The guard let Anna fall to her knees and watched her as she crawled across to her mother's lifeless body. Anna reached out a trembling hand to her mother's face, unable to contain her sobs. She turned her over, in some vain hope that she was still breathing. Instead, she recoiled in horror.

Rachel's eyes were glassy and dead, one of them barely visible where her skull had caved in. Her mouth was open and bloody, her jaw askew. That wasn't her mother anymore.

Anna wanted to try and hold her, in some way say goodbye. But the woman that she loved was gone, and all that remained was this mangled, empty shell. Anna felt hollow, the sounds around her dulled as though she was under water. She didn't notice the guard lean down and snatch the papers from her mother's clenched fist.

He looked them over with a furrowed brow as his comrade wiped his truncheon on Rachel's skirt before he too came to look.

'She really isn't a Jew,' said the first guard.

The second shorter guard snatched it from his hand. 'Interesting.' He peered at Anna over the top of the papers.

'We should tell someone,' said the first.

The second raised an eyebrow at him. 'No sense in that,' he said. 'I've a much better use for her.'

'But she's one of us?!' protested the first.

'Look at how she's crying over that,' said the second. 'You really think she's one of us?'

The first fell silent.

'Get the others ready,' said the second, putting the papers in his pocket. 'I doubt we'll find any more.'

The first nodded to the other three terrified women and gestured for them to move. The second guard now grabbed Anna's arm, his nails dug into her flesh.

As though waking up from a dream, Anna could hear her sister crying. She shot up and tried frantically to run to Elli. The guard held her back. Anna and Elli strained towards one another across their mother's body, desperate for comfort. The woman holding Elli pinned her arm down, whispering something in her ear.

Still crying, Elli's arm dropped, their eyes locked for a moment. Elli gave one small wave and turned away from Anna into this stranger's embrace.

Anna screamed Elli's name and fought with all her might to get away from the guard that subdued her. He grabbed her by the hair and forced her gaze downward. At the sight of Rachel's face, Anna fell silent as the urge to vomit swirled in the pit of her stomach.

'Do you want to end up like that?' he spat.

Anna said nothing as he pushed her face closer to the gore and viscera.

'Then be quiet,' he snapped and pulled her to her feet.

Anna allowed him to haul her away, a final glimpse of Elli's sorrowful little face firmly in her mind before she blended into the sea of others.

The guard dragged Anna to meet the other guard and three women, who had walked a little way ahead. He got her to stand up straight at the back of the line, a glared fixed on her.

'Will you cooperate?' he asked, 'or do I have to strike you?'

Anna nodded making sure to avoid his gaze.

He gestured for the strange procession set off again and maintained a solid grip on her arm the entire way, as if she might slip away at any moment. He led her and the other few women around the back of a long wooden hut, where several men all brandishing Stars of David unloaded suitcases. They soon passed through a high metal gate, Anna suddenly aware of many eyes watching them intently. She didn't look up, and instead stared blankly ahead, still dazed by the events of the platform.

Soon, they were thrust into a small room, the guard finally releasing Anna's arm as the women huddled together.

'Undress!' he barked.

All of them obeyed hurriedly and without question. One of the women's quiet sobs filled the small space. Anna's eyes flicked up quickly to monitor the guard's reaction. He did nothing but stare at them, clearly enjoying the power he held over four, frightened, naked women.

'Through there,' he ordered as he shoved Anna in the back with his truncheon.

He herded them towards another door at the far side of the hut. It led to a small, covered patio which overlooked a wire fence and dusty trail beyond. The pavement felt cold on Anna's feet, a strange contrast against the warm, late summer sun.

It jolted Anna awake, and suddenly she feared that this is where she would die; that they would line the four women up and shoot them. Maybe they chose them just to humiliate them? Maybe it was just good sport. Anna became resolved that she wasn't going to show any fear.

The four women lined up in front of the wall, staring out at the fence. The faraway cries of other prisoners could be heard, Anna's eyes closed as she prayed that Elli was not among them.

Suddenly, cold cascading water hit her back. She spluttered in shock, her hand over her mouth so as to not make any sound.

'Clean yourselves,' barked the guard, 'NOW!'

Anna searched frantically, finding a bar of soap behind her against the wall. She picked it up quickly, eager to wash herself for the first time in weeks. Anna turned her back on the guard, not wanting to catch him staring at her. Her shaking fingers undid the long plaits by her shoulders, her scalp grateful for the release of tension.

'Quickly!'

They obliged him and stood outside of the water to demonstrate compliance.

'IN!'

Back inside the hut, Anna's wet feet slapped against the floor as she trailed water inside.

The guard stood over their things. 'You are to get dressed immediately,' he said.

They all lunged forward for their clothes. Anna tugged at her items to pull them from the pile. She looked around; her thick woollen socks lay not too far away. It seemed silly to want them in this heat, but her mother had wanted them to be prepared for all weathers, so made her dress in layers. Trying desperately not to think of her mother, she made to grab them.

The guard stepped in front of her reach. Anna looked up at him, and he bent down to meet her eye line. She breathed heavily, unsure of how to react.

He smiled slightly and lifted her brassiere up to her somewhat mockingly. 'This can only be yours.'

Anna didn't respond.

His eyes scanned her. 'Is this what you were reaching for?'

'Socks,' Anna managed to choke out, her outstretched fingers just touching the woollen material.

He nodded, standing so that she could snatch them. 'Better take this as well.' He threw her brassiere so that it hit her in the face. 'Can't have you looking indecent now, can we?'

Her skin crawled underneath his probing eyes. Anna dressed hurriedly, strangely happy that she had clung to this small promise as she stuffed her feet back into her heavy, oversized boots.

The women were soon lined up again, standing close to one another for protection and comfort.

'Out,' he ordered, holding the door open. Anna was the last in line. He placed his truncheon across the door as she made to leave; the truncheon he had beaten her mother to death with.

Anna felt sick having it so close to her face, her whole body shaking as she fought off impending tears. She watched as he pulled a pen from his pocket and scribbled on what Anna realised was the back page of her identity papers.

He smiled as he handed them to her. 'Give this to Obersturmführer Keller,' he said, and pushed her out of the door to join the other women.

They were marched across a dusty courtyard, surrounded by a conclave of huts and a hive of activity. There were suitcases everywhere, their contents strewn across the floor. Around them, women carried large piles of clothes into the huts. Others stacked shoes together as a few men in strange striped pyjama bottoms threw empty suitcases into piles.

The four women were herded towards a small group of soldiers and two of them listened intently to one, clearly, more important officer.

This man was still young, perhaps in is mid to late twenties, with an angular face and broad shoulders. He wore an officer's hat, his white, blonde hair just visible beneath. He turned to look at them as they approached, and his icy eyes surveyed each of them in turn.

Anna couldn't help but be struck by his jarring beauty in this vile place, but his eyes unnerved her. She imagined they were as cold in colour as the soul was that lay beneath them.

'New ones for you Obersturmführer,' said the guard from behind them.

'Very good,' he said, his voice soft and lyrical. 'Those two over there with the others.' He gestured to the two women on Anna's right. 'These two...' He pointed at the sobbing woman and Anna. 'Will do for goods and valuables.'

One of the soldiers pushed the other two women towards the piles of suitcases. The other officer went to grab Anna and her partner. The guard behind her stopped him. He prodded Anna in the back, to spur her into action. She handed Keller her open papers, making sure not to look him in the eye.

He took it curiously. 'Better than two packs of cigarettes?' he read aloud and looked up at the guard behind Anna.

'Look on the back.'

Keller turned the papers over. 'Very good!' smiled Keller. He lifted Anna's head so that she looked at him.

His gaze made her whole body tremble, as though something cold slithered down her back.

'She even has blue eyes,' Keller looked at the rest of her. 'What a treat.'

'So, are we even now?' asked the guard.

Keller released Anna and tucked the papers into his pocket. He nodded, allowing the soldier to lead Anna and the other woman into the hut.

Anna glanced back to see Keller shaking the other guard's hand. She tried her best not to think about what kind of deal had just taken place and what her part in it was. She didn't want to know.

Inside the hut was a large crate with a guard sitting beside it. Around him were several women, all sorting through piles of clothes and smaller suitcases.

'You are to sort through all of the items and categorise them,' said the guard behind them and pushed them further into the room. 'Any valuables you find must go into the box in the middle. The guard will watch you to make sure you don't steal anything.' There was a small pause. 'Get to work!'

They jumped to it. Anna fell to her knees at the pile of coats closest to her. She heard the soldier's footsteps fall away and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Whatever Keller wanted with her, he wouldn't take it right away.

***

Anna was not entirely sure how much time had passed when they were all made to line up in the middle of the room. It was still light outside, but that didn't mean so much in the summer. She had focused solely on the task at hand, her whole mind numb under the weight of what had happened.

A few minutes. That's all it had taken for her to lose everything. Perhaps not everything. Maybe little Elli was sitting somewhere not far away feeling the exact same way.

Anna clasped her hands together in front of her, her head faced down towards her hands. Everyone stood in silence, waiting for something. Anna glanced around at the other women's faces as best she could.

Everyone in the line was female. They were all relatively young, the oldest probably no older than forty. All of them looked tired, but healthy, or as healthy as Anna had seen anyone look in the last few years. They were able to stand and didn't appear frail and emaciated.

The guard stood at the top of the line, in front of one of the women. He seemed to be saying something to her as his outstretched finger traced her arm. Anna looked up and down the line again, realising a pattern to the selection process; young, pretty, vulnerable.

At that moment, Keller stepped into the hut. The guard stood to attention, clearly apprehensive of being too close to an inmate.

Anna's heart stopped, her breath caught in her throat.

Keller spied her looking. Instinctively, she looked down at the floor. When nothing happened, she risked a glance in his direction. He was searching the women, obviously checking them for valuables.

Anna waited anxiously for her turn. Keller seemed to take his time getting to her. He didn't linger on the women like the other guards did, more that he paused for a long time after each one to make the next one wait with bated breath.

As he finally reached Anna, she held her arms by her sides, in a vain hope that it would make the process easier. He did nothing though; just stood and watched her. She dared, at last, to look up at him. She was met with those cold eyes and an amused look on his face.

'You're a curious creature,' he said finally. 'What is your name?'

'Anna Lehman,' she answered quietly.

'A good German name.' He moved forward to search her. As he patted her down he came across something in her cardigan pocket. 'What are these?' he said as he pulled them out.

'My reading glasses.'

'Put them on.'

Anna did so obediently. She could see even more clearly how beautiful he was.

The perfect Aryan man.

'Hmm,' he mused as he scrutinised her. 'I don't think so.' He took them off her, dropped them to the floor and stamped on them. Immediately, he turned her round to pat her down from the back. As he finished, he paused. He held some of her hair lightly in his hand. 'Such dark hair,' he muttered before he spun her around.

Anna's teeth clenched as she tried so hard not to scream. She had never been so frightened of one person before.

Keller smirked a little, then moved on to the next woman.

Anna let out a small, silent breath of relief. At least that was over. For now.

As he finished, he signalled for them all to be moved out. Anna obediently followed the procession out of the hut and back across the dusty courtyard. Tucked in between the huts was a small pathway that led to another metal gate. They were filed through. All the women remained in line, so Anna followed suit.

A guard gave each of them each a bowl with a strange soup in it. The women ate with vigour. Once the soup was handed out, the guard left them and locked the gate behind him. They were alone in what appeared to be bunkhouses of some sort.

Anna wasn't hungry. She should have been, but she just couldn't bring herself to eat. She placed her bowl down on the bench behind her and began to walk away.

The lady next to her spoke. 'Are you going to eat that?'

Anna shook her head. The woman grabbed Anna's soup and ate it quickly. Anna understood. She'd been there.

Anna set off at a great pace to inspect the bunkhouses. To her dismay, there was only one in this small enclosure. Just a singular dank, dirty bunkhouse surrounded by high wire fences. Anna ran to the fence, wondering if it was beside where the other prisoners were housed. But it was just a narrow pathway that looked as though it belonged at the bottom of someone's garden. It backed onto several concrete buildings, and she couldn't believe for a moment that they would be as kind as to house prisoners in concrete. Dismayed, she came back and sat on the bench where her soup had been.

Anna stared around her at the other women. A group of them comforted the woman she was partnered with, consoling her as she sobbed again. Anna noticed that they all sat together rather than sectioned into smaller factions. Maybe it was the protection of the larger group. In the ghetto you kept yourself to yourself, staying only within family groups. Even on the train, where they had been forced into close proximity, you didn't speak to anyone else.

'Did they come in with you?' asked the woman who had eaten her soup.

'What?'

'The person you are looking for. Did they get brought to the sorting area?'

'No, I lost her on the platform.'

'Then she'll be housed separately from us.'

'So, you think she's alive?'

'Hard to say. How old is she?'

'Nine.'

There was a heavy silence. The woman had a grim look on her face.

'What do they do with the children?' asked Anna.

'They can't really do anything,' the woman answered, 'that's the problem. This is a work camp. If you can't work, you're no good.'

'So where do they send them?'

'To heaven.'

Anna didn't know if she wanted to cry or vomit. Both surged through her in that moment. She felt faint and gripped the bench tightly for support.

'There are some children here,' said one woman. 'I've seen them.'

'But they're all much older,' piped another, 'thirteen, fourteen-'

'In any case,' said the first who was seated beside Anna, 'isn't it perhaps better that she doesn't go through this? Doesn't suffer I mean.'

'I don't know,' said Anna.

'Why are you even here?' asked another woman. 'You don't have a star.'

'I'm not Jewish,' said Anna.

'So then why are you here?' she repeated.

'My family is... was.'

'But you're not?'

'I was adopted by them when I was small.'

'Where are the rest of them?' asked the woman beside her.

'Her mother is dead,' piped up a small voice. It was one of the other women that Anna was brought in with. 'The guards beat her to death on the platform when she showed them her papers.'

A silence fell. All the women were looking at Anna now. Anna simply stared blankly ahead.

'And you did nothing?' said the woman filled with questions.

'I didn't even know she had my papers,' said Anna, her voice small and barely audible.

'Hey,' said the woman she arrived with, 'she tried. But they threatened to do the same to her.'

'Threatened' scoffed the woman, 'only threatened. If we had dared speak out at all, we'd have been killed.'

'Enough, Margot,' barked the woman beside Anna.

'She'll get special treatment,' continued Margot. 'Just you wait. Keller has already taken a shine to her.'

'And would you want his attention?'

'He doesn't take part in... those activities.'

'Doesn't mean that he won't. And he does in the beatings. All the time. He's the worst of them all so don't go wishing him on anybody.'

Margot looked cross.

The woman continued. 'This woman is in the same mess as the rest of us. She's one of us now.'

Margot backed down and turned away from them.

'Pay no attention to her. It's just how she deals with it. I'm Miriam.'

'Anna.'

'You can bunk with me.'

'Thank you.' There was a pause. 'Do you really think my sister is dead?'

'It's hard to say. Just tell yourself whatever you need to get through.'

Anna nodded in response.

'Come.' Miriam got to her feet. 'You need to rest. I'll show you your bunk.'

Anna followed her into the bunkhouse. It was dimly lit by the fading sunlight and very musty. There were rows and rows of basic bunk beds, all bare, with no blankets or pillows. Its cramped nature reminded her of the train. Except, it wasn't as damp and didn't stink of excrement.

Miriam directed her to a bed right in the middle. 'I take the top.' She pointed Anna to the bottom bed.

Anna sat down on it, her stare vacant.

'I'll leave you to it,' said Miriam, 'thanks again for the soup.' Then she disappeared.

Anna waited until the footsteps had died away, then she curled up on her bed. She tried shutting her eyes, but all she could see was her mother's body and Elli screaming. Anna finally gave into her urge to cry, letting the tears fall thick and fast. It was as though she had broken in two, her knees pulled into her chest in a feeble attempt to hold herself together. She was so alone, so helpless, completely without hope for the first time in so many years. Being alive was no consolation. It just meant the pain would endure. And if what they all said about Keller was true, then she would surely suffer even more.

As she finally fell into an uneasy sleep, Anna could only think of one reason to carry on; if there was even the slightest possibility that Elli had survived, then so too must she.