Chapter 1

“Melina, you and your brothers need to go now!” Seleste said.

“What about you and father?” Melina asked.

“We will be fine. Don’t worry about us,” Joseph said.

“You are to get you and your brothers to safety first in England, and then you need to get on a boat to the United States.”

“But mother-”

Seleste put her arms around Melina.

“We will meet you in the United States as soon as we can. You need to hurry, they are coming. Tobias! Georgie! You need to leave with your sister now.”

Joseph and Seleste gave the three kids a quick hug and hurried them out the door.

16 year old Melina held her 3 year brother, Georgie, in her arms as they ran. 8 year Tobias ran beside them through the woods behind their house. At the edge of the woods they turned around and gave one last quick look at their childhood home and their footprints left behind. Melina knew they would most likely never see their home in Poland ever again. They ran until they couldn’t see anymore. Alone in the woods, the three siblings settled for a long night. Melina started a fire and prepared some food for the boys. She kept the boys close to her. Not only to protect them, but to keep them warm too.

“Why did we have to runaway from home?” Tobias asked.

“Some bad people want to hurt us.”

“Why do they want to hurt us?”

“They don’t like us.”

“Why?”

“I wish I knew.”

Georgie had already fallen fast sleep. Melina noticed Tobias’s eyes getting heavy too. She wanted to sleep too, but she needed to keep watch for danger.

***

The next day, they packed up quickly and continued through the forest. After many days of walking, they made it across the border to Czechoslovakia.

“Are we there yet?” Tobias whined.

“No, it will be awhile before we are there.”

“When will we see mama and daddy?”

“Hopefully we will see them soon.”

Melina knew as she said this that her parent’s fate was sealed, but she didn’t have the heart to tell her brothers the truth.

It was cold and wet that night. Melina wrapped her coat around the boys.

“Melina, I’m scared, what if the Nazi’s find us? ” Tobias said

“I’m scared too.” Georgie said.

“It’s okay, we’ll be okay.” Melina replied

She wrapped her arms around the boys and sang a lullaby their mother used to sing them.

The next day, the sun shined through the trees, which was a nice surprise after the cold wet night.

“Oooh!” Georgie said as he pointed at something in the distance.

“What do you see, Georgie?” Melina asked.

She looked where he pointed and saw a majestic deer standing in the sunlight eating some berries from a bush. They watched the deer. For a moment it was peaceful.

BAM!

They all jumped as the deer fell over. Georgie cried and covered his ears. Their peaceful moment was over.

“Run!” Melina told the boys.

They ran as fast as they could and as far as their feet could carry them. Melina found them a cave to camp out for the night.

“How could they could they kill that deer?” Tobias cried.

“Unfortunately, there are evil people in the world. The deer wasn’t the only thing they wanted to kill.”

He put his head in his knees and cried.

“It’s okay, we’ll be safe soon.”

Melina rubbed Tobias’s back and hummed the lullaby. Georgie coughed and Melina turned her attention to him. He face looked greenish.

“Georgie, are you okay?”

“I feel yucky.” He replied.

She touched his forehead.

“Oh no.”

She wrapped her coat around him as he shivered.

Over the next few days, they walked with Georgie’s condition worsening as they went. Melina knew they would need to get him help soon. She hoped they’d find an ally to aid them. They made their way across the Austrian border.

“We need to be careful here, we’re not far from the German’s.” Melina said as she eyed the the German army camp down the hill.

“Stay close.” She whispered to Tobias.

He nodded.

Georgie, who was cradled in Melina’s arms began to cry.

“Shhh. You’ll be okay.” She said as she tried to comfort him.

The temperature was cold and Melina was shivering. She looked at the camp below. She knew it was risky, but Georgie needed help, he was getting worse.

“Follow me, remember stay close.” She said.

They walked down toward the camp. Melina felt her body shaking. She walked toward the guard. He looked around her age. He aimed his gun at them. Tobias grabbed her waist and hid behind her. She kept Georgie close to her chest.

“Please don’t hurt us, we need help. My brother, he’s sick.” Melina pleaded.

Her eyes met the guards. His blue eyes were wide like a startled deer. His arm’s shook as he pointed the gun at them. He looked as if he was about to cry.

“Please.” Melina said.

She faced Georgie toward the soldier so he could see his face.

Another guard, an older man, came over.

“What’s going on here?” He asked, clearly annoyed with the young soldier.

“It’s nothing, I’m handling this.” The young soldier said.

“You better be.” The older guard replied.

The young soldier resumed his aim at Melina. This time even shakier.

Tobias peered around.

“Please don’t hurt us.” He said, through tears.

The young soldier lowered his gun and slumped down.

“I can’t do this.” He said.

He looked around.

“I can help you, but you’ll need to pretend to be my prisoners.”

“How can we trust you?” Melina asked.

He looked around again and pulled out a handkerchief from his jacket and on it was a Star of David.

“How would the German army allow a Jew to be a soldier?” Melina though to herself, but there was no time for questions.

“Fine, we’ll pretend to be your prisoners.” Melina said.

“Just follow my lead.” The young soldier said.