Torn Apart By A Dream

March 1935 Berlin

A few days had passed with Lena and Katrina spending most of their time frantically running around, preparing for Ethel's dinner party. Although Katrina was annoyed that Ethel had dropped the huge task of organising the food on her, she was glad to do it, as it kept her from more worrying thoughts.

Though the past has a tendency of creeping up on you when you least expect it. Such was the case here, whilst Katrina and Lena were busily discussing arrangements for the dinner party in the drawing room, Ethel was happily entertaining her unexpected, but definitely valued guest.

Of course wanting to show off to this mysterious and handsome man she had met the day before, she showed him gracefully around her magnificent town house. She knew very little about him, only that he was an upcoming star for her beloved Nazi party and that he was the perfect German, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She could tell from his voice that he was obviously well educated and was strongly built, with an impressive figure ( though not over the stop and scary). Yet despite him being perfect in all ways as he played the part of the charming gentleman exceedingly well, he had this mysterious quality to him, that both intrigued and alarmed her. She had no idea what it was exactly about him that made her feel a bit uneasy, though she assumed something may have happened in the past and she contently ignored this warning feeling easily.

As Ethel entered the drawing room with her valued guest she turned to face Katrina and Lena. "This is our drawing room, which is rather grand if I do say so myself." she exclaimed, pausing briefly before making an unwilling introduction, "Ah, and this Edwin is, um, my sister Lena , she is a, a academic you know, and that is our loyal assistant Fräulein Katrina Müller. Lena, Katrina, this is Herr Edwin Metzler, a loyal Nazi" she announced glaring at Lena and Katrina, with a fake smile on her face.

"Glad to make your acquaintance, Fräulein Lena and Fräulein Müller." Edwin smiled politely, though from the tense atmosphere building in the room, you could tell it wasn't. He glanced nervously at Katrina, who was staring at the floor with a mixture of sadness and anger across her face, before quickly averting his own gaze, pretending to examine the room that seemed to engulf him.

" A very nice room this is indeed" he replied to Ethel, who seemed to be confuse as to why Katrina was greeting this man so coldly, "I believe I have never seen a more elegant drawing room in my life" he exclaimed falsely.

"How very charming you are Edwin" Ethel flirted. Katrina cleared her throat loudly, gaining at disgusted look from Ethel and a more thoughtful and puzzled look from Lena, who was trying to work out why Katrina had reacted so.

Unable to take much more of this infuriating situation, Katrina rose from her seat, breathing heavily. "I am very sorry, but I must start heading home, before it gets too dark, so that I can check on how your new dress is coming along, Fräulein Ethel" Katrina lied, desperate to leave the room."

"Very well, it must be done, I suppose." Ethel answered reluctantly, though still wishing to impress her guest, " You may go".

Katrina sighed, relieved she could make her escape. "Good evening Fräulein Lena, Fräulein Ethel. I hope Herr Edwin you shall enjoy your stay here." she rushed, knowing that she wished the complete opposite of those words. With a quick glance at Edwin, she stormed out of the room, barely containing the tears and anger that she felt. Lena surprised by a emotions she had never seen in her friend before, looked intently at Edwin, who's eyes followed Katrina out of the room. Something was not - Lena thought to herself. They had obviously met before, and from the looks of things had known each other for quite a long time. But something bad had happened - and what?.

"I shall go and check on Katrina, I am afraid she has not been well today" Lena announced, noting the concern in Edwin's face, before turning to leave the room. Just as she was about to leave, she heard a bewildered Ethel continue to flirt with Edwin.

As she entered the corridor she saw Katrina pacing about at the end. "What is he doing here?" Katrina muttered angrily, "Why does he have to just go and mess everything up? Why can't he just use his stupid little head for once!".

"Katrina are you alright?" Lena asked anxiously. Instantly, Katrina fell quiet and turned to face Lena, her face red with anger and embarrassment.