Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild,
Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen,
Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild
Soll mein Gebet zu dir hin wehen.
Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen,
Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind.
O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen,
O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind!
Ave Maria!

Wolf sat back, reclined on the heavy leather sofa. The cigarette remained perched between his lips. Eyes shut. White blonde hair was slicked back away from his face, though a strand had escaped and now rested down his brow. His jaw tightened a moment, squaring even further before loosening allowing his lips to part and softly blow the smoke from his mouth. The smoke drifted upward into the already smoke laden train carriage.

Ave Maria! Unbefleckt!
Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken
Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeckt
Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken.
Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen
In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft,
O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen,
O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft!
Ave Maria!

Heaving a sigh the male moved slightly, swinging his arms back he propped them on either side of the back of the sofa. The train trundled forward, expelling a wheezing whistle before silencing itself and trundling once again. He attempted to shut the sound of the iron horse out from his mind and focus on the static radio in the corner atop the mahogany chest. Inhaling deeply he pulled on the cigarette once more allowing the purity of the nicotine to refill his senses. His mother had always scolded him for smoking, a habit she had claimed was worse than his father's 'ridiculous drinking'.

Ave Maria! Reine Magd!
Der Erde und der Luft Dämonen,
Von deines Auges Huld verjagt,
Sie können hier nicht bei uns wohnen,
Wir woll'n uns still dem Schicksal beugen,
Da uns dein heil'ger Trost anweht;
Der Jungfrau wolle hold dich neigen,
Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht.
Ave Maria!

The train heaved another whistle. Surely they must be approaching their destination by now? Slowly his eyes drew open as the record spun loose atop the gramophone. Wolf took in the lavish train car that surrounded him. Dark woods, heavy leathers and a red deluxe rug that spread across the floor beneath his shined leather boots. His eyes drifted to the elongated window on the left hand side of the car that opposed him. The German countryside flashed past. Drawing his arms down off the back of the sofa the man uncrossed his left leg from atop his right and stood tall. With a simple tug he straightened the grey uniform and took a step forward. That was all it took to cross the carriage. Lifting an arm he rested it over the window before using his other to finally draw the cigarette from his mouth. As he expelled the smoke it washed over glass before dissipating quickly. Wolf watched the country, a flash of red caught his eye. His eyes flickered left. He noted the band wrapped about his bicep. Red with the black swastika. Once he had thought the political ideals true-there was purpose and point. Now? It was all wrong-the methods were cruel and Hitler had to be stopped. Wolf was not only a German, an Aryan , to many, and a Nazi but he was something else entirely also. He belonged to another brotherhood which held its own creed. Ever since the violation of the Treaty of Versailles Wolf had had enough. Every human had the right to their freedom and no one should have it stripped from them-yes in his need to hold true to his Fuhrer Wolf had committed sins he was not proud of and now he was to make amends. Through conversations with a certain Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg Wolf was here now to see Hitler fall. For now, however, the man focused on his reflection in the glass. Tall, slim, blonde, blue eyed and scarred. The elongated serated mark that ran down the length of the left hand side of his face was still jarring no matter how many times he looked at it. Turning Wolf brought the cigarette to his lips again taking a last drag from it as he crossed the carriage back toward the sofa. Extracting the cigarette from his mouth he leant down and dabbed it in the glass ash tray atop the dark wood side table. He exchanged the cigarette for the small glass filled with golden liquid. The train heaved another whistle. He finished the drink in a single gulp and returned the glass to its previous position. Reaching out Wolf placed the peaked hat atop his head. Pulling the leather gloves from his pocket Wolf was quick to don them before reaching down to the arm of the sofa and heaving the greatcoat over his arm. The train was slowing now. Spinning he stepped toward the door. Pausing briefly to look at his reflection in the mirror next to the door Wolf straightened his collar and dusted his shoulders. The train had stopped now. Swinging the greatcoat over his shoulders he heaved the coat on before extending a hand and swinging the car door open. Stepping out and down onto the train platform. There were many goings on. People milled about, some quickly beginning to attend the train, military figures strolling and patrolling, the driver had stepped down and was now speaking with what appeared to be a maintenance man. Wolf focused on the man who strode forward. A harsh faced man, dark hair and dark eyed. His hair receding beneath his peaked hat. Quickly the man paused, brought his feet together and rose a hand to salute. Wolf willingly returned it.

"Hauptmann Wolfgang Everhart?" The man spoke loudly.

"Oberleutnant Faust?"

"Yes," The man nodded again. "We've been awaiting you, please follow me, your car is waiting," With that the man turned and began through the milling platform. Wolf was quick to follow.

"I hear we have experienced some problems."

"Many," Faust nodded, "It appears that our coup did not go as it was originally planned. We have been told that the furher has indeed survived the attempt."

"I've heard otherwise."

"I'm afraid it is difficult to pick who is telling the truth."

"Surely we should trust Stauffenberg no?"

"But with word from Wolfsschanze itself?"

"Where is Stauffeberg now?" Wolf asked casting a look to Faust.

"Returning to the Bendlerblock."

"Fool." Wolf hissed. Striding forward he passed Faust, casting a single wary glance about his surroundings. He needed no one overhearing their current conversation.

"What is to be done now?" Faust persisted to ask. "We've been bested."

"That can be the first ideal I teach you here today then," Wolf sighed drawing level with Faust and casting him a look as they descended the stone steps of the station. "Never underestimate a wounded dog. For whatever reason this attempt has failed that does not mean they we are yet defeated."

Faust stopped in his tracks and cast a look to Wolf. Wolf stepped forward and leant on the black car that awaited them casting his eyes to Faust again.

"Bested is defeated," Faust frowned.

"Bested is nothing more than losing a brawl. This war may be in its closing hours but there are still many more battles to be had Oberleutnant." Wolf nodded before swinging down and sitting into the car. Faust was younger than him, had most likely seen less than he had but Wolf knew better. World War II had been a mass scale disagreement and had caused the deaths of millions and the destruction of near the entirety of Europe. The door to the car shut without Faust entering. Wolf glanced out the cracked window to the boy and raised his hand.

"Heil Hitler," He spoke strongly.

The boy cast a look to him. Quickly he turned, snapped his heels together and raised his arm tall. "Hail Hitler!" He said loudly. Wolf nodded to the driver. The car pulled away from the curb quickly before beginning on its journey. Wolf propped a hand on the door and in turn propped his cheek on his fist his eyes looking to the countryside. He had hoped Stauffenberg could have saved them all but he had failed and now it was Wolf's turn. First he needed to relay with the others in Berlin and from there they would plan again. World War II had to end-now. How they would accomplice that feet? Cut the head from the snake.