This chapter is kinda long-ish


"What the hell?!"

Alex continued to struggle against the bonds and gag. One of the guards accompanying the commander untied Alex and took off the gag. Alex gasped for air as soon as the gag was removed.

"What happened?! Who did this?!" Commander Hans demanded.

Alex shook his head frantically. "I don't know. He was wearing a mask."

"Why didn't you yell for help?"

"I couldn't. He took Saban. He threatened to kill Saban if I called for help."

Commander Hans turned to the guard behind him. "Take Alex to my barrack. Keep him safe. And get him some ice for that bruise."

Alex stood up shakily and followed the guard back to the commander's barrack. As they jogged across the camp, gunfire erupted.

"Get down!" the guard commanded.

Alex went down on his stomach and covered his head and neck with his arms. The guard went down on a knee and aimed his rifle into the darkness. He fired three shots. There was a light thump in the distance – hostile down.

"Let's go!" the guard yelled. Alex scrambled to his feet and raced toward the commander's barrack. Once inside, the guard looked Alex over to make sure he wasn't hurt.

"I'm okay, I think," Alex said.

The guard grabbed an ice pack and pressed it to Alex's cheek. "Hold this there."

Alex did as he was told.

"Alex, tell me what happened."

"A man came into the room. He had a mask on. He knocked Saban out. I tried to fight him, but he hit me first. He said if I caused any trouble, he'd kill Saban. He tied me up and put me in the corner."

"That's it?"

Alex nodded weakly. "I'm sorry," he muttered as he began to break down. "I jeopardized everything we've worked for."

The guard placed his hand on Alex's scruffy, blonde head. "Children weren't meant to be soldiers. Possibly spies, but not soldiers."

"I thought I was ready for this," Alex sobbed. "I want to fight."

The young guard sighed. "My brother was the same way. I was really happy for him when he enlisted for the HJ. He couldn't keep up with the training though."

"What happened to him?"

"He died during training – or at least, that's what we were told. But I know he was killed because he was weak."

Alex began shaking with fear.

"You're just like my brother."

"I'm sorry about what happened to him."

"Me too. Look, I'll try to get you a scout position. That way, you won't have to be on the battlefield."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Alex shook his head. "No, I want to fight. I don't want to be a coward and hide."

"Being a spy is not being a coward. It is being a patriot, but not on the frontlines."

"So a spy has a better job?"

The guard chuckled. "You're such a child. But yes, I would say so. You can fight, but you're not on the frontlines. You're working behind the scenes. And a child is the last thing anyone would suspect to be a spy."

Alex nodded and wiped away his tears. "Do you think I could do it?"

The guard raised an eyebrow. "Sure, with some training."

"Thanks, uh…"

"Derek."

"Thanks, Derek."

"Sure, kid," Derek said, ruffling Alex's already tangled hair. "Come on, you should get some sleep. There's a cot in the next room."

Alex followed Derek to the room and lay down on the cot. Derek closed the door and walked away. Alex dried the tears off his face. He smiled to himself. He was a good spy – an incredible spy actually. No one suspected anything of him. And he'd managed to stay alive for three years.

Alex closed his eyes and slipped into a much-needed sleep.


Kate rubbed her tired eyes and yawned. She'd been sitting in front of her laptop for hours now. She had long lost track of time. She turned off the computer and lay back against the pillows of the bed. Dan came into the bedroom and lay down beside Kate.

"You look tired," he murmured, stroking her hair. "You should sleep." He slipped his arms around Kate and pulled her closer.

"Yeah, but not with you," Kate replied, pushing him away.

"Why not?"

"I'm not in the mood right now."

Dan frowned. "You're still thinking about Alex, aren't you?"

Kate bit her lip as her face flushed bright red with embarrassment and guilt. Just her expression was answer enough.

"Whatever," Dan sighed. "I'll be in the living room. Yell if you need me. You probably won't, though; you have Alex." He got up and walked out of the room.

"Dan," Kate called after him, sitting up. But he didn't come back. She got up and went after him. "Dan, I'm sorry, but-"

"Don't be. I can't make you stop thinking about him. This is my fault. I did this to us. Besides, I think you're better off with Alex anyway."

Kate shook her head, almost laughing. She couldn't believe what Dan was doing. "Look, if you're trying to make me feel guilty for loving Alex, it's working."

"It is? Okay, then I'll take back that last thing I said about you being with Alex."

Just then, Dan saw something red wedged behind one of the couch pillows. He pulled it out. He turned around and held it up. "Kate, what is this?"

"The HJ flag," Kate said shamelessly. She held out her hand. "Here, I'll take that."

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. Just give it back."

"What are you doing with the HJ? That's a Nazi group."

"Duh, tell me something I don't know. Will you just give it back?"

"After you tell me why you've suddenly become a Nazi."

"I'm not a freaking Nazi!"

"Yeah? You bleached your hair again. You've got blue contacts. And there's this." Dan waved the HJ armband in the air in front of Kate.

Kate didn't answer him.

"Kate, answer me."

"It's none of your business." Kate's hand flew out and grabbed the armband from Dan's fingers. She turned on her heel and went back to her bedroom. Just as she closed the door, Dan pushed it back open.

"Tell me what's going on."

"Leave me alone, Dan."

"Tell me why you've joined the HJ! That's a direct order, Agent Cameron!"

"Did you forget?" Kate smirked. "I'm a rogue. I don't take orders."

"Well, I'm not." Dan pulled his SigSauer 9mm pistol from its hip holster and aimed it Kate's chest.

"Who gave you orders to kill me?"

"Your father."

"What?"

"There are other reasons why you requested to be relocated to Berlin besides getting away from me. There's a reason why you went to Liaison Director for permission to dispatch to Berlin instead of your father. There are other reasons why you're here. Your father wants to know those other reasons. I'm here to get that information."

"Don't kid yourself. You wouldn't kill me even if you were ordered to by the President of the United States."

"Are you sure? I'm not a rogue." Dan unlocked the gun.

Kate reacted quickly, kicking the gun out of Dan's hand. She grabbed his shoulders and pushed him hard against the wall. "Don't lie. You couldn't shoot me even if you wanted to."

"I'm not lying about your father's orders."

"Yes, you are. I went to the Liaison Director for permission because I knew my father didn't have the power to let me leave. Milo called me and warned me that you were coming. He told me the orders my father gave you. The only person who wants to know my reasons for going to Berlin is you."

"Then why don't you just tell me?"

"It's on a need-to-know basis."

"I need to know, Kate."

"No, you want to know. I'm trying hard to trust you again. It'll take time."


Alex woke up laying the cot in the commander's barrack. It was late – ten o' clock in the morning. Why had he been allowed to sleep in? Alex hurriedly got up and went around the barrack looking for Commander Hans.

"Alex?"

Alex whirled around. "Oh, Derek. Where is everybody?"

"Just waking."

"Really?"

"The HJ girls are coming at noon. You should get ready."

Alex nodded and left the commander's barrack to go back to the soldier barracks. When he got to his room, Saban was there, washing his face in the sink. When he saw Alex, he grabbed him by his shirt and shoved him into the wall.

"You've got some nerve coming back here," Saban hissed. He punched Alex's shoulder, knocking him to the floor.

The door opened. One of the guards poked his head in. "What's going on in here?"

"Oh, nothing," Alex chuckled sheepishly. "I just fell. I'm still a little sleepy. Sorry about that."

The guard closed the door. Alex turned to Saban. "You had the chance to sell me out," he said quietly. "Why didn't you?"

Saban turned bright red. "I don't know."

Alex shook his head and got up. He went to the bathroom to wash when Saban spoke again.

"I don't want to be here," the sixteen-year-old said.

"You expect me to believe that? You had a knife last night. You tried to kill me."

"I don't know why I did that."

"Whatever," Alex huffed. He showered and pulled on his uniform. At 11:45, he and Saban lined up outside with the rest of the HJ cadets. At noon sharp, a tour bus pulled up at the camp. Teenage girls filed out one by one. Each of them wore the same uniform: a navy, pleated skirt, white button-up shirt, loose, black tie, and the HJ flag around the left upper arm. They looked like they had just come out of a boarding school. One girl caught Alex's eye. She seemed a bit out of place in the crowd. She was prettier than all the other girls, and there was something that was just different about her. She walked with her back straight and her head held high. She had much more pride in herself than any of the other girls. Alex's heart pounded in his chest. It was Kate. Once all the girls were lined up, all the cadets marched to the main hall. The Fuhrer took the stage and began his speech. Alex didn't pay attention. He was too busy searching the crowd for Kate. The Fuhrer finished his speech about ten minutes later. The cadets were then let loose to socialize and welcome the girls who had just arrived. Alex pushed his way through the crowd and found Kate talking to another girl. Her face lit up when she saw Alex.

"Alex!" she cried, throwing her arms around Alex's torso.

"What are you doing here?" Alex hissed.

"It's on a need-to-know basis."

"Well, I need to know."

"You just want to know."

"Kate-"

"So, how've you been?" Kate asked, switching to German a boy passed by who eyed her with interest.

Alex forced a smile. "I've been okay. How about you?"

"Great." But Alex knew that everything was anything but great.