Star Crossed Enemies

Chapter 8

Mark was sitting in his room, staring at the ceiling when a raspy yell outside broke him from his thoughts. "You stupid girl" and "Nazi lover" are the only audible words he could make out. Mark shot up from the bed and quickly walked out of the room. 

"What do you think you are doing?" screeched Helen. 

Mark quickly turned around and gave a sharp look at Helen before putting his finger to his lips. Taken aback, Helen kept her mouth shut and stayed rooted to the spot as the voices grew louder. Mark opened the front door quietly and squinted through the snow. 

"Aunt Karoline, please," cried Hazel.

"You listen to your father and get that Nazi out!" yelled Aunt Karoline.

"No," said Hazel in a trembling voice.

"What did you say, Girl? What did you say, you idiotic child?" asked Aunt Karoline.

Aunt Karoline grabbed Hazel's arms roughly and started to shake her. Hazel's long curls bounced in the air from the violent movements.

"What did you say?" yelled Aunt Karoline.

"I said no!" yelled Hazel.

Aunt Karoline pulled back her hand and slapped Hazel's cheek. Hazel's head spun to the side from the sudden force. She put a hand on her cheek, stumbling back from her Aunt who was pulling back her hand to strike again. Mark ran out in the snow and put himself in front of Hazel. He towered over the middle-aged woman, staring down at her in outrage.

"Don't you ever lay a hand on Hazel again," he said in a vicious tone.

Mark felt his body heave with his every breath as the older woman stared up at him with terrified eyes.

"Nazi," said Aunt Karoline under her breath.

"That's right. Nazi," said Mark as he continued to stare down at her.

Tripping over her own feet, Aunt Karoline ran to the other cottage and scuttled inside. Mark spun around as Aunt Karoline disappeared and saw Hazel was staring at the ground. 

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Hazel didn't respond. Her tear stained face said enough. Mark moved her hand away from her cheek to see the growing red mark from the blow of her Aunt's hand.

"Let's get inside," he said softly.

Mark gently put a hand on her shoulder and led her back to the cottage with Helen following closely. He looked back at Hazel to see she was still staring at the ground.

"Hazel?" 

"I–I'm–" 

"Come on," he said, leading her to the bedroom.

Mark gently pushed her shoulders down so that she would sit on the bed. He knelt in front of her. Soundless tears were streaming down her face. Hazel threw her hand over her reddened cheek to hide it as she continued to stare at the floor. Helen crouched down in front of Hazel, not seemingly bothered by Mark, and took her hand in hers.

"Hazel?" she asked gently.

"My family banished me. They don't consider me a family member anymore."

Mark felt a tug in his chest from those words. He knew it was because of him. 

"Forever?" he asked.

Hazel nodded. Mark felt guilt overwhelm him. A feeling he was surprised to experience. 

"I'm sorry. I'll leave tomorrow morning."

Hazel looked at him, her eyes wide in protest.

"No, don't. It won't matter anyway. Aunt Karoline has already told my family her version of what happened outside."

Hazel paused for a moment. Her watery eyes looked at him curiously before she asked, "Why did you do that?"

Mark had been trying to answer that himself. He paused in deep thought as both Hazel and Helen stared at him, waiting for his response.

"Something came over me. Like I told you before," he answered quietly. 

"Humanity?" she whispered.

Mark met her gaze and nodded quietly. 

"What happened earlier? I've never seen your Aunt so infuriated," asked Helen.

Hazel told the story exactly as it happened. She buried her head in her hands and let the emotions turn into tears once she couldn't bear the heartbreak anymore. Mark sat quietly as she worked on regaining her composure. He handed her a handkerchief from his pocket and watched as she dabbed her wet face.

"I want to apologize for what I said about you. And, about Jews," said Mark.

Hazel looked up at him with wide eyes. She looked past him to Helen, who was now standing at the doorway after pacing the room. Helen held the same shocked expression.

"I don't understand," said Helen looking directly at Mark. 

Mark turned to look at Helen. She seemed embarrassed to have spoken her thoughts out loud. 

"Hazel's kindness has made me realize I have been missing my humanity. I have been cruel with no regard to Hazel's bravery and sacrifice. After careful reflection, I truly regret how I have treated her when she has done nothing but attentive to my health."

Helen's mouth dropped open. She stood rooted to the spot and stammered at the next words she wanted to say.

"Look, I'm sorry I've b–" started Helen.

"No, I should be the one that's sorry, and I am."

A knock on the front door echoed through the cottage. 

"Helen, you can get that. I'll make my way to the front room," said Hazel quickly.

Helen briskly walked down the hallway while Mark hovered over Hazel as she slowly walked to the living room. Helen opened the door revealing Gertrude at the doorway. Gertrude rushed in, panic written on her face.

"Hazel, wh–" she stopped short from the sight of Mark.

"Gertrude, he can be trusted," said Hazel.

"That's not what Karoline said. She said that Mark tried to kill her!" squeaked Gertrude.

Hazel sighed and looked at Helen. Helen nodded and recounted what had actually happened. When Helen finished, Gertrude sat down on the chair behind her. She placed her delicate hand on her temple as if she was trying to grasp what she had just heard. She looked back up at Mark and Hazel in disbelief.

"What are you going to do, Hazel?" asked Gertrude.

"I don't know. I can't show my face to my family again."

"And Mark didn't try to kill Karoline?" 

"No, he saved me from her."

Gertrude looked at Mark again.

"Thank you," she said curtly. 

Mark nodded and glanced at Hazel. She was aimlessly massaging her sore cheek. He was worried at any moment she was going to topple over from the shock of everything that had occurred today. He kept his hand at her arm to keep her steady. He was glad he did when another knock at the door sent a shockwave through her, making her lean back in surprise.