A/N: Happy Valentine's Day, or if you're like me, Singles Awareness Day. To celebrate, here is my next chapter. Hope you all enjoy.

The next few days were a busy time for the rescuers. Sid and Gerald spent their time gathering supplies from others in the black market. To avoid suspicion, they would gather the cots from different sellers. They found fabric for clothing. Sid was also able to get a nurse's uniform for Helga.

"How did you manage to find this?" Helga asked.

"Gerald has a close informant that is useful for special cases," Sid replied.

"Who is it?"

"I don't know. Gerald won't ever give his name. I'm guessing this guy is influential." There was no more talk of it after that.

The girls kept busy as well. Days were spent making clothes for the upcoming arrival of Helga's former classmates. When Sid and Gerald brought supplies, Helga and Phoebe prepared the small apartment in the cellar. They were making up the extra cots when Sid came downstairs.

"Curly's arrived," he announced. "He wants to meet you two."

The two girls followed Sid upstairs to the living room. Sitting next to Gerald was a medium-sized man with jet black hair. His round-rimmed glasses were so thick that Helga could barely see his eyes. He appeared tranquil. Helga began to wonder if this was the right person.

"Helga, Phoebe, this is Thaddeus 'Curly' Gammelthorpe," Sid introduced. "Curly, this is…"

"Helga Pataki and Phoebe Hyerdahl," Curly interrupted. "Yes, I know all about you two." Both girls instantly felt uncomfortable. Curly sensed this shift in the two. "Don't freak out. I only find it important to know with whom I'm working. And you two are pretty important."

"And we're not supposed to freak out about that?" Helga retorted.

Curly snickered. "I've been asked to help get some people out of Auschwitz. And I'm sure you've been told about one of my notorious escapades." He looked over at Sid, who nodded in affirmation. "Let me be blunt: you need me and my expertise or you can kiss your friends goodbye. I know your father is part of the SS, and very high up I must say, but that will only get you so far because you're a woman. I'm willing to help you but you must do exactly as I say. Got it?"

Helga growled softly. It irritated her that this man who she just met saying such things to her. What irritated her more was that he was right. "Yes," she grumbled.

"Good," Curly grinned. "Now, what exactly did you have in mind to get them out?" Phoebe discussed the plan, mentioning the role he and Helga were to portray and how to get them out. "I see you want to put my medical knowledge to good use. I just have a minor change." He turned his attention to Helga. "I have a small house a few miles outside of Krakow. I want to take them there for a few hours so they can shower and change clothes. It would be peculiar if we brought them into Krakow with them wearing uniforms."

"I didn't even think about that," whispered Phoebe. "Thank goodness we have you here!"

"Suck up," Helga muttered.

"You know he's right."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine with the change. It… makes sense."

"Excellent!" exclaimed Curly. "Now we need to discuss payment."

"What?" a confused Helga asked. "No one ever mentioned payment!"

"Well you certainly didn't expect me to do this for free, did you?" Helga remained silent. "It's not much, really. You know a Miss Rhonda Wellington Lloyd, correct?"

"Yes," Helga drawled out. "What about her?"

"I want you to put in a good word for me. Get me a date with her."

"Are you insane? I haven't seen her in years! Besides, she would never date someone like you. Princess has very high standards when it comes to men."

Curly gave a half smile. "That is my price. If you don't agree to it, then I cannot help." He leaned forward to Helga. He took his glasses off and stared deep down into her eyes. "But if you do agree, you better mean it. Trust me when I say I'm the last person you want to cross."

Helga gulped audibly. There was a tone in his voice and a look in his eyes that indicated he wasn't kidding. She looked over at Sid. "Can I see you in the hallway?"

The two stood up and left the room. "Are you kidding me?" she hissed. "There's no way I can work with him."

"You said you wanted eccentric," Sid argued. "He's the best. Sure, his payment is a bit unconventional, but that's a small price compared to getting them out."

"Say what you want, but there is no way I'm going in a vehicle with that nutcase."

"I can't believe I'm in a vehicle with a nutcase." Helga rolled her eyes while gazing out the window. In the driver's seat was Curly, heading towards Auschwitz. Both donned their Nazi medical uniforms. Phoebe had been the one to make Helga realize that this was a small price to pay to get everyone back, and asked what Arnold would think if she turned her back from this. She knew at that moment she had no choice.

"You make it sound like it's the worst thing in the world," Curly replied. "If I were you, I'd be more concerned if we can't make it to lover boy in time."

Helga looked at him in disbelief. This whole time she never confessed her love for Arnold to any of the guys. She never even mentioned his name. Only Phoebe uttered that forbidden word, and Curly wasn't in the room. "I don't know what you're talking about," she scoffed.

"There's no point in lying. I know you're in love. It wasn't hard to figure out, either. When I was first told the story, it was mentioned that you immediately agreed to help your friend who asked. While there is nothing wrong with helping a friend you care about, it sounded like there was a little bit of extra motivation. Especially since before you went there, you were adamant about not being involved in the escape."

"Well, maybe I just didn't like what I saw," Helga rebutted.

"Perhaps, but not forty-five minutes ago, you refused to agree to my payment. It wasn't until Phoebe went to you that you changed your mind. I didn't hear much but I did hear the name 'Arnold.'" Helga's face paled. "I guess that's his name?"

She didn't reply. All she wondered was how this guy who she only knew for less than two hours know her darkest secret. If he could figure it out, then does everyone else know?

"Sid and Gerald have no idea," Curly replied to the questioning look that was held on her face. "I know because I'm just like you. Why else would I ask you to get me a date with Rhonda?"

It made sense to Helga. Curly was willing to do what it took to get Rhonda, even if it was pretending to be a doctor to rescue people from an extermination camp. "Is she why you freed animals from the zoo?"

Curly laughed. "Yep, that was for her. I was trying to get her attention. It worked, no matter how brief. She may only think of me as the crazy guy, but she will never forget me. We all do things for love, but you and I are passionate people that it alters how we act. I pull crazy stunts, and by the way you have been quiet about the whole thing, my guess is you haven't told him. I'm also willing to hypothesize you may even make fun of him to prevent him from finding out. The question, however, is why?"

Helga hesitated for a moment. Does she finally admit what she worries about every time she thinks about admitting her true feelings? She took a deep breath. There was no going back now.

"I fear he will reject me," she confessed. "I'm scared that he wants nothing to do with me, especially after the way I've treated him when we were kids. We got along after realizing we both were against the Nazi party. Then he left." She took another deep breath. "That nearly killed me. At that point, I was wondering if getting along wasn't enough, then nothing I could do will make him love me."

"Did he ever say why he left?"

"No. He said it wasn't safe for me to know."

"I suggest you ask him about it after we get them out. Don't do it immediately, for he may need some time to adjust to the new lifestyle. But seriously, ask him. You're never going to know for sure until you do."

Helga took everything he said in. It was all true. She knew she had to talk to him. "I will, but first, we need to get them out."

"That's my girl. Do you remember my alias?" Before leaving, they Curly asked to be referred to a different name to prevent anyone from recognizing him.

"Yes, Dr. Bliss."

They arrived outside the gates of Auschwitz half an hour later. Helga notified her father earlier that week that she was coming with her employer so the guards were expecting them. They were directed to the office of Rudolf Höss, the director of Auschwitz. When they entered, neither one was expecting the other man in the room

"Miss Pataki, how wonderful to see you again," Höss exclaimed. "I haven't seen you in some time. Your father said you are a nurse now. How's that going?"

"Very well, Herr Director," Helga replied. "This is my employer, Dr. Bliss."

"Herr Doctor, nice to meet you," Höss said extending his arm out to Curly. Curly shook it.

"The pleasure's all mine, Herr Director. But I see we are forgetting someone else here." He motioned to the man next to Höss.

"My apologies. This is Heinrich Himmler, director of the SS, and mastermind of the concentration camps."

Helga's stomach dropped. She heard about Himmler many times from her father. He would sing Himmler's praises about what he was doing for the nation. It just made Helga sick.

However, she could not worry about that now. Remembering her role, she saluted Himmler.

"Please, sit down and discuss what brings you here today." They both sat down on the opposite side of Höss's desk. "Your father said that your employer was interested in some of our prisoners?"

"That's correct," Curly answered instead. "Her father doesn't know that I'm the one who asked her to come to Auschwitz and look at some of the prisoners you have. You see, I'm conducting some experiments and I need some patients to try them on and after hearing what Helga had to say about your lovely establishment, I knew this would be the effect place to begin them."

Höss and Himmler eyed him curiously. "I'm confused, Miss Pataki. I thought your father said you started working for him after your visit here?"

"That was when she told her father. The truth is she's been under my wing ever since her first visit to Krakow. We just didn't want to say anything until I heard about her trip here."

"Miss Pataki, is that true?" Helga nodded.

"Very well, then. Another thing I wonder is why you want my prisoners? You say you live in Krakow. Why not use the Jews in the ghetto there?"

Oh no, Helga thought, fiddling with her hands. We forgot to tell him what to say about that. We're dead!

Curly chuckled. "I would, but those are full of Polish Jews. For my experiments I shall require German Jews. The reason behind it is because I want to compare the superior race to that of other races who are from the Fatherland. I even have a darkie from a small town just outside of Hamburg."

Helga gazed at him in awe. He said that so eloquently that she was starting to believe him.

Apparently, so were the two directors. "Just out of curiosity," began Himmler, "what type of study are you conducting?"

Helga began to feel sick. They never came up with how they were to explain the type of experiments they wanted to conduct. Curse their procrastination!

Yet Curly surprised her again. "I'm wishing to observe the physical changes when people experience hypothermia and different methods of warming them up. I have a cold room at my laboratory in Krakow all built up. I shall keep them in the room, naked, for several hours. I want to see if there is a difference between the races and the sexes, which is why one of the prisoners I requested is a woman. Then I want to see what method of warming up is most reliable. Eventually, I want to expand and include children and other nations, but for now, I just need a small amount to begin. And since I'm comparing to the true Aryan race, I would need German prisoners, which is also why I am here. It would be cruel to have them done on those who are loyal followers of our beloved Fuhrer."

Helga didn't know whether to be appalled or amazed. It was apparent that they did indeed choose the correct person for this job. Curly was intelligent as well as charismatic. She looked over at Höss and Himmler. She can see that they were excited to hear what he was saying. Of course they would. These two men were sadistic killers.

"That is quite impressive," Höss said, snickering. "I never would have imagined an experiment such as that. I must say, after hearing that, I shall be happy to give you some of the prisoners."

"Excellent!" Curly beamed. Helga couldn't help but smile a bit. Their plan had actually worked! Soon, they will be out of the devil's pit and would never look back.

"Now, you said that Miss Pataki had some prisoners in mind," Höss said, then turned his attention to Helga. "Do you happen remember which prisoners you needed?"

Helga pulled out a slip of paper. It was a copy of the numbers that Arnold gave her. The original was in her diary along with the letter he gave her almost four years ago. "I have a list right here." She gave it to Höss. He, in turn, gave it to one of the guards waiting outside the office. He told him to find the prisoners and bring them to the entrance. The four made their way to the truck that Curly and Helga drove down, exchanging pleasantries. For the first time, Helga began to feel calm. It was almost over. They were almost out of there.

The SS guard came back. "They are on their way," he explained. "But there is something you should know."

"What is it?" Himmler asked.

"One of the prisoners requested is about to be hanged. He is currently on the scaffold."

Helga tried as hard as she could to keep a straight face. "Which prisoner?"

"16532."

She memorized each number and their occupant. Immediately she knew which one he was talking about.

Eugene.

A/N: I know it was cruel to end here but if I didn't, this would have been a very long chapter.

The experiment mentioned is based off actual ones that the Nazis conducted on Jews and other minorities. I tweaked it a bit to fit the story. Höss and Himmler are both real Nazis with those certain positions. Himmler did visit Auschwitz in July 1942.

I'm also thinking of changing the title to "The Devil's Playground," but have not made any definite plans yet.