Page 24 of A Song in the Dark

The daughter spoke up, her voice stronger, angry, and yet full of fear.

“They came for me at school since I am blind. Said they were going to put me in a special school, that I wouldn’t live at home anymore.

I couldn’t bear to not be with my mother.

I still don’t know how I got away, but I just knew they were going to do unthinkable things .

.. perform that awful surgery. We’ve all heard the rumors. ”

“How old are you, Helen?” Chaisley’s soothing voice calmed the room.

The young woman deflated. Her shoulders sagged and tears spilled onto her cheeks. “Sixteen.”

Rick fisted his hands at his side. She was just a kid!

Melanie sucked in a quick breath.

Chaisley frowned. “I’m glad you escaped.”

“My mother found me hiding in the sewers behind the school and we have been running ever since.”

Irene sat up straighter and found her voice again.

“When I saw the newspaper talking about you, I felt the Lord was giving me direction and that I must find you. No matter what. Please ... is there any way you can help us? We have no money. We have no clothes. We have nothing. We haven’t eaten in days—but we will do whatever you ask of us if you can just get my daughter safely away from Hitler and the Nazis. I can stay and wait for my husband.”

Helen began to sob. “No! Mama, you must come with me! I can’t do this alone. I’m scared ... I won’t go without you.”

Melanie wrapped her arms around the girl as Chaisley reached for the mother’s hands.

She grabbed them and then knelt before Irene.

“You must listen to me, Irene. I’ll make sure you have clothing and food, but as for getting your daughter to safety, I don’t know what I can do, but I will contact some friends.

If we find a way for you to safely leave, you must go with your daughter.

Give me your husband’s name, and I will get it into the hands of whomever I can to help, but you’ve got to trust me. Your daughter needs you. You must go.”

Now the mother began to sob in earnest. “I can’t leave him here.”

“Promise me.” Chaisley found the woman’s face and held it in her hands. “Promise me you will go if we find a way.”

Irene nodded and the mother and daughter then collapsed into each other’s arms crying and whispering that they loved each other.

Rick left his post at the door and wiggled around the women until he was at Chaisley’s side. “Here ... let me help you.” He assisted her from her kneeling position and leaned close to whisper in her ear. “You are doing a noble thing, but are you certain your contact will be able to help?”

She dipped her chin in a nod. “Whomever Dr. Grafton has on his list means they are willing and capable of doing just about anything.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Don’t be so shocked, Mr. Zimmerman.” She patted his chest. “If you knew Dr. G like I do, you’d be certain as well.”

He wanted to laugh at how she knew what he’d been thinking. The woman was remarkable.

Shuffling back to his place at the door, he watched as the group of four women mopped up faces, shared whispered words of encouragement, and then all stood and hugged each other.

“Let me go check the exits.” He left the room and scanned the rear of the building, where the limousine was parked.

Satisfied, he went back to the dressing room.

“I believe the crowds have all gone.” He kept his voice soft so he wouldn’t scare off the two women who didn’t know him.

“Perhaps we could go back to the hotel and feed everyone and make a plan from there.”

“Excellent idea.” Chaisley reached for her things, but they had moved with their guests.

“Let me get them.” Melanie took their bags and coats in one arm and then reached for Chaisley’s elbow. “Irene and Helen, there’s plenty of room for you in our car. When we get to the hotel, I’ll secure you a room, and you can get cleaned up. I’m sure I have some clothes that will fit you.”

Rick peered into the hallway—no one was around.

He led his group to the car and waited until everyone was safely ensconced inside before he closed all the doors, took his seat behind the wheel, and started the engine.

Once he had everyone at the hotel, he was going to reach out to his superiors.

They needed to know the truth of what was happening.

Hands shaking, Melanie left the hotel and went for a walk. Something had to calm her quaking nerves and sitting in her room wasn’t helping.

Ever since the concert on April the tenth, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Maybe it was the way Hitler’s entourage adored him that sickened her the most, or the fact that Chaisley had agreed to possibly play for him again that had her on edge.

Nothing had felt quite right until they helped Irene and Helen.

Even though she didn’t want to be anywhere near the Nazis, her tiny fire of passion had been fueled into an all-out bonfire.

Yes, this intrigue made her uncomfortable. Yes, she’d rather be back home in England. But could she stay and help Chaisley with whatever God laid out for them?

Yes.

The posh neighborhood was quiet, and the stars twinkling in the night sky gave her spirit a feeling of peace and calm.

Exactly what she needed.

Irene’s story was so powerful. So real. It put faces to those who were suffering, and the truth sank so deep into her soul that she felt like she carried a hundred pounds on her back as she led the woman and her daughter to the hotel and arranged a room for them.

How had people lived like this for years? How had the world not responded and stopped it?

Oh, sure, it was fine for those who had plenty of money, those who were Aryan, and those who went along with the Nazis. But there were so many who were hurt, starving, imprisoned, or dying.

Her steps quickened as she worked through her thoughts. Determination to help spurred on her steps until her legs protested that she’d gone too far. Perhaps it was time to turn back.

She focused on her surroundings and started.

Gone was the lovely neighborhood surrounding the fancy hotel.

Instead there were sagging brick buildings and flickering streetlamps.

The scent of stale cigarette smoke lingered in the air.

Shouts of laughter cut through the silence on the street as three men and two women stumbled out of a nightclub.

Definitely time to get back.

She turned on her heel and headed back the way she came. Her legs ached from the long walk, but she was at least a little more clear-headed than she’d—

Rough hands grabbed her and slammed her up against the brick wall of a building. A scream vaulted out of her throat, but a smelly hand pressed over her mouth. She bit at the hand, but it pressed her harder into the wall, her head hitting with a smack.

“You filthy Jew-loving woman.” The man spat in her face, and it ran down her cheek.

His German accent was thick and heavy. “I saw you with those refugees after the concert. Stinking Jews! If we were in Germany right now, I’d have the Gestapo take you to the camps.

” He lowered his hand and gripped her shoulders in what felt like a steel vise.

Something fiery surged inside her. “But we’re not in Germany, are we?” She spat back at him, hitting him square in the eye.

The man’s eyes narrowed as he swiped at his face and slammed her into the wall again. He called her terrible names as he ripped at her clothes. “Let’s see how you feel wandering the streets naked and see what the vermin of the street will do to a filthy woman of no moral character!”

She screamed at the top of her lungs and kicked at his groin with all her might.

Her shoe made a hard landing, and he grunted, his grip slackening for a moment.

She turned to run, but he clutched her skirt, jerking her back toward him.

The fabric ripped completely in two and fell to the ground.

He clamped a hand on her arm and whipped her around to face him again.

Heat boiled from her legs up to her neck and she clawed at him with her nails and bashed her head into his chin.

He drew back and roared in pain. “You—”

But then he was gone. No... he was on the ground, another man on top of him, pummeling the monster’s face.

Her knees buckled and she squatted to the ground. Her trembling fingers lifted the remnants of her skirt, wrapping it around herself as best she could. The hotel. If she could just make it back there...

But her legs wouldn’t hold her up. Her heart pounded so hard that spots appeared before her eyes. No! She wouldn’t be weak now. She couldn’t. She put a hand to her chest and did her best to slow her breathing. She had to get out of there now!

Strong, gentle arms slid around her, lifted her, and carried her back to a waiting car.

Rick.

Everything was a blur as he brought her to safety.

Once they were in Chaisley’s rooms, her whole body quaked so hard, her teeth chattered.

Rick wrapped her in a thick blanket and shoved a cup of coffee in her hands. “Drink.”

She obeyed.

“What’s happened?” Chaisley’s panicked voice echoed across the hotel room.

Melanie listened as Rick explained in hushed tones.

“We’re leaving Hungary. Tonight!”

Melanie had never seen such fury in Chaisley’s face. She sounded ready to order an army into battle. But as furious as Chaisley was now, if she’d been able to see the devastated state Melanie was in...

Melanie closed her eyes. Forced a word past her trembling lips.

“No.” It came out stronger than she’d thought it would. “We can’t leave until we help—”

“Hush.” Chaisley came closer and placed a hand on Melanie’s head. “Dr. Grafton’s contact has already come and gone with them. They are taken care of. We are not staying here, Melanie. If you’d like a bath before we leave, that’s fine. But we. Leave. Tonight.”

She had no more strength to argue but peered up at Rick. It was a miracle that he’d rescued her. How had he been in the right place at the right time? She studied him for several seconds. “I didn’t thank you for saving me. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to me, Melanie. I’m just thankful I was there.”

She chewed on her lip. “How were you there? How did you find me, Rick? I’d walked a long way from the hotel.”

The silence was overwhelming as she waited for his answer. But she could see the muscle in his jaw moving. What didn’t he want to tell them?

“The answer is simple. I was following you.”