Come Back To Us - 45. Chapter 45

Karl thought Manu would be mad after what happened, but he kept pretending he hadn’t seen a thing. Clément kept avoiding him. He managed to find himself face to face with him at one point in the tunnels.

“I’m sorry.”

Clément avoided eye contact. Karl’s eyes widened as he didn’t try to go away. Had he tried, he would have held him back anyway.

There was an awkward silence that lasted for a while and he couldn’t take it anymore.

“I really am, please. I didn’t know what I was doing,” he sounded desperate as the words left his mouth.

As Clément was still avoiding his gaze, he sighed at last, and looked up at him.

“C’est bon, c’est pas grave. Je peux comprendre, tu sais. T’étais juste paumé et en détresse vu ta situation. Je t’en veux pas, c’est juste que…” he paused as he hesitated. “J’avais peur que tu veuilles plus…” It’s all good, it’s alright. I can understand, you know. You were just lost and distressed given your situation. I’m not mad at you, it’s just that…I was afraid you wanted more…

There it was again, that awkward silence.

“Enfin, je pensais pas que toi aussi…” Well, I didn’t think you too…

The intense look they exchanged was enough for him to understand. He hadn’t thought he could like males. Well, he didn’t. He only loved one of them in spite of himself. And it wasn’t written on his face.

“Manu nous attend. Il faut qu’on y aille.” Manu is waiting for us. We have to go.

He felt nauseous all of a sudden. He had a bad feeling. But he decided to shake it off. He followed Clément wordlessly and soon they entered the room where they were used to gathering.

Manu was standing across from them, his gaze emotionless and he reminded him of George that way. He swallowed nervously as their eyes met for a brief moment.

“Bon, je vais essayer d’être le plus concis possible. Le danois va enfin pouvoir rentrer en Angleterre. J’ai trouvé un homme avec un bateau qui lui fera traverser la Manche. Moi, Louis, Augustin et Fernand allons faire une attaque à la bombe pour détourner l’attention des Nazis. Pendant ce temps, toi tu l’accompagnes jusqu’au port et tu pars avec lui pour t’assurer qu’il arrive à bon port.” Well, I’m going to try to be as concise as I can. The Dane will finally be able to go back to England. I found a man with a boat who will make him cross the Manche. Meanwhile, me, Louis, Augustin and Fernand will make a bomb attack to distract the Nazis’ attention. As for you, you will escort him to the port and leave with him to make sure he will arrive safe and sound.

Clément frowned.

“Comment ça je pars avec lui? Qu’est-ce que j’irais faire en Angleterre? Une fois qu’il sera sur le bateau et hors de portée de l’ennemi, tout devrait bien se passer. Et même s’il y avait un problème, qu’est-ce que je pourrais bien y faire, enfin?” What do you mean I’m leaving with him? What would I be doing in England? Once he is on that boat and out of reach from the enemy, everything should be alright for him. And even if there was a problem, well, what could I do about it?

“Arrête de poser des questions. Tu pars avec lui et c’est non négociable. Fin de la discussion.” Stop asking questions. You’ll be leaving with him and that’s not something that can be negotiated. End of discussion.

“Non ! Tu peux pas m’obliger à le suivre ! Tu penses sérieusement que je vais accepter de partir pendant que toi et les autres mettez vos vies en danger? Il n’en est pas question.” No! You can’t force me to go with him! Do you seriously think that I’m gonna accept to leave while you and the others will put your lives at risk? That’s out of the question.

“Ne t’occupe pas de nous. Tout est sous contrôle. Et puis de toute façon, tu sais très bien que je te ne laisserai pas le choix. Le plus important, c’est que tu ramènes le danois en Angleterre. Il nous sera plus utile vivant là-bas que condamné ici." Don’t mind us. Everything is under control. And anyway, you perfectly know that I won’t leave you a choice. Just escort the Dane back to England, that’s what matters the most. He will be more useful there alive than condemned here.

“J’aurai juste à le mettre sur le bateau puis après je te rejoins !” I will just need to make him go aboard the boat and then I will join you!

“Non ! Tu l’accompagnes jusqu’au bout. Ne discute pas. C’est un ordre.” No! You will escort him to the very end. Don’t argue. That’s an order.

The tension became unbearable. It broke his heart to watch them argue like that. But he felt there was nothing he could do to help.

“Non. Je n’te laisserai pas. J’irai nulle part sans toi. Et tu pourras le dire sur tous les tons, je ne m’exécuterai pas.” No. I won’t leave you. I won’t go anywhere without you. And you can use every tone you wish to say it to me, I won’t obey that order.

His voice was calm but firm, almost threatening, but in such a way that it sent shivers down his spine. They stared into each other’s eyes intently for a while, and it seemed that neither of them would yield. But he still had that bad feeling lingering in his guts. Manu sighed at last as he glanced away.

“Clément. On n’a pas le temps pour ça. N’oublie pas. Tu es le seul en qui je peux avoir encore confiance. Alors fais-le, s’il te plait. Je t’en prie.” Clément. We don’t have time for this. Don’t forget. You are the only one I can still trust. So do it, please, I’m begging you.

The tension seemed to subside as stronger emotions took over them. Clément was looking moved to the core, ready to cry. He saw into his eyes that vulnerability, that fear and utter devotion, the desperation and begging. He looked like he could do anything to protect them both at his expense.

“D’accord.” It was feeble and lacked conviction but he could feel it was sincere. Alright.

Manu thanked him with a small sad smile. They both knew what was at stake and it reminded him of that vision about Mímir and the King’s son. The feeling in his gut intensified.

“Le temps presse. Il faut que vous partiez. Ne vous retournez pas. Et prend ça avec toi.” There’s not much time left. You need to leave. Don’t look back. And take this with you.

He handed Clément a rifle but he only stared at it with raised eyebrows. They exchanged a look and the fear was prevailing in his eyes.

“C’est juste au cas où. Il vaut mieux être trop prudent que pas assez.” That’s just in case. Prevention is better than cure.

That look didn’t leave his eyes. He sighed at last and took the gun, only to have Karl hold it as he closed the gap between him and Manu with a passionate kiss. Karl turned his face away to make it look like they were alone. Yet, he couldn’t help but glance. That sight was too much pain for his poor heart. They were holding each other as if they never wanted to let go, but they knew they had to. It reminded him of the last time he had seen George, and he felt sick.

“Allez…Si vous ne partez pas maintenant, on y arrivera jamais. Le devoir prime cette fois.” Come on… If you don’t leave now, it will never work. Duty comes first this time.

Clément didn’t want to let go.

“Je…Je peux pas.” I…I can’t…

Manu managed to get free from his grip, hands firm on his shoulders.

“Bien sûr que si. Je sais que tu peux y arriver.” Of course you can. I know you can do it.

With a last peck on the lips, he moved backwards, nodding at Karl. Karl nodded back.

“Let’s go.”

He gave back the rifle to him, to make sure he wouldn’t forget what he was supposed to do. Although he didn’t understand one single thing about their argument. He knew it was time. He could feel it. They made their way towards the main door, and Karl saw how Clément looked back at Manu before they left the room. As they were about to exit the house, Betty was standing in their way. She whined and Clément sighed.

“Betty. Reste là, compris?” Stay here, understood?

But she only whined again in response, tilting her head to the side.

“Betty, non. Tu ne peux pas venir avec nous. On ne part pas pour une simple promenade. Allez, va dans ton panier.” You can’t come with us. We’re not going out for a mere walk. Come on, go in your basket.

She whined louder as she stared at him with pleading eyes.

“N’insiste pas Betty.” Don’t insist Betty.

She didn’t look like she was ready to yield anytime soon. Clément sighed again after a moment of silence.

“Ça va. Tu viens. Allez, on a assez perdu de temps.” Alright, you’re coming with us. Come on, we have already lost enough time.

He looked so different compared to the way he usually behaved. It seemed that darkness was slowly settling in his broken heart. And it only made his own pain greater.

The streets were deserted as they walked silently. Were the people that afraid not to go out any more? He glanced at Clément who was looking grave. He must have been thinking about Manu. But where were the enemies? Manu and his group must have planned things out pretty well.

Yet that bad feeling still hadn’t faded… Why?

Betty started barking all of a sudden as she stopped, and it could mean nothing good. His heart skipped a beat as he glanced over his shoulder. Soldiers were running after them.

“Les Nazis… Bon sang, qu’est-ce qu’ils foutent là? Manu et les gars étaient censés les retenir…” Damn it, what the hell are they doing here? Manu and the guys were supposed to hold them back…

There was no time for thinking and wondering. Karl grabbed his arm as he said: “Løb!” Run.

They started running as they navigated through the different streets, hoping they could leave their trackers behind. But the ungraceful shouts echoing in the distance indicated this would be a near impossible task. They were trapped… But Karl wasn’t going to let themselves surrender so easily. They needed to be game worthy of getting caught if this was to end up this way. After a while, they hid behind the wall of one house to catch their breaths.

“Ca veut dire…” he looked horrified as he seemed to realise something he’d never thought possible. “Que l’un des nôtres nous a trahis…” It means… that one of us has betrayed us…

It only worsened as he slumped against the wall. Karl kneeled down as he put one hand on his shoulder. But Clément only shook his head in disbelief.

“J’arrive pas à y croire…Comment ça a pu arriver?” Betty whined as she looked just as shocked and disappointed as her master. “Je pensais qu’on se battait tous pour les mêmes idéaux, pour retrouver notre liberté et nos valeurs peu importe le prix. Visiblement j’avais tort…”

I can’t believe it…. How could it happen? I thought we were all fighting for the same ideals, to find our freedom back and our values no matter the price to pay. But obviously I was wrong…

Karl wished he could comfort him, but he couldn’t find the right words or gestures to do so. Once again, he didn’t need words to understand. One of them had talked about their plans to the enemy, for fear they would fail? Whatever, he was sure it was the bloke who kept getting angry and shouting, the bloke who had tortured him. He knew he couldn’t be mistaken.

All of a sudden, they were reminded they were not alone as the enemy’s shouting made them startle. They were near them now. They shouldn’t have stopped…. They were four against two. He sighed. He should have known sooner it would end up happening. Betty started growling before she pounced on them, regardless of them carrying rifles.

“Betty !”

They both froze at what happened next. One of them shot her.

“Betty ! Non !”

There was no time to get moved and remained frozen because if they didn’t do anything, they would be next. It was like that time with George, when he had found him in the bathtub, sinking in his own blood. They needed to take action, and this was their chance. He took the rifle that Clément had let fall to the ground, and aimed. It was just like with an aircraft, he reminded himself and then he shot.

Dexterity.

But they retaliated. One of them shot, but he bent down just in time to avoid it.

Readiness.

He couldn’t be quick enough to shoot all of them at once. They could kill him so easily even if was carrying a gun too. He would need a much more important distraction… But he couldn’t find anything at all. As he said earlier, they were trapped…

May the one who betrayed them be cursed.

Suddenly, he heard a whine that snapped him out of his thoughts. He straightened up as he saw Clément collapsing on the ground. What was happening? Had they shot him? But he didn’t hear another bang.

“Je…Je…Je me sens pas bien du tout…” I…I…I don’t feel well at all…

He was hurt…

“Clément?” He wasn’t paying attention to him anymore. “Clément!”

Two of the soldiers kneeled down to see what was wrong. He suddenly understood. It was his way of distracting them.

“Aaah ! Mon coeur ! Mon pauvre coeur ! J’arrive plus à respirer !” My heart! My poor heart! I can’t breathe anymore!

He took this chance to run away as quickly as possible. No, he wasn’t going to let him down and run away like a coward. It would be no use trying to shoot them again even if they were distracted. He was going to try to catch them off guard from behind. He lurked for a while on the opposite side of the wall, where the entrance was. His heartbeat was too loud and too fast.

Breathe , he reminded himself. He could do it.

This would be too risky to try to face them again like this anyway as he was clearly outnumbered. He glanced at the main door of the house. He had a plan that could work. He entered the house swiftly, not bothering to look whether there was someone inside. He was doing this for their survival and freedom. They would come looking for him since he was their main target.

He went upstairs and leant on the corridor’s wall, still lurking in the shadows. He just had to be patient.

“Maman !” Mum!

He turned his head to see a little girl and a boy standing in the doorframe leading to one of the bedrooms.

“Shh. Don’t shout. I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered loud enough for them to hear. But he doubted they understood English.

“Maman ! Viens vite !” Mum! Come! Fast!

“Shh. Please. Not a word.”

There was a lump forming in his throat.

Nothing happened for a while, but once again this couldn’t mean anything good. He couldn’t do anything to her, even if it was to make her shut up. It would only make things worse.

“Lâche ton arme. Fissa.” Drop your gun. Pronto.

He startled at the stern female voice. There was a rather young woman aiming her gun at him. Brown hair tied in a bun with a braid around it, hazel eyes and dressed with a dark grey dress.

Breathe , he kept reminding himself.

“Don’t shoot. I’m hiding from the Nazis. Please,” he begged her as he lowered his rifle.

She looked shocked from hearing him speak English and didn’t say or do anything for a while.

“Alors c’était ça les coups de feu,” she said as she lowered her gun. “C’est toi qu’ils recherchent.” She paused as she contemplated him from head to toe. “T’as d’la chance que chois pas une collabo ou une poureuse. Toinette. Met toi en position. Faut bien qu’ils payent pour m’avoir pris mon époux.” So that’s why I heard the shotguns. You are the one they’ve been looking for. You’re lucky I ain’t a collaborator or a coward. Toinette. Go position yourself. They need to pay for taking my husband away.

The little girl nodded and went downstairs.

“Toi, va te cacher derrière la porte,” she pointed at the staircase as she spoke. He knew “porte” meant door. He nodded and imitated the little girl. As for you, go and hide behind the door.

He leant on the wall beside the door as they left the door slightly ajar and the little girl was standing in the middle of the main room, her back facing it. They waited for the enemy to come in. But he couldn’t help worrying about Clément. As long as he didn’t hear another bang, he guessed he was alright. Not long afterwards, the door was pushed open and they let them come in. Even if he couldn’t see, he could imagine the scene through the door, seeing the little girl and approaching her carefully.

“Hallo?”

His fingers tightened on the gun as he waited for the right time. The little girl started crying suddenly and he took that as the signal. He pushed the door with his foot and started shooting one of them in the back. Before they had time to react, the little girl bit the hand of another one of them. Then, her mother shot the third one who immediately fell backwards. He shot the one the little girl had just bitten and her mother shot the one he had first shot. She was good at that, he couldn’t help noticing. The third one had a hole right in the forehead… This meant the one left was with Clément and Betty.

Bravery.

Never forget these three words when you will face the enemy. Otherwise, you are not worthy of becoming a RAF pilot.

He hadn’t forgotten them. He shot all of them one more time, to make sure they couldn’t harm anyone any longer.

“This is for Betty.”

“C’est bon, calme-toi. Ils sont neutralisés.” Alright, hang loose. They’re neutralised.

“There’s one of them left outside,” he said as he pointed at the door with his gun. “Another Nazi soldier with my friend Clément.”

He saw how mother and daughter exchanged looks.

“Je pense que je peux avoir le dernier par la fenêtre de la chambre,” she stated before disappearing from his sight. I think I can shoot the last one from upstairs.

Soon enough, he heard another bang. She wasn’t long to come downstairs.

“C’est bon, on peut retourner dehors,” she nodded at the door as she spoke. All good. You can go back outside.

He went back outside and found Clément at the back of the house where he had left them with the soldier lying on the grass as well as Betty. Clément was kneeling beside her, and Karl imitated his position. Blood had been pouring on the ground. She wasn’t moving any longer… His eyes started getting wet and quickly tears were rolling down his cheeks.

“Betty…”

“Det er jeg ked af.” I’m sorry.

He bit his lower lip as he looked away.

Time seemed to come at a standstill as they kept weeping silently. The realisation that fell upon him like a stone drowning him made him want to hit himself with such ferocious strength. He was the one to blame for this. They should have entered the house instantly instead of catching their breath at the back of it before they could catch up with them. He should have thought about it. How could he have been so reckless? How?

“Je suis désolée d’interrompre ce moment mais c’est dangereux de rester là comme ça. Allez. Filez avant que d’autres ne se mettent à votre poursuite si vous ne voulez pas finir comme elle. Je m’occupe des cadavres. T’inquiète pas, je vais enterrer ta chienne comme il se doit. Promis.” I’m sorry to interrupt this moment but it’s dangerous to remain there like this. Come on, leave before other soldiers start tracking you if you don’t want to end up like her. I’ll deal with the corpses. Don’t worry, I will bury your dog as you would have wished. Promise.

Clément wiped his face with his arm before he looked up at her. They had to go. Karl squeezed the tuft of grass that had become the prisoner of his hand until he pulled it up. They couldn’t even give her a decent burial as she deserved it. He shouldn’t let his emotions get the best of him if he didn’t want to get both of them killed.

“Clément.”

He grabbed his arm as the French bloke looked like he was dead.

“Oui, je sais. Manu m’a confié une mission. Donc on va aller jusqu’au bout.” Yes, I know. Manu entrusted me with a mission, so we’re going to fulfil it.

Clément stroked her soft fur one last time before he kissed her forehead.

“Adieu ma Betty,” he whispered, his voice a sweet lament. Farewell.

He let go of his arm as he stood up, and he did the same, careful to take back the rifle. He looked at the woman who gave them both a sympathetic look.

“Thank you so much.”

She nodded.

“Merci. Et désolé pour le dérangement.” Thank you, and sorry for disturbing you.

“Ça va. Déguerpissez maintenant.” That’s okay. Now scarper, will you?

They left without wasting any more time and kept running until they reached the port. To their greatest relief, they didn’t come across other enemies on their way. A man was waiting for them, lurking for any sign of the enemy.

“Ah, vous voilà enfin. Je commençais à penser au pire. Allez, montez vite.” Finally, here you are. I was starting to fear the worst. Come on, get on quickly.

As Karl was instinctively climbing aboard the boat, he noticed Clément wasn’t following him. So he got his feet back on the ground.

“Clément,” he pressed.

“Désolé, mais je reste là. Je t’ai accompagné pour pas te laisser tomber si jamais il t’était arrivé quelque chose, mais ma place n’est pas avec toi là-bas. Je laisserai pas tomber Manu. Même si c’est ce qu’il veut.” Sorry, but I’m not coming with you. I’ve escorted you to make sure nothing would happen to you, but my place isn’t there with you. I won’t give up on Manu. Even though that’s what he wants.

Karl frowned.

“Clément. Come on. You can’t stay here now. It’s too dangerous. Look what happened to Betty.”

“S’il te plait, n’insiste pas. Tu ne me feras pas changer d’avis. Pars vite,” he pointed at the boat, but Karl’s frown only deepened. Please, don’t insist. You won’t make me change my mind. Hurry up to leave.

“No. I’m not leaving without you,” he retorted, his voice firm, maybe a bit threatening.

Clément sighed. Karl started as he took his hands into his own but didn’t jerk them away.

“T’inquiète pas pour moi. On a besoin de toi là-bas pour continuer le combat. Et puis mets toi à ma place un peu. Si c’était l’amour de ta vie qui risquait sa vie pour me sauver. Tu viendrais avec moi sur ce bateau ?” Don’t worry about me. They need you there to continue the fight. Also, try a bit to put yourself in my shoes. If it were the love of your life risking their life to save me, would you come with me on this boat and give up on them?

He let go of his hands and pointed at him and then at himself and back at Karl. He didn’t understand at first but then he sighed as he figured out what he meant. The way he had seen them kiss each other and their argument. It was enough to understand why he wouldn’t leave with him. And had it been him with George, he would have done the same thing. So he couldn’t blame him, let alone force him to go. He curled his fist into a ball. But he couldn’t leave like that then, right?

“Bon ça suffit ! C’est pas le moment de faire les pipelettes ! Soit vous montez, soit je pars sans vous ! Je tiens à ma vie.” Well, enough! Are your chatterboxes done now? This is definitely not the right time for it. Either you get aboard or I’m leaving without you. I care about my life.

They both glanced at the boatman before looking back at each other.

“I’m staying with you, then.”

He pointed at the ground.

“N’y pense même pas.” Don’t you dare think about it.

“Halt!”

They both started as they turned their heads to see Nazi soldiers running towards them. Karl realised he hadn’t got the rifle any longer… He had given it to the boatman as he had been about to get aboard the boat. He grabbed Clément’s arm out of instinct to get on it, but before they could Clément was shot.

“Clément! No!”

He tried to drag him with him but his body was slowly becoming a dead weight.

“Bleiben Sie stehen!” Don’t move.

They shot him again. He shouted. The boatman helped him get him on the boat.

“Allez ! Sinon on sera les prochains.” Come on! Otherwise we’ll be the next ones.

But hardly his feet had t ouched the floor boat that his face and whole body felt it as another shot echoed in the air.

“T’as raison ! Reste bien en vue. T’es une cible idéale. Allez, on met les voiles.” You’re right! Don’t move. You’re the perfect target. Here we go, we’re setting sails now.

The sound of the firing didn’t fade away. He didn’t move, could hardly breathe, pretended he had already died, his head light, his eyes prickling.

Everything was going to be alright.

They gained speed with the wind. Soon they were out of reach to his great relief. However it was short-lived as he was distracted by laboured breaths beside him.

“Clément!”

He tried to make him sit up, but in vain. He noticed there was a small puddle of blood staining the floor.

“Clément…”

“Tu…T’aurais pas dû…me faire monter…”

You…You shouldn’t have… made me go aboard…

He tried to press his hand against the wound but Clément coughed blood… His eyes widened in sheer horror.

“Please…don’t die,” it came out as a desperate whisper.

He wiped the blood on his mouth not without trouble, but it didn’t help. His hand was shaking as he removed it.

“Ma…Manu…” His eyes were starting to become wet again. “J’ai…froid…” I’m…cold…

It seemed that life left him all of a sudden.

“Clément! No! Come on!”

His eyes were not closed, but his body was inanimate. He couldn’t move either. It was unbelievably hard to accept the sudden realisation.

He was dead.

He had to breathe with his mouth as it became impossible for air to pass through his nose. He could hardly bear the weight of his own body any longer. He cried over his dead body, unable to figure out how he could still be alive after this. He lost track of time, lost in the emptiness of his heart.

“Ça va, arrête de couiner. Ça le fera pas revenir. C’est facile pour personne de perdre un proche, mais il faut avancer, passer à autre chose. Sinon t’as plus qu’à finir comme lui.”

Alright now, stop weeping. This ain’t gonna bring him back to life. This is no easy thing for anyone to lose someone close to you, but you need to move on somehow, get over it. Otherwise, your only option will be to end up like him.

He didn’t look up at the boatman, didn’t pay attention to his words.He had to look up anyway when Clément was moved from his position. He watched as the man carried him, but swiftly stood up as he was too close to the railing with his body.

“What are you doing? Stop it!”

“Je vais pas garder un cadavre sur mon bateau. Fallait pas vouloir l’emmener à tout prix. On pourra pas l’enterrer de toute façon.”

I ain’t gonna keep a corpse on my boat. You shouldn’t have insisted on taking him with us. We won’t be able to bury him anyway.

“No!”

He pounced on the man and found enough strength in his burst of indignation to push and hit him in the stomach.

What kind of human-being was he?

He took Clément’s body back and laid it down on the floor. He remained by his side for a while. But suddenly he felt a sharp pain on his head. He fell to the ground, losing consciousness instantly.

When the light fades out, use your own light to find your way back to what you know is genuine and worth living for.

Hello everyone!
Here's the following chapter But it's so sad...
Have a good weekend and take care ❤️