January 15th, 1935, Torture Room, Stützpunkt X (Base X, undisclosed location, Germany)
The screams echoed through the base and could be heard even in the laboratories three floors above.
Adeline blinked desperately, trying to see, but the holes where her eyes used to be only sizzled with the acid that had eaten away at her eyes. She screamed again – the pain nothing compared to the panic of having lost her sight.
"Shhhhh. Shhhh, der schatz." Darling. Schmidt's voice came from somewhere above her. "Only a few minutes until they come back." He had taken to using English, as if he wanted to practise. Then there was the disgusting feeling of his lips on hers. She squirmed under his lips, but because of the restraints, was unable to get away, so she bit him. Hard. Blood spurted into her mouth, and her reared back, cursing. The sharp feeling of a scalpel in her stomach made her scream again. "Stupid bitch!" he hissed. There was the sound of heavy breathing, and it slowed, as if he was calming himself. "You have… great spirit. But I have great patience." He caressed her bare chest. "I will break you yet, der schatz."
Her half-repaired eyelids slid closed.
"Now. I wish to see at what rate your body repairs and replaces your vital organs." His voice was cheerful as he started peeling back her skin. She arched her back, and let out another long painful howl.
Abraham placed his head in his hands as another drawn out scream reached him. It tapered off at the end, as if her throat had been cut. Maybe it had been.
It was silent, and he took the momentary peace to finish writing his letter to the British agent. Peggy Carter had promised him she could get him, his family, and Adeline out – if he cooperated with the government to create another army of super soldiers. But Schmidt was pushing him. He wanted a stronger serum for himself. He was hardly impressed with the only mildly increased strength and speed of Adeline, and although her healing was something of miracles, he wanted more for himself.
He folded the letter tightly, and shoved it down his pants. If they found it...
Another wail reached him, and he lowered his head.
November 9th, 1938, Kristallnacht or The Night of Broken Glass.
Adeline put on the supplied blue and white checked skirt methodically, doing up the buttons on the cream blouse automatically. The matching blue cardigan had little embroidered white flowers on it. It was the first time in many years that she'd worn something other than a uniform or hospital gown.
Finally, the door to her room was opened, and her handler, a high ranking officer, that she knew the face of – but not the name – stood in civilian clothing as well. She frowned.
What new nightmare had been cooked up in this bubbling cesspool of terror?
She was led to the barracks on the surface, made to stand at the back of the room next to her handler. Their orders were outlined, and she felt her face whiten in horror. She carefully obscured her expression, but the way her handler eyed her made her sure she had been seen.
"Wolfe. Sie sind nicht meine Augen zu lassen. Ist das klar?" You are not to leave my sight. Is that understood?
"Jawohl." Yes, sir. Adeline saluted, and he nodded, appeased somewhat. She fell into step behind him, filing in with the rest of the silent soldiers in civilian clothing. No one spoke, but there was a tense air of anticipation. Slowly, groups began peeling off from the main column, filtering down and through side streets, until there was only seven of them. Adeline eyed the other six around her, and as a civilian crossed their path, her handler looped his arm through hers and laughed loudly. She swallowed dryly.
She could see where they were heading. At the end of the street, a beautiful synagogue stood, the star of David shining in the low light. She looked beside them, and her eyes caught on a crudely drawn sign of David on a shop window. And again on a house door.
They had been marked. Branded.
She closed her eyes, and let her handler drag her along. Three of the men peeled off from their group, and stood casually in front of two Jewish stores.
"Es ist Zeit." It's time. Her handler rasped breathlessly, and he let her go, reaching into his pocket. She watched as he pulled out a box of matches, and the other two soldiers poured gasoline around and on the walls of the wooden synagogue. She looked at her watch. It was 8:59.
They paused, and her handler struck the match.
He dropped it and flames burst into life.
9:00 pm.
They laughed and hooted, and behind her, the sound of glass shattering made her whirl around. The soldiers threw bricks at the glass windows. It shattered and sparkled on the street, reflecting the fire that was now blazing. She stared wide-eyed.
Her handler grabbed her, dragging her with him.
Her ears could pick up shattering and screams from all around them. In shock, she followed him up the stairs to the apartment above the shop. He kicked the door down and burst in. A child appeared and screamed at the sight of the two strangers.
"Wo ist Joseph Hardler?!" Where is Joseph Hardler? He bellowed. Seconds later, Joseph and his wife appeared, Joseph clutching a poker. Her handler let out a roar of rage, and leapt at them, beating Joseph down with a brick. His wife shrieked and he backhanded her viciously, sending her to the ground. Her child ran to her side, and crouched, crying.
Adeline blinked. This… this wasn't just. It was violence. It was horror.
Her handler began dragging Joseph by his arms. "Tragen Sie ihn auf die Straße." Carry him out to the street. He barked at Adeline. Too shocked to do anything but obey, she stooped, gathering up the unconscious man, bleeding from a wound on his temple. She carried him out, listening as her handler crashed around in the house, yelling. The mother and child were wailing.
She crouched over Joseph. "Joseph. Joseph." She whispered, gently tilting his head back. He coughed, and blinked open his eyes. "Kannst du laufen?" Can you walk? He tried to sit up. He slumped back, obviously spent. Adeline twisted her lips. "Okay. Okay. Lassen Sie uns Ihnen einen sicheren Ort zu bekommen." Let's get you somewhere safe. She said, half to herself.
She lifted him again, jogging away from the house. She could only hope that her handler would not injure the mother and child. But she didn't know what he was going to do to Joseph. Her eyes fell on a pile of garbage in an alley. She clenched her jaw. Joseph had fallen unconscious again. She set him down, and pulled away enough of the trash to form a hiding spot for the slight man. She put him in there, and scribbled a quick note and put it in his pocket, reburying him, so he could breathe, but so he was hidden.
Get your family out of the country.