Trigger warning: Mentions of rape, and dark themes

1942

After the ordeal with the serum, I discovered Doctor Erskine had made it to America. I was happy for him, he was safe and maybe my chance at freedom would now be closer. But two years have passed and though the hope lingers, it has begun to wane. After Schmidt's 'accident' Hitler provided the necessary funding needed for HYDRA to advance. So from Schmidt's elegant manor I was moved to the isolated facility hidden deep in the Alps. The first of many facilities Schmidt had designed. It was cold; quiet…I thought enduring Schmidt's presence in luxury was hard enough. It was impossible to hide away from him in the base. Much to my dismay the serum had changed Schmidt; I had thought the man to be evil before. Now I knew he was tame as compared to the man who was created by the serum. My reward as he cruelly called it was him. I hated him…that night he took everything my body was now his. I could still feel his hands ghosting over my bare flesh, the sickening feeling of his too smooth lips pressing against my skin. My thoughts screaming for him to stop, but my throat seemed to have stopped working and no sound would come out. I had been sick for the rest of the night; after what he did to me. I remember locking myself away in the bathroom, curled up beside the toilet retching until nothing came up. Unable to move to the bath to clean myself after the sickness passed drifting between sleep and consciousness. I slept there on the cold linoleum tears dripping to the floor. The only noise besides my own breathing and my heartbeat—

"My Siren?"

The soft questioning voice sounded beside me, taking every thing inside of my being to not jolt at his voice so close. His arms wrapped around me from behind pulling me against him. His masked lips pressing against the base of my throat, the feeling was strange the mask was warm because of his body temperature, yet the texture did not feel like skin. It felt wrong, and I couldn't find any sensation that matched the skin crawling touch of his false skin to my real.

"I was talking and you seem, distracted?" I wanted to pull away scrub the feeling of his lips on me, or his hands. But I stayed put letting his fingers rub along my hips; his lips caress my throat, ever obedient and silent.

"I am sorry Herr Schmidt I was lost in thought." He chuckles and his breath rushes against my skin sending chills down my spine. I hate my body for reacting to him; I hate myself for being too afraid to rebel against him. He pulls back only a little though, turning me to face him. His lips meet mine and every part of me goes numb except for my lips. I close my eyes willing him away, thankfully this kiss short. As soon as the kiss ends he is gaze at me with his dark eyes and leading me from the window to his desk. Photos and books filled with ancient text laid out one thing were prevalent through out the photos and books. A cube, craved into caves walls or decorating the middle of a tapestry.

"Have you heard the tales of the Tesseract?" My hand wanders over the photos and along the old brittle pages of the books as I study the item. Schmidt takes my silence as my answer. His own hand covering my own pulling it to him so that I would face him, eyes meeting he continues.

"Like you it is legendary in power; thankfully it is not a human." He chuckles softly pressing a kiss to my palm before releasing me to look back over the documents. For a moment it is silent, neither Schmidt nor I attempting to make conversation, a solider thankfully interrupts.

"Herr Schmidt? With a sigh of anger Schmidt pulls himself away from the desk and turns addressing the solider.

"What is it?"

"A Doctor Zola here to see you." Schmidt smirked at this, I glanced between solider and commander silent.

"Bring him in then." I took this opportunity to leave walking stiffly to the door.

"My Siren where are you going?" I pause holding back the need to grind my teeth in frustration or clench my hands; no instead I turn giving him a wide smile.

"I do not wish to distract you while you are speaking with the Doctor." He nods releasing me and I take the chance rushing past the solider only to wince as I hear Schmidt call after me.

"I shall find you late." I see the Doctor, and hold back a laugh he is a mouse of a man looking very small in the cold hallway. As I pass his eyes widen behind his spectacles and he grasps his briefcase closer to himself almost like a shield. After my quick glance at him I left entering the silent corridor the clack of my heels the only noise. Till I reached the main hall I paused on the gangway leaning on the railing watching as the men worked below. Some notice me watching and begin to work faster; I snort softly shaking my head. They think because I am at Schmidt's beck and call I will tattle the moment I see them not doing their work. I don't care. I pull away from watching feeling the eyes of the workers on me as I walk across the rest of the gangway. I knew most of the base by heart I had been here for over a year now and had watched Schmidt pour over the designs for hours. Coming upon a door I open it finding a room, the only source of light was coming from the windows sun shinning on the dusty cement floor. Closing the door behind me I walk in the clack of my heels echoing off the walls till I am standing in the center of the room bathed in the warm light of the sun. Closing my eyes I sigh, it's quiet here and I like that…glancing back the door still shut I close my eyes again and take a deep breath.

"Quiet…" The notes leave my lips easily as I stand alone in this closed off room.

"Like silence, but not really silent.

Just that still sort of quiet, like the sound of a page being turned in a book." I slowly spin letting my power slip into my mind calming me as I lean my head back arms spreading out and I spin slowly.

"Or a pause in a walk in the woods. Quiet." I hear the band playing along, the soft sounds of the cello accompanying me as the piano plinks along. The soft strum of the guitar as I listen someone takes my hand I smile eyes still closed as the stranger spins me slowly.

"Like silence but not really silent. Just that nice kind of quiet." They pull me close I lean my head against their chest as the music guides us in a dance.

"Like the sound when you lie upside down in your bed.

Just the sound of your heart in your head.

And thought the people around, their mouths are still moving the words they are still forming, cannot reach me anymore." The music swells, my partner dips me low and I as it pauses we stay like that for a moment.

"And it is quiet, and I am warm…" My partner lifts me as I sing pulling me back to him and we sway for a short time before coming to a stop.

"Like I've sailed. Into the eye of the storm." The music dies away as does the wonderful lull of my song. I sigh waiting for the sensation of my partner to fall away just as the music did. But the arms stayed firmly wrapped around my waist when lips pressed against my own I jolted. Eyes flew opened and my sight fell upon Schmidt holding me to him tightly. Every part of our bodies touching, he pulled back with a grunt pleasure before his own eyes opened locking with mine.

"Beautiful…" Was all he said to me before loosening his grip, one arm still wrapped around my waist lead me from the room to the hallway back to his offices. Upon entering we seemed to have startled the Doctor, a few papers he had been pouring over fluttered to the ground as he yelped out an apology Schmidt silenced him with a raised hand.

"Doctor Zola my Siren, Klara." His grip loosened and I took that as my chance to break free and approach the Doctor.

"Pleasure to meet you Doctor." I offered my hand and a slight smile, though only to please Schmidt. The Doctor seemed to shrink back from my hand as if I could somehow harm him through touch. Though Zola's sight drifted behind me and his own hand shot out taking mine. He was learning faster then I did, please Schmidt and you shall be rewarded.

"Now that everyone has met I believe we must begin planning for our new mission." Schmidt had moved to his desk and I released Zola's hand venturing closer to the desk. Though I watched neither Schmidt nor the Doctor I could feel both of their gazes upon me. When I reached to desk I looked over the documents there again reaching out to take one Schimdt's fingers brushed against my own not in accident.

"What is the new mission Herr Schmidt?" Zola's tentative voice sounded behind me and Schmidt's gaze pulled away from me turning to him.

"The Tesseract has been found."

"Where?" Now his voice seemed more eager a hidden glee in it.

"Tønsberg Norway." Schmidt took a page with writing I could not read, eyes taking in whatever the language spoke of.

"Doctor you shall stay here, begin the building of your designs. My Siren and I will venture to Norway and claim this item."

"Of course Herr Schmidt." Schmidt stood tossing the page away, moving to the window. Schmidt looked out over the snow topped mountain peaks, with a look of calculation.

"Soon I will have the power of the gods." I stiffened as he spoke this to himself and hopped with every part of me, that he would be wrong.

I watched silent as the landscaped passed by, it had been a three days journey to this town and no stopping had been allowed. I had been awake for most of the trip, unable to find comfort in my seat. So I watched the land pass by, the only sound breaking the silence was the rumble of the tank ahead, or the radio buzzing on with the voices of the soldiers inside the tank relaying information to Schmidt. Though at time Schmidt would attempt at conversation, I never answered.

"You have been very quiet." Once again attempting conversation when there was nothing to say, I glanced over to Schmidt he was wearing a leather trench coat and gloves hat affixed firmly upon his head. The seams of his mask still held together…I never had bothered to ask what type of plastic they had made it with. But I did notice the subtle brush of his hand along the length of my arm till his hand reached mine intertwining our fingers. I wished so badly to pull away, wipe my hand in disgust; I remained frozen.

"What is there to talk about?" He chuckled lightly thumb rubbing over my knuckles.

"My Siren there is no need to be cross." I felt something flare in me and before I could stop myself I spoke.

"I am cold we have been in this car for three days now; there is need for me to be cross!" His grip tightened on my hand and I yelped in pain, sometimes Schmidt forgot the power he now wielded. With a jolt he released me and I cradled my hand in my lap. He did not apologize rather returned both hands to the steering wheel fingers clenching tightly around the stained wood, I almost feared he would break it but the sturdy material held. We traveled in silence for the rest of the journey, as night fell radio communication alerted us that we had reached the town.

"What are you orders Commander?" The soldier asked Schmidt seemed to be debating but finally answered.

"Shoot anyone that is attempting to stop our mission." I turned to face him after hearing him say that.

"Herr Schmidt—" He held up a hand to silence me, it worked. For a few moments all was silent then the gunshots began to ring out, Schmidt stayed calm never flinching at the sound of bullets being fired from guns. I on the other hand sank lower into my seat with ever shot. Every cry of the wounded or killed made me flinch in fear my heart racing as the tank ahead of us plowed on. As we pushed into the city we passed fallen men and boys…I couldn't keep my eyes open as we passed the carnage the metallic stink of blood filling my nose. I held back the urge to gag but finally the tank ahead of us came to a stop, a church stood before it. Schmidt pulled up along side the massive machine, cutting the engine before stepping out. I followed silent as he approached soldiers had already poured into the common room and were attempting to open the stone coffin. Every one turned to look at us as we approached the leading officer silenced as we entered. Schmidt paused for a moment surveying the room, then with the grace of a predator about to catch its prey he stalked down the pile of rubble.

"It has taken me a long to fine this place." Schmidt spoke with surety. I stepped cautiously along the rubble attempting to balance on my heels while finding purchase amongst the jagged stone was difficult. As I reached the bottom, I noticed some poor man crushed beneath the wreckage and I yelped in fear leaping of the last few feet landing haphazardly on my feet. A few of the soldiers smirked at this Schmidt stopped for moment turning his hard gaze upon me I lowered my head in shame attempting to hide my flush of embarrassment.

"You should be commended…Help him up." Schmidt turned his gaze to the soldiers who eagerly approached the fallen man hefting him up. Schmidt once again looked about the room a bored look on his face. Once the man was up Schmidt adjusted his jacket like an old friend, I saw the wish to pull away in the man's eyes but when he glanced to me I shook my head to dissuade him from angering Schmidt.

"I think you are a man of great vision, and in this way we are both alike—"

"I am nothing like you." The elders voice spoke nothing but contempt and hatred towards Schmidt…He was brave, foolish but brave.

"Oh of course but what others see as superstition you and I know to be a science."

"What you seek is just a legend—"

"Then why make such an effort to conceal it?" With a quick turn Schmidt removed his cap handing it off to a soldier approaching the stone coffin, the elder glanced between him and I. I watched Schmidt with curiosity as he reached the coffin he paused looking over the carving of the warrior buried within. Before his hands gripped the side and with one shove the large lid flew away landing with a loud thud breaking in half on the floor. I jolted a bit in fear closing my eyes as if to somehow soothe myself.

Schmidt reached inside I could hear the sickening sound of dried bones crushed under his fingers before he leaned back up in his hands he held a prefect square jewel.

"The Tesseract was the jewel of Odin's treasure room…" With that he dropped the jewel it shattered into pieces as it met the floor. I winced once again Schmidt turned his attention back to the elder.

"It's not something one buries." He moved in close to the elder dark eyes watching his every move.

"But I think it is close, yes?"

"I cannot help you."

"No. Then maybe you can help your village." My heart raced Schmidt was showing signs that his goodwill was running out and quickly. I turned my gaze to the elder watching him as well; hopping Schmidt would resist hurting the villagers to gain his prize.

"You must have some friends out there…Some little grandchildren perhaps? There is no need for them to die." My eyes widened and I caught the elder's gaze as he turned to watch the gun of the tank shift pointing to the village outside, asking me if he truly would hurt the people outside I nodded with a pleading gaze that he just give Schmidt what he wanted and we would go. His gaze broke away from mine and he glanced to a carving in the wall. A tree in its leaves a mountain and the branches reaching across the entire wall candles surrounded it…there was something about this carving. Schmidt followed his gaze as well turning and walking slowly towards it.

"Yggdrasil. The tree of the world, guardian of wisdom…and fate." Schmidt's gaze fell to a snake intertwine upon one of the tree's branches a mischievous smile upon its lips eye wide. He reached out hesitantly as if waiting for the snake to strike him before pressing the eye, a soft hiss the a few clicks then the snake popped out of some hidden chamber. Schmidt looked over joyed, pulling the box out with utmost care cradling it like a newborn babe. He opened the latch on the box and his face was a flood with blue light, I blinked as a sound filled the room like some kind of white noise filtering into my brain making it almost foggy. I blinked shaking my head as Schmidt spoke.

"And the Führer digs for trinkets in the desert. You have never seen this before have you?"

"It's not for the eyes of ordinary men!" The elder was shaking now; he knew what power he was handing over to Schmidt.

"Exactly." Schmidt hesitated in closing the box but finally he managed to. The soldier that had taken his cap ran up handing it to him.

"Give the order to open fire." I couldn't stop the gasp that left me, Schmidt ignored me for the time being. Approaching me his hand a mere inches away from my arm before he was stopped.

" Fool!" We both turned to face the elder, anger and hatred burned anew in his eyes.

"You cannot control the power you hold!" Schmidt looked at him with annoyance in his every move.

"You will burn!" That wasn't a warning…it was a promise.

"I already have." I turned seeing him pull out his gun.

"Herr Schmi—" I was silenced as the gun fired hitting the elder something warm touched my cheek and I reached up a shaking hand to touch it pulling it back…Staining my fingers crimson was blood. I held back a whimper as Schmidt grabbed my arm pulling me back up the rubble and to the car, the tank began firing the sounds of screaming villagers reached me and I wanted nothing more then to attack Schmidt…killing another village with no just cause. He opened the car door pushing me in before placing the box into my lap.

"Guard this with your life." I clutched the box to me as he slammed my door and walked to his own. Settling he turned on the car and within a few moments we were driving through the carnage once more. I closed my eyes attempting to think of something better…I hate this I hated being weak. But what could I do, all I had left was the Doctor. He had probably already forgotten about me. And with that last thought I drifted into a deep sleep.