Shadows of Courage and Survival

After putting the device in her bag, she picked up a thick book from her bed. After picking up the book, she said, "Perfect." The book had a small hole in the front.

When they were about to enter the class, Kathy whispered something in Hans's ear. After hearing that, Hans started trembling and said, "No, I won't do it."

Kathy replied, "Just believe in me and do it. If you don't, you are going to get bullied for the rest of your life."

Then Kathy gave him a beautiful origami.

Hans said, "Don't give this to me, they are going to tear it anyway. The thing you told me to do, I can't do it. Please."

Kathy responded, "You are denying me because I am your friend. Suppose they were the ones who told you to do what they want, then without a doubt, you would have done it. Stop being a scared cat and just do what I am saying. I think you like being used as a pawn."

Hans replied, "Hey, that was harsh. Please, I care for you; that's the reason I can't do it."

Kathy got angry but controlled her expression and gave a grin.

Kathy said, "Fine, if you won't do what I said, then I am going to reveal all your secrets to aunty."

Hans gave an idiotic expression. Trapped between death and the devil, he thought, "It will be wise to face the bullies rather than her angry mom." He accepted that. When they entered the classroom, Hans sat next to Finn and Aaron. The tables were organized like a round table conference, and at one round table, 8 students could sit. Kathy sat next to Hans. The first thing she did was pull that thick book out and place it on the table.

Then it was Hans's turn to act. Hans pulled that beautiful origami from his bag and placed it on the table. Finn saw that and, as usual, got jealous. He called Aaron and showed the origami to him by pointing his finger. After that, Finn grabbed the origami.

Hans said, "Hey, give me back my origami."

Aaron replied, "Come on, we are just looking at it."

After that, Aaron tried to pull it from Finn's hand, causing it to tear in two.

Hans said, "You tore it, how can you do that?"

They laughed.

Aaron said, "What's so special about that? It was just as useless as you."

Hans responded, "Instead of saying sorry, you guys are laughing. I am going to tell your mothers about this."

Aaron said, "Why don't you try it."

Finn added, "My mother is never going to believe that."

Aaron agreed, "Same here."

Hans said, "Do you think I am scared of you? I am not anymore. Yesterday you hit me with a football, but from today onwards, you are not going to do it."

Aaron replied, "I guess hitting him once was not enough."

Finn said, "Don't worry, we are going to fix that problem, today."

Then came the sports period. Everyone was playing football except Hans and Kathy. Kathy took two books with her, one was a children's storybook and the other was the thick one. While she was studying, the ball didn't fall near Hans and Kathy. Aaron and Finn came with the ball. They both kicked the ball towards Hans separately four times.

Kathy said, "Don't you care if Hans gets hurt?"

After hearing that, Julia came and this time she kicked the ball in Kathy's face. Kathy saw that the teacher was watching but chose to keep quiet. After kicking the ball to their hearts' content, they left to play. Kathy picked up both of her books and went to the teacher.

Kathy said, "Teacher, you saw that but still kept quiet about it."

The teacher replied, "Don't worry, they will say sorry."

Kathy said, "They are doing that almost every day, and you are not taking any action."

The teacher said, "Okay, I will tell them not to do that ever again."

The day got over. Both Hans's mother and Kathy's mother came to pick them up from school. Kathy and Hans's mothers were really close friends. They knew each other from university. They both were part-time tutors. After finishing their duties, they picked their children up from school. Their homes were not that far apart as well. On their way, Kathy explained the situation to both moms.

The next day, there was a parent-teacher meeting. Julia, Aaron, and Finn, with their mothers, the principal, and the sports teacher, were present. Then Kathy and Hans, with their mothers, entered the room. The atmosphere was tense.

After they entered the room, the meeting started. The principal addressed the problem.

Principal: You three, Finn, Aaron, and Julia, are continuously bullying Hans and Kathy.

Finn: No, sir, they are lying.

Aaron: We can't even dream of something like that.

Julia: They are lying.

Kathy: They are the ones lying, sir. When one of my friends in a different school got bullied, they got strict punishment.

Aaron: If you can prove it, then we are ready to accept any punishment you throw at us.

After hearing that, Finn and Julia started thinking, "You can't prove that because you don't have any proof."

After one minute of standing,

Principal: Are you going to keep quiet or prove your words?

Kathy: I have proof.

After saying that, she pulled out her mini camera. After watching the camera, Finn, Aaron, and Julia started sweating. When she started playing the video, before the video even started, all three of them started crying. After watching the video, their mothers asked for forgiveness, and the teacher got suspended. After that incident, the three were unable to look their mothers in the eyes. They even became absent for 2 to 3 days. Just like that, nobody ever dared to make fun of Kathy and Hans. Their lower school ended, and now they were in their last year of middle school.

During the self-defense class,

Kathy: Hey, did you pack all your belongings?

Hans: Yes, but you are looking more excited.

Kathy: Obviously, you moron, we are going on a joint family trip.

Hans was really broken deep inside. When he looks at Kathy, he thinks that he doesn't deserve to be with her. She was stronger, brighter, and smarter than him. She was protecting him from childhood. He wanted to do that for her but failed, and that's why he detested himself.

Kathy: Hey, we will go straight to your home because both of our parents will be waiting there. Then we will leave.

Hans: All right.

When they were on the lunch break, they heard everything going on about the war and the worst news that people started killing each other in their city as well. After hearing that news, all the students went out of control. The principal and teachers started running, and every student did the same. Kathy grabbed Hans's hand, and they left for their home. On the way, they saw the bodies of many innocent people, even a mother holding her baby, both dead. The road was completely red, but with their great observation and understanding, they reached Hans's home. When they reached there, they saw that there were no dead bodies in that area. After seeing that, they both became happy. They entered Hans's house only to find out that all four of their parents were dead. Hans and Kathy both dropped their bags from their shoulders. Hans put both of his hands on his head and was about to scream, but Kathy blocked his mouth with her hand. Kathy heard footsteps from behind. After some time, one person with weapons entered Hans's home. That person searched the entire house and didn't find anything, only four corpses stacked on each other. He screamed, "Damn it, I thought I saw some brats here. Where did they go? I came to finish them." After saying that, he kicked one corpse and left the place. When it turned night and the situation calmed down a bit, Hans and Kathy came out from under the corpses. They had been hiding beneath their parents' corpses, and Kathy blocked Hans's mouth with her hand so he couldn't scream. The army came and took the survivors; some were fine, while others were suffering from PTSD. They were rescued by Katrin and brought to Iceland. When they were attending college, Hans worked really hard to surpass Kathy. His only motto was to give her a good and carefree life. Slowly, time passed, and they both got their jobs. They both gave the good news to Katrin. In return, she hugged both of them really hard.

Katrin: I knew you both could do this. I am really proud of you. Let's celebrate.

Hans: Sure, but we have some work left in town. Tonight we are going to celebrate with the villagers.

Katrin: Fine.

On their way to town,

Kathy: Hey, let me hold your hand.

Hans wanted to do that but was unable to gather the courage. So, he said, "We should go quickly, maybe later."

Kathy: Ah, you idiot.

We return to the conversation between Celine and Kathy.

Kathy: Not really.

Celine: Fine, I understand.

Now the scene switches to the time when Hans left his room to check the kitchen. At that time, we are watching Kathy. Kathy was watching Hans through the CCTV screen. After Hans entered the kitchen, the screen got blurred. Kathy stood up from that place and wanted to go to Hans but kept her patience. But she said, "Damn it, I will wait for 2 minutes." When the screen got blurred at the same time, we see a red light from a similar device as the signal jammer held by that unknown person but in someone's room. Now the scene switches to Hans on the ground and the unknown person talking.

Hans: So you won? I doubt that.

Then Hans turned his head towards Kathy's room.

Unknown person: What are you looking at?

Hans: Nothing really.