concentrated she seemed. When I looked over her shoulder, I was surprised 635798 wasn’t writing in German. In fact, she was writing in –

“Swedish?” I questioned.

635798 looked up at me. “Yes. Marta learned somehow. She taught me. We write in this language. Her parents don’t understand it. They check the mail.”

I understood then. Marta’s parents banned her from seeing 635798 simply because of religion issues. Sneaking ways to communicate at its finest.

“Mmm. My writing is. Is terrible. It’s been almost a. A year since I wrote. Since I held a writing utensil.” 635798 played with the pen between her pointer and middle fingers.

“I’m sure she’ll get it. What are you telling her?” I asked.

“Not much. I don’t want. Want to give our. Hiding spot away. Plus, some of this needs to. To be said. Said in person. I’m just saying I’m fine. And I miss her.” 635798’s eyes widened in what seemed like realization. She jumped around to face me. “What. What if she no. No longer lives with. With her parents? Ma-Maybe she married in. In the last four years.”

I shrugged. “Send it anyway. Her parents won’t know if it’s from you if it’s in Swedish. Will you sign it with your name?”

635798 shook her head. “No. With my nickname. She called me Stamma. It means stutter,” she said when she saw my confused look. “She meant it as a joke though.”

“Does anyone know your real name?” I asked.

635798 nodded but said no more. Only half a page was full when she decided to sign it.

“Can I know it?” I leaned against her chair, hovering over her head.

635798 looked up and shook her head, smiling.

I was about to kiss her until Siostra Katarzyna burst into the room. Both 635798 and I jumped. We stared at the frantic nun who was panting and racing towards us.

“Hide!” she exclaimed.

635798 looked at me, confused.

“Why?” I asked.

“Don’t question me. Hide!” Siostra Katarzyna pushed me aside. She ran to the counter and opened a cupboard under it. It was empty and she was smiling in what I thought was relief. “Six, hide in here!”

635798 shook her head, her finally-clean hair sashaying against her ears.

“Please!” There’s a Nazi here! Just hide.”

I wasted no time. I pulled 635798 out of her seat and helped her get situated in the cupboard. She might have been gaining her weight back, but she was still small enough to fit. It stretched behind the door next to us so 635798 had no problem crouching down. Siostra Katarzyna put the writing materials in 635798’s hands and then tried closing the door. 635798 resisted.

“He’s coming, Six. This needs to be closed,” Siostra Katarzyna said.

635798 shook her head, looking at me. Tears were welling up in her eyes as she heaved.

I crouched down in front of her, oomphing at the impact of her arms. I rubbed her back as I tried to get her back inside. “Come on. Just stay in there.”

635798 shook her head against my neck.

“I’ll still be here when it’s over.”

“No. Stay with you.” 635798’s voice was barely audible.

“My goal is to keep you alive. If you hide with me that goal will get harder to reach.”

There was a pounding at the door and my heart nearly stopped. I was relieved to see it was only another nun. She said something to Siostra Katarzyna in Polish. She frantically left once Siostra Katarzyna replied. I was informed that the Nazi was coming up the stairs and that an Aufseherin arrived.

“I don’t need that woman being angry. Women are terrible when they’re angry, especially if they’re a Nazi. Now get Six hiding and find a spot for yourself!” Siostra Katarzyna said no more. She got up and left, closing the door behind her.

“Wolf-”

“Hide,” I interrupted. I pushed 635798 into the cupboard before she could say any more. After closing the door, I lingered for a minute to see if 635798 would open it. Nothing.

I scanned the tiny room. There weren’t many options for me. If I hid in the bathroom, I could only hide in the shower. If I hid out here, all I could do was hide under the bed or table. The bed it was, then.

I just pulled the last of myself under when the door opened. Boots pounded against the floor while slippers shuffled their way after. The two began talking and I knew one voice belonged to Siostra Katarzyna. She spoke German, signaling the Nazi didn’t understand anything else.

“Cozy room,” the Nazi said. “Why were there shelves blocking the door?”

My eyes widened in surprise. I lifted the bed skirt a tad. The Nazi was who I predicted him to be. Lenz took baby steps across the room, scanning each corner. A hard glare was on his face, and I knew he was looking for something. Siostra Katarzyna was in the midst of telling him no one used this room so they were there for storage when the cupboards caught his attention. I held my breath as he walked over to them. He opened the door right next to 635798’s. The empty cupboard didn’t interest him. His hand was on the handle of 635798’s door when Siostra Katarzyna noticed him.

“Why are you looking through our cupboards? We just keep soaps in there for storage. Nothing important.”

Lenz sat up straighter. “Just making sure.”

“Would you like some food? Then we can discuss why you’re here. You never said why,” Siostra Katarzyna said.

Lenz’s face softened. “Food sounds nice right about now.”

A blonde Aufseherin walked in the room. I sucked in a breath and didn’t let it out until she spoke.

“Lenz, honey. We really should get going,” Gretel said. “These nuns clearly aren’t hiding anyone. Let’s go check somewhere else.”

Lenz agreed and wished Siostra Katarzyna farewell. Those two were out the door while Gretel remained behind. She scanned the room as well and even checked the bathroom. I heard the shower curtain move. Gretel came out a minute later. Her shoes clicked against the floor as her gray Aufseherin uniform dragged behind her. All it took was one glance at the kitchen area for her to stop abruptly. I thought she was going to 635798’s cupboard but apparently she had another plan. She hovered the trash basin for a minute before calling Siostra Katarzyna into the room.

When the nun entered, Gretel said, “I thought you told us no one lives up here?”

“I did and it’s true,” Siostra Katarzyna replied.

“Then why is there trash in the basin?”

My breath hitched. Siostra Katarzyna took the garbage downstairs every day. Today was the one day she didn’t. The one day. Now look what happened.

Siostra Katarzyna kept up her act. She looked at the basin. “Hm. Someone must’ve snuck up here. Happens a lot.”

Gretel smirked. “Then I think you need to heighten your security.”

Siostra Katarzyna chuckled, sending a smirk back to Gretel.

Gretel made her way towards the door. Before exiting she said, “Are you sure no one is here, maybe, hiding?”

Siostra Katarzyna kept her poker face. “I’m sure.”

“Just remember the consequences if caught,” Gretel said.

“I’m sure.”

Gretel’s eyes widened, taken aback. She turned around and left without a word. Siostra Katarzyna followed, looking around the room before closing the door.

I crawled out of my hiding spot quickly. Quietly, I ran over to 635798’s cupboard. She opened the door before I even touched it. Her face contained worry, and I knew she realized who our visitors were. I put my hand on her face, ready to soothe her. A distant voice stopped me. Both 635798 and I froze. Heavy footsteps were climbing up the stairs instead of down. Lenz called to Gretel, telling her the reason why he was coming back up. It was muffled, but I didn’t take the time to decipher it. I shoved 635798 back in her hiding spot and searched around for a new one.

Gretel already verified there was no one in the bathroom. Why would Lenz feel the need to check again? I slid inside, closing the bathroom door just as Lenz was entering the room. I hopped into the bathtub, praying Lenz didn’t hear the loud kerplunk I made. The shower curtain covered the bathtub smoothly. Now all I had to do was wait.

To my surprise, the bathroom door opened. I covered my mouth, stifling my gasp. Lenz’s dark shadow walked towards the toilet and before I knew it, urine was colliding with water. Lenz whistled a cheery tune which bounced off the hollow walls and deafened my ears. This was a price to pay when hiding in the bathroom.

Like any normal man, it only took Lenz a few seconds to do his business. For whatever reason, he didn’t leave the bathroom when he was finished washing his hands. His big, dark shadow lurked creepily in the bathroom. Lenz never moved or talked. I could’ve been having a stare-down with a statue.

“I know you’re here, Wolfgang,” Lenz suddenly said.

My eyes widened and I kept quiet.

“I know you ran off with that Jewish woman. We all do. Everyone saw your affection towards her. That’s why Gretel and I are traveling around Poland. We’re looking for you two.” Lenz’s giant hand cupped the shower curtain and he tore it away. He had his trademark hard glare on his face but it wasn’t enough to make me flinch. I was used to it by now. “Where is she?”

I stayed silent, glaring back.

“Where is she, Wolfgang?” Lenz yelled.

“How’d you know I was here?” I asked.

“A nun was ironing a Nazi uniform. It was clean and fairly new. Plus, I heard you falling in the tub.” Lenz chuckled menacingly. “Your rifle is sitting against the bed. A few nuns here and there said your name as well. Too bad I don’t understand Polish. For all I knew they could’ve revealed where the Jewish girl is.”

“Well she isn’t here.” I made sure not to say it too quickly.

“Did you know Shlomo was killed because he wouldn’t reveal anything? Henryk, too. Luckily your father and Jürgen are well respected. They probably would’ve been killed as well. Someone was thinking about killing your sisters and mother.”

I jumped up, feeling a rush of anger. “Get out.”

“Tell me where the woman is.”

“I don’t know where she is.”

Lenz grabbed the collar my shirt. “Don’t lie to me.”

I grabbed his collar as well. “What are you going to do to me? How many times have you threatened me but never went through with it?”

Lenz loosened his grip, pushing me away after.

“Exactly,” I said.

“Wolfgang, if you tell me, I won’t rat you out. That’s what friends are for. Just tell me,” Lenz said.

I chuckled. “No. I’ll get in trouble anyway.”

Lenz shrugged. “I tried. But mark my words, Wolfgang. I’ll find that runaway. I’ll bring her back. And she will be executed.”

I stepped out of the tub and into Lenz’s face. “Good luck.”

Lenz glared once again and then turned away to leave. As he passed the cupboards, he pounded against each one. To my astonishment, 635798 kept quiet. Lenz sighed, disappointed.

“Why do you want to find her so badly?” I asked, calmer than earlier.

Lenz faced me. “She’s a runaway Jew. Jews need to be killed.”

“And if she wasn’t a Jew? If she was just a ‘normal’ human being, how would you treat her?”

“Wish respect.” And with that, Lenz was gone.

I sighed. I waited for Siostra Katarzyna to give an all-clear before I helped 635798 out of her hiding spot. She was crying, and I couldn’t help but wonder how she kept it so silent. She waited for Siostra Katarzyna to leave before telling me what happened.

“I heard everything! Everything, Wolfgang! They know. They know I’m alive. They’re all out to get me!”

I began to rock back and forth, resting my lips on 635798’s temple. “But they don’t know you’re here. That’s all that matters.”

“Why do they. They want to. To find me?” 635798 hiccupped.

“Just because running away is against the rules.” I held her at arm’s length. “It has nothing to do with you as a person.”

635798 nearly glared at me. “I’m Jewish, Wolfgang. You heard that man. If I. I wasn’t, I would. Would be treated differently. With respect.”

I bit back my bottom lip. That was the one part I was hoping she didn’t hear. It wasn’t fair for any Jews that they were being treated this way just because of a religion that was handed over to them at birth. It wasn’t fair, but Nazis made it clear they would shove it in their faces anyway.

“Let’s find another hiding spot!” 635798 exclaimed.

I shook my head. “No. We must stay here.”

635798’s face dropped. “But-”

“Where would we go, Six? Siostra Katarzyna is the only one we know around here. There’s no one else for miles.”

“Can we. We take a train to. To Germany? Or something?” 635798 was pushing me with urgency.

I shook my head again. “We’re staying here. They already checked here so there’s no use in checking again, right?” I stood up. “Now finish your letter to Marta. Siostra Katarzyna will mail it tomorrow.”

“Wolfgang, please. I don’t feel safe here.”

“Nowhere else is safe. This is the safest we can be.”

“But Wolfgang-”

“We’re staying, Six.”

635798 glared at me. She picked up the writing supplies, sat at the table, and the conversation was over.