(A/N) hey guys I missed out an important detail in chapter 3 which has now been edited in, its just after Eleanor wakes up. Its an important detail lol but anyways enjoy this chapter!

Mike looked away from her if only to avoid suspicion if he was caught staring at a prisoner it would possibly raise questions that he could not afford to be asked. This however did not mean that he stopped talking to her, on the contrary, the conversation had only just started.

"So where are you from?" Mike asked tentatively, although it could be a touchy subject to ask considering the army that he belonged to, but the question was burning in his mind and it needed answer.

She paused only for a moment before answering.

"Russia, I grew up in a small village close to the Russian border, you? Where in Germany do you come from?" she asked.

"Berlin" he replied "on the outskirts of Berlin, it was nice, beautiful green countryside, I lived close to some woods and I would spend my days by the pond there with Dustin, Lucas and will" Mike said thinking back to those much simpler times. Before the War, Before the Wehrmacht, Before the Nazi's.

She smiled softy as he talked of home. "Where are they?"

Mike thought sadly. Oh how we wished where two of his best friends were.

"Dustin is in France on the western front. He basically keeps the locals in line, but Will and Lucas? Last I heard they were both heading to Switzerland, they were forced to flee, Lucas is black and Will likes men. It wasn't safe for them anymore" Mike said sadly

"The Gestapo and SS came for them in the night, their homes were burned to the ground, we met at the pond, it was our meeting place if anything went wrong. When I got there they were getting ready to leave. I haven't seen them since" Mike finished the brim of his helmet covered his eyes.

"I'm Sorry Mike" Eleanor said and she was, truly she felt terrible for him, having to say goodbye to friends just because they were different. Eleanor looked around her and thought that with hate and power Man could destroy everything that was beautiful and sacred.

"What about you? What was it like growing up in the village?"

"from a young age we are taught how to hunt and fish, to live off the land like true hunters, to lay in wait for hours on end for that perfect shot or the perfect catch. We were taught how to use a rifle. But we were also taught how to share what we have, Kill a deer? Make sure everyone has an equal fill. Such is the way of Communism" Eleanor said.

"What about friends and family?" Mike pressed.

"Mama died when I was very young, Papa taught me how to look after myself, said that I was just like Mama, strong, defiant and spirited, he would ruffle my hair whenever I made a clean kill" She smiled fondly at the memories of Papa.

"When I turned 13, he gave me a bullet casing and I asked him Papa what is this?"

Mike listened on in utter fascination.

"He said it was the casing to the first bullet that I had made a clean kill with and that It was tradition to be given the casing to show they have come of age. To show they are a hunter and soldier of the motherland. I attached it proudly to my rifle. I was the only girl in the whole village to have one" Eleanor said. The pride and happiness of the memory was evident in her tone as her voice echoed distinctly in his mind.

"From then on, I along with the other Hunters would go out into the wilderness and bring back a buck or a shoal of fish and share it with the village, my rifle and I would never be apart, it was always slung over my shoulder, the Belinski boys would stare in awe and ask me questions, I would proudly display my rifle to them, telling them one day that a bullet casing would dangle from their rifle" Eleanor said, her voice was laced with Nostalgia during those times of peace.

"And they did, when they turned 13 last year, they found me in the village and proudly displayed their rifles, a bullet casing dangled from each. Soon it turned into a competition to see who had could rake up the most kills. We laughed and joked, they were like the little brothers that I had always wanted" Eleanor said looking at the shoes upon her feet, Mike could tell the tone was about to change and it did.

"But then the competition went from Animals to Men. As they invaded the motherland. I could only watch as those filthy fascist pigs brought flamethrowers to bear in the woodland. Soon our weapons became weapons of war as we fought for our homes" El said feeling small droplets of tear's form in her eyes as she recounted the tale.

"Bullet after bullet, stripper clip after stripper clip, they would just keep on coming, soon Tanks joined them. Like merciless mechanical beasts that had come for revenge on the hunters that had claimed them. I could only watch as the Tank turned its gun upon the Belinski home, their house came apart like dust in the wind." Eleanor said sadly

Mike felt his own eyes well up just because of the sheer brutality of it all, what if he had been there would of he done it, would have he turned his weapon upon them like so many others before him did so?

"I froze, Papa came up behind me and told me to run, to save myself. I argued and pleaded with him that I could fight. That I could kill. And he said that was exactly why I needed to run, to fight another day, go my child he said kissing me upon the forehead, I ran so fast and so far, I reached the trees just as they reached the village. I watched as they kicked and struck my Papa along from our home. They gunned him down without hesitation. Their flamethrowers tore through everything, wood, thatch and stone. And then three days later I was caught, thrown onto a prisoner train and ended up here, I think if they knew that I killed so many of them I would be long dead" she finished sadly.

"How many did you kill?" Mike asked unable to stop himself.

"353" She said "I would of kept the bullet casings of every kill" Eleanor added bitterly.

"El, I'm sorry about your Papa" Mike said with sweet sincerity.

Eleanor sighed "Thank you, Mike" she replied, Mike felt something brush his Mind, it wasn't a thought but an action

"El, Did you just kiss my cheek with your mind" Mike asked amused and strangely flattered, he felt the heat on his cheeks as he realized he was blushing.

"Maybe…" she said teasingly "Wait since when did you start calling me El?" she asked with a sly smile.

"I'm sorry, I'll stop if you don't like it" Mike said a bit dejected

"No, No, No. I like it" she said hastily. She smiled as something occurred to her.

"I never thought I would be friends with a German" she said

"I never thought I would be friends with a Russian" he retorted in amusement.

Mike knew that he wasn't simply just friends with a Russian, he was falling in love with one and deeply at that, ever since he laid eyes on her at the camp gate. He felt himself growing ever more attached to her, she had just laid bare her soul to him, when he was technically the enemy that was currently burning its way across the Russian countryside.

"El?"

"Hmmm?" she replied in response.

"I'm sorry that you're here" he said looking directly at her. Conveying a look she could only describe as regret.

"I'm not" she replied like it was that simple

"Why would you say that?" Mike asked confused.

"Because I would have never have met you" She said looking at him fiercely, her brown eyes saying more than words ever could. In that moment Mike wanted nothing more than to run over to her, envelop her in a hug and kiss her. But he didn't he stayed rooted to the spot, as much as he didn't want to.

But his decision was made.

He was going to save her.

Reich be damned.

(A/N) I think this is the most fun I have had writing about a characters past. But next chapter everything will start coming together. My plans for the finale is something beautiful. I can't wait to write it.

As always guys review! And until next time, peace!