On a winter afternoon, the cold wind howled as a small truck marked with a red cross slowly made its way down a bumpy road. Sitting by the window was a delicate girl, her jet-black hair shiny and braided into two thick twists that hung down her slender chest.
She had large eyes, reminiscent of the classical beauties in American ink paintings, filled with a spirit of beauty, though her complexion was slightly yellow. The jolting of the truck had just made her vomit. She gripped the seat’s handle tightly with one hand while the other held onto a first aid kit resting on her knee.
A red cross armband adorned her arm, still new and creased, indicating that she was a newly appointed nurse. However, she was not a qualified nurse; she had lied during her application. She was not a medical major graduate but had only attended a medical course for less than a semester at a college in the United States.
Due to the increasingly tense situation across Europe and the overwhelming number of people in need of assistance, the Red Cross was severely understaffed, and only a novice like her could take on this mission.
Fortunately, she was merely an assistant, paired with a trustworthy partner—Dr. Harrison is an American who graduated from a well-known medical school. He was tall, handsome, and kind, the ideal figure in the eyes of the girl.
“Feeling better, Gianna?” Dr. Harrison asked, his bright blue eyes filled with concern. “Our mission is very dangerous. Just focus on your job, distributing medicine and food to the prisoners in the camp. It’s best not to get involved in anything else.”
“I understand, Dr. Harrison. I will complete the mission,” the girl nodded. Gianna was her English name; her South African name was Ntuli Khanyi.
Three years ago, Nhanyi boarded an oil tanker and arrived in America, across the ocean, to study ballet, piano, and composition at a church school. Growing up, she had always followed her father’s wishes, and as the days passed, she felt her thoughts becoming richer, sensing that she should do something. So, she secretly slipped out of the piano classroom to audit medical courses at another university and even signed up for the International Red Cross rescue team, all without her family’s knowledge. Her parents and relatives had no idea she was no longer in America but in war-torn Europe.
Dr. Harrison smiled as he continued to drive, observing the charming and lovely girl, full of enthusiasm but lacking experience, which made him subtly worried.
“We’re almost there. Gianna, remember my words—be careful.”
The truck entered the gates of the concentration camp and stopped in front of the guard post. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle them,” Dr. Harrison said, turning off the engine and getting out of the truck.
She looked out the window as Dr. Harrison was negotiating with the guards, holding his documents. Two armed soldiers approached her, one of them pointing a bayonet at her. “Ma’am, your documents.”
Nhanyi took out her prepared pass and identification, handing them to the soldier. He examined them carefully, as if trying to memorize every word, scrutinizing her photo with his gray eyes. After returning the documents, he stood at attention and saluted her. “Ma’am, please get out of the vehicle; entry here is on foot.”
She slung the first aid kit over her shoulder and followed the tall Dr. Harrison through the camp’s gates. Above, the sky was filled with electric wires, and sentries with guns were stationed at the watchtowers in each corner, scanning the area. Harrison turned back to her, offering a reassuring smile and patting her frail shoulder. She forced a smile in return, relieved that she was entering as a Red Cross worker and not as a prisoner.
The winter sun shone warmly on the ground, but the atmosphere here was eerily silent, a deathly quiet.
“I’ll be responsible for distributing supplies to the male prisoners; you will handle the female prisoners. These supplies were gathered with great difficulty by the president, and we must ensure that each item reaches the prisoners’ hands,” Dr. Harrison said, looking into her dark eyes, still worried as he added, “After distributing the supplies, we will meet here. Gianna, be careful.”
Nhanyi nodded as a soldier led her to the separate camp for female prisoners. She was greeted by a young brown-haired, blue-eyed female officer, who had an oval face and a long neck, embodying the classic European beauty in her fitted black uniform skirt that accentuated her curvaceous figure. However, her beautiful eyes revealed a chilling, ruthless glint.
