Chapter 7: The Spider and his Web

Dark. Cold. The oppressive glare of the street lamps slipped between the bars of the tower, casting a dismal glow that penetrated every crevice of the the little room. On the floor, a huddled figure crouched pathetically, twitching in fear and degradation. Besides the whispering wind and the thoughts that tormented him so, Adolf was all alone...

It was so incredibly dark. So awfully cold. And the warmth he so desperately craved was not only out of reach, but gone in its entirety. Vanished into the mist with only his aching heart to pay testament. Beholden to cold isolation, he felt time grow still as it clenched its stone fist around his throat, pulling him in...

Slowly, with nowhere to run, nowhere to escape... he succumbed to the torment of his mind. In the darkness, Hitler felt his entire life before him, as if it were merely a nightmare, playing out in the pitch black, as if the very room, with its floor of icy concrete and bars of cruel metal, was laughing at him, cackling into the wind. The awful light, which exaggerated rather than illuminated his bare surroundings, seemed to sneer in sadistic delight...

He was 6 years old, shivering in terror as he clamped a sweaty fist over his mouth, trying to muffle the sound of his ragged breath. He felt sick to his stomach. Clenching shut his little brown eyes, he half convinced himself it would all be ok - as if by turning away from the world, he could shield himself, just for a second, from its ever-present tyranny. The footsteps drew closer...

Hitler curled himself into an even tighter ball, trying to banish the memory from his mind. But more burst from the chasm of his subconscious...

He was 8, singing in the church choir, as he scanned the crowd for his mother's warm smile. Where was she? She had never missed a performance before. WHERE WAS SHE?

'No...'

He was 11, standing beside a small casket, tears streaming his face as he heart shattered into a million pieces.

'NO!'

He was 14 year old  'Adolf 'Homosexual' Hitler', hiding in the school bathroom from the cruel laughter of his peers that had plagued the little boy for years. That was all he was good for, hiding. He was so lonely. Nobody understood him...

And then...

He was 29 and hospital lights were flickering above him like twinkly stars. A portly young nurse sat beside him, holding a dampened flannel to his burning forehead. Still in his ruined uniform, he begged her for news of the war, refusing to believe the admission in her gentle expression - sadness tinged with cowardly relief.

'Frau Doktor?' he pleaded.

'You must rest. You have been terribly wounded, Herr Hitler...'

'I must know...'

'O-ok' she averted her eyes nervously. 'If you must-'

Tormented by the past, Hitler found himself praying to a God he didn't even believe in. 

'Please...I can't take this anymore. Have mercy!'

Anything to stop the past that haunted him. Anything for this torment to end. And yet on and on the memories persisted...

He was still 11 years old, watching the men lower the coffin into the earth. He imagined the worms, the maggots, the fleas breaking through the casket lid, drawn to the rotten stench of death. He imagined them crawling over what vestiges of flesh remained as his brother's bones broke free of the confines they had once pled loyalty to. He felt truly powerless.

And now he was 8, distraught by some frivolous tragedy. He blinked desperately, attempting to stem the tears that threatened to erupt. His fathers voice whispered fervently in his ears, telling him he was a useless failure as always...

No, he was 14, sitting on the toilet seat eating a sandwich like the pathetic, fat, GAY loser he was. 

'Homo Hitler...we know you're in there...' called Babraham Lincolnson mockingly, 'that's sooooo sad! You should kill yourself or something! Nobody would miss you... Also you like men haha...that's gay!'

The sound of laughter filled the room like bullets, each sound wave puncturing his little heart. He recognised the other voices, Reodore Thoosevelt and Wilson Woodrow, the popular kids. He would give anything to be normal like them...

He was 6. Hiding from his father in his bedroom closet. The door swung open...

'Adolf! Hiding like a girl, I see!'

'Please don't beat me Vater...I'll be good from now on, I promise...'

'It's too late for that son...' Alois Hitler glowered. 'You should never have set fire to the kindergarten...I thought I raised you better than that...'

'It wasn't me, vater. I swear! 

'I-it was t-the...the communists! The communists did it, ja, I swear...'

'Don't lie to me young man or you'll be even more trouble. VERDAMMT! You're 6...how do you even know what a communist is?'

'I-'

'I said shut it!'

With a fearful growl, Alois slapped his son's round little face, murmuring in disgust. Adolf felt his entire body freeze in alarm as he reached to stroke his reddening cheek. There was no escape from his father's wrath now...

Finally, he was 29 once more, waiting out for the news that would change everything. At last, the nurse's gentle voice filled the room like smoke.

'The war is over. The Kaiser has abdicated, you see. We had no choice... I-it's over. Germany has surrendered.'

On and on it repeated...

'Germany has surrendered'

'Germany has surrendered'

'Germany has surrendered'

'Germany has surrendered'

'Germany has surrendered'

'Germany has surrendered'

'Germany has surrendered'

'Germany has surrendered'

'Germany has surrendered'

'Germany has surrendered'

Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Surrendered. Germany. Germany...

Germany?

GERMANY?

Surrendered.

No... 

It couldn't be!

Oh God.

No...

It was over.

Every light in the room went out.

...

It was so dark. So cold. There was no end in sight. Over and over the memories replayed, contorted into ghostly imitations of the past by the flicker of the light creeping into the cell. Years of trauma threatened to consume the trembling German. Over and over.

 And yet within himself, Adolf found little vestiges of hope lodged into the darkness...

He was 6, washing the blood from his tear-stained face when a little voice reached out to him.

'Adolf?'

It was his little brother, Edmund, a look of concern permeating his soft features.

'What's up, Eddie?'

'You're bleeding...'

'Ja, I got into a fight!' declared Adolf, putting on a confidence smile, 'you should see the other guy, Eddie!'

'A fight!' exclaimed Edmund.

'That's right!' laughed young Adolf, before adding, 'I'm a big strong boy Eddie! Don't you worry about me...'

'Whatever you say big bro! Can I have a cuddle?'

Adolf smiled in pure joy, embracing his little brother and allowing his previous worries to melt away...

He was 8, insecure and unhappy as he scanned the crowd for his mother's warm presence. How could she have forgotten...? And then he spotted her, standing towards the back of the little church, proud eyes fixed firmly on her son. Of course! Of course she hadn't forgotten him! All was good...

He was 11, standing beside Edmund's coffin, despair threatening to overcome his small frame. Suddenly, he felt his mother embracing him tightly.

'Today's a hard day for all of us,' she said simply.

 Adolf brushed her off, muttering that he didn't need her. But her words had helped a little. The tightness within his chest was still there...but at least he wouldn't have to face it alone.

He was 14, crouched in that cramped cubicle as he bullies taunted him.

 'Adolf Homosexual Hitler!' they chanted.

'You smell!' called Reodore.

'You're ugly!' hissed Wilson.

'You're a disgusting waste of space and the world would be better place if you died! In fact, I like to think about you dying when I can't sleep at night. It makes me happy! You're a piece of actual shit pretending to be a human being! If I looked into the mirror and saw you, I'd stab myself to death with a pickaxe! Or a chainsaw! Or a kitchen knife!  Or some grass! The point is we don't like you...' Babraham called...

Hitler started to cry.

'Leave him alone!' called a cool, confidence voice. It was Igglepiggle! His only friend...

'What's it to you what we say to Adolf Homosexual Hitler?' asked Babraham.

'I said leave him alone, you bully!'

'Don't make us ask you twice...' said a second voice that Adolf didn't recognise.

'Ja!' said a third.

'Whatever,' snarled Babraham, 'they're not worth it boys! let's go...' 

Hitler heard the three bullies marching away, whispering fervently as the door swung shut. Wiping the tears from his chestnut eyes, he emerged from the stall...

'Adolf!' cried Igglepiggle, embracing him, 'it's ok! I've got you...'

'T-thanks for saving me Igglepiggle...'

Hitler turned to the two other boys. One was bulky, complete with a pair of round spectacles; and the other slim, with a slightly sneaky look. The fat one smiled wordlessly, handing him a handkerchief which he gratefully accepted.

'Oh,'  grinned Igglepiggle, 'This is Heinrich,' he gestured to the chubby one, 'and that's his boyfriend Hermann...' - he pointed to the other.

'Sup' said Hermann Göring, ' call me Hermy G, ja? That's what all my friends know me as...'

'Ok!'

'And you can call me Da Real Heinrich-H,' beamed Heinrich Himmler, putting his hands on his hips in a very cool manner.

'Ok!' beamed Adolf, wanting to impress his cool new acquaintances. 'And you can call me Adolf Hitler! Because it's my name! Or you can call me 'Mein Führer'! Which isn't my name hahahahaha!' 

'Wow, that so cool...' exclaimed Da Real Heinrich-H.

'So fly!' announced Hermy G, 'can we be friends, mein Führer?'

'Sure thing kiddo,' said Hitler, practically glowing with delight inside. He tried to hide his boyish eagerness, wanting to seem unbothered and edgy.

'So...what are you into?'  asked Hermy G, his thin lips creasing to form what was clearly trying to be a smile.

'Uhhh...' replied Hitler, trying to come up with something cool. 'A lot of fly stuff really...what are you two into?'

'I feel you, ja!' said Hermy G. 'Personally, I love the great outdoors...my favourite thing in the world is going camping with my family,'

'What about you, Da Real Heinrich-H,' asked Hitler.

'I like learning languages! It's provides such curious insight into the ways of other peoples...'

'Wow! What's your favourite language to learn?' Hitler pondered excitedly. 

'Probably Polish...it's a pretty cool language.'

'Pfffft!' exclaimed Igglepiggle, inserting himself effortlessly into the conversation with a playful nudge, 'learning stuff is SO boring! I'd much rather get into a bloody gunfight! Brrrrrt! Brrrrrrt!'

They all laughed at Igglepiggle's silly antics. Hitler felt so included, as if he were really one of them.

'So...what do you like then, mein Führer' asked Hermy G again.

'Hmmmm,' replied Hitler, wanting to please all three boys. 'I like...going to Poland...'

'OMG!! we should go together and speak Polish to people! You know loads of people actually understand it there???' said Da Real Heinrich-H, passion bursting out of each syllable.

'I mean- invading Poland, with big guns!'

'Yessssss Adolf!' celebrated Igglepiggle in glee.

'And then...building... lots of camps...'

'Nice one mein Führer!' whistled Hermy G.

'You're so cool!' grinned Da Real Heinrich-H.

Adolf glowed with happiness and acceptance.

'Anway, we have to and do couple stuff,' continued the fat child, wrapping his arm around Hermy G's waist, 'but it was pretty swag to meet you, mein Führer. We should definitely stick together, who knows what glorious things we could accomplish together!'

'Totally!' affirmed Hermy G, as the two of them disappeared, leaving Adolf alone with Igglepiggle.

'Wow, you guys got along!' exclaimed Igglepiggle, 'I hoped so...I've been worried about you recently...'

Hitler flung himself into his friend's arms. 

'I don't know how to thank you, Igglepiggle! You've transformed this awful day into a joyous one...'

'You don't have to thank me, Adolf. We're friends!'

Hitler beamed from head to toe.

He was 29 and the war was lost. Somewhere inside him, beneath the seemingly all encompassing despair, he felt a spark ignite. In that moment, Adolf knew he was destined for more than this puny hospital bed. More than the stiff disappointment of his father. More than the worms, the maggots, the fleas, the FILTH that surely feasted on his little brother's flesh. More than the twisted insults of Babraham, Wilson and Reodore. More than a simple soldier, wounded and helpless. He got to his feet.

'Where are you going?' asked the nurse in alarm.

'I have to make a series of calls. To some friends of mine...'

...

As morning approached, there was one more thing that allowed Hitler to fight through the mental anguish that plagued him. Without it, he surely would've succumbed to the pain...

The thought of Stalin. His rough, ragged hands, his dark and handsome countenance, his voice. If only Adolf, could see him again, just once. He closed his eyes, sobbing with pain and longing as he whispered into the void...

'Joseph, I'm scared. You're going to save me, aren't you? Please come quickly...'