The moment his figure left her sight, she immediately bent down and kicked off the crystal shoes that had imprisoned her feet. Men always have a way of binding women’s feet, just like the custom of foot-binding that was popular in her hometown. Fortunately, her father was an enlightened intellectual, and none of her sisters were subjected to this feudal custom. However, today, in a foreign land, she has endured such excruciating confinement.
“Gianna!” A deep voice gently called her name from behind.
She turned around abruptly, startled. “Dr. Harrison!” She stared incredulously at the tall man in a tailcoat.
Harrison looked equally excited. “Gianna, it really is you! I recognized you right away, but that handsome SS officer kept dancing with you, so I didn’t dare approach you easily.”
“Dr. Harrison, I never expected to see you here!” Tears finally burst forth from Khanyi’s eyes. She couldn’t believe fate favored her; she wanted to throw herself into Dr. Harrison’s arms immediately.
Dr. Harrison embraced her arms gently, comforting her. “That day, when I was about to call you to leave the camp, those soldiers said you had already left and pushed me out without explanation. I realized something might have happened to you and immediately reported it to the president and others. Everyone inquired in various ways, but we never found out your whereabouts. So, I came here as a journalist, and I never expected to see you again…”
Harrison’s words trailed off as he noticed the lovely Western girl was continuously sobbing, seemingly bearing an immense grievance. He took out a handkerchief and wiped her tear-streaked face. “Are you alright?”
“That Nazi female guard in the camp subjected the female prisoners to inhumane abuse. I exposed her evil deeds to her face, and she covered my mouth with ether, then imprisoned me like a criminal.”
“Is that so! But now you…” Harrison examined her attire—the diamond necklace, the purple mink shawl, the dress made of fine silk. No matter which country, a lady active in the upper echelons of society would be dressed like this.
“This is a long story, Dr. Harrison. Please help me; I’ve been kidnapped by a Nazi officer.” She clutched his hand tightly; he was her only hope. “Please, take me away now!”
“I will definitely save you.” Harrison’s eyes flickered as he looked around to ensure no one was paying attention. He took her hand. “Come with me; my car is parked in the yard outside.”
“Ah!” Just as she tried to get up, the pain in her feet made her unable to stand.
“What’s wrong with your feet?” Dr. Harrison squatted down, lifting the hem of her silk dress embroidered with gold thread. His brows furrowed tightly. “My God!” He examined the wounds; his medical experience told him that her injuries were caused by something like glass. They had clearly been treated carefully but had reopened. “Gianna, what happened to these scars? Did they beat and abuse you?”
“Don’t worry about the wounds; just take me away from this place.”
Harrison nodded. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pretending to be a couple as they walked through the crowd out of the hall.
“My car is parked in the parking lot over there by the lawn,” Harrison said to her. She saw the car and hope ignited in her heart again. She took Dr. Harrison’s hand, barefoot on the grass, and recklessly ran toward the car in the yard… getting closer… she could finally escape this place, escape the inhumane torment, escape that bloodthirsty devil. Just thinking about it made her forget the pain in her feet, and she ran wildly.
As she got closer to Dr. Harrison’s car, Khanyi felt like a sprinter, putting all her strength into the sprint. The car was right in front of her; as long as Dr. Harrison started the engine, she could leave this den of evil.
She ran swiftly, only hearing the rushing wind in her ears when suddenly, there was a muffled “bang,” as if it came from the heavens.
