Come Back To Us - 1. Chapter 1

That was it. This was the day he was finally leaving. His body wouldn’t stop aching, and his heartbeat wouldn’t slow down. His hands were all sweaty. There was nothing he could do to stop it.

“Be careful, okay? And eat well, even if it is wartime, it is important. I will send you food packages every week. Stay warm, otherwise, you will catch a cold. And write at least once a week, because if you do not, it will—”

“Margaret, please calm down.”

“Yes, Arthur will be there to look after him.”

Despite what they said, she was still looking utterly concerned, and it didn’t help to make him feel better at all.

“But Arthur does not know how to take care of a child properly. I do not mean that as any kind of reproach though…”

“He isn’t a child anymore. But Arthur can learn if that’s all you’re asking for.”

It was starting again, that heavy silence that was so hard to stand.

“Where is George? I cannot believe he will not come to say goodbye to Carl,” she spoke again after a while.

“I’ll go get him.”

As Paul went upstairs, Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins exchanged a look that he couldn’t decipher, even though he tried hard. His stomach flipped as he kept staring at them. Could they possibly know about what had happened between George and him? He suspected they did. After all, it had happened while they were all living under the same roof…

He didn’t know what he should think about it. He was totally confused. But it wasn’t really the right time to think about it anyway, right?

He didn’t want to see him. He didn’t want to say goodbye to him. Not after what he had done to him. George didn’t want to see him either anyway. So what was the point in forcing him to come when they knew they couldn’t stand each other’s presence anymore?

A few minutes passed before he finally saw him. His heart skipped a beat as their eyes met briefly. He was sure Paul had had some trouble getting him to come. He was supposed to make efforts so no one would suspect anything…well, this was a big fail.

He didn’t want to make any effort himself anymore anyway. It was going to become awkward. It felt somehow strange to stand like this in front of each other after all the intimacy they had shared. He still couldn’t get used to it. It looked like they were only two strangers. It was frustrating. He couldn’t help glancing at him every five seconds. It had him realise… He felt like sighing, but he didn’t. He didn’t forget he wasn’t alone.

Who did he think he could fool? It was no use lying to himself...

He only wanted to hold him. But it was too late. George had ruined everything. It was better this way. If he left.

Why did he have to have such an impact on him? How had he managed to make him feel this way? What kind of spell had he used?

He needed to stop thinking all about it. It was no help.

He only nodded at him as a goodbye. Words would be futile. Gestures would be even worse. George only looked at him wordlessly, still with his impassive face. He really had it. He’d rather see him show some emotion, how he was truly feeling. Even though he could guess how he was feeling.

He turned his attention back on Mrs. Hopkins who gave him a sad smile.

“Remember, write at least once a week, okay? And if you have some trouble, don’t hesitate to ask for help, whether it be Arthur or someone else, there is no shame in it.”

He knew how to write every letter how the alphabet by that time, but he still had trouble reading and writing words. Well, it hadn’t even been a year since he had started learning. So it was normal. But he would try his best for her.

Next thing he knew, she was hugging him tightly, almost stifling him, but he didn’t mind. It wouldn’t happen again anytime soon… he hugged her back just as tightly, enjoying her warmth and smell.

“And if you want to go back home to be with us again, tell him; he’ll find a way to discharge you.”

“Yes, remember that you only volunteered. You were not forced to enlist in the first place.”

He would. He nodded against her shoulder, not really feeling like speaking. He needed to get used to the idea he wouldn’t see them anymore every day. He thought he had, but actually no, he hadn’t. It reminded him of when he had left home, except that this time it was his own decision. It felt weird because it was the first important decision he had ever made by himself.

After bidding a last goodbye to everyone, they left the house of Mrs. Hopkins’s parents. Mr. Hopkins was the one to take him to the RAF station. They took the car of Mrs. Hopkins’s father since theirs had been damaged.

The ride lasted around 30 minutes. It was silent all the way there. And for the first time, Karl could say it was kind of awkward. He hadn’t known what to say that could have eased the obvious tension. It had him realise he wasn’t good at all at small talk.

Mr. Hopkins had looked impassive, just like George. It looked like it was a family thing.

It looked quite different from London. There were wide stretches of white.

As soon as they got out of the car they stood in front of each other, still silent. Karl couldn’t bring himself to bid goodbye to him, although he knew he had to. He couldn’t find the right words. He felt a simple ‘goodbye’ or ‘thank you for everything' wouldn’t be enough, or maybe even sound too dull.

It seemed that Mr. Hopkins couldn’t find the right words either, or maybe he was struggling because deep down he still couldn’t accept his choice.

Why couldn’t it be simpler?

He couldn’t help glancing away as the heavy silence was dragging on.

“Just come back alive. That is all I am asking of you.”

Karl could feel the tension ease a bit from his upper back. He couldn’t promise this, because he couldn’t foresee his own future, but he would do his best for him too. He nodded at the man with a small smile. He didn’t smile back, but the look he had on his face made him think he knew he could do it, like he had himself many years before, even though it would be anything but easy.

He realised he needed someone to believe in him, to trust him, and not only to think that he was only a stupid kid that knew nothing about war.

Next thing he knew, Mr. Hopkins was hugging him, just like his wife had earlier. He didn’t hesitate to hug him back. He probably wouldn’t be able to hug anyone there. So he needed to make the most of what he had left before it disappeared.

“At least it will be much better than the trenches,” he said as they were still into each other’s embrace.

Despite remaining like this for a while, they eventually had to pull away. He saw Mr. Hopkins glance away.

“You should get going now. The man over there must be waiting for you.”

He looked in the direction where he had just glanced. He could indeed catch sight of a man who was standing a few yards away from them. He nodded as he looked back at Mr. Hopkins.

“Take care.”

“I will.”

He took the little stuff he had and made his way towards the man slowly. He walked with a heavy heart. His chest was still aching and he just wanted it to stop. He didn’t look back. He didn’t have the strength to do so.

He stopped when he was close enough to the man. The latter nodded at him.

“Good afternoon. I’m Pilot Officer Edgar Huntington. I’m going to show you around the place. If you will follow me.”

He followed close behind him as he started walking towards a building. He turned his head furtively only to see Mr. Hopkins was still standing near the car, watching them walk away. He was hit hard by a pang of guilt, and overwhelmed by a huge wave of sadness that he knew could drown him.

He should never forget that he was doing this for his country, his family. To free them from the barbarian and foreign invasion. For all the poor people who had died in London.

“What’s your name again? I can’t remember it.” The man said...Edgar, was it?

He turned around to face him as he slowed down his pace.

He noticed how he had brown eyes and brown hair that was nicely done, just like George. Except that he wasn’t wearing glasses. He looked like he was in his early twenties. 22, 23 maybe.

“Karl.”

“Oh yes, that’s right. Well, nice to meet you, Karl.”

He sounded a bit more friendly as he said that.

“Same here.” The words left his mouth mechanically, like standard words that he knew he should say at that precise moment, but nothing more.

He found himself walking by his side after they entered the building.

He was shown around the whole place as was planned, which took them a while. And it was quite impressive. It was unlike anything he had seen before. It didn’t do anything to help make the ache in his stomach die down.

“Sir Cyril Newall was appointed Chief of the Air Staff in 1937, but he retired last October, and then he was replaced by Sir Charles Portal.”

He only nodded at everything he was told.

“You’re not really the chatty type, are you?” He added as he glanced at him.

Karl glanced back and then shrugged lightly.

“It’s normal to be nervous in a new environment, especially this one. You just need time to adapt.”

Yes, that was true. He just needed to adapt, like he had needed to adapt to the London life with the Hopkins family after he had left home.

They left the main building to go to another large building.

“This is where all the pilots are accommodated, what we call ‘block barracks’. So that’s where you will be staying during your whole training.”

“And once I finish my training, where will I go?”

“You may change locations, but we will see about that in due time.”

Well, it wasn’t going to happen tomorrow, so no need to think about it for the time being.

“I hope you don’t mind sharing a private space with other men.”

Did he have a choice anyway? So even if he answered that he did, it wouldn’t change anything.

“How many will we be?” He asked out of curiosity.

“The rooms are quite large. They can fit one dozen of men easily. More than that would be too much anyway, at least it would in my opinion.”

A dozen of other people would be already quite enough for him; maybe a bit too much…

“I mean we’re not all piled up in one huge room, we’re not in the trenches here. But we can’t afford the luxury to have single rooms for everyone either.”

“Yeah, I know. We’re at war.”

How could anyone forget it?

The word that no one liked to hear.

“Yes, and I hope it won’t last too long because if we get some more new recruits, I don’t know where we’ll put them…”

Now that they were inside the building, they entered a plain, but decent room. There were already a few people in it.

Well, showing him around and explaining everything to him took them quite a while, so the night was about to fall now.

“Good evening,” Edgar said as he remained quiet. “Gentlemen, let me introduce you to your new roommate, Carl Nielsen. He has just arrived today.”

The men observed him quietly. They all looked older than him; older than George. Most of them looked like they were around the same age as Paul and Emma. He didn’t greet them, didn’t even think about it at that moment. He was too engrossed in his observation.

“Please, welcome him as it ought to be,” he told them, then turning to Karl, “I will see you later, most likely tomorrow.”

Karl nodded at him.

Quickly afterward, he exited the room.

Karl remained still in his spot. He wasn’t intimidated, anxious, or anything like that. He just wasn’t feeling like moving…

He scanned the room as the men didn’t look moved by his arrival.

“Well, well, well…look what we got here,” One of them said, not in a very friendly way, but what struck Karl is how he spoke in Danish.

He looked for the one who had just said that and saw someone standing up from his bed. He was going in his direction. Karl just watched him coming silently.

“Have you got lost or what?” He said once he was close to him.

He took the time to examine him closely as he still chose to remain silent. He was tall, as tall as him; blue eyes like his own and short brown hair that was so dark that it looked almost black. He had a big nose and thick lips, a bit like George. He didn’t look friendly at all, and it was reminding him of the time when he first met George.

“Why are you staring at me like that? What the hell is your problem?”

He wasn’t intimidated. He kept staring at him without batting an eye.

“Look down,” he started pushing him with his hand, but Karl didn’t step back.

He hoped the others were not all like him. Even if he didn’t become friends with anyone, he didn’t care. He guessed he didn’t need friends.

“Hey, the newbie, we don’t want wimps among us; do you get it? This is not a kindergarten here, this is the real world.”

He didn’t reply. He just glanced away from him to see that the men were just watching them wordlessly. Either because they didn’t care or because it was the most interesting thing they had seen in ages.

“Hey! Answer when I’m talking to you!”

He felt it was going to be even worse than it had been with George…

“And stop staring at me with such eyes!”

“Just leave him alone, Dierk. He’s been here for not even two minutes and you’re already bothering him!”

He was somewhat surprised to hear another man stand up for him.

“Mind your own fucking business, Billing. It's between he and me.”

It looked like he didn’t get along with the others either…

“Don’t keep standing like a moron! Say something! I hate people who have no spontaneous reaction.”

“You don’t like anyone anyway. And you’re just picking on him for no reason.”

“Just shut up, Billing!”

He was thankful for the man to stand up for him, but he had a feeling this wouldn’t help…

“I bet you don’t know anything about flying a plane, am I wrong?”

“He’s here to learn,” the other interfered again.

“We don’t want wimps that are here to learn. We need men who are already qualified to be immediately ready to go on the front line. He’s just a time-waster. It will take too much time to train him if he doesn’t know anything about flying.”

“You’re unfair. Why couldn’t he learn? It’s good to see that there are fellow countrymen who are willing to learn something they don’t want to do as a job, but just to help us free our country. Besides, there are already many of us to help the English.”

“Stop being so idealistic, Billing, and just shut up. I hate repeating the same thing too many times.” He turned back his attention to Karl. “Do you know what we do to newbies here?”

“Dierk, stop!”

Karl saw the other stand up from his bed from the corner of his eyes. He came near them.

“Don’t you dare touch him!”

He could feel the tension growing and growing as the seconds passed. He had a very bad feeling.

He seemed to have totally forgotten Karl as he was staring at the other man with ferocious eyes, like a lion who is ready to bounce and attack his prey.

“Are you threatening me, Billing?”

Okay…this wasn’t what he had imagined at all…

“I’m not threatening you. I’m just warning you. He’s here for the same reason as us. So he’s not going to become an outcast just because you decided so.”

He stared at him still with the same eyes, and he realised this was much deadlier than George’s own stare.

“You’re growing some balls for a change.”

His tone was challenging. The others didn’t seem to care at all. If it was like this all the time he wasn’t sure how long he would be able to stand it.

“I don’t want to get into an argument with you.”

“Oh, you don’t?” Karl didn’t even want to interfere, yet he wanted it to stop. “Just be a man and stop avoiding conflict all the time.”

“I’d rather do that than causing trouble all the time.”

“Me? I cause trouble all the time? Do I cause trouble all the time?!” He shouted, addressing everyone in the room.

“Whenever you have the chance to.”

“You want trouble, he?”

If they kept going like this, they were going to get into a fight. Why wasn’t anyone doing anything?

“Stop! Just stop!”

The shift in his behaviour was sudden, almost instinctive.

But maybe he should have shut up…

The man grabbed his collar and he tried to move away but his grip was strong.

“Oh, the new baby has just said his first word.”

“Let go of him!”

It got really bad after that. He shouted at them to stop, but it was pointless…

The others finally seemed to wake up from their awakened daydream because they got near them and tried to separate them, but even with their help, it was hard.

Everyone was raising their voices. It was a real cacophony.

But a deafening noise eventually made them all come to a standstill.

“What’s happening here?”

They all looked in the direction where the voice came from. It was another Danish man.

But his question was left unanswered. Everyone looked taken aback by his sudden presence here, even the one who was so aggressive.

“I said what’s happening here? Have you all become deaf or what? Will someone be kind enough to explain what justifies such vocal nuisance?”

But there was still no answer on anyone’s part. They all looked like if they spoke they would really get into trouble.

“No one? Well, then, perhaps 200 push-ups in the cold air of the night will make you find your voice again.”

“It’s because of the new recruit who has just arrived, Sir. Dierk was starting to bother him and got angry at him for no reason.”

“You. Fucking snitch, I’m gonna kill you!”

“Enough!”

He didn’t look really friendly either. He was already starting to regret his decision…

He walked in their direction, and they all stepped away from him, except for the one called Dierk.

Next thing he knew, the man was standing right before him.

He was tall, as tall as his father. Or maybe even a bit taller. Shaved with brown hair nicely done like all the men he had met until now. He had blue eyes too. But he noticed how shocked he looked as they were staring into each other’s eyes. This was really intriguing.

He wanted to ask if there was something wrong, but before the words could leave his mouth the man spoke.

“You must be Karl.”

He didn’t look shocked anymore. His facial expression had changed in a split second. He sounded quite confident as he spoke.

“Yes.”

“I was told about your arrival. My name is Kristian Østergaard.”

He didn’t extend his hand for him to shake and Karl only nodded as he kept staring at him. He was clearly not from Fanø. He was like so many of those men he had seen in Copenhagen.

His gaze then wandered among all the others.

“Is that how you set a good example?” No one answered once again. “What image do you think he is going to have of our corps now?” Not a good one, obviously… “You are all members of the RAF, so I’d like you to behave as such.”

He must have been in his late forties or early fifties.

“We are a group, which means we all need to stay united, even in the worst times, so you’d better not forget it. I don’t want any trouble maker among my men, is that clear?”

Why wasn’t he addressing that Dierk guy directly? He was the one to start causing trouble in the first place.

“Is that clear?” He raised his voice as he repeated it.

“Yes, Sir.”

“The next time something like this happens, there will be consequences, believe me.”

He kept standing still for a few more instants as his gaze wandered between all of them again before he left the room swiftly without another word.

Well, this was rough for his first evening here...

Hey everyone!
So I'm back with the second book and I hope you enjoyed this first chapter!
Honestly, I must say I'm a bit disappointed to have only had one recommendation for the part  part of this series... Does it mean the story isn't good enough?
Well, at least I hope you'll enjoy this second part as much as you did with the first.
Teke care ❤️