Chapter 10: Heart to Heart

"I need some fresh air," I said, and got up and left probably thirty minutes after Richtofen. I quickly excused myself and went towards the alleyway. It was true that I needed some fresh air, but also to talk to Richtofen. I can't have that image of Der Riese etched into my brain forever without getting a few answers.

There was nothing silent about these steel steps as I made my way down them into the alley. I skipped a step because it was more of a bloody puddle than a step, and the rail had rust and blood stuck to it. I wasn't sure if I'd get use to all of this blood decoration all over the theater. Der Riese was cleaner than this, come to think of it. Well, if it was the place where Richtofen practically lived, of course it would be neat and clean.

There was a little wind outside and no clouds in sight. It was all pure sunlight, which I would've loathed back in my era, but it was a nice change here. There was broken glass and wood almost piled underneath a window. So far it's been quiet. Samantha must be taking a break. I saw a few empty shells out here as well and some limbs.

Something dropped down in front of me and I freaked out. I did the scaredy cat dance and jumped back a few steps. I looked at what the heck decided to scare me like that, and it was a head. A zombie head. Raining zombie parts?

I look up and see Richtofen standing on the roof that shaded the mystery box. He wasn't there a second ago, so where did he come from?

"You're like a ninja," I said, once I regained my breath.

"A vat?" he asked.

Oh. He probably didn't study much of Japanese history.

"Nothing. What are you doing up there?" I should have waited a few moments before asking him a question. He narrowed his eyes at me. "It's a type of assassin." I said.

"I'm just enjoying the view," he stated.

The gate was in the way from looking straight ahead. "Can I join you?"

"You are curious about Der Riese, ja?" he asked.

I laughed a little. "You can read my like a book."

Richtofen sighed and took off his jacket. He was wearing a white, long sleeved collar shirt and a black tie. He folded it neatly and then took off his cap and ran a black gloved hand through his light brown hair. He looked so much younger, and with the sunlight shining behind him like that-

"Vell, are you going to come up here or not?" he snapped. I didn't realize he gave me an answer while he was stripping.

I climbed up the fence and onto the rood. Richtofen was sitting on the edge with his legs dangling off the side. I sat next to him, not too close but not too far. There was a tower passed him, and I knew there was a radio hidden over there.

Richtofen was staring at me, waiting for my questions.

Well where to start?

"What the hell was that at Der Riese?" I asked.

Richtofen shrugged. "It vas suppose to be research."

Of course. "Why is everything research with you?"

"Humans are interesting. Put them in an environment vith people they get along vith, food nearby, and a nice community, and they will respond vith a sense of safety and happiness. Take those away and put them where food is scarce and the buildings are crumbling, and they will run around not knowing what to do. It amuses me."

"Do you remember who you first used as a test subject?"

"Human or animal?"

"Whichever was first."

"Animal, my sister's hamster. Person, my uncle."

"Does family mean nothing to you?"

"Family is just a vord to make a connection vith certain people. It has no effect on me."

This guy was like a rock. "So, you've never liked anyone before? No one has ever made your heart race?"

"Ze nagging though of vhat happens to this subject if I do zhat makes my heart race."

"Were you ever close to anyone?"

"The closest I've gotten to someone was with a scalpel, und my face was close enough for ze blood to squirt on."

I found myself getting closer and closer to him. His eyes were nice to stare into once you got passed the fact that he wants to dissect and then kill you.

"Has anyone ever loved you?" it came out in a whisper.

"Mein mother, but zhat is expected."

I wanted to know more about his life, but I realized I was getting off topic.

"Back in Der Riese, why did you let me live?"

"You can actually be of some use. For my benefit of course."

"I wasn't really going to help you take control of the zombies..."

"I already knew zhat," he said with a cocky attitude. "You know more than I do in zhis situation with the zombies. You can help me vith zhat. Which comes to the question: Is it my turn to ask a few questions?"

Oh crap. I had to keep the questions going. With his questions, it always feels like he's gonna go into ape shit mode and rip me apart if I don't answer his questions with the answers he wants. Then again, he probably has questions about what happens in the future, and the whole zombie thing.

I looked back at his face and studied his features. His profile says he a schizo, sociopathic, antisocial heartless bastard, but he looks completely normal now. A normal human being.

"How'd you get that scar?" I ran a finger over it, and I could tell he felt uncomfortable. He caught his breath and scooted away.

"I performed surgery on my eye in my teenage years," he said, not looking at me.

I was shocked, and amazed. "Did something happen to your eye?"

He shook his head. "People vould tell I should get a taste of my own medicine. I zhought my eye vould be a great place to start a medical career. It vas almost successful," he touched under his eye with his finger tips. "Zhis scar made it unsuccessful."

My mind went blank. I didn't have anymore questions to ask him, and now I was starting to want to be interrogated again. He had this specific charm about him, I just couldn't pinpoint it. He had a crushed look in his eyes when he finally looked at me. His facial features looked so defined, and you could tell that he shaves.

He smiled suddenly. "I vill find out vat you are thinking, Helen."

I laughed a little. "You don't have your clipboard with you."

"I remember every little detail," he said. "So, now it's my turn."

I was prepared for his questions now. I didn't feel green around the gills or didn't want to try to run. Let's see how long that lasts.

"Zhis... game. Vhy was it created?" he asked. I had a feeling he was curious about this subject.

"It's just for amusement. Many people enjoy playing Call of Duty, especially the zombies portion," I told him.

"How do these creators know about all of zhis?"

This is where it gets a little difficult. "Well, it's more like the entire game is their idea, and you are something they created. Like how an author makes up a character in a book, it's the same principle in games."

"So, I do not exist?"

"No. Not from where I come from. In here, everything is real."

"What is out of here? What is it like in your world?"

"There's buildings and movie theaters like this," I gestured with my arms, "but, zombies don't exist. They're just made up in books, movies, and games."

"Und, zhe war?"

"World War II? Hitler loses the war. So does Japan."

"Vhat happens exactly?"

"Hitler commits suicide, and the U.S. nuke Japan. Specifically Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

"Zhey are nuked?"

"You know that glowing bomb Samantha drops every once in a while to burn up all the zombies? Well, America did that to Japan. Twice. We're okay now, but I think they dropped the second bomb to prove to Russia that the U.S. is better than them. I believe Japan would've surrendered if given a few more days."

Richtofen was silent. He was probably contemplating everything. "In here, zhat doesn't happen."

"No, it won't. It will just be an endless era of zombies until Treyarch decides to end it in the next games."

"Treyarch is zhe creator?"

I nodded. It must be hard to take in all of this. He even has memories of his childhood. I wonder if that's all part of Treyarch too.

He could probably be a giant teddy bear if given the proper care. I touched his Swastika and he jumped a little.

"Vat are you doing?" he snapped.

"You've never been loved before?" I asked, kind of sympathetic.

He scoffed. "Does it matter? I'm not real to you."

I leaned in really close to him. "Right now, this is real." I closed my eyes and kissed his cheek.

I didn't expect to finish this chapter so soon. I'm reading Game of Thrones, and it's about 700 pages. So far it's a good book, and I need to return it back to the library by the 10th x) Enjoy the chapter :D