Hey guysssss. Sooooo my new job is pretty much fun! AND it gets even better, because on Monday I get to fly across the country for a big, fancy, week-long convention where I'll get to go to dinner parties and receptions and meet lots of people! I'm super excited (except a little bummed I won't have downtime to sightsee while I'm there) but woohoo!
Other than that, nothing much to say haha. Except my life is like, all about Aaron Tveit right now (as mentioned last week haha) I go through obsessions, so I'm sure it'll be over soon...it's starting to drive even ME crazy!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"Oh Christian! I can't believe it's you! We thought you were dead!" Meg cried, forgetting everything that was going on and rushing forward with the purpose of giving him a strong, loving hug. However she stopped when he stepped into the light and she took in his appearance.
Despite being 28 now, Christian's face looked much older. There was a scar along his left cheek, and mixed with the rest of his firmer features he had a cold, harsh appearance. He was also dressed in a German military uniform.
"Christian?" Meg asked, taking him all in. "Why are you in a German uniform? Are you undercover?"
But even as she asked it, she knew deep down that he couldn't be. If the IIA had found out he was alive, the first thing they would have done would have been to tell Meg and Adam. Marco knew how upset they were over the loss of their friend, so he wouldn't have kept him being alive from them.
But if he wasn't working with the IIA...
"No, I'm not undercover," he said cautiously and Meg felt her entire world crash around her.
She stood there, silent as she stared at him, the truth of what was going on taking over her.
"Since when?" she finally asked, needing to hear the answer and hoping it was a recent number.
"1941," was all Christian said, but those four numbers caused Meg's world to feel like it was crumbling even more. That was an entire year before the disastrous mission in which Christian had been killed. Or so she thought.
"So long?" she whispered, looking him over before staring straight at him. "I trusted you."
Her pathetic voice caused Christian to finally look up and lock eyes with her.
"Meggy," he begged, but she shook her head, taking a step back. She wouldn't fall for his tactics. She wouldn't let the sound of her nickname on his lips affect her.
"We all trusted you. Do you know what you put me through?"
At Christian's blank stare she turned, putting her hand up to her forehead before spinning back around.
"I blamed myself!" she cried, feeling her eyes sting with tears. "All this time, I've blamed myself for their deaths...for your death. How could you do that to us? How could you hurt them? Me?"
"Meggy," he said again, softer. She closed her eyes, imagining they were back at Base, before this had all turned so ugly.
"I loved you," she said suddenly, opening her eyes to glare at him. "You were more of a brother to me than Adam, and I would have done anything to save you."
"Why do you think you were the only one to make it out?" Christian suddenly asked, dropping his gentle tone and sounding more neutral. More like the old Christian.. "Why do you think the Germans never zeroed in on your position? Who do you think was at the command, calling the shots?"
Instead of making her feel better however, his revelation only made her more furious. He had been in command that night?
"You murdered our team! Carter, Maxwell, Sarah, Yvonne, they're all gone because of you, and all this time I thought it was because of me!"
"Come on Meggy, you honestly think that it was your fault that bomb went off?" Christian said with a laugh. "You're a bomb genius! I've never seen you mess up a single bomb in your life and those were probably the easiest you've ever made."
Meg was quiet, listening to his harsh voice and trying not to think of that night.
"Besides, that bomb going off didn't matter. They already knew we were going to be there-"
"Because of you!" Meg cried, feeling the tears sting her eyes. She had to be stronger than this. She couldn't let Christian get under her skin, especially in this situation.
He ignored her cry, continuing.
"They knew everything we had planned on doing that night; all of it."
"So how did you escape then? You were supposed to be with the rest of our team. I thought you were with them."
"We got split up," Christian said in a tone that made her realize the split up had been on purpose. "They headed where they were supposed to and I headed into the base, up to the control room where I could help take everyone out." Meg flinched at his harsh phrasing.
"All this time," she said in a shocked whisper. Then her face turned hard, her tone harsh as she spoke. "So why now? Why come and reveal yourself to me now?"
Christian's response was to hold up a piece of paper. A letter. A letter that looked awfully familiar.
"No," she whispered, realizing what it was. Christian just smirked.
"Come on Meg, you and Adam using the same code after all these years?" he asked, flipping it over to skim again. " Who's Lew by the way? He sounds pretty special from what you write about him."
"How did you get that?" Meg asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. This was between her and Christian. If Pierre, or worse Lydia, got hurt because of her, she didn't know what she would do. But even before he spoke, Meg knew what Christian was going to say.
"That little maid you had working with you. What was her name again?"
Meg realized two things. One, he wanted her to tell him, and two, he spoke in the past tense.
"Lydia, and if I found out you've done something to her-"
"Too late," Christian cut in. "She was very loyal to you, and the IIA. You should be proud of the things she said about you."
"Where is she?" Meg asked harshly, refusing to let him affect her the way he wanted to. She wasn't going to give in.
"She's been taken care of," he said casually, and Meg's stomach dropped. So that was it then; another name to add to the list of people she was responsible for killing.
"So what are you planning to do then?" Meg asked, blocking everything else out. She didn't want to think about poor Lydia right now. She'd think about her after all of this was over. Unless she met the same fate as the poor girl.
"Well I figure we'll wait until General Diederich gets here," Christian stated and Meg paled.
"You told the general about this?" she asked and Christian shrugged, leaning back against the desk.
"I sent a soldier to his room right about the time I sent that soldier to bring you in. I'm sure they'll be arriving any minute."
True to his word, a few minutes later there were three knocks on his door before it was opened and the General strode in, dressed in his military uniform and looking very confused.
"What is the meaning of this?" He cried, his facial expression telling them he was furious. "Why have you taken my companion from my room?"
"The real question, General Diederich, is why have you been keeping a British spy as a companion?" By his tone, Meg could tell that Christian thought himself more important than the General. Perhaps he was; she didn't know. But knowing how ambitious and determined he was as a student, she could see him making his way up the German ranks and taking slow control.
The general frowned deeper at Christian's accusation, looking from him to Meg.
"A what?" he asked, obviously confused. "I think you are mistaken."
In response, Christian strode over and picked his gun off his desk, pointing it straight at Meg's head.
"Tell him," he said calmly, his tone frightening Meg more than if he had shouted. "Tell him in English."
"I am an agent from IIA, based in Britain," she said, speaking in English. The General's eyes widened in shock, staring at her.
"I uncovered a plot of hers," Christian explained, lowering the gun lightly. "She was on her way to kill Hitler tonight."
"What?" the General asked, his voice laced with rage as he looked between the two in shock.
"I thought I'd bring you here to ask you what we should do about it," Christian explained. The two men walked off, leaving Meg to stand alone. "Oh and don't think about running," Christian said to her as they walked away. "There's a man outside that door that will shoot you on sight."
As the two men deliberated, Meg stood there, silently panicking.
Sure she had come to accept the idea of dying to kill Hitler, but dying without actually doing it? She would be dying for nothing. Just like Lydia had died for nothing.
No, don't think about her now. Meg told herself. Now you have to focus on yourself. You can focus on Lydia when you're safe from this situation.
But what about Adam? And Marco? They wouldn't be getting a letter from her, telling them of her plans. Who knew if anyone on the German side would even let IIA know she had been captured and killed. She would be another suspected casualty with an empty grave in the cemetery, everyone always wondering if maybe she was still alive somewhere.
Her thoughts turned to Lew. What would he say? What would he think when he found out she was missing? She tried not to let her tears fall, she had to stay strong. She was stronger than this and she could not give Christian and the General the satisfaction of breaking her.
Their sudden approach caused her to freeze, looking up at them in anticipation. Neither spoke as Christian pulled off his tie and bound her hands together before gagging her with a handkerchief.
"Should we cover her head?" the General asked and Christian frowned in thought.
"No, too simple," he said and he swung his arm up, his gun still in it.
The last thing Megan saw was the side of the gun flying straight for her temple.
Then the whole world went black.
Meg woke with a soft groan. Trying to reach up and rub her eyes, she frowned when she couldn't get her hands to move from behind her back.
Then it all came rushing back to her.
Christian was alive. He had found out her plot and kidnapped her.
Relief rushed over her when she realized she wasn't dead. Yet. That gave her time to figure out a plan to get herself out of here. There had to be some way to get out or send for help.
When the ground bumped she realized she was in the back of a moving truck.
"I wouldn't move too much if I were you," a voice said, causing her to look to her right.
Christian was sitting there, his gun trained on her head.
"It would be a tragedy if you fell out of the truck."
"Fell, or was pushed?" Meg asked, her voice completely muffled by the gag. Christian laughed and leaned forward, pulling the cloth down. She repeated the question.
"Well that depends on you," Christian said, leaning back in his seat.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, dread filling her. The man before her was no longer the Christian she once knew. He was a monster, and who knew what he was capable of.
"Some place where you won't get into any more trouble," he told her and she sighed, scooting over to lean against the other side of the truck.
"So you're not going to kill me?" she asked and Christian shook his head.
"Not yet anyway."
"But won't people grow suspicious when you and I disappear?" she asked, hoping he hadn't thought it through and her question would evoke panic.
"And the General," he added calmly before answering her question. "Diederich left a message for Hitler telling him he and you decided to take a romantic trip to Berchtesgaden. I'm not required to stay in Berlin so my leaving won't draw too much attention. Besides, Hitler usually had me off on my own away from the group anyway."
"So where are we really going?" Meg asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Berchtesgaden," Christian replied, his tone telling her it was an obvious answer. "Actually, we should be there fairly soon. You've been out cold for most of the drive, pity you had to slip and hit your head."
Meg didn't respond, choosing to stay silent for the remainder of the trip. True to his word, it was just under an hour later when the truck came to a stop, indicating they had arrived at Berchtesgaden.
Before she had time to say anything, the gag was pulled back over her mouth and she was hoisted out of the truck, over the shoulder of Christian. There was a brief moment when she was tempted to squirm and try to free herself but, as her head dangled down behind Christian's back, she spotted the gun at his waist and decided not to.
Christian was always an excellent shot with his gun. The only way she would be able to get away from him would be if she was armed as well. And even then, luck would have to be on her side. There was no way he would miss her if he took aim.
It was pitch black out, but Meg was just able to spot the lights illuminating the windows of a large, stone building. She didn't know where they were, but she assumed it was some place important where she would be held captive until they decided what to do with her.
"The bedrooms on the third floor lock," the General said as they walked inside, Meg wishing she could see their surroundings instead of Christian's back. Christian hoisted her up on his shoulder better before heading off to a stairwell.
"Don't even think about trying to escape here Meggy," Christian told her as he climbed the stairs. "This is Hitler's Eagle's Nest. It's on the top of the highest peak for miles. Your bedroom door will be locked and all of your windows will lead to a straight drop down the mountainside. No escape there."
Once they reached a room to Christian's liking, he tossed her on the bed, reaching over to untie her hands. Then while he walked around to make sure the windows were secure, she pulled the gag away from her mouth.
"Do I get any clothes while I'm here, or do I have to stick to this nightgown and bathrobe?" she asked, somewhat harshly. Christian smirked as he headed to the door.
"Depends on how well you behave while you're here."
Well? And before you all ask, I promise Lew will be returning next chapter! Never fear!
Ok serious question: I want to know how many people had a feeling that Christian was going to come back, ala Alec Trevelyan? And Holly, you don't count!
LovingBOBThePacific - Yup! The return of Christian! Did you have any idea that might happen? I gave a couple hints throughout the story, one for sure in chapter 6 (er, technically 7 if you include the prologue haha) And thanks for your review of my FictionPress story! YAY! haha
ilovemedia18 - Thanks so much for your review! I love getting new reviewers haha. I'm also flattered that my story is what got you into Nixon haha. And you didn't see Christian coming back? Yay! I was kinda hoping it would be a big shock, but my editor/roomie expected it when she first read the story so I was worried it would be too obvious. Glad to see it's not! I hope this chapter didn't disappoint!
coffee14 - I'm glad you found it too! Thanks a bunch for your review! As I mentioned above, I love getting new reviewers! And I promise, there will be a Lew and Meg reunion soon. Thanks so much for liking my story and reviewing it! I hope this chapter didn't disappoint!
G. - I'm too lazy to go look at all the reviews you did last night hahaha. Plus, I'm sure we talked about them all anyway. First, I'm never going to publicly wish you a happy birthday if you're going to turn around and tell me all the mistakes in that chapter... hahahaha jk jk that's what I get for no longer having you read these chapters like I used to. And yes, I am the one who sings "To the left, to the left" to remember which direction to pass dishes at dinner. Don't judge me lol. And I'm thinking it's set more to the Mission Impossible song. I try to do epic missions around the house to that song but, unfortunately, my family doesn't get it like you did...damn. As for sneaking around the bunker, to me it brought back memories of sophomore year when I would forget to pay the cable bill and we would sneak out at night and hum said theme song while sneaking down to the cable office and slipping the envelope under the door. Thanks for your reviews! (As always haha)