A heavy pounding on the back of Helga's head caused her to stir. She groaned and reached for the sore spot, but her hands couldn't move. She tried moving them again, and again they would not budge. She squinted her eyes open to see her hands have been strapped to a pair of armrests. She tried to move her feet, but they have been restrained as well. Helga eyed the room she was in. It was plain, consisting of a table and two chairs, one of which she currently occupied.

How did I get here? Helga thought. She shut her eyes. A crowd of people. None that I know. Where are they? Those green eyes…

"Arnold," she whispered. "Where are you?"

The door behind creaked open and Helga can hear the clunking of boots. "Well, well, well, look who we got here." Helga winced and hung her head low. She didn't have to see his face to know the owner of that voice. She heard him chuckle and walk closer. His boots past in her peripheral vision before going on the other side of the table. "How's your head? I hope I didn't cause too much pain."

So it's his fault for the pounding. "No more than what your voice already does," she remarked.

"Glad to see your humor is still intact," he snickered, leaning back into his chair. "I must say, you look so different without your pigtails and bow. It was almost difficult to find you."

Helga looked up and glared at the snarling face in front of her. "Then what gave it away, Wolfgang?"

He chuckled. "You did. You were acting like a maniac in the streets with all the shouting. If you were trying to catch our attention, you did an excellent job."

Helga cursed to herself. You stupid basket case! You should have kept quiet and headed to Curly's house. You just had to draw attention to yourself and now everyone is going to be in trouble.

"Where am I?" Helga asked.

"The Krakow prison. Do you know why you're here?"

"Enlighten me," she dared.

"Always so crass," Wolfgang stated. "First off, we found out there is no Dr. Bliss that works in Krakow. So, I went to Auschwitz to talk about your visit there. Höss told me about the man who accompanied you. I was able to find his description in the government database and find that they matched a Thaddeus Gammelthorpe. Do you recognize that name?"

"Whatever happened to working with Goeth?" she deflected.

Wolfgang eyed her harshly. "You want to play that way? Fine, I'll appease you." He stood up and sat on the corner of the desk. "Goeth was my cover up. My real mission was to follow you. Since I couldn't find you, I decided to do some digging on you. It really is a shame, though, that I won't be working with Goeth. He was just made commandant at the labor camp, Plaszów. He will begin liquidating the ghetto next month, and would I love to show those Jews exactly where they belong."

Helga sneered at him. "You sadistic bastard," she whispered.

Wolfgang stood up and slapped Helga across her cheek. "You'll be quiet until I tell you to answer!" Helga glared at his soulless eyes, shaking furiously. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes, luckily, Auschwitz was smart enough to write down which prisoners you and Mr. Gammelthorpe had taken that day. Interestingly enough, they're all from Berlin. From our area, to be more exact. I recognized one name in particular. An Arnold Shortman? Now I'm sure you remember that name?"

Helga remained silent.

"No snarky comment? Shame, I was really looking forward to one on that. Oh well. Maybe this will give me some answers." He pulled out a leather-bound book. Helga's eyes widened. It was her journal. How did he get it? That's when Helga noticed all the layers she had been wearing had been stripped off, with the exception of the bottom layer. That meant her locket was gone too. Wolfgang began flipping through the pages. A piece of paper and a pink ribbon fell to the ground. "What's this?" Wolfgang asked as he bent down to pick up the two small objects. "Well, if it isn't the precious bow?" He tossed it back to her while reading the paper.

"My, my," Wolfgang muttered. "It appears that your love has left you. And after you saved him too,"

Thank God he doesn't realize that was from years ago. Thank you, Arnold for not dating that letter! That must also mean he wasn't taken either! He's safe.

"But he's not the only one you helped. You also saved three Jews. Where are they, Helga?" Again, Helga remained mum. "Still not talking? I'm sure your diary will do it for you." He looked through the handwritten book ferociously, getting more and more irate with each page flip. "What the hell? None of this makes sense!"

"You seriously didn't expect me to write it so anyone can read it, did you?" Helga smirked. Wolfgang growled as he shut the book.

"WHERE ARE THEY?!" He whipped the journal across her face over and over. Helga winced at the pain, but refused to scream. It was what he wanted, and it would be a cold day in hell before she gave him anything. As Wolfgang continued hitting her, Helga could feel blood filling in her mouth. He grabbed her by the collar and bore into her eyes.

"I could have given you everything, you know? A husband, a family. You would have been safe. But no, you had to pick the weird-headed freak and the band of Jews. But I will promise you that I will find them. And when I do, I will kill them, and I will tell them they have you to thank."

Helga spat in his face. Globs of blood covered his face. Wolfgang yelled in frustration and wiped his face. He poked his head out of the room and called for some members of the Gestapo. They entered and restrained her while removing her from the chair. "Take her to her holding cell. She'll be tried tomorrow."

The Gestapo obeyed, and soon Helga found herself locked in a concrete cell by herself. She lied down on the slab they call a bed. Helga positioned herself so she was laying on the side that wasn't hit. She put her bow back on her head and let out a sigh of relief. She may be stuck in prison, but the others are safe. Arnold was safe. Helga was unsure whether they would come back for her. They never discussed what will happen when one person was caught. They all just assumed it will be all or no one. As she started drifting to sleep, she feared they would leave her, but she feared more that they would try to get her out.

"Pataki! You have a visitor," a guard called out. Helga groaned in pain, then confusion as she started to wake.

"Who is it?" Helga muttered while starting to rise from her bed.

"Where the hell is she?!" a voice echoed through the prison. Helga shot right up.

"Oh shit. Big Bob." She looked over at the guard. "Could you do me a favor and shoot me now?"

"Olga! What the hell is wrong with you?" Bob asked as he made it to Helga's cell. Trudging behind was Miriam.

"You mean, besides the fact that I've been beaten up and you can't seem to remember my name?"

"Hey, hey, hey! Watch your mouth Olga."

"Helga, Bob."

"Yeah, whatever. Do you know how much trouble you caused this family? You lied, you snuck people out of where I work. What were you thinking? Was this all that that girl's fault?"

"What are you doing here?" Helga asked.

"We're here to work out a plea deal for you," Bob explained. "You apologize to the court, you say that you fell in with the wrong crowd and they influenced you to take part in this escape plan, and then we take you home."

Helga looked at them in disbelief. "You want me to lie?"

"Helga, dear, it's not that hard," Miriam slurred. "I lie to myself every day."

Helga rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to lie. I'm tired of lying! I'm not sorry for what I did. And besides, I'd rather die than live with you two idiots again."

"Don't you talk to us that way, little lady! We're your parents!"

"Like hell you are! You can't even remember my name! And Miriam is drunk all the damn time. She probably doesn't even know where she is right now!"

"That's no excuse!" exclaimed Bob. "You want to die? Go ahead, because to me, you're already dead. Let's go, Miriam!" Bob stormed out with Miriam stumbling after him. Helga yelled at the top of her lungs. The last two people she ever wanted to see again were them.

For hours she stared at the cement wall by her bed until she heard her door being opened. A guard entered. "It's time to receive your sentence," he said. Slowly Helga rose from the bed and followed the guard down the hallway. She thought of making a run for it, but she knew they would catch her immediately.

She was led into a different room than the one from the day before. It was more elaborate, but nowhere as much as other places. Guards were all over the room. The guard that directed her placed her in front of the other guards. She stood tall and stoic. She was ready for whatever they had planned for her.

"Helga Geraldine Pataki," one guard read from a sheet of paper. "You have been convicted of conspiracy to aid in escape, aiding in escape, aggravated assault on an SS officer, hiding Jews, and treason. For these crimes, you will be executed by a firing squad at one o'clock tomorrow morning. Do you have any last words to say to you family? Because now will be the time to tell me."

Helga remained motionless and quiet. She knew this could happen. She was just relieved that it wasn't someone else.

"In that case, you will be sent back to your cell until it is time for your execution. May God have mercy on your soul."

Helga was then escorted back to the cell. She didn't cry when she got back. She wasn't mad. On the contrary, Helga felt a giant weight being lifted from her shoulders. They all still have a chance to make it to Sweden. They will be free, and in a few hours, so will she. She sat on the cold slab.

"Oh my love, how I wish I still had my physical image of you so I can see you one more time. That is my only regret: not seeing you one final time. Arnold, my dear, please stay strong to keep everyone safe, especially Phoebe. I believed in you before, and I believe you will not let them get you. I trust that you will be safe. I want you to be happy, Arnold. Don't spend your life mourning for me. I love you more than anything, and this is the ultimate sacrifice I can make for you. How I hope you will come to rescue me, but if you don't, I understand why and I forgive you."

She stayed awake the rest of the night. She wanted to savor every waking moment that she had. All her thoughts were on her time with Arnold. She was grateful for the time they had, no matter how brief. She ghosted her lips in memory of his kisses. She still felt his warmth, and she would hold on to it until the end.

A jingling noise came from the entrance of the cell. "It's time," the guard said. Helga sighed, got up for the last time and followed the guard. She looked out at the barred windows. It was dark for the most part, with the occasional search light streaming in. No stars could be seen through the dark clouds. She was taken outside to the execution block. About eight soldiers stood in front of cars that had their headlights on. It was the only source of light there. A large concrete wall stood in front of everyone. It had splattered blood in the middle of it and there was straw at the base.

Helga looked at the guards. She couldn't see any of their faces, but one. "How appropriate for you to be here, Wolfgang," she sneered.

"Don't try to flatter me now, Pigtails. It won't help you."

"Pataki!" a voice cried. Two guards led her in front of the wall. She was turned to face the armed men as one of the guards placed a blindfold on her. She heard the officers move out of the way.

"Men, ready!" the same voice commanded. Helga maintained a steady breath.

"Aim!" The guns were lifted.

"Arnold, I love you," she whispered to herself.

"Fire!"

Helga could hear a faint laugh just before the shots rang out.

A/N: I know I'm cruel. Actually, I didn't have this or the next chapter originally planned. Yes, the story continues. Until next time.