CHAPTER 2.

Utivich and I left early next morning, two hours after midnight to get a head start and hope by the time we got back the men would still be there. We had to dress in 'civilian clothing' so we'd somehow fit in. I was wearing one of Donny's smaller collared shirts and took Wicki's small handgun just in case. The rest of the men, who were surprisingly heavy sleepers, kept sleeping on as Uti and I stole away into the forest. Donny was snoring quietly when I left him.

We were walking a few yards from the road, an hour later, as we enclosed ourselves in the shade of the trees and dark shadows when we heard them coming down the left side of the road. Utivich pulled me roughly behind a tree and pressed me against him as he peaked around slowly, the car was loud an obnoxious as it pulled to a loud stop a few yards to the right where we were hiding. Uti put a hand over my mouth as I tried to ask a question, I could hear screams that came from a woman and loud, rough laughter. Uti shook his head at me when I gripped his arms around my waist and mouth. There was a mixture of French and German.

"Hallöchen! Setzen Sie, dass man drüben, Buttz! Hey! Put that one over there, Buttz." A sudden voice, heavily German, burst out happily.

"Warum nicht Sie versuchen Umgang mit diesen Dingen? Why don't you try dealing with these things?" the other answered back, annoyed.

"Eh, Stellen Sie ihn auf die Knie! Eh, make him fall to his knees!" another snickered.

"Oy Landa! Wie sollen wir ende es für die kleine Ich bin sicher? dass wir könnte konvertieren ihm if wir versucht? Oy Landa! How shall we end it for the little one? I'm sure we could convert him if we tried." The first man yelled to another man who I couldn't see.

"Veuillez, laisser mon fils go! Please, let my sons go!" a female screamed, there was a muffled yelp of pain and another as there was the distinct sound of boot hitting flesh.

"Shur jusqu'à vous ass sale. Shut up you filthy ass."

"Veuillez! Please!"

"Maman! Mom!" a softer yet more defined boy yelled helplessly; a teenage boy.

"Maman, ne pas blesser- Mommy, don't hurt her-" I closed my eyes as I heard a much younger boy cry out, loud jeers rang out as there was another muffled yelp from the mother.

"Shh, Maman's Shh, Mommy's all right Samuel."

"Awe, wie süß…Aw, how cute…" a German mocked, I could picture the mother on the ground as tears of pain and fear for her sons lives ran down her cheeks. I could picture the smaller boy being held close to his older brother's chest as the Germans beat the mother into the ground. Uti turned back around and squeezed his eyes shut as he ducked his head into the crook of my neck and stayed there. I could feel his tears on my neck as my own slid down my face.

"What are we going to do?" I whispered softly, trying to tune out the pained cries of the mother and the terrified screams from the boys, "Uti, we have to do something."

I began to turn around until I was chest to chest with Uti with my arms locked around his neck. We had to do something! Fuck, think like Donny…what would Donny do? Hell, what would Hugo do? Kill them all most likely…wait. I looked up to Utivich as he read my face, he knew that I wanted to at least save one person in this damned war before I died…he knew that as much as anybody. He cleared his throat and shook his head solidly, I glared.

"We have to do something Uti-"

"Auf der anzahl von drei! On the count of three!" a German burst out; there was a pained scream as another Gerry kicked the mother for the last time. I peeked around the tree trunk at last.

The mother was on the ground, her face covered in mud and dirt as she held her sides in pain. Her two sons, a younger boy around eight and an older one around twelve stood to the sidelines as an Officer held them at gunpoint. The younger boy had long brown floppy hair and looked petrified and confused at what was going on, he didn't understand it. The older boy hugged his brother to his chest protectively as striking green eyes were landed on his mother. He had dark hair but it seemed blonde in the sunlight…he was Jewish though, the Star of David was on his clothes along with his younger brother. The mother was forced to sit up as the Germans raised their guns, aiming for whatever part they wanted to blast off. Utivich moved next to me and grabbed something behind him.

"Uti…they're only children…"

"Eine! One!"

"We need-"

"Zwei! Two!"

"Uti come on!"

"Dre- Thr-"

A shot rang out through the air behind me and I turned to see Utivich aiming his gun at the Official who was giving out the shooting orders. The man screamed and dropped to his knees holding his blasted out eye. The other Germans looked around in outrage and fired wildly to our left about twenty feet. I stepped away from the tree quickly and pulled out the Luger that was Wicki's and fired at the car as the sons dropped to the ground and crawled to their broken mother. Three tires popped and another one slowly gave out with a long 'hiss'. I waved my arms at the mother as Utivich took cover behind a tree and exchanged shots with the Nazi's. The mother spotted me quickly and looked at her captures, they were to engrossed in finding the shooter. Utivich blasted another German in the face. The Jewish family got up and tumbled down the rest of the hill that they were on, the mother winced painfully as she landed wrong in front of me the older boy pushed his younger brother ahead and put his arm underneath his mother's shoulder as they crossed to where I was. The little boy, Samuel, crashed into me and freaked for a second before he realized it was me. Utivich ducked as a shot rang above his head.

"We have to go now!"

"There's a clearing up ahead that way, ask for Aldo and tell him Rhiannon sent you." I yelled to the mother as she began to limp past me to get away from the bullets. Samuel latched onto her side along with his brother. She turned to me and smiled grimly, blood leaked out of her mouth. She nodded.

"Uber es! Over there!" I heard a German yell; a shot blasted a tree apart to my right. I looked to the family again.

"Go!"

"Bless vous, sweetheart. Bless you, sweetheart." She nodded before hurrying off and disappearing. I stood there for a second before I heard another click of a gun. Utivich flew at me and tackled me to the ground roughly as a bullet pierced the ground where I had been standing. He tugged me up on my feet quickly and fired blindly behind the tree. I heard a man yell in pain.

"You got a plan?" Uti yelled to me as I fired again.

"Yeah!"

"Well?"

"RUN!" I screamed, grabbing his arm and breaking through the small gap of No Man's Land, several shots were fired at us but a tree thankfully covered us. Suddenly there was a small fire in my shoulder as we broke across another gap but it quickly died away as Uti and I disappeared in the thick cover of the forest. We ran as we heard them coming after us, the heat in my shoulder flared up again as I twisted my arm so my bag wouldn't fall off. Utivich was still firing blindly behind us as we ran. The Germans weren't going anywhere with broken vehicles and dead men, but we ran faster anyways.

Our hearts were still pounding furiously thirty minutes later as we ran from the Germans. We were now currently sitting underneath a tree, shielded from any eyes as a large bush covered us. Uti's chest was rising and falling rapidly as was mine, I was trying to stop the heavy bleeding in my right shoulder, it was a flesh wound but it still bled like a river. I had ripped some of Donny's shirt off at the bottom to tie around my arm but it was barely keeping.

Uti's eyes opened as I hissed in pain, my eyes shut tight for a second as the pulse of white pain shot through my body. Uti put pressure on my shoulder helpfully as I wrapped it in breakneck speed, tears spilled down my face and Uti offered a gentle smile.

"Do you need anything else? I have these things in my pocket somewhere…"

"No, I'm fine now…thanks. I just can't put the bag on this shoulder." I shook my head as Uti sat back and wiped my blood off his hands and onto his pants, "We should get going though."

"All right." He nodded, shifting to conceal his weapon and getting up. I pushed up as well and leaned on him slightly to put the bag over my left shoulder. His blue eyes stared at me worriedly.

"…Donny's going to kill me for this."

"Be a good little Jewish boy and tell him it was my fault then." I joked, wincing in pain as we began to walk. Uti shook his head and gave a small smile.

"He'd still kill me."

"True." I nodded, "Well…unless Hugo kills you first."

We continued in silence for about a hundred more yards, the only sounds we made and heard were my labored-pained breathings and his occasional comment on the wildlife around us. I broke the silence as we ducked underneath a tree and struggling with the bag to get it free.

"How's your family Uti?"

"Hm?"

"Family." I grunted, twisting the bag as I broke free, Uti stared at me with his arms folded before we started up again, "you guys got letters the other day? I meant to ask about it earlier but….here we are."

"They're good. My baby sister turned three last month." He smiled fondly at the memory as a beam of light was cast over his face, "apparently she's getting to be a pain."

His laugh cut like crystal through the air.

"And my father's proud of me."

"As he should be. Don't know to many Utivich's fighting the war now do you?" I smiled, "only one Smithson Utivich."

"Thanks. What about you? Do you…?"

"Nobody's tried to contact me yet." I shook my head as a pained stab went through my heart, I hung my head, "honestly, I don't expect anyone too."

"Someone will. By the end." He nudged my good shoulder playfully, "just have faith."

"I don't believe in God anymore, Uti."

"Why?"

"Because if he was truly real and if he truly punished the 'bad' people…he would've done it when 'El Fuhrer' was born."

Utivich was quiet as that sunk in, the town we were aiming to go into was in sight now but we were still enclosed in trees so we began to hike our of the woods and onto the paved roads. I tucked Wicki's gun underneath my shirt and tucked in Donny's shirt as well over that, my shoulder was still on fire but it was easy to ignore if I focused on my breathing.

"Remind me what we're getting here?" Utivich spoke as we rounded out of the forest and out into the rich clear French air. I closed my eyes as a cool wind swept my hair up and made me feel light, free. I opened my eyes and continued on with him.

"Brandy for Aldo and the others. Water, bread, cheese and some canned stuff. The next raid Aldo says will have a ton of food since it's in an old house so we won't pack to much. Then some more medical stuff."

"We have enough money to get away with some stuff?"

"Of course not." I smiled, Uti snorted.

We arrived in the less managed stores shortly after that, my shoulder was still in fire but Uti had tied the cloth around it tight enough so it wouldn't bleed out until I took the cloth off. Utivich had led us to a smaller store where they sold cheap meat and water. The food looked off but since it was cheap we knew Aldo wouldn't mind the least.

We walked in quietly, not even raising an eye from the manager as we made our way to the back where the water was. I had on the bag so I dropped it to the floor and began piling water into it as Utivich fetched the meat and went to pay for it. I stole some liquor as well when Utivich came back.

"They don't have any bread or things here. We'll have to go to another store."

"Look for the other things then, I'll pay for two bottles so we don't look bad." I nodded, holding up the two things of water, "Meet me at the front."

He nodded and went back to looking around as I threw the bag over my good shoulder and kept a careful eye on Utivich as the manager read the French paper. Suddenly there was a loud bang from the front and I glared to where Uti was, thinking he had dropped something, but instead froze when five German soldiers walked in and up to the manager…who didn't move an inch. The man didn't even seem to care.

There was another loud bang from outside and Uti jumped, knocking over some medical supplies, the manager barely spared him a glance as he finally raised his head to the young soldiers. I crept closer slowly, hoping by the time I came up the men would leave.

"Hey, a un groupe de soldats venez par encore? Hey, has a group of soldiers come by yet?" a blonde haired man asked. He was smiling and I could see a dimple or two on his cheeks. The manager shook his head.

"Pas. No."

"A n'importe qui? Has anyone?"

"Pas. No."

"Oy, Frederick!"

"Hm?" a brown haired man replied lazily, a lazy smiled spread across his face as he walked up to the first man.

"Ce qui homes allé hors avec Landa? What men went out with Landa?"

"Buttz, Panofsky-"

"Que Russie allé avec les? That Russian went with them?" another whispered, smiling.

"-et Birtchun's squad."

"Vous vu ces homes? You seen those men?" the first one, Max, by the way his nametag showed, turned back to the manager who still looked bored and annoyed at answering the young man's question. They were quite young to be Nazi's to be truthful… Utivich came up to me silently as I inched backwards.

"Pas. No."

"Uti." I whispered as soon as the other man was close enough, I grabbed the blue eyed man's arm and ducked slightly, "just go, I'll take care of this. Get the other stuff and meet by the forest again. It'll be faster."

"All right." He nodded, getting up and walking swiftly towards the exit-entrance. The soldiers spared a glance at him then went back to questioning the old man. Another man, this one dressed all in black took Max's place as Max turned to Frederick and the others happily. I straightened up to see Utivich duck out of sight, I clutched the two waters and walked up closer, trying to ignore a bottle digging into my back. The man named Frederick saw me coming up and I gave a shy smile as my heart raced in fear and anger. If Donny were here…he'd have so many knicks in his bat by now. His thin lips gave a soft smile before he turned and tapped the darker clad man.

"Ce qui, Zuller? What, Zuller?"

"Vous êtes obtenir nulle part avec ce home laissez ce jeune fille payer puis curriculum vitae. Elle besoins Á télécharger accueil. You're getting nowhere with this man, let this girl pay then resume. She needs to get home." Frederick made an odd motion with his hand and the other man looked straight at me down his crooked nose carefully. His thin lips went into a sneer.

"Le enfant peut attent. The child can wait."

"Je am pas un enfant. I am not a child." I retorted defiantly, frowning when Frederick smirked at my small outburst. The crooked nose man turned to look at me carefully, surprised I had retorted back. He leaned against the counter.

"Ce qui? What?"

"Laissez il go, Hellstrom. Let it go, Hellstrom." Max laughed brightly, this Hellstrom man stared me down before shrugging and moving out of my way by sliding ever so slightly. I shrugged internally an put my purchases down on the counter and leaned over it slightly as the manager turned and got change.

The Star of David was sewn onto his sleeve.

He turned back to me and handed me my money as I put the things into my bag. I grasped his hand for a second longer than what was normal. He nodded to me, his kind green eyes comforted mine.

"Tuleb ohutu minu laps. Be safe, my child."

The man was Estonian,

"Thank you." I whispered, grabbing my things and shouldering past the Hellstrom man and out into the French streets quickly. The bell chimed as I made my way across the road and down another street where Utivich was waiting for me. He jogged to me as I came over.

"Are you allright?"

"I'm fine…I don't think that man was though…"

"Why?"

"He was Estonian Jewish, Uti." I replied blankly. We nodded, if the Germans didn't notice then the Russians would surely notice, "What about you?"

"Fine…a broken down car passed by a couple of minutes ago though." He muttered to me as two women walked past, I gulped.

"The car with the…?"

"Same one. So we better hurry." He grabbed my hand softly as we sidestepped more people.

"No. we have to go back, if those men are back they'll surely recognize us. Aldo would say this is stupid, especially in the part where we're in. there will be more food on the next raid." I protested as we got closer to another store.

"Let's just get the bread and shit then skip out then." He argued back, there was something in his eyes that I couldn't make out. He pulled me inside and we avoided the new manager's blue eyes; Aryan. Uti dragged me to the back where the brandy and bread was and helped me make room in my pack for more supplies. He had already snitched the medical stuff in his pockets so I still had some room. I held up a loaf of bread and we stared at it, no more room. We'd have to pay. Uti nudged me roughly and pushed me down as the door burst open angrily. We stared at each other silently as a loud angry German man began to ramble off about something. Uti looked around the corner carefully.

"Is it them?"

"…make it quick." He replied, confirming my suspicions. My voice quavered.

"Do you see Landa? I heard one of the men yell to him, his name at least."

"He must've stopped somewhere else then." Uti shook his head, "What do we do now? There's only three of them but still…"

"Run. Just run." I whispered, "you go that way and circle them, see if they're armed."

"I'm not leaving you again, especially not here."

"Then walk slowly." I ordered, already getting up and walking back as I slowly made my way past an Aryan man who was to busy reading something. I kept my head down as I heard Utivich pick up the backpack from where I left it. I was ever aware of Wicki's gun pressing harder into my back. I walked by another soldier, he carried a small pistol tightly in his left hand.

Utivich made an odd hand motion which I couldn't decipher when I walked past another man in a long coat. The manager paid me no mind as I arranged the items on the table. He counted them out lazily, not even looking at the brandy and bread as he handed me my change back. Uti disappeared outside the door but I could see the top of his head still. I let out a slow sigh of air as I grabbed my bag with the things in it, we were so close…

I gasped in pain as a man's heavy hand came down on my torn shoulder and then cringed as his nails dug in bluntly. I blinked and turned around slowly, trying to mask my pain with amazement and surprise. All my life I dreamed of facing my family's killer…and now here was in front of me…staring me down with a small twist of a smile upon his face.

Colonel Hans Landa of the German SS had found me.

"Hallo sir. Hello sir." I managed to blurt out as an icy cold feeling overwhelmed my entire being. My hands grew clammy as Landa continued to stare me down like a hunter eyeing down its prey, "War ich im ihre weg? Was I in your way?"

"Nein, nein, von kurs nicht. Aber ich war nur fragen, wie alte sie sind. No, no of course not. but I was just, ah, wondering how young you are." He looked me up and down. I tensed and thought of a number…

"Siebzehn sir mai ich fragen warum? Seventeen sir…may I ask why?"

"Ach kein grund. Aber sie scheinin unschuldig jungen an warden kaufen alcohol…vor allem bei dies stunde. Ich übernehmen es hat für ihre vater? Oder vielleicht ihre mutter? Oh no reason, but you seem innocently young to be buying liquor…especially at this hour. I assume it's for you father no? Or perhaps your mother?" he questioned, his dark eyebrow raised up slightly and I nodded hurriedly. I could sense Utivich outside getting very impatient. The manager's head snapped up at the mention of 'liquor' and he eyed me suspiciously. Landa released his hand and looked down at the smeared blood from my shoulder that transferred onto his leather glove. He was thoughtful as he stared down at the dark color. I gulped.

"Ja meine vater…damit ich sollte warden eilte startseite jetzt damit er nicht erhalten wütend. Danke sie für wird also…wachsam. Yes my father…so I should be hurrying home now so he doesn't get angry. Thank you for being so…watchful." I offered a gentle smile and turned but then his hand was on my shoulder once again, gripping even harder. My legs nearly gave out in the overwhelming pain that came onto me like a brick.

"Aufenthalt. Stay." his elbow came down and jammed me in my ribcage and then he pressed his blunt nails into the cut which brought me down to my knees, wheezing for air. He lifted me up by my collar abruptly as his other hand remained locked behind my neck in a firm hold. I was pressed so close to him I could smell his black leather trench coat and the way his eyes narrowed the slightest as I took him in. Landa's body looked thin in the clothing but as I reached up and gripped his arms to keep from choking I found out that he was built well and just as powerful as the next man, "Es wir gehen. There we go."

"Was sie falsch mit sie! Lassen sie mich gehen ich haben an gehen startseite an meine vater! What's wrong with you! Let me go! I have to go home to my father!" I protested, letting my paid things fall to the floor in a heavy 'thump'. Landa smirked and only pulled me closer until out noses were barely touching. His laugh was like mercury to my ears.

"Ich tue nicht denken also…sie siehe…ich wissen für eine bestimmte tatsache sie haben nein vater oder mutter hier im France…Gut nicht dies teil von France. Als eine egal von tatsache ich merken besuch sie bis auf eine tag… I don't think so…you see…I know for a certain fact that you have no father or mother here in France…well, not this part of France. As a matter of fact I remember visiting them up on a farm one day…"

"…HILFE! …HELP!" I screamed, unable to think of a response to that one. He knew, Landa knew who I was. Utivich heard it though, I glimpsed his blue eyes peering back into the shop then widening as he saw what situation I was in. my hand went to the back of my shirt slowly as Landa hoisted me up onto my feet.

"Jetzt wir können tun dies die einfach weg oder die schwer weg, Rhiannon. Ich können zug sie im und haben sie gesendet entfernt an lager es sei denn sie beweisen an mich sie sind nicht Rhiannon Tchaikovsky, tochter von Melinda und Maxsonich Tchaikovsky….es sei denn von kurs, sie tun im tatsache haben ihre papiere? Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, Rhiannon. I can turn you in and have you sent away to a camp unless you prove to me that you are not Rhiannon Tchaikovsky, daughter of Melinda and Maxsonich Tchaikovsky…unless of course, you do in fact have your papers?"

"Go to hell." I spat out. I hated the way he said their names. He snarled viciously as he let me drop back to the ground.

"Well do you?"

"I…"

"…I see. So tell me, where is Aldo the Apache?"

Just as I took out my gun Utivich jumped in through the open doorway, screaming at the top of his lungs and using his spray gun, he blasted it all around the store like a maniac. Utivich paused to let me up and past him as Landa ducked behind a shelf along with one man that didn't get caught in the crossfire. We sprinted out into the roughly paved streets, Uti ditched his gun and hiked the bag farther onto his back as we sped down the street. I could hear Landa yelling in French and German as an alarm was sounded throughout the small town.

Uti's arms and mine moved a hundred miles per hour as out legs moved even faster. I could see soldiers running down the streets after us, firing blindly but always coming up short since we were going downhill at a fast pace now. Only one more street before we reached the woods again. I couldn't wait until I was out of civilization. We stumbled to a stop as the men from the other store that we first visited came around the corner, guns at the ready. The man that had been nice, Frederick, stopped in front of me and stared for a minute until it dawned on him. Max fired at Uti but I had already dragged him into a small alleyway that only two people could fit through. I turned around to see Landa at the opening, holding his gun and aiming at us down the gun's nozzle. I pushed Uti out and ducked to the side as his bullet rocketed past us in frenzy.

"GO! KEEP MOVING!" Utivich yelled to me as we burst into the street again and charged into the woods, taking the Nazi's by surprise as we sped past them at an unmark-able rate.

Get back to Donny. Get back to Donny. Get back to Hugo and Wicki, Aldo and Omar, just get back. My mind kept up this mantra as Uti and I tore through the bushes, running for our lives as we heard cars starting and other men chasing us by foot. We ran like that for ten minutes until Uti pulled me slightly South and we tore down that way instead. The farther away from the road we got, the closer we were to being safe. We couldn't hear anyone chasing after us so we slowed down, but not a whole lot.

Utivich suddenly stopped as I shot ahead, dazed, I turned around and ran back to him to find the man doubled over with this breath coming in short gasps. Now that I was standing still, I was aware of a jabbing pain in my side. I joined my friend in the pained breathing as he dropped the heavy bag to the ground. I gave a small laugh and Uti gave a low chuckle then stilled. We were barely alive.

"What was that?"

"The most stupidest plan we could ever come up with?" I offered, not really knowing why he asked that. He shook his head and stood up straighter.

"No, not that. Listen."

"Smithson, there isn't-"

"Shut up, Rhia." He hissed, glaring because I had used his first name. I quieted.

There was the faint sound of off-beat laughter then a loud whoop of German and American before a familiar voice went off about baseball. Uti and I looked at each other. I grabbed the bag.

"Donny!"

Apparently, we were a surprise.

Utivich crashed into Omar who had been talking with Aldo and standing guard while I ran into the Lieutenant himself. We tumbled over each other painfully as Omar pulled a knife on Utivich before noticing who it was. Every man in the camp beamed at us as we rolled away from our tackled comrades. Raine dusted himself off and looked down to me, incredulous.

"What the hell're you two doin' back so goddamned early-"

"We need to go! They're after us! Landa was there and he recognized Uti and me from earlier-" I tried to explain. Raine interrupted and grabbed my shirt, inspecting my open bullet wound.

"Why the hell are you bleeding? What didja do? Get shot?"

I jerked back as everyone else got closer to see the commotion. Hugo stood behind me, his gun resting in his arms as Donny came up behind Aldo. Aldo continued to stare at me in confusion but held onto the bloodied shirt. It was so angering! Why wouldn't they listen to me! I pulled back and snapped Aldo across the face with my first.

Silence fell as the crack echoed all around us, I turned to look behind us as a faraway shot went through the trees. No one noticed it except for Utivich who was staring right at me.

"Go put the things away." Also ordered quietly as he faced me again, rubbing his chin. I growled and grabbed him by the scarf.

"NO! you need to listen to me!"

"Get back, Rhiannon!" he ordered, ripping my hands off of him, I stumbled into Hugo and faced him urgently. Hugo always listened, he always understood.

"Es ist ein Team von fünfzig oder mehr deutschen Position auf diese Weise. Frühere Uti und ich habe in eine Schießerei mit ihnen, eine Familie auf diese Weise gesendet. Das ist, warum ich bin Blutungen. Wir gingen in Stadt bekam die Scheiße und lief in Landa und einige Gestapo benannt Hellstrom…Hugo, bitte. There's a team of fifty or more Germans heading this way. Earlier Uti and I got into a gun fight with them, sent a family this way. That's why I'm bleeding. We went into town got the shit and ran into Landa and some Gestapo named Hellstrom…Hugo, please!"

"Hellstrom…Hugo ist nicht die mann? Hellstrom…Hugo isn't that the man?" Wicki wondered aloud. Hugo nodded stoically.

"Ja. Yes." He turned and faced me, putting his hand on my cheek and rubbing it gently with his thumb. I wasn't lying. He drew me closer and turned to Wicki, "Wir müssen an verlassen sofort. We need to leave immediately."

"What the hell is going on with you fuckin' Germans!" Aldo burst out, grabbing Wicki's shoulder, "Translate damnit!"

"An army is headed this way."

"Finally!" Donny grinned, I glared as Hugo held me against his chest protectively. Donny noticed that.

"Donowitz…it's an army." Wicki exaggerated. Donny got the idea and his tone shifted.

"…well damn…" Donny turned to Aldo, "What do we-"

Suddenly a loud shot rang above the air startling everyone and making them look up into the sky. One of the empty cans that had been sitting on a log burst into a thousand pieces. It only took half a second before everyone started moving in a frenzy. Donny grabbed me and pushed me towards where Aldo was at, I grabbed my things as his brown eyes stared through me.

"You still have Wicki's gun?"

"Yeah."

"Use it." He grabbed his pack and started after Aldo without hesitation, the other men following behind quickly as we stormed our way through the forest. Wicki and Hugo stayed behind and sprayed bullets when they saw something, "Stay in front of me."

Donny pushed me farther up ahead until I ran besides Hirschberg; our adrenalin rushes were spiked to the top. My shoulder was on fire as we moved swiftly, the other men shot behind us wildly as the Nazi's broke through our empty camp in a mad rush to get to us. Hugo caught up to us as we began making a downward decent, his arms brushed mine and kept brushing it until I was pressed against his side. Hugo just looked ahead but didn't say anything other than his blue eyes flashing to me in warning. We might die.

Then we heard it.

The cry of our comrade sounded like dynamite to us.

Sakovitch had caught a piece of shrapnel from a sharp tree and was now bleeding from the neck because of it.

"NO!" I screamed dropping my bag and lunging back towards him, Sakovitch was like a brother to me.

"Lassen sie ihn gehen. Let him go." Hugo breathed into my ear as his arms wrapped around me and pulled me back. Sakovitch was on his back, holding his throat with both hands as blood spewed from his neck. His brown eyes stared up at us as we watched helplessly, "NO! Rhiannon!"

I broke free of Hugo's anaconda grip and sprinted over to Sakovitch and dropped to the ground besides him. My hands fluttered over him helplessly as I tried to do something, to come up with something to make that fearful look in his eyes disappear. He coughed up blood and it dribbled down his cheek. I pressed a hand to his cheek and wiped away some blood, he looked at me as his eyes began to close and he slowly began to stop twitching. I heard a German shout down the hill.

"Goodbye, Sakovitch. I love you."

Sakovitch's eyes closed as his body slumped to the ground. Aldo stood staring at me as I tried to hoist Sakovitch's dead body into my arms and drag it underneath a heavy bush. I looked up to my Lieutenant as the German began to climb up the hill. He spotted me and fired a shot that went way over my head. Hugo stepped forward then fell back as another shot sounded around us. I blinked.

There was now 'No Man's Land' between us.

I could run with the Basterds and eventually die…or I could run the other way away from my friends and give the enemy a distraction so they could continue running and get away to a safe spot. They needed to finish Operation Kino, I wasn't a part of their group, and I had no military experience what so ever. I nodded at Aldo as we locked eyes, his brown eyes were wide and stony but they softened when he saw me. He jutted his chin out and stood straighter, saluting me as I saluted back.

"Sir." I let my arm down and turned away pushing some rocks over with my feet to land in the German's eyes below me. I clenched my fists tight as I pulled out Wicki's gun; my heart was quick and filled with dread as sadness overwhelmed my whole being.

"Rhiannon!" Uti shouted, "Don't! Please!"

"Aldo! ARE YOU INSANE?" Donny screamed, his temper hot and flaring up as I took a step forwards. I turned and smiled as a tear ran down my eye, locking gazes with Donny who looked about ready to snap Aldo's neck, "RHIANNON! DON'T YOU FUCKIN' DARE-"

"I'll be fine Donowitz. Worry about yourself for once. We'll…we'll meet again soon." I choked back a sob as I turned back around, catching a glimpse of an army hat, "Goodbye…"

"MOVE OUT! GO!" Aldo yelled, falling back into the trees and dragging Donny with him angrily. I heard a stutter behind me as the tears leaked down my face in a free fall. A rough hand curled around my wrist and I looked up into steel blue eyes and thin lips. Hugo stared me down and then brought his hand up to my cheek, brushing it softly.

"Ich liebe dich. I love you." He whispered. He looked behind me and raised his gun, shooting an Aryan right back down the steep hill. He leaned down harshly, pressing his lips to mine in a vicious way. It wasn't sweet or careful, it was full of the need, the want; we may never see each other again, I pressed against him and opened my mouth slightly; feeling our tongues brush together I surged even closer until I couldn't breath, Hugo surrounded me completely. I heard him growl in desperation. I ran my hands through his short hair as he bent over me slightly and then it all stopped. He was shooting behind me again as his hand unraveled from my hair. I let him go and shakily cocked Wicki's gun as Hugo backed up, Aldo was calling for him loudly. I wiped the tears from my eyes, still tasting Hugo on my lips. I turned away as he ran back into the forest.

"Kommen! auf ich bin über hier! COME ON! I'M OVER HERE!" I screamed running down the hill before I got to scared and flaked on everyone. The Germans followed my gunshots and my voice immediately.

"Über es feuer! Over there! FIRE!"

"Über hier! Ich bin über hier! OVER HERE! I'M OVER HERE!" I went behind a tree and fired blindly, I was on my own now. I danced around trees continuously until I was sure Aldo and the others seemed far away, I could no longer hear the Lieutenants yells or Donny's angered shouts. I could only hear my own voice and the Germans. It was pure suicide…but it mattered, "Ich-bin wir sind über hier! Kommen aud sie miserable Deutschens! Wählen sie bis die tempo gans schritt es! I'm-WE'RE OVER HERE! COME ON YOU LOUSY GERMANS PICK UP THE PACE! GOOSE STEP IT!"

I spun around another tree, ditching Wicki's bullet-less gun and opting for my knife instead. Ahead of me was another steep hill slick with mud and occasional sturdy tree roots which I could easily latch onto and then pull myself up with. The German soldiers stopped in front of my tree a little bit away and looked around. My yells had stopped when I came here so they were only following my voice. One soldier coughed.

"Hat klingt wie eine mädchen an sie? Did that sound like a girl to you?"

"Sicher hat warum ein mädchrn aus hiermit diese ratten? Sure did. Why's a girl out here with those rats?"

"Puits je Entendu Landa got abandonné par un das ville elle a été avec le Basterds. Well I Heard Landa got dropped by one in town, she was with the Basterds."

"Tu veux que l'enfant qu'ils appellant "le enfant". Damn, je pensais que c'était juste un jeune garcon. You mean that kid they call the 'Child'? Damn, I thought it was just some young guy."

"Sie ist halb Jude halb Deutsche, sie in mit ihnen passen würde. She's half Jew half German, she'd fit in with them." Another man cut in, they agreed solemnly as they caught their breath back. I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip harshly, "Sie denken sie ging zurück an sie? You think she went back to them?"

"Am ehesten. Most likely."

I stilled, they were going to go and follow Raine and the others…no…no, they weren't. They were going to follow me because I was in plain sight. I tucked my knife away and re opened my eyes, eyeing the log at the top of the hill, if I could get to that without them killing me, I'll find Raine…if not…I began a slow countdown in my head, eyeing the log carefully.

The Germans gave a loud shout of surprise as I shot forward from behind the tree, climbing my way up the dirty-slick hill and latching onto the plants and trunks for support. There was a gunshot and I startled, my grip on my shoes wasn't the best so I slid back down a bit, my stomach scratching on leaves as my shirt slid up. I dug my toe into the dirt and pushed myself up until I was crawling on all fours just trying to get somewhere. I felt another bullet whiz past my hand and bomb into the ground, spraying dirt in my eyes. I jerked and rubbed some of it out as I blindly continued to climb. There was another shot in front of me and a German fell, but I didn't care.

I slid down some more and looked below me; it was the man that had been first interrogating the Estonian man in the store. He grinned ferally and reached up with a gloved hand, wrapping around my ankle tightly and tugging. His brown eyes shot into mine and I kicked. Hard. Right in his face. I heard the crunch of his nose break and he released me, holding his bleeding nose and sliding down the rest of the way. The Nazi men stared for a moment as their General fell at the feet, he bared his bloody teeth.

"Télécharger sa! Get her!"

They moved at once, easily climbing up the hill to where I was at, still grasping for some type of hold…on anything. I kicked their hands away and screamed wildly and thrashed as they got a hold onto me. I flipped onto my stomach and tried to get up onto my knees, I blacked out in pain as a butt of a large bun crashed into the bottom of my spine, bringing me back down to my stomach again.

A man stood, poised like a war hero with his eye aiming me down through the gun's small scope. I knew this man too, it was Frederick. I stopped moving as he nudged my bloodied and torn shoulder, half of my shirt was red by now.

"French?"

"Oui. Yes." I nodded, he pressed the gun harder into my cut, I howled in pain.

"Rester en bas. Stay down."

"Zuller, vous ont sa? Zuller, you have her?" Hellstrom called out, already up and moving towards me as well. I groaned.

"Oui sir. Yes sir." Frederick nodded, accepting the cuffs from the Gestapo man. Zuller nudged me again but softer, "Télécharger up. Get up."

"First you tell me to stay down then you tell me to get up." I muttered feeling pride and bravery swell up in my stomach for some odd reason. The diversion worked, the Basterds were long gone by now. I was hoisted up by another Nazi as he placed the cuffs on me. Frederick shifted his gun to his other shoulder as we started down the hill. I slipped and fell down the rest of the way as my legs gave out. my head landed with a sickening slap on the wet ground, I was greatly disoriented.

"Was warden wir run mit ihr? What'll we do with her?"

"…Senden ihr an eine lager. Auschwitz? …send her to a camp. Auschwitz?"

"Nein. No."

"Nein? No?"

"Ich wird nehmen ihr. Sie hat wertvolle informationen ich müssen. I will take her. She has valuable information that I need." A thicker yet more…solid, French accent spoke up. I looked up as Landa grabbed me by my stained collar, "Zuller."

"Oui sir. Yes sir."

"Stellen sicher sie tut nicht flucht. Make sure she does not escape." He turned me around so I could stare into his cold grey eyes. A smile formed across his face as if I was an old friend, "Was ist ihre name? What is your name?"

"Fuck you."

"Sagen es. Say it." A gun was pointed at my throat and the cold steel stung my flesh like a hot iron. I coughed and winced as the Gerry pressed harder, Landa studied my face as if he was looking for something, "Sagen it ode rich werde töten sie. Say it or I'll kill you."

"Rhi…Rhiannon Tchaikovsky."

"Gut…ich übernehmen sie sprechen slieẞend English also gut als French und Deutsch? Good…I assume you speak fluent English as well as German and French?"

Another sharp press of the cold-hot metal.

"Yes!"

"Put her in the car."

A gun came down across my face and my vision went black