A Man's Duty - Sound of Music Fanfiction

Sound of Music - A Man's Duty

Georg sat in silence in his study glaring out of the window. He prayed that his wife was safe and that she was okay - hoping that Zeller would come to his senses and see no reason to hurt her. He knew deep down it was a coy to try to get what he wanted from him but hoped that it would never come to this point. He prayed for Maria, that she was safe, he prayed for the children knowing that they were out of harm's way for now, and then prayed for Max, how lucky they were to have such a friend at this time. The children also sat silently knowing that their mother had been taken and no one had spoken of her for two days now. Both Liesl and Frederick knew that she had been taken and the outcome was not going to be a good one for any of them, but the little one's had no real idea where she was.

The house was silent for hours after their ordeal, with Georg being treated by Franz and Frau Schmidt and the children sat together - they didn't have words to express their feelings. Gretl approached Liesl and sat on her lap, Liesl knew that little one's were bursting with questions about the whereabouts of their mother and they wanted to know what was going on, but she hadn't got the courage to tell them anything. Gretl was the first to speak in over two hours;

"Liesl why hasn't mother come back yet?" she asked innocently, both Louisa and Frederick looked at each other, with tears welling up, they both then looked onto Liesl.

"I don't know Gretl, I just don't know." She replied hoping that would be a sufficient answer for Gretl, and not wanting anymore questions diverted at her.

She herself wanted to know what was going to happen and where her mother had been taken as much as the rest of them. As the oldest it was almost certain that both Marta and Gretl would cling to her and want answers. Brigitta sat on a chair by her favorite section of the bookcase, where she first wondered from when they met Maria. She started to hum the tune of 'My Favorite Things' in hopes this would lighten the mood if it ever could. Kurt joined her by the bookcase running his fingers across the spines of the books and also began to hum the same melody.

Georg rested by the door admiring his children, and also was saddened by the atmosphere knowing that they must be unhappy. He couldn't bring himself to say anything; he didn't know what to say. All of the children joined in unison and sang the words of the beautiful song Maria had taught them in hopes of making themselves feel happier. Georg entered the room and approached Liesl; they didn't stop singing as they had done previously upon his presence, but crowded around him hoping he would join them. He did. What he wanted more than anything was to hold his Maria once more. As they finished they all sat around their father. He looked at each of them with deep love for them all.

"How about we find your mother eh?"

A harmony of excited agreement followed his question.

The search began. He involved the children as much as possible so they would feel some connection to him and their mother. He put Louisa, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl in charge of making posters to put around the town. He appointed Liesl, Frederick and Kurt the task of helping him ring authorities and his different contacts who could perhaps get into contact with Zeller himself. After a week of hard work the posters were complete - with no word from Zeller, Georg assumed that Maria was okay, and wanted to get her back as soon as possible. He travelled with the children constantly worried about their safety; they posted the pictures around town and asked round to see if there had been any sightings of Maria. There was no luck. Max also helped by contacting his own acquaintances that he knew could have had contact with Zeller previously. Ten days had passed with no word from Zeller, or the locals. The children sat around the phone in anticipation that the ringing would prevail at any moment and reveal their mother's whereabouts. The Abbey was also involved in the search with them working closely with Georg to report anything that may help them in their search.

Max had many acquaintances that could have been in contact with Zeller over the past few weeks so he tried his best to find them and ask if they had seen anything. After a long day and eleven days after her disappearance, they found someone who works at the prison where Zeller had visited recently. This excited Georg beyond anything else, and wanted to know all of the details immediately. The gentleman that knew Max was part of the security team in charge of guarding this 'prison' that Maria could have potentially been taken too. He asked Max to arrange a meeting with this man to allow him the opportunity to find out if Maria was being held there, and what he could do to see her. He just wanted to know that she was safe, and well. Max got to work straight away as he could see the grief on Georg's face, as he just wanted his beloved Maria back.

Meanwhile, Zeller had seen the commotion surrounding the disappearance of Maria and was angered by this. He met with all of his men including the friend of Max and issued a warning to them. He stated that no contact must be made with anyone in connection with Georg, and anyone found doing so will be punished. He didn't want the public to view him and his men as evil. Maria had been in this prison cell for a long time now, just wanting to go home and be with Georg and her children. It had been almost two weeks that Maria had been taken by Zeller, with no real interaction with anyone apart from Herr Zeller himself she began to think she was never going to get out. This scared her massively; she didn't want to be here forever, especially with a child growing inside of her.

Guards rotated and visited Maria to ensure everything was okay, and nothing was amiss. Majority of them took a disliking to her straight away, on Zeller's orders, but also because she was part of Georg's family who was known to them to challenge the Third Reich. They would come past with food, and not give her any and move along to the next cell. Maria had no knowledge if anyone else was actually in this building apart from her, she had never heard anyone. Just men, marching about the grounds, smirking at her as they passed. It made her sick; she was unbelievably frail and weak due to the lack of food, water and overall comfort. She cried to herself wanting her unborn child to be safe, but knowing that the baby was not getting any nutrients and food scared her. She felt responsible. After her ordeal with Zeller that had no doubt left her frightened she couldn't look to the door afraid he may return.

With that he did return. Exactly two weeks after taking Maria he stormed back into the building after making his rounds throughout the town to ensure everyone had the flag displayed. He was fueled with hatred and anger for Georg and everyone who had something to do with him.

Maria was sat with her back towards the door looking towards the tiny square window that was located at the top of the wall near the ceiling. She prayed silently as she heard doors slamming and banging. Maria began to tremble, praying harder that it was not Zeller, but an angry Lieutenant. Tears streamed down her face as she rubbed her stomach trying to drown out the groans it was making from her severe lack of food. She heard the lock on the door tick, and clank. The door swung open crashing off of the wall behind it. She still didn't look behind her afraid of what she may see, she knew deep down in her gut that it was Zeller, but could not face him, not after everything he had taken from her. There was silence for a moment. The two bodies did not move, Maria sobbed to herself not wanting to look at Zeller, or let him now she was crying. He approached her from behind and forcefully grabbed the back of her neck.

"You and your family have caused me a great deal of problems!" He shoved her forward, as she sat there in shock but still uttering no words. The words he spat from his mouth were fueled with venom and anger.

Maria sat in silence and couldn't bring herself to talk to him, he had destroyed her, and she was once a bubbly, happy lady, now she was frail, weak and afraid of her own shadow. Zeller grabbed her by her shoulders, and forced her around to face him. His hand came into contact with her face. The sound of his hand hitting her bear face echoed through the walls - she instinctively brought her hand up to her cheek. He looked her sternly in the eyes, and cupped her chin with his hand - delivering another blow to the face, in the exact same spot. It knocked her off the chair to the floor. She curled up in pain, protecting her stomach from him. Tears escaped her eyes and fell down her pulsating cheek. She whimpered in pain, sobbing from the hurt he had caused. He stood over her towering her small frame and laughed in her face. His evil cackle could be heard as guards passed peering into the door. One guard stopped in his tracks and looked down to the floor to see Maria curled up. He stood for what seemed like ten minutes just glaring into her eyes. She glanced up to see the figure staring down at her and bowed her head towards her chest still in pain from the blow. Zeller noticed this action and darted towards the door closing it - the guard stood there in utter shock. How could her work for a man who would harm women in this way – defenseless women. Maria lay on the cold floor with Zeller standing over her, not moving. He moved to sit on the chair that Maria had occupied and let out a cackle once more - he was so pleased with himself.

"Please…" Maria muttered under her breathe, overwhelmed and exhausted.

"What was that?" Zeller leaned forward to try to make out what she had said.

"Please…" She whispered once more.

"Please let me go home – to my husband, my children. Please."

She lifted her head, ultimately afraid of what his reaction may be. She glanced into his eyes that were filled with anger, and hatred. The guard stood still by the door observing all that was happening looked on in shock. He recognized the woman, he knew the family, and he knew Max. He wanted to help – he disappeared from the door in hopes of getting into contact with Max, hoping that they were still looking for Maria.

Herr Zeller crouched down beside Maria.

"Why would I do that? We are having so much fun."

He moved his hand towards her face, and stroked her blood red cheek. She flinched in pain from his hand touching her, and moved her head back. Maria suddenly felt her head rush with stars. She felt extremely dazed and faint. She collapsed as everything turned black.