Chapter 21

Slightly concerned, I returned to my room. I kept thinking about Mateusz's words that kept me awake. But if he said he would be back by morning, I believed him.

Anyway, I barely fell asleep, and in the morning it turned out that he was gone after all. I quickly got dressed and, frightened, ran upstairs to Alex's apartment, who was the only one to have a radio in this tenement house. I knocked on the door but he wouldn't open it. I started to tread back and forth when I heard his voice.

"Hey, are you alright?" He asked going up the stairs, probably he was coming back after his night shift.

"Did you see Mat?" I asked a question instead of saying hello.

"No, I didn't. What's with him?"

"I need your radio. Can I come in?"

"Of course." He opened the door for me and encouraged me to come in, and once we were inside, I suddenly remembered something. In an instant, I turned on my heel and stood face to face with him, although it was hard to call it that, because the German was about one meter eighty, so I could only face his chest.

"Thank you... You saved me yesterday" I thanked a little bit embarrassed.

"Oh. You're welcome. You know, I was scared, when I saw you with them."

"I was scared too" I lowered my head.

"But you're safe now." All the concern in his voice disappeared. "I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise. '' In an instant, he hugged me gently. I've finally felt safe.

In the end, I managed to use the radio, but it wasn't necessary, because all the "brawl" took place on our street, it was more than enough to look out the window. It's good that I washed it yesterday, the whole scene was spotlessly clean and clear. What was happening on the street was not a sight for ladies and children. A German patrol was just passing through when a group of masked youth with weapons jumped on them and they started shooting. Before Alex could put his hand over my eyes, I saw the blood in the snow which looked very familiar to me. I remember him whispering some words of surprise and disbelief, as I was still speechless by the sight of scarlet liquid on the snow.

Suddenly I remembered something. Mateusz still hadn't come home, which meant he had to be down there somewhere...