Two months later
Seven small camps of officers were attacked and killed in just the span of two months. All with survivors, marked and left with ghost stories of the bastards. Word quickly spread and soon their attacks were becoming something of legend. Landa and most of his men were up in arms, searching for these ghosts.
Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz had just been broken out of prison. Eleven guards were found murdered.
India knew Landa was becoming frustrated.
Twice, she had been able to reach the post office, and write down her coded messages. At first she feared the men either wouldn't understand them, or be able to get to them in time. They were all information based off what she had gathered or picked up from Hans.
Thanks to her leaked facts, the bastards had been very successful.
In these two months, India had been able to only contact the bastards once in person. It was just a month or so after the first meet up. Hans was watching her closely ever since the day he returned when unexpectedly he was called away for an emergency meeting in Germany. Somehow India felt that this had something to do with the new series of attacks.
Minding her own business, she promised Hans she would stay put and take it easy. Sneaking off, she went to the post office and found a freshly written message. She saw the numbers, figured it out and within two hours she traveled yet again to their new camp site in the forest. Prepared, she brought a small pistol Hans kept in his very large weapon collection.
When she finally emerged from the trees, careful and slow.
The men were camped about, sitting around, talking, and smoking.
Also caught sight of her first, his snuff box in his hands. His eyes brightening, he snapped his case closed and shoved it in his pocket.
"Well, well, well...if it ain't Mrs. Landa...how are you sweets?"
India very slowly climbed down the hill and looked around at all the men who were staring.
"I...got your message."
"Yeah, I know we decided on the whole third week thing but I was hoping you would get the message before we moved on. Just wanted to see if those maps you dropped us were still on point?"
India scanned the camp.
"Yeah, they are."
"And where is your better half?"
"Germany, he was called away on business. He's pretty up in arms over your last attack. The stories are all ready spreading...I've never seen such chaos. Looks as if your men are living up to your name."
Aldo smirked.
"Glad to hear it."
"I wanted to let you know it may be harder for me to send messages. Landa is keeping a close eye and this might be his last trip outside of the country. It might be a couple of months and I'm sure you men will be moving around. I'm mainly basing out of Paris, if you send any undercover men I can of course try to meet up..."
Aldo shook his head.
"Too risky sweetheart. We'll just check in with that post officer when we can until things go sour. Just keep playing Susie homemaker and whenever you get a chance drop us a line. We're thankful so far for your help...keep it up."
India nodded.
"All right...try to keep checking though, I'll try to keep you guys up to date."
"Sounds good, keep your pretty ass out of trouble."
Glaring at Aldo, India turned to leave.
"Hey lady!"
Stopping, India turned. She didn't see Wicki anywhere around and hoped that the brief time since she last saw him...nothing had happened. Instead she saw Donny standing there, his baseball bat missing and an old worn army jacket on his build body. He had a slight 5 o'clock shadow. Staring at him, India felt a horrible wave of unease as he began walking towards her.
A moment later, he towered over her, staring down.
Looking up, India saw his eyes were so dark, they seemed almost black.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yeah...sure..."
As they began to walk away, a few of the men laughed and cat called after them, making India turn and shoot them all dirty looks. A few minutes after, they were out of sight and walking through the woods. It was a gorgeous day and sunlight was drifting through the thick canopy of the trees. India walked beside Donny before finally they stopped.
India stared up at him.
"Um, where's Wicki?"
Donny's thick eyebrows wrinkled as he stared down.
"Huh?"
"Wicki, I didn't see him..."
Donny ignored her and stared down like a predator staring at it's prey. Locking eyes with him, India suddenly got images of when Landa came home and found her lip hurt. How he had lost control and tore her clothes off, taking her in the parlor. That memory came flooding back all at once, making her stomach turn.
"Do you love him?"
"Huh?"
"Landa...do you love him?"
India knew she had to leave, coming here was a mistake.
Turning she went to walk away when he reached out and grabbed her arm, his fingers grasping her tightly. Looking at him, India shot him a look.
"Hey!"
Donny stood close, his breathing heavy and his eyes set.
"Donny? Everything okay?"
His smooth deep voice cutting through the silence was pure relief to India's ears. Feeling her heart skip a beat, she turned and saw Wicki walked over, his hands in his pockets. Looking up, Donny quickly let go of India's arm and stepped back. There was an awkward silence before Wicki walked over, closely looking at India, Wicki glanced over at Donny.
Donny quickly dropped his eyes before mumbling something and storming off. The two of them watched him before Wicki stared down at her.
"You okay?"
India rolled her eyes before looking down at her arm.
"Wish you boys knew how to play nice...this is all I need, some nice bruises for Hans to see."
Wicki stared down at her arm before shaking his head.
"Donny just doesn't know his own strength. He didn't mean any harm. I think he just likes you."
India made a face.
"Got some strange way showing it."
"You sure your fine?"
"Yeah...I just stopped by saying that I might not to be able meet up as much as I thought."
"Yeah I just got back and Aldo told me. I'm one of the ones who go and retrieve your messages. I'll check as often as I can depending on our whereabouts. It was very brave of you to come back and tell us."
"Yeah well...I better get going, it was stupid of me to come..."
"How's your lip?"
India saw his eyes drift down to her mouth. Sighing she reached up and gently touched it with her slim fingertips.
"It's all right..."
Flashes of Hans ripping her clothes apart on the sofa danced in her mind. Of him swearing in German, forcing her legs apart, and his hot breath puffing against her neck.
Wicki stared at her, his head cocked slightly.
"Are you all right?"
India's eyelashes batted against her cloudy eyes before she forced a smile.
"Yeah...fine. It's nice seeing you again...take care."
India began making her way when Wicki called after her, causing her to stop.
"India?"
Stopping, she turned.
"Yeah?"
Wicki stood there staring before he looked down at his boots for a moment.
"He hurt you didn't he?"
India raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Landa...that's why you can't really make too much contact. Is he suspicious?"
India took a second before shaking her head.
"No...nothing like that. Hans is a very gentle man."
"You expect me to believe that?"
Staring, India shifted from foot to foot.
"Believe whatever you want, I'm just the dumb whore who's helping."
Wicki shook his head.
"Don't call yourself that. You're better than that."
Sighing, India shook her head.
"Ask the others, they might think differently..."
Never feeling more alone than she ever did, she kept her head down and slowly headed back. That night she nearly collapsed back in her home. Her feet and back ached and her stomach felt awful. Twice she had to stop, feeling sharp pains shoot up and down her stomach and head. Returning to the city as quickly as possible, she drew herself a hot steaming bath and eased herself in.
A few hours later, India was woken from a sound sleep by the sound of the telephone ringing. When she answered it was Landa, his voice sounding slightly concerned asking why she hadn't picked up that morning. Feeling her stomach bubble again, she simply sat up, groggy and out of sorts and explained that she had just been resting. Thinking back in the woods, she just wanted to drop the phone and cry. With each passing day things seemed to build down on her. She knew she didn't have much longer to keep this up.
As much as she wanted to help these men, she knew her health was failing her, and that Hans' true self was starting to really show. Time was slipping away, and she had a gut feeling, she wasn't going to live to see the end of this.
Not even knowing what she was saying, she struggled with tears before she held the phone tighter and took a deep breath.
"Hurry home love..."
She said, before wiping a silent tear away.
Hans returned quickly and right away remarked on how pale and exhausted she looked. The first instant he saw her, he asked if it was her head that had been hurting. Oddly enough, India said no. That her stomach had been very upset and she thought she might be coming down with a fever. When Landa asked if he should fetch the doctor, India simply said no and remained in bed the remainder of the day.
Hans got their maid to bring India tea and kept checking on her while he finished reports in his office. That night he surprised her with a gorgeous diamond bracelet, before laying down beside her and gathering her up in his arms.
As they laid together in the darkness, India listened to his light breathing. Thinking of the bastards, most of all Wicki, a horrible wave of depression hit her as she sniffled and tried to settle down. Never in her entire life was she so exhausted and drained. Laying there, she couldn't believe it, but she found a small slight comfort in being in Hans' arms. She knew he was her protector and for the time being he thought of her as his darling perfect wife.
The following morning she woke and barley made it out of bed before throwing up all over the floor. Hans woke to find her on all fours, gagging as she threw up everything that had been in her stomach for the last few days. Quickly Hans summoned the maid to help him, as he lifted her up and returned her to bed. It was no longer than a few minutes when she began to throw up again, this time all over the sheets. Picking her up, Hans brought her to the tub and laid her down carefully as the maid hurried to clean the mess.
The doctor came right away and by then India felt fine besides a little worn out and tried.
"I don't know what came over me..."
He checked her and fever but she didn't have any. He looked her over, listening to her heartbeat, and breathing before brushing it off simply as having a very badly upset stomach that caused the sudden sickness.
This was when Hans finally spoke up about her headaches.
By then the bed was changed and India was helped back. She wanted to tell Hans she was fine, but after seeing how violently ill she had gotten, he insisted on explaining everything he had been worried about. When she tried to speak up, Hans hushed her and spoke in his office with the doctor alone for nearly an hour.
When they returned, the doctor looked carefully into her eyes, made her follow his finger, and tested her reflexes.
"I have a few more tests I would like to go over with you. The Colonel wishes for a few of my men to take you to the clinic this afternoon so you can stay the night."
Right away panic seized into India's heart. Biting down on her lip, she looked up at Hans who stood back with his arms crossed.
"Hans?"
Hans stepped forward.
"You're sick Francisca, you promised me we would figure out what we could do."
The doctor eyed the two of them before Landa smiled and stepped closer.
"I shall bring her personally myself this afternoon, thank you doctor."
Nodding the doctor rose, grabbing his bag and closing it.
"Until then Colonel."
A moment later the sound of the front door was closed before Hans' entire face changed. It almost seemed to crumple before India's very eyes. Walking over, he sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at her.
"You're going to the hospital Francisca and I don't care if you like it or not."
"Hans..."
Before she could say another word Landa lashed out, his hand grabbing her throat and squeezing hard. Her eyes widening, India sat there, her eyes bulging. Landa bared his teeth at her, before getting so close their foreheads touched.
"I'm not going to loose you Francisca...do you hear me?"
Struggling to breath, India struggled to nod before he released her, causing her to gasp and choke for air.
That afternoon, after dressing, Hans brought her to the clinic where she was checked in. Laying back, she explained to the nurses that for the last few weeks she had been sick in the morning and very overly tired. That her headaches had gotten worse, but the nosebleeds seemed to ease up.
Slowly and very carefully they looked her over before they sat her back. Closely watching them, she saw the nurses cover a small mouth screen with a clear liquid that came from a bottle. Carefully, they placed the screen over her mouth and nose as she stared up with scared eyes.
She saw Landa standing back nervously watching.
"Just relax and breath Francisca..."
Laying there as everything began to blur together, India kept her eyes focused on Hans and saw how scared he looked. Slowly before she slipped into darkness...she thought of Wicki and somehow felt comfort.
A few hours later her eyes fluttered open, she was groggy and everything seemed to blend together. Feeling light headed, she laid back as her heavy eyelids opened and closed.
Landa was sitting there, his face drawn and his eyes angry.
"Hans?"
She asked in a dry cracked voice.
Right away he took her hand and kissed it. Feeling as though the room was spinning, she looked around the small hospital room and felt dizzy. Laying back, she looked around before licking her dry lips.
"How long have I been out?"
"Just a few hours, you'll be coming home soon."
India blinked, her vision still somewhat of a blur.
"What...did the doctors...find?"
Hans took a second, gently petting her hand. Blinking, India saw that he was shaking.
"Hans?"
Sighing, Hans sat up straight.
"They think...it might be a tumor, one that's been growing there for some time now, it's resting against your optic nerve and that explains why your vision has gotten so bad."
The words tumor didn't exactly shock India. She knew for some time now something was wrong and now that it was a solid fact, she somehow wasn't scarred nor surprised. Hans looked a wreck, his eyes were bloodshot and his voice kept breaking. He explained to her that the doctors were doing everything they could and that there was a hospital in Germany that might be able to help them,
"But Hans...it's a tumor, do they have any idea how big it is? I mean if it's that bad they might..."
But Hans squeezed her hand, hard enough to cause pain.
"We're leaving at the end of this month. I all ready checked and there's a train that can take us. I'm buying the best doctors there are...I'm not loosing you."
India had to hand it to Hans, he seemed f frightened and honestly was the first person in her whole life that seemed to care what happened to her. Knowing that she was as good as dead, she simply took a deep breath and allowed him to try and get control. Lowering his head he struggled with his breathing before looking up.
Gathering her hand again and squeezing it tight, he kissed it before pressing it up against his face.
"You won't die...you can't..."
His eyes looked down at her, flickering with madness.
"They said...that...your..."
India raised an eyebrow, still groggy from the drugs.
"What?"
Landa smiled through his worried tears.
"Seems that I finally did it...looks as though you're working on beginning on helping me finally get my son."
India froze, somehow the news of the tumor didn't hit her as hard as this.
"What?"
Hans' free hand reached down and touched her flat stomach.
"Your having our son...isn't that wonderful?"
That's when India knew the horrible truth. Hans only wanted her to live long enough to bring his child into the world. Staring at him, she saw that she was looking straight into the eyes of a madman.
Kissing her hand again, he continued to pet it and smile.
Sitting there, India knew that growing inside her...was the child of a madman.
The following morning Hans informed her that they would be leaving soon for Germany. The cold weather was setting in and the sky was starting to look like snow Landa told her he was taking her to one of the best hospitals to be treated and made the help pack their luggage.
India knew if she was being taken away, there would be no way to reach the bastards. Trying to think fast, she pretended to be resting while Landa spend most of the morning in his office. Laying alone in their bed, India felt terrible.
She knew that even if Hans took her to some of the best doctors in the word, there would be no helping her. She had suspected for some time now something was wrong, and the constant headaches were now explained. She didn't fear loosing her sight or even dying...she feared the child she was now carrying.
She had been very careful in not trying to conceive, and knew there were ways to end this pregnancy as grim as they sounded. She knew the second word spread that she was carrying The Jew Hunter's child, nobody would be able to trust her again.
She could run now, but there was so much to still risk.
She would find a way to leave a message for the bastards, she knew this train journey would take some time. Maybe she could drop a line and they could see where she was going and maybe follow her. Landa did a great deal of business in Germany and maybe they could help somehow...
India knew she was being stupid.
Those men didn't care about her. She was simply a spy that supplied information. As soon as they learned about her pregnancy, they would have no further use for her.
She knew this was her own fault.
So, very slowly she eased herself out of bed. Her head was pounding and her stomach still felt upset. Going into the bathroom she searched in her vanity before finding a small bottle. It was supposed to look like perfume but it was something she had brought along with her in case of emergencies. It was a tasteless and colorless liquid that she carefully brought into the palor and fixed Hans a drink, dumping more than half the bottle inside. Stirring it quick she knew she would buy her a couple of hours. The help were all downstairs and wouldn't disturb her. She would climb from the balcony and hit the streets as fast as she could.
She knew she couldn't run, not just yet. This would buy her enough time to drop a line and return back.
Trying to calm herself down, she gently knocked on Hans' door before hearing him call for her to come in. Entering, wearing her nightgown, she held the glass of scotch and forced a weak smile as he looked up from his desk. Right away he frowned.
"Francisca, what did I say...the doctor said you need to rest."
India knew she couldn't show how nervous she was. Walking over, she placed the drink in front of him.
"I just thought a toast was in store since you are going to be a father."
Hans smiled up at her.
"Indeed I am."
Taking the glass he held it up.
"And don't you worry, I'm taking you to the finest doctor in all of Germany. I just got off the phone with him. We'll do everything we can and then some. This will be a joyous time for us. We're celebrating our son...who I'm sure will have his father's brains and his mother's good looks."
India felt sick but smiled as her husband downed the drink and smiled.
"Now, we're leaving first thing in the morning...I mapped it all out. We'll try to get a jump on the storm that's coming."
India glanced down at the map Landa was studding and quickly scanned it with her eyes. Lucky enough her memory was near perfect and she knew she could sketch this out for the men when she wrote the letter. Leaning against the desk, she blinked before Hans looked up at her.
"After we visit with the doctor and have you nice and rested up so you can get your strength back, we'll throw a grand party, announcing our son's arrival. I want all of Germany to know how important our child will be."
Never before in all in India's time with him did she want to kill him. Not when he lost his temper, or when he forced himself on her conceiving this monster of a child inside of her. But at this very instant. She wanted to scream in his face who she was. That the baby would probably be a girl, that she hated him and hoped she would miscarry it and his precious child would be born in blood. Instead she simply smiled knowing it would take a while before the drink took hold.
"My head hurts darling, I think I'm going to rest a bit."
Landa nodded.
"You do that, I'll come and check on you in a bit."
Turning, India forced her hands into tiny fists as she began to walk away.
"Oh darling?"
Hans called.
Turning, India stared before Landa smiled and blew her a kiss. Forcing a smile she pretended to catch the kiss before winking at him and leaving. Her stomach turning, she waited watching the clock before going back less than a half an hour later.
Landa had his head on his desk, fast asleep.
Checking his pulse and breathing, India checked her watch before lacing up a pair of boots and sneaking out. When she reached the post office she quickly hurried with her letter. She explained that Hans had business in Germany and was taking her with him. That they were going by train through the country side and wrote all the information she could remember. She remarked even if they didn't get this letter for some time, at least they would know where she was going.
Putting the letter in, she hurried home, all the time her head aching worse and worse.
When she returned home, Hans was exactly where she left him. Changing quickly, she brushed her hair feeling completely exhausted and scared. She planned on going ahead with Landa with Germany, but after that she would find a way to escape. She has packed a small travel bag for herself and stuffed more than enough jewelry Hans had given her over their brief time being married. She knew she would never see that hospital he had been talking about. That she would simply sneak off in the middle of the night, figure out how to end the pregnancy and try to join up with the men. If they wouldn't take her, she would simply leave and attempt on returning home.
Staring down at her flat stomach she hated herself.
Just then Landa came into the doorway, woozy from the drugs as he blinked and felt his head.
"My dear..."
Turning, India tried to act surprised.
"Are you all right Hans?"
Hans slowly stumbled in shaking his head.
"I guess I fell asleep..."
That's when he froze and pointed.
"Your nose, it's bleeding."
India felt the warm dribble course down her face. Touching it with her fingertips she sighed and quickly turned away to grab a tissue to dab at herself. Staring, Landa marched over.
"You weren't resting were you?"
India felt the pressure of his hand dig into her shoulder.
"Of course I was...I was just getting another headache..."
That's when Landa grabbed her, forcing her to look at him.
"I don't want you out my sight until we reach that hospital. If you die my son dies...and I won't allow that to happen..."
India stared up, sightly frightened.
"Hans..."
Before she could say another word, he smacked her as hard as he could straight across the face. Feeling the world begin to spin, India tried to gab onto something before she fell backwards and into darkness.
In the misty abyss, she thought of Wicki, standing in the woods staring at her. Her thoughts then flickered to Donny staring down at her with those dark intense eyes.
Slowly the dankness started to part as she felt herself getting constantly pushed back into something. Her eyelids fluttered. At first everything seemed so blurry and out of focus. She stared up at the ceiling and that's when she felt she couldn't move.
Her wrists and ankles were stretched out, tightly tied to the bed posts. She was naked, and Landa was on top of her raping her. It took a second as her body constantly was pushed into the sheets in a hard rhythm, but finally when she heard the heavy panting and grunting, she stared up and saw her husband's face.
His eyes looked mad, as if he wasn't there anymore.
Indian struggled to move but couldn't. When she tried to talk all she could taste was blood.
He raped her until dawn, when finally he rolled off her, cutting the straps of her bruised limbs, and leaving her alone.
She laid there, bruised and sore, barely able to sit up. Bite marks danced all along her breasts and neck. Sitting there she took a second before Landa returned, in the process of buttoning up his slacks.
"The car is coming to drop us off at the station in less than an hour. I expect you to dress and be ready my dear."
India was speechless. Thoughts of her knife packed safely in her bag danced across her mind. She sat there shaking as he smiled, reached over and gently touched her face.
When he left her, India hunched over trying to control the urge to vomit. Slowly she found the strength to dress, doubling up on layers and pulling on a pair of dress slacks.
Trying to control herself, she steadied herself before taking her bag. Hans returned fully dressed and clean shaven before taking her hand and kissing it.
"Come, the car is waiting."
India was in a trance, she simply was lead away not even thinking, just simply putting one step in front of the other. Landa sat beside her in the backseat of the car as their driver took them through the city, and India simply stared out the window.
Before she knew it they reached the train station and Hans lead her onto the platform. Staring around as the cold wind began to blow around her, she knew she would have her revenge on this monster she was beginning to see that she had married. She would murder his unborn child...and then him.