You chose Levi.
Written by Elizabeth
Nothing happened. The Germans had called the operation off, but the excitement got lost in the mourning of the fallen people, and that got lost in the gray. Lost in the disease, lost in the waste, lost in the starvation, lost in the walls. The fight was the final key that drove the Jewish Fight Organization to lead a revolt. They had more fire than before, plans were made, underground bunkers and tunnels were built, more weapons were smuggled and created. They felt prepared. They felt hope. And so did the people. Things were looking good, they would be able to fight better than three months ago. Today was the day, April 19th, the eve of a Jewish holiday called Passover and also the day before Adolf Hitler’s birthday. No one expected it. This was the start of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
The 3 o'clock moon lights up the night as the sound of marching rings through the entrance of the Ghetto. It's definitely louder than the troops in January, and it shakes the ground. The Germans have come.
By then, Levi is already up. He knew that something wasn’t right and kept his gun against his bed.
Looking around, the adults have come to and hazily gathered their own weapons, no children to be seen. They had put them under the care of their neighbors, the fear of their death leading to the children’s suffering was too much.
The marching seems out of place with the panicked crowds of people running to the bunkers, the pace almost in tune with their heartbeats. Levi jumps up, gun cocked, before a harsh tug on his collar sent him stumbling back.
“You need to go to the bunkers, son.”
“What? Father, please! I have to fight!”
“No, you’re too young.”
“Mom would’ve wanted me to fight!”
It’s out before he could think about it. He feels like his heart was shot, the look on his father’s face was so lost.
“I-I’m so sorry, Fathe-”
“Levi, please. I’ve already lost your mother. I just don’t want to lose you too.”
The final crack in his voice is enough for Levi to nod. Uncle Pez ruffles Levi’s hair, a sad grin on his face, before patting his father on the back.
“Protect them while we’re gone, eh?”
Levi’s nod became automatic as he ran out the door to the bunkers. The marching became louder. With a heavy heart, he closes the bunker door and settles down with the fidgeting crowd.
Praying to whatever God who’s watching, he asks for forgiveness as he pulls his gun from underneath his coat.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
A flash up the stairs goes by and he follows suit, not paying attention to his own stumbling. He has to fight. He needs to.
Boom.
The ground shakes, Levi holds up as a thud before him catches his attention. Did the Germans get in? Hesitating, he grips his gun tighter and continues up the stairs when no one passed.
The door shuts, echoing down the stairs before he opens it up again. The cool air feels refreshing before the screaming and the shooting killed the calm. He sees a thin leg turning around the corner. Curiosity rising, bullets shot, he runs after the person. The sound of machine guns firing and a grenade detonating, left his legs shaking and his ear ringing softly.
Peeking carefully, he notices stick thin legs, a ratty dress and short brown hair. It was the girl! Feeling heat rush to his cheeks, he walks up to her and forces her to the wall as she turned, ready to scold her about being outside. His mouth clenches shut as she lets out a scream, his hand automatically covering her mouth.
Looking around scared, he feels a sharp sting on his shin and scoots back, his brown eyes locks on a gun in his face, then on the girl. She was so thin, it wasn’t healthy, but her eyes were so expressive and bright with a fiery passion.
The 3 o'clock moon lights up the night as the sound of marching rings through the entrance of the Ghetto. It's definitely louder than the troops in January, and it shakes the ground. The Germans have come.
By then, Levi is already up. He knew that something wasn’t right and kept his gun against his bed.
Looking around, the adults have come to and hazily gathered their own weapons, no children to be seen. They had put them under the care of their neighbors, the fear of their death leading to the children’s suffering was too much.
The marching seems out of place with the panicked crowds of people running to the bunkers, the pace almost in tune with their heartbeats. Levi jumps up, gun cocked, before a harsh tug on his collar sent him stumbling back.
“You need to go to the bunkers, son.”
“What? Father, please! I have to fight!”
“No, you’re too young.”
“Mom would’ve wanted me to fight!”
It’s out before he could think about it. He feels like his heart was shot, the look on his father’s face was so lost.
“I-I’m so sorry, Fathe-”
“Levi, please. I’ve already lost your mother. I just don’t want to lose you too.”
The final crack in his voice is enough for Levi to nod. Uncle Pez ruffles Levi’s hair, a sad grin on his face, before patting his father on the back.
“Protect them while we’re gone, eh?”
Levi’s nod became automatic as he ran out the door to the bunkers. The marching became louder. With a heavy heart, he closes the bunker door and settles down with the fidgeting crowd.
Praying to whatever God who’s watching, he asks for forgiveness as he pulls his gun from underneath his coat.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
A flash up the stairs goes by and he follows suit, not paying attention to his own stumbling. He has to fight. He needs to.
Boom.
The ground shakes, Levi holds up as a thud before him catches his attention. Did the Germans get in? Hesitating, he grips his gun tighter and continues up the stairs when no one passed.
The door shuts, echoing down the stairs before he opens it up again. The cool air feels refreshing before the screaming and the shooting killed the calm. He sees a thin leg turning around the corner. Curiosity rising, bullets shot, he runs after the person. The sound of machine guns firing and a grenade detonating, left his legs shaking and his ear ringing softly.
Peeking carefully, he notices stick thin legs, a ratty dress and short brown hair. It was the girl! Feeling heat rush to his cheeks, he walks up to her and forces her to the wall as she turned, ready to scold her about being outside. His mouth clenches shut as she lets out a scream, his hand automatically covering her mouth.
Looking around scared, he feels a sharp sting on his shin and scoots back, his brown eyes locks on a gun in his face, then on the girl. She was so thin, it wasn’t healthy, but her eyes were so expressive and bright with a fiery passion.
Art by Elizabeth Tran
“Who are you?”
He glances around the corner quickly before he smiles at her.
“I’m Levi. And you are, pretty lady?”
“Anna. Cut it with the jokes, we’re in a life or death situation right now.”
His grim smile flattens as he was brought back to reality, a glare at her direction. His voice is shaking as he whispers,” Exactly, so why are you here? You should be in the bunkers!”
“I should be? What about you?!”
Shocked, he answers weakly,” I’m fighting.”
“So am I!” Her hiss left no room to answer as she turns to shoot. She's definitely annoyed, her hair in her hand, as Levi turns in the same direction to shoot at an offending German. Squatting down, he prepares another speech before she pushes him down.
He spits out,” You need to go back!”
A pit in his stomach gets worse as she rises, yelling,” Look, I don’t time for this! Stop getting in my wa-!”
She couldn’t finish. She sways and Levi jumps up, quickly catching her in his arms.
“I knew it. Please go back to the bunkers, pretty lady. You’re in no condition to fight.”
He’s worried. They could get shot. She could die here. With the chaos on the other side of the building, he couldn’t stay here. But he couldn’t just leave. With a huff, he lies her down, noticing her blank expression.
“Anna, please!”
Wasting no time, he brushes the hair covering her face, grabs his gun and runs out, shooting at the approaching Germans.
That was three days ago. The Z.O.B. and the few other freedom fighters got them by surprise and it was starting to look a little brighter. Levi’s body is sore and tired from shooting, dodging, and running with little to no rest, but it’s far from over. The harsh morning light is enough to get him up and irritated. Though, he was tired, he hears the distant cries for help. It was too early for the soldiers to attack… Are they here?
With that thought, he rips the blinds off the window and stares out. Fire. They were burning the buildings! Panic rises, he runs out, gun in hand. The light from the fire, burns as much as the heat and he joins the Z.O.B. in shooting off the German troops. The fighting starts again.
So concentrated on the enemy, Levi is thrown off by the screams inside the flames. His eyes widen as he pauses his finger on the trigger. Out of the corner of his eyes, he sees his father rush in as well as a few others. Frozen, Levi feels a battle in his mind. The people need help, but the Z.O.B. are outnumbered...
Should he go in? Should he keep shooting?
God, his lungs burns. The smoke is attacking him from the inside, the bricks crumble with a small grenade and it slams him to the floor, the flames licking at his feet.
What should he do?!
He glances around the corner quickly before he smiles at her.
“I’m Levi. And you are, pretty lady?”
“Anna. Cut it with the jokes, we’re in a life or death situation right now.”
His grim smile flattens as he was brought back to reality, a glare at her direction. His voice is shaking as he whispers,” Exactly, so why are you here? You should be in the bunkers!”
“I should be? What about you?!”
Shocked, he answers weakly,” I’m fighting.”
“So am I!” Her hiss left no room to answer as she turns to shoot. She's definitely annoyed, her hair in her hand, as Levi turns in the same direction to shoot at an offending German. Squatting down, he prepares another speech before she pushes him down.
He spits out,” You need to go back!”
A pit in his stomach gets worse as she rises, yelling,” Look, I don’t time for this! Stop getting in my wa-!”
She couldn’t finish. She sways and Levi jumps up, quickly catching her in his arms.
“I knew it. Please go back to the bunkers, pretty lady. You’re in no condition to fight.”
He’s worried. They could get shot. She could die here. With the chaos on the other side of the building, he couldn’t stay here. But he couldn’t just leave. With a huff, he lies her down, noticing her blank expression.
“Anna, please!”
Wasting no time, he brushes the hair covering her face, grabs his gun and runs out, shooting at the approaching Germans.
That was three days ago. The Z.O.B. and the few other freedom fighters got them by surprise and it was starting to look a little brighter. Levi’s body is sore and tired from shooting, dodging, and running with little to no rest, but it’s far from over. The harsh morning light is enough to get him up and irritated. Though, he was tired, he hears the distant cries for help. It was too early for the soldiers to attack… Are they here?
With that thought, he rips the blinds off the window and stares out. Fire. They were burning the buildings! Panic rises, he runs out, gun in hand. The light from the fire, burns as much as the heat and he joins the Z.O.B. in shooting off the German troops. The fighting starts again.
So concentrated on the enemy, Levi is thrown off by the screams inside the flames. His eyes widen as he pauses his finger on the trigger. Out of the corner of his eyes, he sees his father rush in as well as a few others. Frozen, Levi feels a battle in his mind. The people need help, but the Z.O.B. are outnumbered...
Should he go in? Should he keep shooting?
God, his lungs burns. The smoke is attacking him from the inside, the bricks crumble with a small grenade and it slams him to the floor, the flames licking at his feet.
What should he do?!