Dirt [Open]

[Annabella Auerbach]

Place: Germany, military grounds
Time: 17:32
Weather: Chilly and frosty

Edrien made his way through the grounds with a complete straight face on nodding towards every recruit he passed in order to show signs of respect. Anyways, he was a new recruit. He kept his thoughts to himself. His hard, cold thoughts. He had been training for nearly six hours a day and he thought he needed a break from saving his country. He sat himself down on a cold, gray wooden bench.

He was a rebel and he loved it. He rested his palm against his pale face. It was fairly chilly outside. He roughly rubbed his shoulders as he was wearing his black leather gloves which slightly kept him away from the freezing weather around him. He wished it were summer, where he would go back home to seek his love, Loraine Boberg. He was going to propose soon. He loved her ever so much. But no, he was now supposed to be serious. If he wasn't, he was going to get killed with with harsh bullets through his chest.

Yes, he was quite young for a soldier. Most boys at his age were quite scared about going to war. Edrien just thought they were just idiots and not real German men. Men who thought nothing of their country. Fools. Losers. Everything to do with a low life standard. No, he thought he was better than all of that put together, he was.

He exhaled but then inhaled the cold frosty air around him. It was going to be one long year, that was for sure. He made sure he would keep himself safe and strong during training - hoping that someday he would become, at least, a lieutenant at war.

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

"Keep moving! Keep moving!" Freidrich yelled at some of the boys that had fallen behind.

What am I doing here? he asked himself. I should be out there with my countrymen defending the Fatherland,instead of being stuck here with these,these children.

Freidrich was feeling very out of place in this small uneventfull training ground. He wanted to help the German cause,but knew it was wrong. The thing's the Fuhrer said sounded so convincing,but the killing of Jews? Kill all who are not of your skin color? This all sounded so wrong,but all of the good thing's he would do to make a "better Germany" sounded so good.

"Alright ladies. Take a rest. We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow." Freidrich saw a boy younger than most with blonde hair and somewhat of a rebelious way about him.

"You on the bench,name?" Freidrich said to the boy as he walked over to him.

[Annabella Auerbach]

"You on the bench,name?"

The Private's thoughts were interrupted when the Corporal just dragged himself into the atmosphere. Corporal Blutstein. For some odd reason, his name made Edrien laugh. He knew best not to laugh at the man at the single moment. He suddenly jerked his body up and stood up quite straight. Being here was death for him. But he was here for a good reason, an expected reason. Germany. Edrien knew best to reply at a fast rate and keep his words at calm and showing complete respect to the man, for he was at a higher standard than Edrien, as he could see.

"Heil Hitler, herr. Mein name ist Edrien Bruus." He spoke with a strong, yet calm tone of voice. Not only that, but he had a very strong German accent. He had typically inherited it from his father. [Translation: Heil Hitler, sir. My name is Edrien Bruus]

He kept his eyes still on Blutstein's face. Whatever happened, he was surely going to keep his defenses up. Edrien felt as if the atmosphere was quite a bit chillier this time. He exhaled, then inhaled another body of cold breath. He kept his body quite straight up when standing in front of the man. He knew best not to do anything foolish. It was then where it striked him. Being a Nazi. Killing people, like jews for example, for their own good. They were the ones that changed the country, they were the ones that ruined it.

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

"Are you even old enough to be in this camp,child?" Freidrich said with much curiousity. The bouy looked like he was only sixteen. "As you probably already know there's other training camp's for the youth of the Fatherland." Freidrich said in the most serious of tones.

I have the feeling this boy might turn out to be a problem. Freidrich thought to himself as he analyzed the young boy trying to find a problem with him. He did.

"Well,Bruus do you have problems with putting on your belt?" Freidrich saw that he had belted over a loop in the front of his pants.

"You're lucky I'm not an officer. They take this kind of thing very seriously. It's ok boy, I did the same thing when I was younger. Many of us did. It's the best you don't let me see your uniform out of shape again,understood?" Freidrich asked with a slight smile on his face.

[Annabella Auerbach]

"Are you even old enough to be in this camp, child?"

Edrien felt quite confused at that single moment in time. What did this man think of him? A child? A youngster? No, Edrien was nothing of that. Actually, Edrien was at the age of eighteen. Yes, he was young, but he wasn't very young. He wasn't a child. He was a mere man, still growing up to become a fully developed man indeed. He was still in his late teenage years, he still had more to come.

So therefore, he began his short, respectful replies. "Um nein Herr. Mit allen respektieren wirklich, ich denke Ihr verwechselt mit meinem Alter." He said calmly. "Ich bin wirklich achtzehn, neunzehn nächste Woche weitergehend."
[Translations: [1]Um, no sir. With all do respect, I think your mistaken with my age. [2]I'm actually eighteen going on nineteen next week.]

"Well, Bruus do you have problems with putting on your belt?"

Okay, that was uncalled for. Edrien quickly took a glance at his belt. It looked fine to him. Oh wait, it wasn't proper, it was more slang. He adjusted it to it's proper look and then glanced back up at the Corporal. "Danke Herr." Edrien thanked the man with proper respectfulness.

It's the best you don't let me see your uniform out of shape again,understood?"

Edrien embraced a smile back. "Uh, ja Herr. Natürlich Herr." Edrien's blue eyes couldn't help but leave the man's as he spoke his words. [Translations: Uh yes sir. Of course sir.]

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

"Alright,son. I'll leave you to you're work. If you need any help,don't be hesitant to ask." Freidrich then had a small flash-back of a day when he was stationed in France. He remembered seeing a boy that reminded him painfully of Edrien. The boy was smiling and asked him if he would like some tea,when a huge explosion erupted in front of Freidrich,directly on top of the young boy. He looked at his hands and all he saw was blood. At that moment he snapped out of it and shook off the feeling of sadness.

"One more thing,private. Good job on those ropes today." Freidrich said before turning and walking towards his barracks to wash up for dinner.

He looked in the mirror at his face after he had splashed cold water on it. Why God? Why have you allowed me to witness all of this death and pain? Whatever happens Lord, it's your will,not mine. Freidrich prayed in his head.

[Annabella Auerbach]

"Alright,son. I'll leave you to you're work. If you need any help,don't be hesitant to ask."

The Obergrenadier never achieved such nice words since the day he stepped foot in the military camp. He had gotten harsh words from many men those days and that was what that was what turned him into a cruel bastard. The boy merely nodded toward the man to show his levels of respect. "Ja herr. Danke herr." He said with a mere reply, slashing the man a nice smile.

Edrien couldn't help but watch the man closely. He sort of felt sorry him. He looked a bit depressed for the past few minutes. Although, Edrien just kept his face straight, striking no signs of movement.

He simply watched the man turn away and leave, but hey, wait, no it wasn't the end. He spoke his words and Edrien listened thoroughly.

"One more thing,private. Good job on those ropes today."

Edrien gestured, placing his hand to his forehead with a smile, giving his thank yous. "Danke herr, Heil Hitler herr." He spoke with a strong tone of voice, as if proud of what he was saying. He was proud of what he was saying anyways. He watched the man leave toward the barracks. Edrien lowered his hand, glanced back down at the bench, and then plopped back down with no more words to be said. It began snowing. Small flakes of snow began falling onto his still body. He was going to catch a cold with all these freezing temperatures - Edrien thought.

The boy simply got himself up and made his way towards the barracks. Towards his new home. Towards his one way ticket to complete victory - As Adolf Hitler had said.

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

As Freidrich started walking out towards the Dining Hall he saw the young boy he had been talking to earlier. He gave the boy a grim nod as to say hello with no words. Freidrich kept walking into the cold,bitterness of the winter outside. Freidrich then pictured himself in a foxhole yelling orders to a few of his fellow soldiers. This is what he should be doing he thought to himself in envy,but if I leave this camp...I most likely will never see it again,or anything else for that matter. Freidrich didn't want to think about this but it was so hard not to.

Freidrich walked about fifty more steps when he was finally at the Dining Hall. He stepped into the comforting warmth and pulled off his heavy coat and scarf that his good friend Fiona had made for him back in his hometown. He missed Fiona very much. He struggled to remember the last thing he said to her before he left. He could then remember, "This isn't the last time I'll see you,Fiona. I'll come back, I promise."

Remembering these words made him wince because he knew it was a promise he most likely could not keep.

Freidrich started walking through the line to get his food. Small schnitzel,saurkraut,and a small glass of dirty looking water. Freidrich was a Corporal he didn't get any special treatments like the officer's would. Seeing the officer's eat steaks,mashed potatoes,and milk made his mouth water. He hadn't eaten a meal that good since...he couldn't even remember the last time he had a meal that good.

Freidrich stopped drooling over the officers' food and walked over to an empty table and took a seat. He started eating or what you would call eating. More like choking down old meat that you hated. Freidrich tried not to mind it,but even the saurkraut tasted funny.

[Annabella Auerbach]

Edrien gave the man a nod back. He pushed his blonde hair out of the way. He began walking through the line. Ok, he had now lost his sense of appetite. Oh it was disgusting. Gruel. He had decided that it was best not to eat any of the food or he would face himself in deep digust whilst sitting on the toilet seat in the middle of the night dying of food poisoning. He hadn't eaten in two days straight, but he felt terribly fit.

He glanced around the Dining hall. A few soldiers gave him ugly looks but Edrien just ignored them. They were nothing more but pigs to him. Just because he looked young, it did not mean he was immature. He was just as mature as any other Lieutenant or Officer. He had no place to sit until he spotted a place in front of the Corporal he had met earlier. It wouldn't kill to sit near him, Edrien thought.

He began making his way towards him, as he approached, he sat himself down in front of him. "Guten Abend, Herr." He gave the man a small, respectful soft smile although it had quickly worn off. "Nett, Sie wieder zu sehen." He glanced away, trying to avoid looking at the man and the way he ate. It was horrific. [Translations : [1] Good Evening, sir. [2] Nice to see you again.]

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

Freidrich kept trying to eat his food and make the best of the stomach churning meal. Hopefully,I won't have to pay for this later on tonight he thought to himself. He saw the young man named Edrien,if he could recall correctly,walking towards him.

I don't want to give another speech about my "heroism" and "courage". He thought to himself. Seeing as many of the boys wanted to hear from a battle-hardened Corporal. This wasn't the case though. When the boy came to him he gave Freidrich a small smile. Freidrich returned this gesture with a very faint, almost sad smile.

"Guten Abend, Herr. Nett, Sie wieder zu sehen." said the younger man in a very German accent.

"Likewise." Freidrich said in his evenly heavy German accent.

"How's you're saurkraut?" Freidrich asked the boy while he was kind of stirring his around. Attempting and failing at making it look more appetizing.

[Annabella Auerbach]

"Likewise."

Edrien couldn't help but return a mere smile of depression. He missed the one person he loved most in his life, Loraine Boberg. Ah those mere thoughts of her could just drift Edrien away into his dreamland. She was a short haired blonde with blueish green eyes. She had the smile that would wipe the dirt away from your face. She was ever so tall, and she was quite beautiful for a girl at eighteen. The only problem was her father. He prevented her from seeing him. He just thought Edrien was trouble. Edrien smirked at the thought, but the smirk quickly wore off within a few seconds. He didn't like mentioning her much, it would be trouble to him.

"How's you're saurkraut?"

Edrien glanced back up at the Corporal popping out of his dreamland. He glanced back at his sauerkraut. He didn't even touch it. He must've been busy with his thoughts. He took a bit of a bite from it. He was just about to puke it all out until it silently gloated down his throat. It was horrid. "Das kostet ziemlich sonderbar zu mir, Herr Blutstein." Edrien replied with a heavy German accent. [Translation : It tastes pretty odd to me, sir.]

It was true, although it always tasted an awful odd in Edrien's opinion. He didn't dare take another bite from the horrid food. He just put the stick of a fork down and kept his glance at Blutstein, but didn't dare stare directly into the man's eyes.

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

Freidrich laughed a small bit at the boy's reply of his question. "Well, it's best if you try and get something into your body before tomorrow. It's going to be a rough one." Freidrich said adding in an ominous tone when he mentioned the training.

Freidrich looked at the boy a bit closer. He looked like he had spaced out for a few seconds. Then the boy didn't even look him in the eyes.

"Remembering home? I try not to. I only try to remember the one's I left there." Freidrich said trying to sound kind.

"Speaking of which what's you're story? You do have a history don't you?" Freidrich asked trying to make conversation with the young man. Seeing as how it looked like Freidrich intimidated him a bit and being a pier to him,he knew this would be slightly harder than talking to someone his age back home as a civilian.

[Annabella Auerbach]

Edrien listened to the man and quickly took a bite from his food, looking away, not making any eye contact with the man. He felt helpless yet independant. He had a battle coming up soon and he was trying to be as fit as possible. He took another bite from the food, trying his best to gulp it down as fast as possible so that the horrid taste would not build itself up on his tongue. It was disgusting, but he had to eat it, it was his only source of food anyways. His legs twitched nervously as his hands did as well, whist holding the fork. He was nervous. Yes, the thought of the battle had built up in his mind and had corrupted it. He was not ready. He was going to die out there.

"Remembering home? I try not to. I only try to remember the one's I left there."

Edrien winced, but then twitched. He felt abnormally insane at the moment. His legs wouldn't stop twitching. He dropped the fork down and cupped his hands into his face as if washing his face, but yet he wasn't. He stopped twitching. It was as if he had just had a severe migrane. He calmed himself glancing up at the man. "Ich habe keine Familie. Sie sind alle Toten, und ich bin froh." He glanced away. "Erwähnen Sie sie bitte gerade nie um mich wieder. [Translations: [1]I've got no family, they're all dead and I'm glad. [2] Please, never mention them around me again.]

"You do have a history don't you?"

Edrien did have a history, but he tried his best not to talk about it. It was harsh and not to mention very cold. "Mein Vater war nazistisch. Er wurde von Armeebeamten gestorben. Meine Brüder waren alle Soldaten, und die meisten von ihnen starben im Krieg, und meiner Mutter- He spoke nothing after those words, trying to rebuild his words, he loved his mother. But her death turned him into a cruel demon. "-sie starb an Lungenentzündung. Und, der alles ist, dass ich dabei bin, davon zu sprechen. [Translations : [1] My father was nazi. He was deceased by army officials. My brothers were soldiers, they were deceased whilst at war. And my mother- [2] And my mother, she died of pneumonia.]

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

"Calm down,son I won't speak another word about 'em." Freidrich said while thinking about his own family,or what he called a family. Freidrich was worried about the boy,but this was more common than not. Boy's to young for fighting getting all worked-up for what is bound to happen sooner or later. The only reason twent-three year old Freidrich wasn't is because he knew where he was going to go when he died.

There was an awkward silence for a few minutes. Freidrich had just finished the last of his "gruel" and saurkraut. He looked at his watch and was surprised at what he saw. Eight O' three. He didn't think it was very late but he knew he was to get up even before the recruits so he could be ready to train them.

"Well,Bruus,I'm going to call it an early night." Freidrich told the boy as he gave him a pat on the back for some comfort and encouragement. Freidrich then made his way to the kitchen and gave his plate and glass to the cook.

Freidrich walked into his Barracks feeling a certain heaviness. He got on his knees alone and started to pray by his bed. "Almighty God,I pray that you would keep these men and boy's safe as they go through there day. Keep me safe as well that I might live a happy Christian life. If i die while I'm out here,Lord, I know that I'll go to you. Amen."

After saying his prayer he went over to his bag and opened it and took out what was his father's old Bible. He started reading it in his bed. He read all of Psalms twenty-three. When he was done with these verses he brushed his teeth and got into his sleeping clothes. He then dosed off into a very calm sleep.

[Annabella Auerbach]

"Calm down,son I won't speak another word about 'em."

Edrien calmed his body down taking a sip of water. This always happened to him whenever someone spoke about his family. He hated his family. Those cold-hearted bastards. They were nothing to him now. They were just a mere, cold and brutal memory of his. He needed these memories to stop. All they were doing were jungling themselves up with his battling atmosphere. He didn't like that because it kept distracting him from what was right and from what was wrong. He hated it.

"Well,Bruus,I'm going to call it an early night."

Edrien nodded. He noticed the fact that Friedrich had just patted him on the back. Edrien gave the guy a mere, cold smile but it had quickly worn off. "Auf Wiedersehen, herr Blutstein." He muttered respectfully. He pushed his food away not wanting to put that filth into his mouth again. He glanced at the other soldiers, whom were once again, giving him very dirty looks. Edrien wiped his mouth and got himself up making his way into the barracks where had spotted, yet again, Blutstein. Blutstein slept in the same Barrack as Edrien did? Quite interesting.

He had entered the bathroom, brushed his teeth and made his way to his bed. He sat down on it. He glanced at the bed next to him. Hey, wasn't that Blutstein? Oh dear it was. It was uncomfortably odd how Blutstein kept popping up everywhere Edrien went. Unusually odd, actually, if you asked him.

Edrien layed down on his bed glancing at the ceiling. He wasn't terribly tired, but slightly tired. His blonde hair sprawled across the single pillow. He closed his blue eyes, thinking about the past. He clutched onto the edges of his shirt. He washed those dreadful thoughts away thinking of new thoughts, good thoughts, yes good thoughts. He noticed a few of the men who were sleeping were snoring like a bunch of pigs. Edrien smirked as he kept still on the bed. He calmed himself down, closing his eyes, dosing off into a light sleep.