"Citizens, it has been a month since this Vielist has given you the land." Mr. Frank lit another cigarette. "Umm… On this special day, you will be glad to know that our army has recovered and well-renovated your city, Hohen. We made your homes with fine steel, and each family will be getting one. We will continue to provide you with food until your men keep servicing our army. Today, I brought students to our school to assist you in evacuation."
"But-but Hohen is not safe anymore. Allies have built bases throughout the city." The refugee crowd was not satisfied with the sudden announcement. There were mostly women in the crowd. Most of the men and young boys have joined the army to provide for their families. When two bombs were dropped on the city, Hohen disappeared into the concrete sands. There were forty-three buildings, and out of them, at least seventeen had five floors. When they fled to Vielist, they only brought a few pieces of clothing that had been untouched inside the cupboard. A sudden increase in the Vielist population had created a sanitation issue. The lack of water supply had made them stay without baths for days. The white skin had turned dirty and stinky brown, and a few students held their noses. However, they still wanted to return to their homes. All they wanted was to be safe under the roof.
Eldric stood beside Evert and Sophie, clenching his fist tightly. He was staring at the little girl throughout Mr. Frank's speech. The red-headed girl was busy with a comb and her hair. She also didn't bother herself with Mr. Frank. She had an eye on Eldric too. Red cheeks would spark her starvation. Her faded white gown had decried how she was inside this small tent.
"Please let us stay!" the women of the camp cried. The screams of their silent protest were piercing the students' ears.
Mr. Frank kept his dried lips closed. He threw his second cigarette out, half-finished like the first. He was coldly looking at the soldiers pushing the protestant away from him and the student.
"Since when did you think Vielist would give you a place to stay?" Dieter's brother opened his mouth to this roaring crowd. He didn't have a mic with him, but he tried his best to be as loud as possible. "Vielists are those who have been Wolf's best men and for this country."
"Enough." Mr. Frank sighed. "Don't spoil them; let me handle this." Mr. Frank left the space with at least ten soldiers to guard it. The young commander followed him soon.
"Is that how we are supposed to celebrate our Wolf's birthday?" Sascha mumbled while heading towards his home. Dieter hadn't split from his path yet. Eldric was right beside them, along with Evart and Sophie.
"Sascha, stop acting childish every time." Dieter flung himself back. "Just think about Frank's intention behind it. He wanted to return them home."
"Mr. Frank wants them to leave this city." Sascha looked at Dieter in a monotonous way. "And what's wrong with you, huh? You know very well that what happened to Hohen that night could-could have happened to Vielist as well."
Dieter stopped by the lonely pavement and turned back to Sophie in the nose-to-nose distance. Eldric quickly joined Sascha from behind.
"Then you should have also known that Vielist can't be harmed, and you little mutter-girl, you also know that very well; that's why you were chosen to live here." Dieter changed to a raucous voice. "After what your alcoholic sister tried to mess with the Nazi army,"
"JUST one more word from you, and I swear you will not be alive for a second." Sacha had shown off her petite tears. She grabbed Deiter's collar so that he couldn't keep his shirt in anymore.
"Hey, hey, hey, easy." Eldric took Sacha's hands off Deiter. Sophie took Dieter away. "Every time, why do you guys think that brawling can fix this? Whether refugees stay or are left dead and alive in Hohen, why will we have to worry? Did you forget what Mr. Volk said to us whenever this situation appeared in the war?"
Sascha still couldn't leave her red eyes out of Dieter. "You have to always choose those whom you care about the most and think will work for you."
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