Running for your Knife [Annabella]

[Anton Maas]

Country: Germany
Current Time: 10:45
Weather Conditions: A sunny day in the city.
With a creak, the door to the Kriminalinspektor’s office opened, and a woman all in black entered. “Messer,” she said with calm, emotionless authority, “Wir haben nur die Adresse eines jüdischen Durchgängers für Verschiebung erhalten. Sollte nichtseien Sie irgendeine Schwierigkeit.“ ((We just got the address of a Jewish runaway for relocation. Shouldn‘t be any trouble.)) She picked her words carefully, as if not wanting to think about how many people the messages and orders she passed on have put to death. And when the last syllable had left her lips, without another sound, she stepped back out of the office, and another creak closed the door. It had happened so fast and quietly, that if it wasn’t for the file folder now sitting on his desk, Gustav could have assumed she had been an apparition. Swapping out the propaganda mag he had been perusing for the folder, he read, reread, and committed to memory the vague history, known family, acquaintances, and addresses of one Annabella Auerbach.

After a short, uneventful road trip, Messer parked his Mercedes-Benz sedan along the street a few blocks away from the apartment the file had noted as the last residence of Miss Auerbach. It was a company car, and although it have civilian plates, the 260D was common enough in the Gestapo that an eagle-eyed evildoer would get suspicious whenever one shown up. Plus, an added bonus of parking such a distance away was that the long walk to the car increased the chance of an attempted escape, which in turn increased the chance of Gustav using the broom handled rod tucked under his shoulder. But the Gestapo agent doubted that it would come to that. Most of the information in her folder indicated that every time she had escaped fate it had been a stroke of luck on her part and a mistake on the part of the Germans. As long as he played it right and kept levelheaded, she would be putty in his hands, like a scared sheep that could be coerced into the slaughterhouse.

But as the man said, sometimes even a sheep can become a wolf when it’s cornered. And although her file had said nothing about it, she could have a boyfriend that might pose a threat. Blending in with the crowd in his gray ersatz suit and matching fedora as he walked from his car to the apartment, Gustav thought about all possibilities that could await him inside. So, just to be cautious, he took a quick look around the streets and alleyways that bordered the building, making note of all the entrances, exits, windows, and fire escapes before climbing the front steps and entering the lobby.

With only a simple glance to the elevator or the steps, Messer bypassed them to instead rat his knuckles against the door marked Hauswirtin. Before he finished knocking, the door slowly opened and, nose first, the landlady emerged. Although she looked ancient with her graying hair, sullen, baggy eyes, and wrinkled skin, having survived both the First World War and the Republic could explain them away and she was probably only middle-aged.

“Heil Hitler,” Gustav gave the bent elbow salute, but with her right arm kept behind the door, the landlady only repeated the greeting. "Besitzen Sie dieses Miethaus? Ich bin Gestapo.“ ((Do you own this apartment building? I am Gestapo.))

“Ja bin ich es allein seitdem mein Gregory ist gestorben während des Weltkriegs gelaufen“ ((Yes, I have run it alone ever since my Gregory died during the World War.)) Her eyes suddenly became slits as she examined the plain looking Kriminalinspektor, “Sie sehen wie ein Mitglied von dem Gestapo nicht aus.“ ((You do not look like a member of the Gestapo?))

Gustav’s hand was already in his pocket, grabbing the metal disc that displayed his Gestapo membership, which he then showed her. "Gut wenn ich ausgesehen habe, wie ein Polizist den ich im Kripo wäre ich? Ich suche eine Frau durch den Namen des Annabella Auerbach. Sie weiß, wenn sie in ist, nicht wahr? Und erzählen Sie mich welche Wohnungszahl sie hat?“ ((Well, if I looked like a policeman I would be in the Kripo, wouldn‘t I? I am looking for a woman by the name of Annabella Auerbach. You wouldn‘t know if she is in, would you? And tell me what apartment number she has?))

The landlady smiled and nodded, only now believing that Gustav was what he said he was, “Ah ja, Annabella. Sie ist Zahl 6, und ich glaube, dass sie in ist, obwohl Sie nie mit Leuten mit den Arten der Moral erzählen können.“ ((Ah yes, Annabella. She is number 6, and I believe she is in, although you can never tell with people with those kind of morals.))

Messer didn’t know exactly what to make of that last comment, so he continued with the basic questioning, "Könnte Sie zeigen mich, und öffnen die Tür, wenn sie nicht in ist?“ ((Could you show me, and open the door if she is not in?))

“Ach unbedingt“ ((Oh, absolutely.}} she exclaimed, the nosy landlady excited that no longer was snooping on her tenants a hobby, she was doing it for the government. Almost like magic she produced a set of keys from behind her door, which she locked, and then led the Gestapo agent to the elevator. “Ich war das einer, der sie zu Ihnen berichtet hat, kennen Sie,“ ((I was the one who reported her to you, you know)) she spoke, as if she was expect the Iron Cross, as she opened the gate for Messer.

"Sie sind ein wahrer Patriot zu Ihrem Fuhrer und Ihrem Vaterland.“ ((You are a true patriot to your fuehrer and your fatherland)) Gustav’s often repeated words were empty of emotion, but his companion in the tight elevator lit up and her face acquired a wide smile that it hadn’t seen since 1916.

“Ich bin zuerst verdächtig von Annabella wenn ein fremdes geworden…“ ((I first became suspicious of Annabella when a strange…)) Unfortunately for Gustav, the compliment spurred her to begin listing every suspicious, and unimportant, thing she saw, or thought she saw, Auerbach doing. Even though it only took a few seconds for the elevator to rise to the next floor, the landlady crammed hours of complaints into them. Fortunately for her, Gustav only realized he could have strangled her easily without anyone else finding out until after the elevator stopped at it’s destination.

Once they have left the elevator, she led him to Door #6, and he motioned for her to stand at the door, and knock, ”So sieht sie ein vertrautes Gesicht zuerst.“ ((So she sees a familiar face first)) And as the slams of her knuckles on wood echoed through the hall, Gustav Messer pressed himself against the opposite wall and stuck his hand into jacket, so his fingers could caressed the Mauser’s grip, just in case.

[Annabella Auerbach]

It was a lazy afternoon for the young Annabella Auerbach. She was feeling ever so tiresome. Work was always getting the young woman tiresome for some reason. She lay there, on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her bed just did not feel the same anymore due to the last encounter she had with the Hauptmann officer. It wasn’t very pleasant at all. Rape was the only word going through her mind when he had left her apartment that night. Five seconds later, she had collapsed upon her bed, growing rather unconscious. Rolf Jager had left the young woman struck with horrors and grotesque images that were permanently bolted into her vulnerable mind. Attempting to take those thoughts out of her mind, she slowly got up and moved toward her oak desk.

She began to write a letter. The letter was to go to the police. She was going to inform them of this man, and what he had done to her. They would take it, or they wouldn’t. God only knew. What he had done was appalling, no doubt in thinking such words, and she hoped that the police would do something about it. But were they going to believe her? They were bound to trust Rolf, a Hauptmann then trust Annabella, a deprived woman. She had no defense. If she wore the Jewish armband, she was bound to be dead by then. However, she chose to keep herself undercover, but this didn’t seem to work much over the years. But, she was always successful for she always ran away.

She tapped the tip of the fountain pen upon the piece of paper. She simply did not know what to write. A few minutes later, Annabella gave up. She slowly pushed the paper away, sighing heavily to herself. She glanced outside the window. It appeared to be bright and sunny behind the lace veil she put up as a curtain. It was the only curtain she could find within a short amount of time. Her life wasn’t that bad. At least she had a home. Not many did those days due to the conditions in Berlin. Jews were being sent to death camps, so most of the apartments and buildings were pretty much empty. Nobody did choose to occupy a house where a Jew once lived. Paranoia was in bloom. People were so irritatingly brainless sometimes.

She noticed how the old lady whom owned the building kept looking at her. It was a suspicious look. Anna hoped the woman did not think of Anna as a Jew. She never did like the owner of the building but she was rather grateful that the lady let Anna rent an apartment. She was at a desperate time when she had come to the building looking for a house. The woman was ever so kind to lend Anna a hand. Back then, Anna wasn’t accused of anything and she had her papers to prove that she was purely above suspicion. But now, she wasn’t. Anna did not know what she had done to get the ridiculous woman suspicious. She hoped the woman had not contacted any authorities about it. Anyways, all the woman did was chitchat and haunt the tenants. She was a bloody nuisance in Anna’s opinion.

Annabella slowly stood from her chair. She began moving toward her living room, closing the door behind her. Fear overcame her. Her memories haunted her. They were not only the memories of the night of the rape, but also her past memories; the memories of her family. Tears built up in her eyes as the door had finally closed shut. She collapsed upon her knees. They hit the cold ground beneath her. Her eyes swelled up. She had been depressed for over a week. The tears began pouring down her eyes like a cascade. Her hand still held the door handle. The door handle felt so rusty and bitter. Her whole body was trembling with fright. She sobbed and sobbed her heart out. She then realized. That was why the old woman was getting rather suspicious. It was Annabella’s endless sobbing.

Anna slowly let go of the handle. Her wrist was still shaking. She slowly got up and gripped a nearby table for support. She pulled out a handkerchief and began to slowly dab at her swollen eyes. Those nasty memories left her wrecked. She moved over to the liquor cabinet. For some reason, Annabella had begun drinking more than usual. Again, it was probably due to her depression. She pulled out a large bottle of whiskey and poured herself a glass. She brought the cup to her pink lips and slowly sipped on it. She moved over to her record player. She put in an old record. The supple, sweet music bounced off the walls of her apartment. She moved over to her couch and sat herself down. She placed the glass on a side-table nearest to her. She felt a bit more relaxed then.

She suddenly heard a knock at the door. Her heartbeat quickened. Could it be? No, it couldn’t be him. She grew slightly cautious. She slowly got up and moved to her record player, turning off the music. The room went silent. She then sauntered over to her door. With all her confidence still left inside of her, she glanced through the peek-hole. Ah, she breathed out a sigh of relief. It was only Agatha, the old lady. Agatha must have heard Annabella’s sobs. Everyone heard her sobs. Heck, she had even gotten some complaints from her next door neighbors. But could Anna really help it? With assurance, she sluggishly opened her door.

”Ah, Agatha. Kann ich irgendetwas für Sie tun können-“ she stopped, for something had stung her. At the corner of her coffee eyes, she caught the glimpse of the figure of a man. She turned toward him. Pausing in her movements, she studied the man’s face. That was when it had hit her. It was him. The man whom knew she lived. Oh, great, just what she had needed. ”Nein.” she muttered underneath her breath. She turned around and began to run into her apartment. She started searching for something, anything really, to get the man off her back. She opened drawers and closets. She had to find that dagger. She always kept a dagger around in case of emergency. Ah, she had finally found it! She reached for the dagger until something caught her movements. [Translations: Ah, Agatha. Is there anything I can do for you?]

[Anton Maas]

”Ah, Agatha. Kann ich irgendetwas für Sie tun können-“

As Annabella Auerbach greeted her glaring landlady from behind the security chain, Gustav stood back up and started towards the door. Suddenly when her words froze, as did his feet, his hand quickly clenched around the worn wooden grip under his arm. Even though he couldn’t completely see her, he could sense her panic, fear, and when she suddenly ran back into her apartment, in one swift movement, Messer pulled out his broomhandle, and as Agatha jumped out of the way, kicked in the door, busting the rusted out old chain.

”Halt, Annabella!” Gustav shouted as he limped from the doorway, and straightened out his arm so the Mauser’s fins danced around the back of Anna’s head, as she frantically searched for something important, perhaps a gun. ”Ich habe nur Sie gefunden und es wäre eine Schande, Sie zu schießen, bevor Ihr Gesicht sehend“ (I’ve just found you and it would be a shame to shoot you before seeing your face.))[/b] But in her frenzy she made no response, so the Gestapo man pulled back his hammer and moved into the danger zone. “Nein nein nein nein…” He shouted as he pressed the Mauser against her back, and used his free left arm to grapple to get a hold of her, to pull her towards Messer and away from the knife she had finally found. With a final burst of strength that burn through his bones like a lightning bolt, he picked Anna up and threw her onto the middle of the floor.

”Bewegen Sie nicht,” ((Don’t move.}}[/b] he said as he closed the closet door and kept the Mauser trained on her direction. “Sie wissen offensichtlich, wer ich und bin, warum ich hier gekommen bin. Wenn Sie erzählen, dass mich alles Sie wissen, und es ist die Wahrheit, wird es viel leichter auf Ihnen sein.” ((You obviously know who I am and why I came here. If you tell me everything you know, and it’s the truth, it will be a lot easier on you.))[/b] Gustav spoke firmly as he circled the room, quickly checking the bathroom, bedroom, drink cabinet, and closets for anything else suspicious. Even though he found none, he still felt that something was wrong. Then he realized they were still being watched, and turned to the front door, where the landlady stood, smiling.

”Das ist alle die ich werde brauchen von Ihnen, Agatha, Sie können gehen zurück zu Ihrem Zimmer. Das ist alle. Der Gestapo kann es von hier nehmen. Und schließt die Tür,” ((That is all I will need from you, Agatha, you can go back to your room. That is all. The Gestapo can take it from here. And close the door.))[/b] He had to say it twice before she moved, and when Annabella and Gustav were finally alone, he holstered the Mauser and opened the closet again to look for a suitcase, but always glancing back behind his shoulder, incase she decided to try and grab another weapon..

"Ich brauche Sie, zu Hauptquartier mit mir für ein Befragen herunterzukommen. Sie sollten einige Dinge einpacken, dürften Sie dort für eine Weile sein. Wartezeit, bleiben Sie dort. Erzählen Sie nur mir, welche Dinge Sie mit Ihnen werden nehmen wollen, werde ich sie erhalten. Irgendeine plötzlichen Bewegungen und Sie sind nehmen wird können nichts, wo Ihres geht.” ((I’m going to need you to come down to Headquarters with me for some questioning. You should pack some things, you might be there for awhile. Wait, stay there. Just tell me what things you will want to take with you, I’ll get them. Any sudden movements and you’re won’t be able to take anything where your going.))

[Annabella Auerbach]

She felt his weapon press against her weak back. His very voice made her shiver to bits. She was suddenly thrown onto the hard ground. Ah, it killed. She could of swore she had sprained something due to the awkward throw. Well, that was no way to treat a lady such as herself. But, wait, she was to talk. She was the Prey in the situation and he was the predator. She was the Jew and he was the Nazi. Everything linked together quite perfectly. There were some days when she detested being a Jew. Everything went wrong when you were a Jew. Even the landlady, Agatha, found her suspicious.

Don't move. Well, she couldn't exactly move. And also, she chose not to, in case of death. She stared at the mauser in his hands. That would go off any second if she were to move an inch. The gun just forced the tension grow and grow more. Her heartbeat quickened. When he wasn't looking, she was going to attempt to grab a weapon. But it was no use because he kept glancing back, and, again, she just didn't need death. Actually, that was the last thing Annabella needed. She kept her focus on not moving. Don't move, don't move, Annabella kept telling herself. But the girl just could not sit still for more than ten seconds.

The fact that landlady had left them alone and the door was closed did not intrigue the situation at all. Suddenly, she moved. But it was a tiny move and she hoped it was invisible to the man. She clutched the ground beneath her with fear and nervousness. She felt tears building up at the corner of her eyes. Oh, now was not the time. But could she really help it? It was due to the fear that was building up through Anna's veins that caused her to cry at that moment. What was going to happen to her poor, inaudible soul? She knew exactly what was going to happen to it; it was going to be sucked alive by an evil man.

His words stung her like a bee. Go down to headquarters? But she hadn't even said anything yet. That was perhaps due to her inability to speak. Everything was passing by far too fast for her to actually say something so it wasn't exactly her fault. When he told her to get belongings, she slowly pushed herself up on her knees. But then she paused when he said he would go and get them himself. Her shivering hands lifted to her mouth. They partially covered it as tears began flowing. Well, she was rather speechless, and due to her shock, she couldn't exactly remember what she needed to take along on the uncomfortable journey. She wasn't going to move again for she noticed that his last words were dead serious.

Annabella began to build a few words up in her mind. She tried remembering what to bring along. She had to say something or she knew she'd find herself in a stickier situation. "V-Vielleicht ein paar Paare von Kleidung. Alles, was Sie finden können, d-denke ich," she stuttered. Then she remembered something. Something that was quite valuable to her. "Es gibt auch eine Kette in der vorderen Schublade neben meinem Bett. Bitte, Herr, verschone mich und bringen sie zusammen. Es wurde mir von meiner Mutter gegeben." she cried, softly. The tears kept on falling down her pale cheeks. [Translations: [1] Maybe a few pairs of clothes. Anything you can find I guess. [2] There is also a necklace in the front drawer near my bed. Please, sir, spare me and bring it along. It was given to me by my mother.]

[Anton Maas]

Clothing and Jewelry, Gustav should have realized that’s what a Jewish woman would cherish the most. Stepping into her closet, Messer quickly grabbed the first five outfits, and after quickly checking that there weren‘t any other weapons hiding in them, tossed them beside the Jew. Then he walked over to her nightstand and rifled through it’s drawer for the necklace. He found it and placed with the clothes.

“Haben Sie etwas zu tun dieses Sachen in? Gefällt ein Koffer?” ((Do you have anything to put this stuff in? Like a suitcase?)) In asking the question, Messer casually glanced over at Auerbach, and for the first time, their eyes met. Understandably, she was crying, and although this wasn’t the first time Gus was confronted by a crying woman in the fulfillment of his duties, there was something about her that bothered him. And then in the same instance that the Gestapo agent had asked himself that question, he realized the answer.

Every night for almost a decade, Gustav had the same nightmare where he relived the accident when he smashed his racecar into the spectator seats at the Grand Prix, severely injuring himself and killing 3 bystanders, including his baby sister. Night after night he would be thrown back into the chaos of burning petrol, broken bones, and the tearful last moment of sweet Emma. And now he was standing right in front of his dead sis’s doppelganger, if she had been able to live for another 10 years. And was Jewish.

Although on the outside Gus tried to keep his stoic composure, inside, he started to fall apart. Memories of the only person who ever loved him, the only person he had ever failed, flooded back to him. Even though he knew that this woman wasn’t his sister, and was just a Jew that needed to share the same fate as the rest of them, his emotions wouldn’t let him do it. He was not able to kill her again.

Gustav almost stuttered as he tried to find the words, “Wohl… Warten… Es ist ein Bequemlichkeit Weise” ((Well… Wait… There is an easier way.))[/b] His right hand started to shake and he slipped into his jacket, and for a moment his pointer danced along the broom handle under his armpit, but instead he grabbed his pack of cigeretters, slipped one in his mouth and lit it. Growling through clenched teeth, he continued, “ICH könnt sichern Sie. Sie won't müssen mitkommen und wirst können hierbleiben. ICH könnt vergewissern Sie sind nie belästigte wieder. In Tausch wiederum , Sie sind gehend nach müssen abhelfen uns , eingeben uns welche Namen weiterer Juden Sie kennen, abhelfen uns befinden mehr” ((I can protect you. You won't have to come along and will be able to stay here. I can make sure you are never bothered again. In exchange though, you are going to have to help us, give us some names of other Jews you know, help us find more undesirables))

The nicotine blowing into his lungs calmed Messer down a bit, and he handed the pack towards Annabella, Welches ausführen Sie stehen?” ((What do you say?))

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Moderation Post:

The following CP has been issued:

Messer - 5CP

Auerbach - 4CP

-JT