Chapter Five: Answers and a Way of Escape
"Excuse me?"
"You know that he's screwing with Schuldig's head and making him sick. You know why, and you know how to stop it, don't you?" he growled.
She backed away from the young American. "Is Schuldig ill?"
"Yes, and Geheim's doing it. You know how to stop him, I saw it."
Julia closed her eyes, reaching out.
She connected to Brad's mind. /You're right. I know a lot of things. But I'm not sure what you mean about stopping him./
"I want to know what your game is, lady. You're not just a transfer teacher." Brad growled.
"Of course not, but now you really should go see your friend."
The American glared at her. "Don't think I won't find out." He dashed out of the room and back to the pool area.
Schuldig was lying on his back, covered in sweat. His eyes slid open and focused on Brad.
Brad knelt by him. "Schuldig?"
The young German reached a shaky hand up to his friend. He smiled weakly.
Brad clasped the German's hand between his own. "What's happening?" the oracle whispered.
"We don't know," Connor responded. "He's getting worse and worse."
He smoothed Schuldig's bangs back with one hand while still holding the younger boy's hand in his other. Julia came up behind Conner and watched, hurt showing in her emerald eyes.
"We need to get him to a bed," Amy said firmly. "Now." Schuldig felt himself being scooped up by the taller American.
/You're going to be okay, Schuldig./ Crawford said. "Where are we taking him?" he asked Conner.
"His room," the elder man said. Schuldig coughed, his entire body shaking under the stress. Once again, he tasted blood on his lips.
Brad nodded, wincing as his friend coughed. He headed towards Schuldig's room as quickly as he could without jarring the German. Some of the students roaming the halls watched as they passed.
The golden-eyed boy felt himself be laid on his bed and he cringed slightly. He looked up at his friend.
Amy placed a hand on the American's shoulder. "He got worse right after you left," she said quietly. "Would it be too much to ask you to stay in here with him?"
"No." Brad said quietly. He sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed the green-blonde bangs away again. /How are you doing?/
/I feel a little better,/ the German responded. /Weak, but better./
/You're going to be okay./ Brad repeated.
/I'm not sure. I.../ his voice trailed off as his eyes slipped shut once more and his tensed body relaxed.
/Schuldig?/ Fear laced the tone of the thought. /Schuldig?/
No response came from the young teen. Connor leaned over the opposite side of the bed, feeling his cheek. "He's got a fever," he whispered.
Julia stood in the doorway, watching the two younger men. Her eyes met Brad's.
"Help him, please." he pleaded softly. She hesitated, then nodded. She left the room.
Schuldig's eyes opened as he began coughing. The fit soon had him sitting up and he shook. He felt Brad's hands holding him steady.
"Hang in there, Schuldig. It's going to be okay." The American murmured.
Julia walked briskly down the hall. Brad Crawford was right. She knew exactly what Geheim was doing. But she wasn't sure she could stop it. But she could try. She knocked on his door.
The door opened and the tall man glared down at her. "What is it?"
"I need to speak with you. Now." She said darkly. She made sure all her mental shields were in place.
"I'm rather busy, so please hurry."
"Whatever you think you're accomplishing by ebbing the life out of that boy, I'm here to tell you it's not working. Even if you kill him, Crawford will come after you. You have no hope, Geheim. Stop your attack."
Geheim's eyes narrowed. "Go back to your room, Frauline, and I'll pretend you were never here."
"I've chosen that boy. He's the one I'm taking back with me to Japan in four weeks. If you kill him, Herr Geheim, you'll be dead within two days."
"You can't have that boy," Geheim responded.
Julia drew her weapon, a perfectly customized gloc. It was overlaid with silver and the handle was engraved with a rose vine design. She aimed it at his head. "I will have that boy, Geheim, or I will decorate your wall with your brain matter. Release your attack. Now."
The larger man frowned. "Done, Frauline."
"It better be. And if you try it again I'll be back. Good day, Herr Geheim." Julia left, shutting the door behind her. She had hoped it wouldn't come to that...
The coughing fit came to a stop and Schuldig collapsed back against his friend's steady grasp, spent. He took a deep breath, surprised that it didn't hurt, and relaxed as Brad set him back on the pillows. The door opened and Julia walked in.
"It's over," the silver haired woman announced quietly. "It shouldn't happen again." She directed her gaze at Crawford. "I'm afraid it's only begun for you." she said softly. "Ja ne."
Schuldig looked up at his friend. /I won't let him hurt you./
/What did she do?/ Crawford wondered. He gazed down at the German. /Works both ways, ne?/
Schuldig smiled as he pushed himself into more of a sitting position./Maybe he'll just leave us both alone, ne?/
Brad returned the smile. /Maybe. I'm going to go see what she said, okay?/
/Brad?/ The American turned to him. /Please stay./
Brad looked down. He glanced to where the woman had been standing, but relaxed against the bed. /Okay./
/Do you think she really did it?/ he asked quietly. /Jack...Herr Connor and Amy have been trying for two years to get him to leave me alone. It's never worked before./
/They never played the game on his level. She has something over him, otherwise she'd be dead./
/Possibly. Herr Connor was always frightened of him./
/I don't blame him. He best friend got blow to a million bits just because he got close to Geheim's toy./
/Jack's felt guilty for bringing me here... I guess he never thought this might happen. I never knew he lost someone like that, though./
/I don't blame him for feeling guilty, either./
Schuldig cringed both when he and Crawford had said the German word. /I'm grateful he took me in. He didn't have to../
/Maybe we won't have to worry about it anymore./
/Yeah./
/Jack was always innocent of most anything,/ Schuldig whispered, loosing himself to sleep. /He was one of the few that didn't loose himself during his time at this school.../
/Innocence./ Brad played the word over in his mind. When he knew Schuldig was totally asleep, he eased off the bed. "I'll be back." he whispered.
He heard a slight whimper from the bed, but then the young German turned over and fell into a deeper sleep.
Brad knocked on Julia's door a few seconds later.
"Yes, Mr. Crawford?" the young woman asked after she had opened the door.
"I don't have long. I have to be back before he wakes up. What did you tell him?" Brad demanded.
"Geheim?" She smiled. "I'm here to find a young student to take with me to help a man named Mr. Takatori. I told Geheim to leave Schuldig alone because I will be taking him."
A myriad of emotions played across his face before settling on relief. "You're getting him out of here." he said.
She pulled him inside and put a barrier around the room. "Yes, but not without a steep price." she said.
"What would that be?" the American responded.
"Schuldig in not weak intellectually or in his abilities as a telepath by any stretch of the imagination. But his guards are weak. He has attacks sporadically and the voices overwhelm him. Working for Takatori will wreak havoc with his mind. If I don't figure out something, he'll get sent right back here. He's not strong enough."
"Aren't there people here that could teach him how to build his barriers better?"
"Of course there are. Some of the strongest people in the world are here. But they wouldn't teach that boy."
"Why?" Crawford asked. "Isn't that the point of being at this school?"
"It is for other students. Students who bend to the will of Geheim and his merry band of evil teachers. They aren't going to help Schuldig anymore than necessary. He's been labeled, Brad. He's Schuldig, the guilty one, and Geheim's toy. And you're falling under that too."
"I can handle it. Schuldig needs to be out of here. This place will drive him insane faster than the outside world would. He's... only fifteen... He's young. He shouldn't be put through this."
Julia sighed. "I wanted you, you know. You're the stronger one. You'd make a good leader. The problem is, Schuldig cannot stay at Rosenkreuz. You and I both know that. But sending him to Takatori now will make him a killer."
Brad looked down at his feet. "Can't you do anything else for him? Anything?"
"Barriers are a specialty for me. We have three weeks. I'll do what I can, but I'm not a professional. I'm an assassin, Brad. An assassin with a major in English and a pension for swimming. I'll do what I can. But you have to be careful. Geheim's watching you now."
He nodded. "I need to be back there when he wakes up."
"Go. Be careful. If you get killed before I take him..."
"I've gotta stay alive to protect him," Crawford said simply as he disappeared out of the room.
The door opened and Schuldig watched the American walk in. "So how'd she do it?" he whispered.
"Apparently her boss is a very influential man." Brad replied. He came over and sat on the bed next to Schuldig. "I wanted to get back quicker."
"S'okay. Was that it?"
Brad smiled. "Sort of." He paused. "I'm going to miss you."
Schuldig looked confused. He allowed his mind to probe the elder boy's to find the meaning of the words.
Brad sat, and allowed him to find what he was looking for.
"I'm going away? An assassin?" the boy asked.
"Julia's an assassin. She's taking you back to Japan with her in three weeks. You'll work for Takatori."
"And I don't get a say in this?" the young boy asked angrily.
"Excuse me?"
"You know that he's screwing with Schuldig's head and making him sick. You know why, and you know how to stop it, don't you?" he growled.
She backed away from the young American. "Is Schuldig ill?"
"Yes, and Geheim's doing it. You know how to stop him, I saw it."
Julia closed her eyes, reaching out.
She connected to Brad's mind. /You're right. I know a lot of things. But I'm not sure what you mean about stopping him./
"I want to know what your game is, lady. You're not just a transfer teacher." Brad growled.
"Of course not, but now you really should go see your friend."
The American glared at her. "Don't think I won't find out." He dashed out of the room and back to the pool area.
Schuldig was lying on his back, covered in sweat. His eyes slid open and focused on Brad.
Brad knelt by him. "Schuldig?"
The young German reached a shaky hand up to his friend. He smiled weakly.
Brad clasped the German's hand between his own. "What's happening?" the oracle whispered.
"We don't know," Connor responded. "He's getting worse and worse."
He smoothed Schuldig's bangs back with one hand while still holding the younger boy's hand in his other. Julia came up behind Conner and watched, hurt showing in her emerald eyes.
"We need to get him to a bed," Amy said firmly. "Now." Schuldig felt himself being scooped up by the taller American.
/You're going to be okay, Schuldig./ Crawford said. "Where are we taking him?" he asked Conner.
"His room," the elder man said. Schuldig coughed, his entire body shaking under the stress. Once again, he tasted blood on his lips.
Brad nodded, wincing as his friend coughed. He headed towards Schuldig's room as quickly as he could without jarring the German. Some of the students roaming the halls watched as they passed.
The golden-eyed boy felt himself be laid on his bed and he cringed slightly. He looked up at his friend.
Amy placed a hand on the American's shoulder. "He got worse right after you left," she said quietly. "Would it be too much to ask you to stay in here with him?"
"No." Brad said quietly. He sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed the green-blonde bangs away again. /How are you doing?/
/I feel a little better,/ the German responded. /Weak, but better./
/You're going to be okay./ Brad repeated.
/I'm not sure. I.../ his voice trailed off as his eyes slipped shut once more and his tensed body relaxed.
/Schuldig?/ Fear laced the tone of the thought. /Schuldig?/
No response came from the young teen. Connor leaned over the opposite side of the bed, feeling his cheek. "He's got a fever," he whispered.
Julia stood in the doorway, watching the two younger men. Her eyes met Brad's.
"Help him, please." he pleaded softly. She hesitated, then nodded. She left the room.
Schuldig's eyes opened as he began coughing. The fit soon had him sitting up and he shook. He felt Brad's hands holding him steady.
"Hang in there, Schuldig. It's going to be okay." The American murmured.
Julia walked briskly down the hall. Brad Crawford was right. She knew exactly what Geheim was doing. But she wasn't sure she could stop it. But she could try. She knocked on his door.
The door opened and the tall man glared down at her. "What is it?"
"I need to speak with you. Now." She said darkly. She made sure all her mental shields were in place.
"I'm rather busy, so please hurry."
"Whatever you think you're accomplishing by ebbing the life out of that boy, I'm here to tell you it's not working. Even if you kill him, Crawford will come after you. You have no hope, Geheim. Stop your attack."
Geheim's eyes narrowed. "Go back to your room, Frauline, and I'll pretend you were never here."
"I've chosen that boy. He's the one I'm taking back with me to Japan in four weeks. If you kill him, Herr Geheim, you'll be dead within two days."
"You can't have that boy," Geheim responded.
Julia drew her weapon, a perfectly customized gloc. It was overlaid with silver and the handle was engraved with a rose vine design. She aimed it at his head. "I will have that boy, Geheim, or I will decorate your wall with your brain matter. Release your attack. Now."
The larger man frowned. "Done, Frauline."
"It better be. And if you try it again I'll be back. Good day, Herr Geheim." Julia left, shutting the door behind her. She had hoped it wouldn't come to that...
The coughing fit came to a stop and Schuldig collapsed back against his friend's steady grasp, spent. He took a deep breath, surprised that it didn't hurt, and relaxed as Brad set him back on the pillows. The door opened and Julia walked in.
"It's over," the silver haired woman announced quietly. "It shouldn't happen again." She directed her gaze at Crawford. "I'm afraid it's only begun for you." she said softly. "Ja ne."
Schuldig looked up at his friend. /I won't let him hurt you./
/What did she do?/ Crawford wondered. He gazed down at the German. /Works both ways, ne?/
Schuldig smiled as he pushed himself into more of a sitting position./Maybe he'll just leave us both alone, ne?/
Brad returned the smile. /Maybe. I'm going to go see what she said, okay?/
/Brad?/ The American turned to him. /Please stay./
Brad looked down. He glanced to where the woman had been standing, but relaxed against the bed. /Okay./
/Do you think she really did it?/ he asked quietly. /Jack...Herr Connor and Amy have been trying for two years to get him to leave me alone. It's never worked before./
/They never played the game on his level. She has something over him, otherwise she'd be dead./
/Possibly. Herr Connor was always frightened of him./
/I don't blame him. He best friend got blow to a million bits just because he got close to Geheim's toy./
/Jack's felt guilty for bringing me here... I guess he never thought this might happen. I never knew he lost someone like that, though./
/I don't blame him for feeling guilty, either./
Schuldig cringed both when he and Crawford had said the German word. /I'm grateful he took me in. He didn't have to../
/Maybe we won't have to worry about it anymore./
/Yeah./
/Jack was always innocent of most anything,/ Schuldig whispered, loosing himself to sleep. /He was one of the few that didn't loose himself during his time at this school.../
/Innocence./ Brad played the word over in his mind. When he knew Schuldig was totally asleep, he eased off the bed. "I'll be back." he whispered.
He heard a slight whimper from the bed, but then the young German turned over and fell into a deeper sleep.
Brad knocked on Julia's door a few seconds later.
"Yes, Mr. Crawford?" the young woman asked after she had opened the door.
"I don't have long. I have to be back before he wakes up. What did you tell him?" Brad demanded.
"Geheim?" She smiled. "I'm here to find a young student to take with me to help a man named Mr. Takatori. I told Geheim to leave Schuldig alone because I will be taking him."
A myriad of emotions played across his face before settling on relief. "You're getting him out of here." he said.
She pulled him inside and put a barrier around the room. "Yes, but not without a steep price." she said.
"What would that be?" the American responded.
"Schuldig in not weak intellectually or in his abilities as a telepath by any stretch of the imagination. But his guards are weak. He has attacks sporadically and the voices overwhelm him. Working for Takatori will wreak havoc with his mind. If I don't figure out something, he'll get sent right back here. He's not strong enough."
"Aren't there people here that could teach him how to build his barriers better?"
"Of course there are. Some of the strongest people in the world are here. But they wouldn't teach that boy."
"Why?" Crawford asked. "Isn't that the point of being at this school?"
"It is for other students. Students who bend to the will of Geheim and his merry band of evil teachers. They aren't going to help Schuldig anymore than necessary. He's been labeled, Brad. He's Schuldig, the guilty one, and Geheim's toy. And you're falling under that too."
"I can handle it. Schuldig needs to be out of here. This place will drive him insane faster than the outside world would. He's... only fifteen... He's young. He shouldn't be put through this."
Julia sighed. "I wanted you, you know. You're the stronger one. You'd make a good leader. The problem is, Schuldig cannot stay at Rosenkreuz. You and I both know that. But sending him to Takatori now will make him a killer."
Brad looked down at his feet. "Can't you do anything else for him? Anything?"
"Barriers are a specialty for me. We have three weeks. I'll do what I can, but I'm not a professional. I'm an assassin, Brad. An assassin with a major in English and a pension for swimming. I'll do what I can. But you have to be careful. Geheim's watching you now."
He nodded. "I need to be back there when he wakes up."
"Go. Be careful. If you get killed before I take him..."
"I've gotta stay alive to protect him," Crawford said simply as he disappeared out of the room.
The door opened and Schuldig watched the American walk in. "So how'd she do it?" he whispered.
"Apparently her boss is a very influential man." Brad replied. He came over and sat on the bed next to Schuldig. "I wanted to get back quicker."
"S'okay. Was that it?"
Brad smiled. "Sort of." He paused. "I'm going to miss you."
Schuldig looked confused. He allowed his mind to probe the elder boy's to find the meaning of the words.
Brad sat, and allowed him to find what he was looking for.
"I'm going away? An assassin?" the boy asked.
"Julia's an assassin. She's taking you back to Japan with her in three weeks. You'll work for Takatori."
"And I don't get a say in this?" the young boy asked angrily.