The Price of Love

The barn door creaked open, and the beam of a flashlight cut through the darkness. Elise's heart pounded as she heard the harsh voices of German soldiers. They were searching for something - or someone.

James's grip on her hand tightened, and he whispered, "Stay here. Don't come out, no matter what."

Before Elise could protest, he slipped out of the cellar and into the shadows. She heard the sound of a scuffle, followed by a shout and the crack of a rifle. Tears streamed down her face as she pressed her hand to her mouth, stifling a sob.

The soldiers left, dragging James with them. Elise waited until the sound of their footsteps faded before she emerged from the cellar. The barn was empty, save for a few drops of blood on the straw-covered floor.

For days, Elise searched for any sign of James, but he was gone. The village was silent, the people too afraid to speak of what had happened. Elise's heart ached with a pain she had never known, but she refused to give up hope.