Stronger pt.2

Immediately after arriving, and everyone stripping down the there under garments, Susan, Joe and jet jumped into the water, followed by Anna, she stopped at the edge of the water. Isaac came out of no where and threw her into the river. Jack jumped in next and splashed Isaac, which resulted in Isaac holding him under.

" You ready?" Peter stared at me.

" No, it's cold."

" You haven't even felt the water yet, you couldn't know that."

" I can tell."

" Well, let’s verify that theory."

Peter picked me up as if I were a small child and ran into the water with me. I was wrong though. It wasn't cold, it was freezing. I splashed Peter.

" I told you!"

He grabbed me by the sides and pulled me close to him.

" Maybe I should start listening then?"

"Yes, I think you should."

He kissed me softly. Anna was watching us.

We stayed in and splashed around with each other for a while, we decided to eat about an hour after our quest began. Our food was of scarce variety , but there was plenty. It mostly consisted of potatoes, endless potatoes. We all sat on the blanket we brought down, I then rested my head against Peter's leg. Anna leaned over to jack and whispered to him.

" So when’s the weddin?" Jack asked with a smile on his face.

I laughed, " I don't believe I know what you’re talking about."

" He means when you are a Peter getting married." Anna was smiling.

I looked up and Peter who was laughing through his smile.

" Well personally, I didn't know I was engaged." He looked down at me.

" Nor did me."

" So you see Anna, it really just isn't nice to run around engaging people, now is it?"

" Yes Anna, terrible mistake on your part, is Joe and Lil bit next?" Jack asked.

" Well, I’m confused. I thought that people who love each other get married."

I played it off, " What? Since when are Susan and Joe in love, Peter did you know about this?"

" I sure didn't, wow my lil sister sure’s growin up fast."

" I don't mean them, they're only babies."

" I'm not a baby!" Susan yelled from in the water, they were playing again.

" Then who on earth could you mean?"

" You! And Peter."

We just looked at each other, and burst into laughter. Anna fumed, she leaned into Isaac and whispered into his ear.

" Yes, they are Anna." He said back, without whispering.

" Then why aren't you two getting married?!" She was standing up now, she really wanted to know.

" Well you see Anna, I’m already engaged, and so it will never work."

Peter looked at me, Anna spoke " To whom?"

" You see that fine lad over there?" I pointed to Joe, " He's the finest boy in all the land you know, and where getting married."

She yelled to him, " Joe! Are you marrying Jewel?" I nodded behind her back, he saw me.

" Yes! And it will be a beautiful wedding indeed!"

She sat back down, stumped.

" See Anna? So I can't marry Peter."

" But you have to! You just have to! It's the laws of love."

" And who wrote these laws?" Peter asked.

She looked around, " His name was Henry, Henry Oak." She looked at a tree.

Peter stood up and stormed off yelling, " Well then! I must find this Henry Oak, and make him change these laws of love!"

He ran around screaming for this Henry Oak, he came back and asked Anna if she knew where Henry was, she giggle and said no. He then picked her and ran towards the water yelling that she was Henry. He walked in the water and threatened to drop her in if she didn't change the laws. After more giggles, she agreed.

He came back with her and set her neatly on the ground. And came and sat by me again, I resumed my position on in leg. He leaned in and whispered to me, the others could hear but they ignored it, and started their own conversation.

" So you’re marrying Joe?"

" No, I only said that to her so she would leave me alone."

" Oh so your not engaged?"

" Nope, not at all. Is there a reason behind your question?"

He smiled, " Nothing too important."

" If it's not too important then you wouldn't mind telling me."

" Ah, but I do mind." I tapped my nose with his finger.

By this time everyone else was running into the water again, I sighed and laid down closing my eyes and soaked up the sun while we had it. I didn't realize Peter had lain down too till he entwined his hand through mine, he was next to me. I stayed for a long time, not moving, clearing my mind. When I opened my eyes Peter was propped up on his elbow watching me. I raised my eyebrows.

" What?"

" Nothing."

" Fine."

I closed my eyes again. Time passed again, I could feel the sun moving away slowly.

" Tell me something Peter."

" Hmm?"

" What were you thinking, before."

" I was just thinking how I never thought we'd be like this. Never, I mean I admit I had a crush on you for a while, but still-"

" You had a crush on me?"

I opened my eyes and popped up to look at him.

" Yes, I did actually."

" Why didn't you ever say anything?"

" Because I know you didn't feel the same, I mean you had Chuck."

I snorted, " Chuck's an ass."

" I can be an ass too you know."

" Yes, but just not to me."

" I could be." His eyes where closed again.

" But would you?"

" No."

" Exactly, would over rides could. Therefore I win."

" Fine by me." He smiled.

" Whets my prize?"

He opened his eyes and looked at me, " Er, what do you want?"

" That's not how it works silly, you pick."

He thought for a while, " How bout it's a surprise, I’ll show you later."

I smiled and nodded. The sun had started to set so we packed up and walked back up the hill. Peter had run up to talk to Isaac. We reached the barn and I went to walk in, Peter grabbed my hand and told me to keep walking. I was confused, he started running so I did too just to keep up with him.

" What are we doing? I asked when we slowed.

" I'm giving you your prize."

" But I’m not allowed to know what it is, because it's a surprise, correct?"

" Exactly." He smiled.

We reached the house, and he started to let me in.

" Oooh ooh! Can I guess?"

" Sure."

" Do I get another shower!"

" No, well you can if you won’t, but that’s not your surprise."

" Then what is?"

He sighed, " I just thought we could use a night to ourselves, all alone, no little kids to bug us, no Jack snoring, or even Anna talking in her sleep. Just you and me."

" Just you and me? Really?"

" Really."

" Can I shower first?"

" First? Are we planning something tonight."

" Were you not planning anything?"

" Oh no, I was. I just assumed you were completely oblivious to my intentions."

" Maybe I am."

And at that I ran up the stairs with Peter in tow, I went into the bathroom.

" Now kind sir, are you implying that you’re following me to the bathroom?"

" No ma'am, I’m just making sure you arrive safely."

" Well, safe I am. Now move along."

He smiled and ran back down the stairs. I undressed and got in the shower. The water was freezing of coarse, but compared to the river earlier today, it was fine. I shampoo'd my hair thoroughly, and lathered just about everywhere with soap. I shaved and rinsed down. I got out and wrapped a towel around me. I walked into the hallway. There was a small candle at the top of the stairs, another in front of a bedroom door. I opened the door, Peter was sitting on the bed. There were two more candles. One on each nightstand. Peter stood up and walked over to me.

" Nice hair." He fussed with it.

I shrugged, " I try."

He kissed me then, harder then usual, more forceful. He smiled and moved his hands, one on my neck, and the other on my cheek. I pulled back, I was in no hurry. I went and sat on the bed, adjusted the towel, tightening it, it was long enough to reach my knees. And moved back toward the head board and crossed my legs.

" So now what’s this surprise?"

" Alone time remember?"

" Oh right, I forgot."

He jumped onto the bed and laid down, his head on my lap, staring at me. It was hard to believe, during times like this, that any of this was really happening. How could it? We were in the middle of a world war and yet here we were seven kids having the time of our lives, under the conditions. We'd been living like this for almost two months, nothing’s hit us yet. It was times like this that it was hard to believe that somewhere, people were dying. Do to a war that we were in.

" I love you."

Peter broke my train of thought. I hadn't realized how much time had passed of silence. I smiled.

" I love you too."

Then Peter sat up and kissed me again. And this time, I didn't stop him. When I woke up Peter was gone. At first panic hit me, but then I found his note. He'd gone to get breakfast for me. I started to get dressed, which just led me to think.

Maybe this was too good to be true, maybe just maybe we were all fools, and this would end soon. That's when it hit me. Peter and I were the two last candles, working together we completed the room. I glanced at the candles, they were burnt out, just as Peter and I would be someday. I frowned at the thought and finished putting on my shoes.

At that very moment I heard the worst noise in my life. It meant everything was done. It was a scream, more of a yell. Words, words that somebody could understand. I might of understood them if I’d have been paying more attention. And if I was German.

Without thinking I did the worst thing I ever had, I didn't hide. I ran, down the stairs and out the door. Right when I the door shut behind me I heard two quick gun shots and a Childs scream. I ran faster. I could hear Anna, yelling ' No!' over and over, my heart sank. I started screaming for Peter. I ran as fast as I could, it wasn't fast enough. I kept calling for him. I reached the trees and something hit me. It was a man, a huge man at that. Far bigger than me. He caught me mid run and held me there. I squirmed and kept calling for Peter. I'd been convinced Peter was dead. He'd brought me up to the barn.

They started to bring people out, lining them up on their knees with their heads down. Isaac, then Anna, Susan, Peter, and Joe. Peter was safe, well not dead. That's when it hit me, we were one man down. Jack, Jack had been shot. The giant man pushed me down next to Isaac, I assumed the same position they were in. I could hear a mans handgun, it clicked.

Right as I took my final deep sigh, I heard a walkie talkie. It buzzed and somebody talked into it, it was all in German. I heard the gun click again. Back in safety? I didn't know. The man started to pull us up and instructed us to walk down the hill. The walk seemed to take forever, and the men made us stay in line. I couldn't go anywhere near Peter.

They brought us to a truck, it looked the same as the one I stole from. But I doubted it. They pushed us into the back and told us to keep quite or we'd end up like our friend. That one line made everything worse. We loaded into the truck and I sat across from Peter. He just stared at me, and I stared right back. After thirty minutes of constant driving, we stopped. A checkpoint.

I guess it was a checkpoint for me too. I started crying. No not crying, balling. Complete and total hysterics, Peter just looked at me. Wishing he could help. We started driving then. I stopped counting after two hours. Time passed again, no body spoke, nobody dared to speak.

We arrived at a camp, yes a camp. And it's exactly what you’re thinking, it was muddy and dirty, the buildings were dirty. The first thing they did was sit us on our knees again. Some woman came out with electric razors and scissors. I didn't even worry about my hair, it would grow back, and Peter wouldn't. They shaved all our heads, including us women. They then pushed us, at gun point, to showers. I immediately thought we would be gassed and die, but they were just normal showers. They made us all strip down and go into this huge room with showers along the wall, they didn't care about guy sides, or girl sides. More women came in with sponges and soap, they started scrubbing down every inch of us.

I noticed the woman cleaning Peter, she saw his shoulder and started screaming for the soldiers. They told her something and she went back to cleaning. In the next room we were told to dry off and clothe, they pushed us all a pair of 'clothes', all they really were, were clothes a person would wear in prison, but blue not orange. Our shoes were simple white lace up shoes. I thought of nurses when I looked at them.

After that room they led us across a muddy path that was as wide as a small street into another building. A woman sat behind a desk with a computer, we went up one at a time and told her information, and she spoke very well English. When it was my turn I just watched Peter stare at me.

" Full name." She had a deep voice.

" Juliet Marie McEvoy."

" Date of birth."

" March 13, 1991"

" Birth Place"

" Dublin, Ireland"

" You’re not English?"

" No."

" What is your knowledge of this epidemic?"

" What do you mean?"

" What have you seen?"

" After the Russians took us, our truck was blown up, then the Germans started killing everyone, I mean everyone. There were bodies everywhere, I’m thinking 30, 40 tops." I glared at one of the soldiers.

"All done." She looked at one of the men, she wasn't talking to me.

We left that building again and the soldiers started separating the men from the women. When I realized what was happening I freaked and ran to Peter who embraced me like we hadn't seen each other in years. They separated us immediately, I kicked and screamed of course and called for Peter, who was struggling to get back to me too. I heard a man say, ' it will be a problem' then I looked up and saw the man have the back of his riffle to my face. The next thing I knew was that I felt a lot of pain, then everything went black.

I woke up in on a tiny hard cot built into the wall, there were more just like this one. Only on mine two small frightened girls sat by me feet. I forced my eyes open more and rubbed them.

" Oh girls."

I hugged them. They piled in around me and snuggled up.

" What's going to happen?" Anna wept.

" I honestly have no idea, we'll be okay though alright?"

They nodded and cried harder. A month passed with no sign of help. The camp was terrible, our bunk had an infestation of rats, our food was absolutely disgusting, the soldiers treated us horribly, and to top it off Susan developed a cough. Which kept you up and night because one, it was absolutely annoying in the wee hours of the morning, and two because I was constantly worried about her. I barely got to see Peter, and when I did it was at a passing between chain link fences.

I was beginning to lose hope when one Sunday afternoon a truck pulled up, at first I thought it was another group of people. But a man got out and headed to their 'offices'. Then the man was escorted to my bunkhouse by soldiers. The man spoke and I noticed he wasn't German for once, Irish.

" Juliet Marie McEvoy?"

" Y- Yes?" What could he possibly want with me?

" C'mon, you’re going home."

I smiled and grabbed Anna's hand but dropped when I realized he only called for me.

" I can't leave."

" Why not?"

" I'm not leaving them." I pointed to Susan and Anna.

" Juliet, you have to."

" I do not."

" Yes you do."

" I refuse to leave."

" Fine."

The soldiers then grabbed me and forced me out the door, I then saw Peter, and the men were having their free time in the court yard. Once again so close but only separated by that chain link fence. He noticed the soldiers pushing me away, farther away from him.

" Jewel!" He cried " Where are you taking her!?"

" Peter!"

I just repeated his name, I couldn't even answer his questions and for only one simple reason. I didn't know any answers. They pushed me into the front of the mans truck, not the back. The man got in and we road off.

" What are you doing?"

I cried as I thrashed about under my seatbelt, which for some odd reason, I couldn't undo.

" Taking you home, you don't need to be at that camp."

" Yes I do! Take me back now."

" Look little girl, I just saved you, now when we get back to Ireland you can have a nice life washing dishes, okay?"

" Ireland? Why are you taking me there?"

" Because, were bringing our people home."

" I am home!"

" Will you just calm down?"

" Wait a second, why are the ger- Oh my god! Ireland's allies with Germany?"

" Your surprised why?"

I thrashed some more until I gave up, I couldn't believe this. I didn't even want to be considered Irish anymore. An hour passed and we didn't speak to each other.

" England betrayed us all you have to know that."

" Just explain."

" It's complicated."

" Then what does it have to do with."

" Oil."

" Oil? Are you kidding me? World War III going on right now because you and your precious oil?"

He didn't answer, he just fumed. I was outraged, could this whole thing really only be about oil? That's pointless and stupid. How ignorant could these people be?

" What's your name anyways?" I asked through my clenched teeth.

" Jack."

" Don't expect me to call you that."

" You asked me my name just to tell me you wouldn't be calling me it? Could you be anymore difficult?"

" No, that's not why. I knew a Jack. And your stupid Nazi friends killed him. He was a far better man than you ever will be, and I do not wish to call you by that name, it would be too respectful."

" They are not Nazi’s."

" Stop defending them."

" Too late."

" It is never ' too late'."

" I'm beginning to not like you."

" Funny, I never did."

" I hope your hair never grows back."

I snorted, " Ignorant bastard."

" Juliet, you really have to learn not to be so mean."

" Can you not call me that? It's Jewel."

" Are you going to call me Jack?"

" Not a chance."

" Alright, Juliet."

" You are so frustrating! When do I not have to be with you anymore?"

" Couple days, depending on how long it takes to get through all our precautions."

" A couple days? Oh my god, I wish they would have killed me, it would be a lot more durable then this brutal torture."

He laughed. " Are you always so stubborn? You're mom must go crazy."

" My ma's dead."

" I'm sorry, this is a war though, and we gotta do what we gotta do."

" It wasn't the Germans."

" Hmm?"

" It was the Russians."

" Now, they're the ignorant bastards."

I laughed too. " How old are you Jack?"

" Too old for you, and you are aware that you just called me by name, right?"

" Alright J. And I’m not interested in you, I’m taken. It's called being curious."

" I'm 23."

" Jesus, and your in the army?"

He nodded.

" I'm almost 17, in case you’re wondering."

" I know."

" What? How?"

" You really think I came to pick you up without knowing your records?"

" I guess you have a point."

" You'll learn that I always have a point."

" Cocky much?"

" Oh, just a little."

Things started to get foggy, whiter and whiter. Yet clearer and clearer. Waking up slowly...

The coma had started me into a fantasy world, my subconscious made up both Jacks and the family. Their was a blizzard, but no war. And I wasn’t completely imagining the screaming, my mom had been calling for me to get out of the street, a garbage truck wasn't doing well with that slick ice. I refused to learn what happened next, I didn’t need more nightmares.

People still try and treat me like a potato, I’ve been awake for a long time now, and yet I still have to go to the hospital regularly for tests. My life’s gotten pretty hard to keep sturdy. I know that nothing in my coma really happened, but I still feel as if it did. Everything was so real, things I saw and experienced will always haunt me. Therapy can't save me from the world I left in my sleep, which I have to go back to every night. The only thing I look forward to in my sleep is Peter, I dare not tell him what happened in my dream, and we are only friends.

But then after thinking it over, lots of things in my dream couldn’t have really happened. For one, I would not have really been able to sneak onto that truck. Two, just because I was Irish, doesn’t mean I would have been forced to go back. I was siding with the enemy. And more and more little things, just proves that my subconscious isn't that creative.

No matter what I’m haunted with, real or not, my dreams made me stronger.