Berlin blood

“Sister, calm down, please,” Franz tried to calm Agnet, who did nothing but cry in fear. — This. It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have left him alone,” Franz sat down next to him and hugged his sister. “Agnet, you wouldn’t have done anything anyway, perhaps the stranger would have hit you too.” Come on, when Arthur comes to his senses, we’ll all ask him? — the sister just nodded her head. In the first minutes, she decided that he would die right in her arms without regaining consciousness. It was hard to convince her that the wound was not serious, that even the smallest scratches always produced so much blood on her face and nearby. She pressed her palms against Arthur’s broken head and Franz found her up to her elbows in blood, tear-stained and hoarse. — Agnet. Wash yourself, cold water will bring you back to your senses. I’m holding it, everything will be fine, come on. The sister crawled into the bathroom, her legs could barely support her, she staggered from the shock she had experienced. Franz looked around for his watch and discovered that it was already half past twelve. Will he get through to August? It was worth a try, waiting for a working day is too long. And Charlotte can more easily cope with her sister’s hysteria. Moreover, August may be angry that he was not told earlier. Franz, contrary to his own promise not to leave Arthur’s side, left him to find a telephone. August did not answer for a long time; from his sleepy voice it became clear that he had been asleep for a long time. Franz did not go into details, said that the matter was very urgent, gave the address, fearing that August did not remember where Arthur lived, and hung up. All we had to do was wait for them to arrive. Franz returned to Arthur, whose head they had wrapped in a towel, and thought. Who could have broken into this apartment? The window in the kitchen faced the street; perhaps some thief did not expect to find the owner of the apartment not only at home, but also awake. On the other hand, why this particular apartment? It is not located very well, it must be quite difficult to get here, which means that this particular place was important to someone. This is hardly a professional killer; they don’t hit people with frying pans or run away, afraid that the enemy has fainted. That is, on the one hand, someone acted with a motive and with some specific skills (how to climb walls and open windows closed from the inside), and on the other hand, without experience of violence. Agnet returned. She looked much calmer, although her hands were still shaking — while she was pouring tea, the sound of the teapot hitting the cup was heard several times and drops of water were falling. By this moment it had already cooled down, and Agnet didn’t seem to be going to drink it, but for some reason she was dangling the spoon in the cup. There was a knock on the door and Franz looked around with slight concern. I didn’t want to leave Agnet alone with the unconscious Arthur (he, as Agnet said, did not come to his senses for long, which is why they concluded that there was nothing special to worry about), when she could not look at the pale face of the victim without tears, but to send her to open the door — dangerous. Franz swore, stood up and hurried to the door. — Hey, is anyone there? — August’s excited voice was heard from the other side. — Yes, I’ll open it now. Augustus was clearly thinking the worst as he ran here. Charlotte was not with him. — How did you leave her? “He said it was for work,” August immediately realized who Franz was talking about. — So what happened? His hand lay on the pistol, as if Franz were his opponent. However, as soon as Franz took a long breath and pointed with his hand into the depths of the house, he relaxed a little. It seems that the matter is not so urgent and no one will have to be saved right now. “Someone hit Arthur on the head,” Franz August let him go forward. — To the kitchen. That is, here, to the right. — Somebody? “Apparently he climbed in through the window.” Arthur saves the light, which is why they probably didn’t notice each other right away. I didn’t have time to defend myself. The attacker ran away, Agnet saw him, but only briefly, remembering only the surgical mask. The picture in the kitchen, I must say, turned out to be heartbreaking. Agnet was covered again, she rocked the rewound Arthur and cried, smeared blood could be seen on the floor, but the towel remained clean, the bleeding stopped. — Don’t move him. “Agnet, tell me what happened,” August sat down next to him. The girl cleared her throat. “I didn’t even understand how it happened.” I was looking at the closet over there,” she pointed with her chin towards the other room. “Then I heard a roar, someone ran past me, and I rushed here. And he’s lying… She clearly held back another sob. — Hush hush. We’ll figure it out,” August turned to Franz. — We need to call a doctor. Did he come to his senses? — Yes, not for long. He said it hurt a lot and he was dizzy. They waited for me for a long time, I probably fell asleep. — It’s clear. We won’t tell Charlotte, okay? Let’s wait until he gets better and ask. The investigation is unlikely to be long. — Do you think we shouldn’t talk? “I don’t want to scare her.” Besides, we don’t know anything yet, maybe this is a false alarm. *** Charlotte woke up at five in the morning. She thought she wasn’t worried, but an early awakening and a hectic dream about a wedding proved otherwise. It would seem that neither she nor Augustus put anything special into this ritual, but something bothers her. Augustus was sleeping calmly and deeply next to him. He didn’t think much about the wedding at all; he often disappeared somewhere, seemingly for work. This was normal, the main preparations were done by Charlotte and Agnet themselves. By the way, Agnet should come soon! Charlotte lay back on the bed. She didn’t get enough sleep and didn’t want to get up at all. This woke up Augustus and opened his eyes. They looked at each other for a while. Charlotte stood up again, finally getting ready to stand, but he quickly pulled her back down, wrapping her in his arms. — August! “Well, let’s lie around,” the man spoke in a plaintive voice. — My sister will come soon, I need to clean myself up a little. Did you pick up your uniform from the cleaners? — she switched abruptly. August thought that Charlotte was already going crazy. Such sudden questions have become the norm as the wedding approaches. Various little things were clearly constantly spinning in her pretty head that could not be missed. He nodded. Charlotte moved in with him and a week later they decided to go ahead with the ceremony. August sincerely believed that everything was arranged for others, but Charlotte was clearly only trying to convince herself of this. *** Agnet, as the eldest, understood the responsibility she had. She knew that her sister would be happy and so she wanted to do everything perfectly. She tried not to remember the events of that evening; Franz and August behaved like accomplices, but Charlotte did not notice anything. — Good morning, bride! How are you? — Agnet was glowing with happiness — Wonderful. Come on in, August has gone to get his uniform and won’t be home. You won’t let me down, will you? — Charlotte grinned. “Of course not,” she took off her hat and, putting it on the table, noted how harmoniously everything fit together. — So, did you take a shower? “And I dried my hair, don’t worry, I didn’t lose my head that much,” Agnet came up, smiled and hugged Charlotte, which took her by surprise. — Okay, let’s do your hair and makeup. I know that as a child you wanted to get married in black, but I hope that is a thing of the past? “Agnet sat her down at the dressing table and, loosening her slightly damp hair, began to comb it. — Yes, I didn’t really want a wedding, if you remember. “Haha, I have no doubt,” Agnet took out a pearl hairpin from the bag she brought with her. — What a beauty! Where did you get it? “Agnet saw her eyes sparkle. She once combed Charlotte’s hair in the same way when she got her ready for school. She unraveled them when the youngest came from school. Sometimes they did this just to have fun or calm down. Agnet made this hairpin herself, promising Charlotte, who was sobbing with resentment, that when she got married — and not to this fool who rejected her — she would pin a pearl on her hair. Charlotte probably forgot about it, but it doesn’t matter at all. — I made it myself. Let’s get ready, we still have a lot to do. Charlotte agreed with her and turned the back of her head, allowing her to finish her hair. The dress was ordinary: floor-length, white, not fluffy, slightly lengthening at the back with a train. It left the shoulders and arms open, but Charlotte liked the neat darts at the waist, as well as the embroidery and pearls on the corset. Gloves, pearl beads that Augustus left behind. Agnet looked at her sister with a tender smile. It was impossible not to be happy for her. Only close relatives were invited to the holiday, so it’s difficult to call the celebration large-scale. Charlotte looked at herself in the mirror one last time and noted that she looked great. And, after exchanging glances, they went down to the car, in which Augustus was already waiting for her in his uniform. He beamed with happiness as soon as he saw her. She was great. One glance was enough for August to understand that what he once dreamed of was happening here and now, that everything he had experienced in recent years, especially those spent without Charlotte, meant nothing, like the pain that he had to bear it. — Are you ready? — he asked her as soon as she found herself in his arms. — Yes, sure! — She picked up the hem of her dress and got into the car. Agnet, looking at this, only once again noted to herself that they did the right thing in not telling her. She noticed Arthur, also dressed up for the occasion, and approached him. — Where is my brother on such an important day? — She smiled at Arthur. “I called him recently, he said that he would get there his own way,” Arthur looked at Agnet and she relaxed. — Don’t worry! Everything will be fine. — Arthur took off his cap: the injury was making itself felt and his head still hurt. “Okay, let’s go,” Agnet smoothed the hem of her bluish dress. Franz noticed from afar how August’s car was approaching the cafe they had chosen for the celebration. After adjusting his uniform, he stood up. Among the guests, he noticed Jens Filler and Rudolf Wagner on August’s side, that was all. On Charlotte’s side — Alfred and Joanna Schneider, Agnet and him. She would like to see Eva and Lina, but sadly admitted that they would no longer be there. It was difficult for her to miss these girls, they rather became part of her experience, but for some reason such a thought — to invite them too — flashed through her head. — Hello, sister! — He was the first to approach his sister and hugged her, giving his hand to August. — Hello! We were worried, but you are fine,” Charlotte said this with some concern. “Yes, of course everything is fine,” Franz lied a little, but it was for the good, so it was not considered a lie. Charlotte, looking at her brother, understood and did not insist; she walked into a small hall and was followed by Joanna, who came with an armful of lilies, Charlotte’s favorite flowers. “Joanna, dear,” Charlotte looked at her friend, who was dressed luxuriously today, silver earrings dangling slightly, short hair perfectly styled. The dress is long, but not to the floor, just above the feet, and perfectly emphasizes the figure. “Thank you, you look great too,” she correctly assessed the expression of delight on Charlotte’s face. The friend was sincerely happy for her. She always wished Charlotte exactly such happiness and exactly such a man. They hugged, and when August approached them, she shook his hand. “You are very lucky with your wife,” Joanna said this openly without hiding anything. And Augustus smiled, realizing that all this was just the truth. The guests, as soon as everyone finally got out of the car, sat down at the table and brought the dishes. What was missing: two types of meat served with vegetables and bread. Fish baked with sauce. The guests immediately started eating and everyone liked it, which could not but please the main figures of the holiday. — Do you remember our wedding? “Ioanna suddenly asked her husband, who was sitting and seemed to have come only to eat. “Yes, I remember,” he said this completely without expression. Joanna just sighed. It can’t be fixed. Well, that’s why she fell in love with him. When the guests had eaten, everyone went out onto the veranda to get some fresh air. The end of May pleased with the warmth and pleasant smells of flowering trees. Alfred went out to smoke, however, standing on the veranda and looking at how his wife was having fun, he did not understand in the least what he was doing here. He is not a big fan of holidays and he clearly does not fit into the company of these young men. Joanna, who was now laughing carefree along with Agnet and Charlotte, turned to him for a minute with an unquenched smile on her lips, and he understood why he was here. For her sake, and for the sake of her smile, which I began to see less and less now, since Joanna worked tirelessly, and she was happy. “Thank you for coming,” a voice from somewhere on the side brought Alfred out of the trance in which he was in. He turned and focused his gaze on Augusta. He remembered him when he was still young, and now in front of him stood a brave officer who had experienced a lot, however, no matter what, did not give up and fought for his little star named Charlotte. — It’s not worth it, to be honest, my wife brought me. I’m happy that I was able to cheer her up. You know, August, I have to say straight out, you have changed. For the better. — Thank you. “I am a soldier, and I will never put down my weapon,” Augustus, having said this, took a sip from his glass. “You don’t always need to show it off,” Alfred nodded to him and followed his wife’s call. — August! — Arthur came up in front. “I wanted to thank you for getting me back on my feet so quickly.” I don’t hold a grudge against you for your uncle’s death. It’s not like we knew each other. — Arthur, please, let’s talk about this later. I’m glad you’re together with Agnet. So, in a sense, we are relatives. Let’s just have fun today. “Yes, of course, thank you again,” they shook hands and Arthur went to join Jens, who was sitting with Rudolf and arguing about which was better: ships or tanks. “And I say that tanks are better,” Jens insisted, resting his hand on the table — Why did it happen? “Rudolph clearly didn’t want to lose, but Arthur’s sudden approach made them forget about the argument. So far, for them, as for everyone else, this was the most unexplored character. Starting a conversation with him seemed like a difficult task. — Hello. “Hello,” they both greeted. No one dared to break the silence until Rudolf said in a low voice: — And who is this? “Rudolph carefully pointed to the unfamiliar man. He moved smoothly, almost silently, all the guests began to turn around, because no one had told them about another guest. August and Charlotte also looked at each other, they thought: maybe one of them invited him. And then they realized that both were seeing a stranger for the first time. — August, hello, how are you? “August was immediately embarrassed, the stranger’s voice was too sweet, familiar, he had heard it somewhere, but he couldn’t immediately understand where. — Do we know each other? — August timidly extended his hand. — Don’t you remember me? I’m your father’s friend! “Sorry, but I don’t remember my father’s friends,” Charlotte, who was watching all this a meter away from him, suddenly realized that this was not the first time that this feeling, a feeling of danger, had come to her. It came from this man and Charlotte felt sick. Agnet, who noticed this, came up and gently took her by the elbow so that she could find support. — Charlotte, who is it? — Agnet whispered in her ear. “I have no idea, like all of you, like August.” “Something tells me that we will see him again and again.” “And that he is not just an acquaintance of Father August,” Franz whispered as he approached. Charlotte, straightening her shoulders, moved towards the stranger. He introduced himself as Ralph Ulrich. Franz, who was watching first Charlotte and August, and then his sister, who was now going to Arthur, himself wanted to lean against something. A dark aura hung in the air. — Well, it’s time for me to say goodbye, I’m glad that everything is fine with you. I think that everything will continue like this,” Ralph smiled slyly and left as quickly as he came. And soon the guests forgot about the strange guest and continued to have fun. However, closer to eight o’clock, all the guests had already gone to their homes, and August and Charlotte, having caught a taxi, drove to their now common home. — Listen, who is this Ralph Ulrich? Judging by your facial expression, you don’t know him. — I don’t know who he is. He seemed suspicious to me. Maybe my father had acquaintances, but I didn’t know them, but the closest ones were always at home. — I think you were surprised. — Yes you are right. Anyway, I don’t think it matters today. They went into the apartment kissing, and Charlotte, barely tearing herself away, decided to open the champagne, to which August objected to her: — Maybe you can give me the main gift? “August slowly leans in and whispers in her ear. Charlotte instantly flares up inside, a young body is young to immediately accelerate. She doesn’t say anything, as the palms are already wandering everywhere and taking off her gloves and the dress in which she was so seductive. Having finished with the gloves and dress, he sits her down on the table. She, in turn, pulls his suspenders and lets go of one of them, and she unpleasantly hits August on the nipple, to which he shushes. “I’ll punish you now,” with these words he takes off his tie and ties Charlotte’s wrists. Oh, how he loved Charlotte’s burning eyes. “Haha, you’re making me like kinks.” “Yes, I know,” with this phrase he throws Charlotte over his shoulder and carries her to the sofa. And he throws her away. Hanging on top, he kisses greedily. Taking his lips off hers, he forces her to turn her back and lean her elbows on the back of the sofa. He removes the last piece of her wardrobe, revealing her rounded buttocks. He strokes them and at the same second hits one, knocking out a moan mixed with pleasure from Charlotte. “This is something new,” Charlotte whispers, demanding more. “I knew you’d like it,” Augustus grabs Charlotte’s hands and ties them behind her back. Makes her lie down in the pillows and hits her buttock a couple more times. He rubs the inside of her thigh, hears Charlotte moan pitifully and turns her over again so that he can take off his shirt, blindfold her and kiss her tenderly on the lips. The girl is lost, feeling how hot kisses go down to her neck and then to her nipples. He holds her hands up, preventing her from touching. Realizing that she is ready and already excited enough, and Augustus himself is at the limit, he throws the knot on her hands onto the arm of the sofa. He pulls out the belt so she can hear the sound, watching her reaction. “August, please, I can’t take it anymore,” oh how he loved it in bed! When Charlotte begged and pleased him, he was simply thrilled. But he himself also liked to give pleasure. Having stripped himself of everything unnecessary, Augustus smoothly and slowly entered. And immediately took on a fast pace. He pushed Charlotte into the sofa, trying to take the right angle, and she turned him on with her moans until the stars in her eyes. The pace became even faster and, without slowing down, August turned Charlotte over onto all fours and, hitting her buttock, continued in the same vein. — August — in the last tremors before release, Charlotte squeezed the arm of the sofa so hard that it seemed like it would break. August cums and realizes that Charlotte has also received release. Lying on his side, simultaneously removing the shirt from Charlotte’s eyes and the brace from her wrists, and laying it next to her, listening to her still ragged breathing. “It was magical, August, really.” — Hahah. I’m glad,” kissing her wet crown, August understood that this was his best day. Tomorrow they have a flight to Italy, where they are supposed to spend their honeymoon. *** Charlotte Scholz is walking towards the plane, she is holding a camera in her hands, a small one. She greets two men in turn, whose appearance she will never remember. Her husband walks up the plane. The asphalt is wet, it’s cold today, she’s wearing a coat and a cute hat. She climbs up the plane’s steps, inside there are soft chairs trimmed with beige fabric, there are pillows under her heads, she sits down in her seat. The plane takes off. She looks at how small droplets flow down the glass. When the plane picks up speed and sufficient altitude, she again begins to photograph the clouds, which surprise her with their shapes. They are white and light, airy, like cotton wool on a stick, you just want to touch them, some are very large, others are small. When the plane’s wing cuts them, it seems to her that she really could drown in them. She also films the ground, underneath there are very tiny fields and houses, their outlines are lost due to the distance. She looks around when the clouds become boring to photograph. To her right sits a man of about fifty, the head of the financial department, not the last person. He is dressed in a suit, gray hair and wrinkles spoil him. He unbuttoned the top button of his jacket, as he had eaten very heavily, and was drinking lemonade. His older sister is sitting opposite, she looks about forty-five years old, she is dressed in a burgundy trouser suit, hung with jewelry that does not suit the image at all. Charlotte rolled her eyes lazily. Right in front of her she sees a woman who looks like her mother if she were a little younger. She often leans towards a friend who is dressed modestly but tastefully. The silhouette, reminiscent of a hated parent, makes you look every now and then at the couple opposite to make sure that it is not her. Both women are wearing white blouses; the one who doesn’t look like her mother at all has her hair neatly styled in short, large curls. Charlotte catches the phrase, something about the stuffiness in the salon, the women fan themselves with their palms and point to each other at the boiling white clouds in the window. The word “Italy” flashes through, the women smile, wrinkles radiantly run across their eyes. Charlotte again turns the camera to the window, behind which the river is now visible, it flows from the west and is quite wide, it goes smoothly, but a little later it goes in a zigzag, trees are on the left and right sides of it, but some houses are also visible. The sun immediately disappeared behind a dense layer of clouds. Sometimes, like searchlight rays in the blackness of the night, heavenly staircases fall through the clouds; on the ground they are reflected as bright colored spots. Mountains were also visible, small and densely covered with greenery. The girl took off the wing, it was metal and large, with two engines that rotated at high speed, creating a deafening roar. They are landing. The girl smiled and put the camera down.