(Blood Boiling, Shapeshifting)

CLAUDIA

In outermost fear and nightmare, I was glued to where I stood. I couldn't move or say anything. I looked fixedly at father as mother ran up to him and lifted his head. They tried to hold her back, but they couldn't. Not when she saw her husband lying down in front of her. “Horst!” Her voice filled with pain and agony. She cried so loud that her tears filled the air of the hall, hitting the walls aggressively, and bouncing back to hit our ears. I felt my whole world crumble as I watched my mother lift his hand. His hand fell back to the floor lifelessly and a single tear rolled down my cheeks.

“No! You can’t be dead, Horst! No!” Mother yelled as some men grabbed her by the hand and dragged her away from father. I felt my throat and stomach tighten up, more tears welled up in my eyes, and I began to shiver like I was thrown into the freezer. “Father.” A word finally found its way out of my stuck mouth and mind. I blinked and tears streamed down my face.

“Father!” I lifted my