Hello again! Thank you all very much for the couple reviews, follows and favourites! They're massively appreciated! Here is the next chapter, sorry it's a little longer than my previous ones, but I had a lot to include in this one. I'll likely post another one some time this week if I get around to it.
Disclaimer: I sadly own nothing from the MCU :(
Trigger Warning: Anti-Semitism, Depressing themes regarding the Holocaust.
Chapter V
The desert just outside of Cairo, Egypt, 1942.
When Lucy arrived at the covert desert operative base of the British Army she hardly thought for a second that she would be getting chastised for successfully completing a mission.
However, prior to getting rung out, the train had stopped off at a depot and a truck was waiting to take them to base. Charles clearly had been exhausted, since he fell asleep as soon as they started driving. Lucy would be lying if she said she wasn't dead on her feet either. As it turned out, sleeping in a tent in the desert wasn't as appealing as it sounded and she found herself tossing and turning most nights. She was also terrified of the possibility of scorpions and snakes somehow managing to get in with her under the blankets.
Beyond the exhaustion from not sleeping, she was also tired just from the day's overall events. Being shot at and running in the heat of the sun tended to drain most people, which was understandable. In those moments, all Lucy wished for was her bed back at home. Although if she was being truthful, just about anything was better than sleeping on a mat in the sand.
The drive had been short, but to Lucy, it seemed like a thousand years. Most days dragged on and on for her unless she was actively on a mission. Unless in the field, reports were her main fixation and reading all the intel provided to her for all the artifacts.
Although beyond that quite a bit of the job also included actual excavation and preservation of sites of historical significance. After all, there was a war going and how knew what would be left standing by the end of it. Therefore, recording the sites was of the utmost importance, despite Lucy usually feeling as though her talents would be better placed elsewhere such as the mission she was just on.
Prior to her placement in Cairo, Lucy had been to several other countries trying to procure rare artifacts. Most of them she was able to gain without much trouble, but recently with the Nazi's interest intensifying the job had become increasingly more dangerous. She didn't mind that much though, as the first time she had been shot at it had barely phased her. Charles was a different story, and clearly, she was taking it far too lightly and under any normal circumstances she was sure would have reacted as he did earlier if she had even a shred of instinct for self-preservation.
Upon arriving at the base, a messenger greeted them and told her that Captain Marsh was waiting for a mission report in the operations tent.
Lucy told Charles to go rest as she filled in the Captain and he hardly protested. Walking across the camp, she was now used to the looks that usually followed her. After being stationed there for a few months, most of the looks had generally stopped. The newly recruited men still stared though, since it was odd to see women in a military base besides a few agents and nurses. Lucy had a strikingly different appearance than most of the other women.
She didn't wear a uniform and typically dressed in whatever way was most practical and would allow her to blend in with whatever culture she surrounded herself with.
Arriving in the tent, she found the Captain was alone. She entered and spoke up, "Sir," She made it known she was standing there, ready to fill him in.
Looking up from his maps and letters, Captain Marsh stared at her and said, "Ah, good. Doctor Heinrich, you're here." He put down a piece of paper and then sighed. "Good of you to stop by."
"Of course," She frowned, wondering why he was acting so strange and why he thought she wouldn't stop by. "Why wouldn't I stop by, Sir?"
"Oh, I don't know Doctor. Maybe it's because you have a slight tendency of avoiding protocol. Does that ring any bells to you, Doc?" The older man leaned forward and placed his hands on his desks as he spoke to her in an annoyed fashion.
Lucy's eyes widened as confusing struck her. "Sir, I completed my mission! I did everything that was asked and executed it—,"
"You did the absolute opposite of what you were asked!" He shot back. "You were supposed to observe and report. That's it! Observe and report! You were not given any instruction to get involved, and yet you did so anyway."
Lucy was more than shocked. She was actually stunned, and her mouth dropped open and she tried to retort. "You recruited me to keep the artifacts out of the hands of the Nazis! I did that! I followed every step of protocol down to the last small detail and I saw a that a chance to get the artifacts presented itself and I took it."
"And meanwhile you were chased throughout the entire city and two locals were killed because of you. Not to mention, you put your assistant, who is a civilian, at risk!"
Her face dropped when she thought of the people who died. She knew someone got caught in the crossfire back in the marketplace, but she didn't know they were killed. "It was an accident, I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt. I was doing my job and beyond that, I had a successful mission."
"A success? We're here to save lives not add to the death toll! And now because of your carelessness, I have reports of a little girl and her mother were put in front of a goddamn firing squad!"
Lucy's heart dropped. No, scratch that; it broke. It broke into two and shattered upon hearing her Captain's words. Sadness settled over her entire body as it dawned on her he wasn't talking about the people caught in the crossfire in the market. He was talking about the young girl who had helped her.
A breath caught in her throat and never before had Lucy felt so guilty. It was all her fault, she realized. Sadness found its way into every ouch of her soul, and she had to swallow a lump forming in her throat and blink back tears. "I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt." She whispered.
The man sighed and he pinched the bridge of his nose and stood up straighter. "I know you didn't. And although your mission was a success, I need to think of what's the next best course of action here. You're not a real soldier, Doctor. You have the title of Lieutenant because you are in charge of a team, and that's it. You're an archaeologist and sending you in and things like this happening isn't good news to have to report back. I like you, I really do. Your methods are effective and you have a no bullshit attitude. You're truly one of the most remarkable women I have ever met. Jesus, half the guys I talk to are terrified of you and these are all seasoned soldiers we're talking about here! But I have to do what's best for not only this operation but for the people who live here. Your methods are too unorthodox, and you're getting transferred to Italy come morning."
Her eyes widened. Lucy couldn't believe her ears upon hearing his words. Sure, her methods were different but he even said so himself that it was efficient! She had never once had a mission failure and today was the first time anything bad had happened on a large scale. Before she could open her mouth Captain Marsh held up his hand to cut her off. "Know that's it's not because you're being punished. But there's someone else who is better suited for this type of operation. He's already had a run in with the Germans and was able to keep an extremely important Hebrew artifact out of the hands of the Fritz. And as I understand, Italy is more your expertise anyway."
"Yes, Sir it is but I strongly object! I think I can be of service here! I know that I might have made a mistake but I hardly think that's enough cause to send me away!"
"As I said, it's not a punishment. You and your assistant will be less at risk there, and it's really a good thing. You'll be more successful and have more resources available to you. I'm afraid if you stay here you won't be able to accomplish any more of our missions. The guy we have coming in, he's a spy. He's also a man and doesn't attract quite as much bad press. If people found out we were sending an American woman in the thick of it without proper military training there would be too much backlash. Try to see this as a positive thing. Besides, you were personally requested by a high ranking Colonel. Think of it as a compliment."
Although Lucy didn't like it, she understood. Licking her lips, she wondered just who exactly her replacement was. "Sir, may I ask who the doctor is who's taking my job?"
Captain Marsh looked down at his letter and squinted at the name that appeared in writing. "It's uh, a fellow by the name of Jones. Dr. Jones, I believe."
Her eyes widened at the name and Lucy couldn't help but laugh. The Captain frowned and all Lucy could think of was how he must have been kidding her. After all, there's no way he could have been serious. "You're joking, right? You're getting that absolute moron to replace me? Captain, with all due respect I think you are making a massive mistake! Dr. Jones is—,"
Captain Marsh swiftly cut her off. "He's the best person for this type operation. He's just as effective as you and doesn't create such a mess. There's no fuss with him, plus he has training. And from what I understand he's managed to secure a largely important artifact. Whatever issue you have with him doesn't matter. The decision is final and you won't be able to convince me otherwise. Dr. Jones is the lead archaeologist of this project, and you are on the first ship to Italy. So I suggest you stop standing here and get your affairs in order and pack your things." The man said harshly and Lucy pursed her lips together. She only could nod at that moment and look down at her boots before answering.
"Yes Captain, I understand." That was the only thing she said before reaching in her bag and placing the objects she acquired on his desk. He looked with curiosity at them, and picked up the canopic jar into his hand and stared at it curiously.
Lucy turned around to exit the tent when he called out "Doctor Heinrich, one more thing," He said as she stopped in her tracks and spun to look at him. He stared at her and then finally said, "Good luck. You take care of yourself in Europe. And thank you for your services here. You've made your country proud."
Lucy only nodded but didn't bother giving him her thanks. She walked out of the tent and although she heard his words she didn't know if she believed him. For some reason, she still felt like she was being punished. She only hoped that he was right and Italy would be a better fit for her.
Her only regret was that she wasn't able to save that little girl and her mother. Now she had to leave knowing there was nothing she could do there to redeem herself for what she did.
The University of Chicago, 1941
Lucy stood on her tippy toes while trying to reach one of her textbooks in her office. It was on the top shelf, and she stuck out her tongue while going as high as she could in her high heels.
Wearing a black dress with small flower prints, she felt warm on the late summer day in the city. Everything was sticky, and she had to wipe her forehead from the light coat of sweat that gathered in her skin. She usually wouldn't have been at the university in the Summer, but she had agreed to teach summer courses and was there for her office hours. Lucy had a few of her student's scheduled in to see her for help, but in order to give him the resource they needed to complete their paper she needed to first reach her textbook...
Huffing and putting her hands on her hips, she stood there wondering how on earth anyone was able to reach the top shelf. Although she was quite tall for a woman, it was the moments like these she missed Daniel's 6'4 frame.
Thinking back to him, she sighed and looked down at her left hand. A small, sparkling diamond ring rested on her finger, showing the promise of a marriage that was meant to have taken place in the next month.
At least, it had been before France was invaded. Lucy remembered waking up to the paper being delivered to her front door on May 15th, 1940. She had moved to Chicago the year before to be a professor at the university following completing her Ph.D. the year prior. Although she and Daniel got engaged the month before finding out, they managed to make the long distance work. They wrote often to one another, and although she found herself missing him constantly, reading his letters always gave her comfort.
He would come to the United States to be with her once it was the right time, he had promised. But now wasn't that time. With Jews being targeted by the Germans, he knew he should have left with her. But his life was in Paris, and so was his family. He had to take care of his ill mother and his elderly father, he explained. None of them spoke English either, which would make it harder for Daniel to find a job and he didn't want Lucy to feel as though she had to provide for him when it should be him doing it for her.
Lucy recalled first pleading with him in their small apartment in France to come with her to New York for the summer and then move to Chicago afterward. She told him that the Lee's would happily pay for his parent's medical bills and see they got the help that was needed. They would also very likely set them up in a very comfortable apartment which they would live in while Lucy and Daniel went off to Chicago.
But Daniel was proud, and he said he wouldn't accept charity. That had always been a touchy subject for them. Daniel had never grown up with the money, and for the majority of Lucy's life, she hadn't either. Yet, after she was taken in by the Lee's she had more money than she knew what to do with. Although she originally came from poverty, she had lived with some of New York's most wealthy families, which at the beginning of her and Daniel's relationship had caused them problems. He felt like she could never understand what growing up was like for him, and he often saw her as a spoiled rich girl.
As things in Europe got worse, Lucy pressed him to leave. She told him it's wasn't safe and she was worried. Although he wasn't an active member in the Synagogue and hadn't been since he was a young adult, he was still a Jew. And she would be his wife, making her a target also. Her pleas had eventually turned to beg. Begging turned to arguments, and arguments turned into screaming. They screamed constantly at each other about the matter. She remembered how they would be at it for hours, the tears both streaming down both their faces. It would always lead to her telling him she would leave him if he didn't come with her, which he told her wasn't fair because she was giving him the ultimatum between his family and keeping her.
Each time she would be ready to walk out the door. Once she even threw her engagement ring at him, telling him to go to hell.
The fighting always ended with him kissing her so hard she couldn't breathe, sometimes shoving her against the wall or whatever solid object was closest. She would tell him she hated him, and he would say 'I know'. But they would continue kissing, and eventually, her legs would wrap around his waist and he would carry her off to their bed where their passion would burn through the night like wildfire.
He had been the first man she had ever been with. He was her first and last everything. Her first serious boyfriend, her first love, and eventually the first man she had been with intimately. And although many frowned at them for living together before being they wed, Lucy and Daniel didn't care. To them, all that mattered was each other.
After they had finished making up after their fight, Lucy would remember hearing his heartbeat in his chest as she laid her head against his soft, bare skin. She would play with his Star of David pendant as he ran his hands through her dark, thick brown hair.
The moonlight would shine through their bedroom window, and the city of love truly earned its name in those few moments.
"Je t'aime tellement que ça fait mal," She would tell him as he kissed the back of her hand and tears would prickle in her eyes. I love you so much that it hurts.
"Tu es mon monde entier. Mon tout." He would reply back with. You are my whole world. My everything.
He would then promise to go with her to America. They would then drift off to sleep, happy and in love. But when the sun would rise and the next day would come, he would go back on his word and say he couldn't go and they would fight about the exact same thing.
When she had finally left for the States she was less than happy that she was returning there alone. He swore to her that he would only stay in France for a little while later to sort things out, and she believed him.
It wasn't until May 15th, 1940, that she strolled out of her Colonial style house near the university with a mug of coffee in hand that she knew there would be no chance of Daniel coming to join her.
In nothing but her robe and slippers, Lucy opened her front door with a messy case of bed head. Yawning, she held her coffee close and then read the headline of the paper that morning. What she then read stopped her heart. In large black letters on the first page read 'Germany Invades France". Her cup of coffee slipped out of her hand and shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces on the ground, and at that moment she could have sworn she felt her heart so the very same thing.
At that point, it had been over a year since she read those words. After that, only three of Daniel's letters made it to her.
The first was informing her of what had happened when the Germans arrived and what it would mean for the Jews. The second described the things that had been going on, and he mentioned briefly of meeting a young man who he could not name who was apart of the French Resistance.
And the third letter she did not read. Attached to it was a small note. Daniel has found himself in a very dangerous situation, and for his own safety as well as hers he couldn't say what. But he told her he wished he had gone with her when she had offered, and it was his greatest fear that he would never see her again.
He wrote that the letter should only be read in the case of his death. And Lucy had honoured that wish, not touching it. She couldn't bear the thought of him being dead. The very idea almost drove her mad, and she had struggled for weeks afterward with even the thought of it.
She hasn't touched the letter despite not hearing from him for so, so long. She refused to even entertain the idea that he was dead. After all, he couldn't be. He had promised that he would come back to her.
Since then the letter had been kept safe in her bedside drawer, untouched and unopened.
As Lucy stared at her ring as she still stood there, trying to her that damned textbook down, she heard a faint knock on her office door.
"Come in!" She called, straightening out her casual dress and then adjusting a pin in her updo.
Lucy turned around expecting to see Darren Shapiro, a young man from the pseudoarchaeology course she taught who had an appointment with her.
To her surprise, two men in military uniforms stood there instead. Immediately her face fell and she knew this couldn't be good news.
"Dr. Lucy Heinrich?" The one asked her. He was an older man, with white hair but eyes which still reflected youth. The other man was younger, with grey in his light chestnut hair. The one that spoke up was clearly American from his accent and uniform, but the other man was English, which she found odd.
"Yes?" She asked them, curious about what they wanted.
"We were wondering if we could have a moment to discuss an important matter with you?" The Englishman spoke up and confirmed his nationality by his distinct accent.
"Yes of course, what can I help you gentlemen with?" She took a seat opposite to them; her desk created a barrier between the three of them. Her heart was pounding in her chest as they stared at her and a million possibilities ran through her mind as to why they were sitting in her office.
"My name is Captain Woodward, and this here is Lieutenant Beaty with British Army. We hear you are one of the leading experts on rare artifacts that have to do with ancient cults and religions." The American spoke up, his tone reflecting how serious he was, "Can you confirm this for us?"
Lucy was taken back. Never before had anyone ever referred to her as the 'expert' on her specialized area of study. Although her doctoral dissertation was called 'exquisite', and many had declared that they had never seen a woman in archaeology write such a fine piece, she would hardly call herself the expert.
"Well, I wouldn't quite say that," She blushed lightly, honoured at the very thought that someone believed her work deserved that much merit. "I think my colleague Dr. McKinen would be better suited to that title."
"No, Dr. Heinrich, we've read up quite a bit on you and we believe that it is, in fact, you who deserves the title. Many others in your field also agree with this, including many of the university board members."
She could hardly believe her ears at their words. Her entire life she had never particularly the best at anything. And now, to be called the leading expert in her field it was like Christmas had come early. "Well, thank you!" She swallows a lump forming in her throat as pride welled up in her chest, "I am extremely flattered."
"Before we begin," Lieutenant Beaty spoke up, "Do you believe this office is a safe space to discuss sensitive matters? Is there any reason that would you believe it to be bugged?"
Lucy could hardly contain her shock and she almost laughed at the question, "Of course not! I mean... No! Definitely not!" She answered in a flustered tone, and then she hastily asked, "Why? Did someone bug it? I don't think they would overhear anything particularly interesting..." She admitted, knowing many people found studying antiquity to be extremely boring.
"No of course not, Doctor. We just had to ask as a part of the protocol as a part of precaution. We didn't mean to alarm you." Captain Woodward assured her in a comforting tone, "But what we are about to disclose to you is highly secretive and cannot be discussed outside the confines of this room. Is that understood?"
She nodded slowly. Lucy felt her palms her sweaty and she said "Understood," far quieter than she has meant to.
"Dr. Heinrich are you familiar at all with the Nazi S.S. division known as the Ahnenerbe?"
She frowned and answered, "I've heard of it a couple times but I must admit I'm not entirely sure I know exactly what it is."
"It's apart of the Nazi's plan to develop a strong sense of nationalism. Their goal is to convince everyone that civilization began within the Germanic region, and establish themselves as the one true race. They often use pseudoscience and archaeology as a means to confirm these ideologies and create means of propaganda supporting Aryan superiority."
How awful, she thought. That anyone would be so devious and evil that they would fabricate lies to support their hateful ideas.
"I see," She nodded, "So they use archaeology as a weapon? They use it as a way to shape people's perceptions?
"That's not quite all. There's another division known as HYDRA, they're more radical than the Ahnenerbe. They're a secret operation and we know very little about them at this time. Our governments are coming together to form a special unit, the Strategic Scientific Reserve. The SSR specializes in groups like HYDRA and their dealings, and are trying their best to stop them."
Lucy frowned and she put her hands in her lap, wondering why exactly they were telling her all this top secret information. "And what does this have to do with me, exactly?"
"Dr. Heinrich, we believe you're able to help us. Not only are you an expert in the things HYDRA is looking for, but you also speak German and French. And not to mention, you display a large passion for art and historical artifacts and I'm sure would be willing to do anything to preserve them."
"Yes, but I'm still unsure of what you're asking me to do?"
"We're asking you to join the Allied army." Lieutenant Beaty said leaned back in his chair.
Lucy almost laughed at their request. Again, they had to be joking. Why on earth would they want her to join? "You want me to join the army? Me? Join the army?" She asked as if they had said the most lucrative thing. "There must be a hundred men more capable than I am!"
"But none of them are in your unique situation. Your field expertise can be in handy for the preservation of the artifacts, and your knowledge on rare cult items can help us from stopping HYDRA from using them to create weapons of mass destruction."
Her brows furrowed more as they continued speaking. She could hear the blood rushing to her head and the noise of it echoed in her ears, "How are they using them as weapons?"
"We're not sure. Call it magic, call it science? But we have intel on them searching for remarkably rare objects and harnessing their power to create chaos. We need you to be one step in front of them and keep that from happening."
She only nodded and then stood up, hearing enough of their offer, "Gentleman I hear what you're saying but I can't do what you ask of me. Now, if you would please leave, I have students who need my help." She wrapped her arms around her centre and waited for them to move. But instead they didn't, they continued to sit there. Lieutenant Beaty reached in his briefcase he had with him and brought out a manila folder.
"Dr. Heinrich if you would please look at these pictures, I think you would reconsider." Lieutenant Beaty said and passed it over to her.
She took it, however reluctantly and sighed as she opened it. As she saw what they contained her face fell. Pictures showed mass destruction on a level she never once thought was capable. Placing a hand to her mouth in shock, she saw the remains of the Vienna University. "Oh my God," Was all she could say as she gasped. The ceiling panel called Philosophy done by Gustav Klimt was completely in shambles. The next picture she looked at was a church in Rome, showing the Madonna with Child by Giovani Bellini in 1430 broken in half. The next page she saw was The Amber Room in St. Petersburg barely recognizable. The Dormition Cathedral of the Kyivan Cave Monastery was next, completely decimated. Countless other buildings and sites were shown from the countryside of being destroyed, and some were famous churches and landmarks. On the back, the page was a list of all the art that had vanished, presumed to have been destroyed or stolen. Pieces by Degas, Courbet, and Van Gogh were all present, and Lucy felt saddened at the fact the world had been robbed of so much beauty.
"So to be clear, you want me to not only document and record sites before they get destroyed, but also somehow track down some very specific artifacts that an extremist Nazi group is looking for?"
"In a way, yes. You'll be in charge of a full team and be given everything you need. You won't ever see any actual combat, but this is a matter of extreme importance and we think you are the best person to handle it." Captain Woodward explained, "We'll match the salary that the university is giving you and you'll receive a very generous bonus for your services, as well as a pension."
She only passed the pictures back and then said remorseful, "I'm sorry, but like I said I can't help you. My life is here, and I can't just pack up and leave."
The two men looked at one another and then Captain Woodward sighed. Lieutenant Beaty pulled another file out of his bag and he asked her, "Dr. Heinrich you're engaged to Dr. Daniel Réhal, correct?"
That caught her attention. She looked up in shock, wondering how they could have possibly had known that or who Daniel was. She had hoped they had just done good research, and the knew of her engagement as they knew of her previous field experience. "Yes. W-why do you ask?" Fear gathered in her voice.
The two looked at each other and Captain Woodward told her she should probably sit back down. Lucy's heart pounded in her chest, almost feeling as though it would jump out of it beat any harder. She twisted around her engagement ring in on her left hand nervously as she wondered why they brought him up.
"When was the last time you heard word from him?"
She shook her head, unable to even think properly. Why were they asking? Was Daniel in some kind of trouble? "I'm not sure. Perhaps five months ago was my last letter from him."
Captain Woodward only sighed and handed her the folder, "Dr. Heinrich, we didn't want to show you these but we hope they will make you reconsider. Revenge is a good motivator. You are not only a brilliant archaeologist who would greatly help our countries… But you also have a cause to join beyond the art. You were considered for your skill but also you are in a very unique situation. But I must warn you, the picture you are about to see is a little shocking."
As soon as he spoke those words Lucy ripped open the folded as fast as she could. There were letters inside, all addressed to the British government from the French. Daniel's name popped up over and over and Lucy didn't understand why.
"Your fiancé joined the Jewish French Resistance. Although unsanctioned by the French officials they did operations of sabotage, espionage, and rescue missions." Lieutenant Beaty explained and as Lucy read through the letters, she could no longer wait to see the few pictures at the end of the file. Her heart stopped as she saw one. In black and white, she stared at Daniel's face as he posed with other men. He looked as handsome as ever, with his large glasses and standing tall. But he looked tired, and as though he had aged five years since the last time Lucy saw him. What shocked her most was that he stood with a large gun in his hand, clearly coming from a mission. All the men in his presence looked just as exhausted and beat as he did, and it was obvious they were putting up the fight for their lives.
With a quiet voice, Captain Woodward began to speak "We had reports of him saving countless lives. He's a true hero. You should be very proud." They told her as she looked up and tears welled in her eyes as she knew where this conversation was going.
"No," Was all she could say. Her heart broke and Lucy shook her head over and over. "No." She whispered as a single tear fell down her cheek. "No, please, please don't tell me..."
Captain Woodward only said with a tone of sympathy, "The last picture will give you an idea what happened."
Lucy flipped to the next one and she let out a sob and covered her mouth at the sight. Her vision blurred so much that she could hardly see the picture that was clearly taken by someone else observing the resistance's missions. In a centre of a square, amongst collapsed buildings and destruction, Lucy could make out three figures kneeling in the ground with their hands locked behind their heads in surrender. Their faces, although she could really see them, were bloodied and bruised and the Germans had their guns pointed at their heads. Lucy choked out a sob and the picture shook from her hands being so unsteady. She could make out Daniel's face as one of the men who had surrendered, and suddenly she felt as though she couldn't breathe.
"We're very sorry to be the ones delivering this message to you." Lieutenant Beaty said, "We wished we had better news."
She only looked up at them, blinking hard and trying her best to keep the tears from falling. "Is he dead? Please, just tell me. I need to know. Is Daniel dead?"
Captain Woodward looked to Lieutenant Beaty and the man only pursed his lips together. "We're... we're not sure. Those pictures were taken by one of the other resistance members who was overseeing the mission. He reported back that they weren't shot immediately as most captured partisans are. They took them away. But yes, we believe he is dead."
Lucy covered her face and let out a sob. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, her heart had never felt so broken in her life. She suddenly wanted nothing more than to die as well; unable to even fathom the idea of living in a world without Daniel.
"Although he wasn't shot immediately, he and his team were taken away." Lieutenant Beaty continued, "We believe they were placed with other Jews and rebels being transported out of the city."
"Transported where?" She sniffled, her nose running and wiping it away with the back of her hand.
"It's recently been known to us that the Nazi's are attempting the eradicate the Jews at catastrophic rates. It's not even known to the public yet, but many Jews were taken to places believing they were going to work camps."
"So... so he's at one of the work camps?" She asked and Lieutenant Beaty passed her a handkerchief and she dabbed away at her eyes and gently rubbed her nose.
The older man could only sigh and look at her in pity, "Doctor, I am so, so sorry. But no. The work camps were mostly a lie to make people more comfortable about what was happening. Most French Jews are being transported to the Drancy Internment camp, where they are then transported to Sobibor, Dachau, Majdanek, and Auschwitz. Although, there are reports for thousands of other labour camps, and he could be in any one of them."
"What are they? The names you just listed?" She asked, "If he's only in a labour camp that's good right? That means he'll be kept prisoner until the war is over and he'll be able to come home? Please, tell me that's all it is."
"Dr. Heinrich, the camps we listed are extermination camps... No one survives them. They're used in place of the mass killing sites. Some of them like Auschwitz are used for labour, but they only stay alive as long as they're useful. Beyond that, we have reports of anywhere between a couple hundred to over a thousand being gassed immediately upon arrival. Even as a labourer, the survival rates are almost nonexistent. With what we know we expect no one to be capable of surviving over a month. They're intended to completely erase the Jewish race from the race of the earth. I'm so sorry, but if Daniel is at any one of them he won't be coming back home." Captain Woodward said as Lucy silent shook as she cried into her hands. She felt as though she were living in a nightmare that she couldn't escape from.
"We have accounts of transportation from France carrying as many as thousands of deportees. Most end up in the death camps, but there is a small chance he could be in a camp for political prisoners. Daniel was a strong young man, and if he somehow beats the odds and is able to work until the end of the war and isn't selected randomly for gassing, he may just survive. But I would hate to give you false hope. If I were you, I would attempt to move on and regain a semblance of a life..."
"Move on?" Lucy shot in anger, "You just told me my fiancé has likely been taken to the worst hell on earth and was murdered! No, not even murdered! Slaughtered! And you think I can just move on?" She asked in shock, shaking her head as every inch of her body hurt. She had never felt a pain quite like this. Not even after Kathleen or her mother died.
She would give anything to have Daniel back at that moment. Oh, why did he not come with her when she asked? She should have pressed harder; she should have fought more. But she didn't, and now the love of her life was dead. And he had died alone, in a place filled with evil and hate. Lucy could hardly breathe she was crying so badly; she never knew it was possible to experience a heartbreak such as this.
"I know it's hard," Captain Woodward had no idea what pain she was experiencing. How dare he have the gull to pretend he knew what she was going through? How dare he even say such a thing? "But you can prevent more of this from happening. You can keep those artifacts out of HYDRA hands. The sooner the war is won the sooner we can help the victims. You have an opportunity to do that."
She only clenched her teeth before staring at them through her glossy, tear-filled, bloodshot eyes before hissing, "Get the hell out."
Woodward again pursed his lips and nodded and stood up, "We hope you will reconsider our offer."
Lieutenant Beaty followed suit and stood out of his chair, "My most sincere condolences for your loss." As if condolences would bring Daniel and all those other people back.
Nothing would bring them back. Absolutely nothing and nothing Lucy could do would help. The role she would play in the grand scheme was so unbelievably small that it wouldn't even make a difference.
She couldn't believe the news she had just heard. Not even about just Daniel, but how was it possible all the horrors were coming to light and no one knew what was really going on? How could the United States sit idly involved when there were reports of what had happened? Was no one willing to stick up for what was right?
As the men walked out of her office, Lucy looked up and only said: "Wait!" She would have given anything to have Daniel back. He fought for his people and did his share, and he would have wanted Lucy to do hers. Her role would be small, but even if she could save one person it would be enough. If she could give one person their loved one back so they wouldn't have to know that pain that she had felt in that current moment than that would be good enough for her.
Both Captain's turned around to look at her, and she said with a shaky voice. "I'll do it. I'll help you." She wanted to make Daniel proud.
Well, that was depressing. Sorry about that! It honestly has broken my heart to have killed Daniel off. But we need to make room for Bucky in the story, who will again make an appearance next chapter :D
On a more serious note, before I finish up I have a couple things to say. I wanted to point out the facts regarding the death camps in this story is all accurate. All the matters dealing with the lost art/damages done are also true.
This is not anything I made up to benefit this story. It is a very, very real part of history and I ask my readers to enjoy my work but also be mindful that not everything is fiction. Some of the elements that are included were very real, and real people were the victims. Many have family who are alive today, and I hope for you all the keep the victims in your thoughts and that when you read something like this you remain critical of the events that led up to the genocide of the European Jews/minorities.
If any family members of victims are currently reading, please feel free to leave a review and PM me about their experience. If you have found it difficult reading this, or wish for me to change any wrongful facts, please feel free to contact me yet again. Like I said, I haven't made any of the info up regarding the Captain's talking about the camps. Please be sensitive about that and respectful. I know you are all amazing and wonderful, but I just really wanted to stress that.
That's all I wanted to say! Have a lovely rest of your week and I'll update soon. Please don't forget to follow, favourite, and review!
-Amelia
