CHAPTER 5.

When I woke up the sun was filtering through the heavy dark curtains in small waves and wafting over my face softly. I blinked and tugged the sheets around me tighter as I drew my legs closer to my chest in comfort. The dorm room was silent save for someone shuffling behind the closed door, funny I never remember having a door. I sat up immediately and looked around in relief.

I was in Hellstrom's loft.

I yawned and rubbed my eyes as I smoothed the dark comforter out around me and reached over to find Hellstrom gone. He always had to wake up early to patrol…or do whatever the SS does these days. I ran a hand through my still curled but tangled hair as I tried to find my clothes seeing that I was nearly naked under the sheets. I spotted them on the floor and moved to get them as I bent over the bed, unwilling to leave the warmth when the door swung open and Hans Landa walked in. He stopped as I dropped to the floor and peeked over the bed as Helllstrom walked in with a grimace gracing his features. I gulped and moved to put on my shirt as Landa took in the disarray of the bed and my pants on the other side of the bed. My dress was hanging on the far chair in the left corner of the room.

"Good morning Rhiannon." Landa said pleasantly as Hellstrom lit up a cigarette and leaned against the doorway. He gave no signal to be afraid but I was nearly shaking myself to death.

"Good morning Colonel Landa…I…uh…how are you?"

"I'm very good, thank you. Would you like any help?" he motioned to the pants his boot was nearly touching. I nodded and kneeled from where I had been sitting.

"…If you do not mind."

"Colonel Landa." Hellstrom interrupted as Landa handed me the pants and turned to his colleague, "That's enough."

"I was just merely helping, Dieter." Landa shrugged innocently and his stony face did not break when Hellstrom blew smoke into his face deliberately, "Perhaps you should cut down on your smoking."

"Rhiannon." Hellstrom gestured to me as I fastened the button on the pants. I nodded and grabbed the jacket I kept here as I slipped on my boots. I was blushing like crazy as the scratchy fabric went over my arms, I made a slow dash for the door but Landa's hand came down over mine and I jumped back into Dieter.

"I am taking you somewhere today, Rhiannon. Private Zuller has requested you to help him with La Gammar next week. No need to rush."

I nodded.

"Danke Standartenführer Landa."

"No need for that formal stuff. We are friends aren't we?" he waved his hands in the air as he put on his long leather trench coat as Hellstrom put his on as well. I nodded as Dieter eyed me from behind his smoke, "Good, shall we?"

"After you." Hellstrom gestured politely so I followed behind Landa as Hellstrom brought up the rear.

I stuck my hands in my pockets as we walked down the stairs softly, Hellstrom's foot kicked mine every so often as a reminder that he was still back there. Landa whistled for the sleek black car down the street a little ways and went off about the good weather today. I just nodded along with him and got into the car as Hellstrom made a move to get in.

"Dieter." Landa chided, taking the cigarette from the taller man and crushing it beneath his boot. I gaped, Hellstrom would have killed Landa if he wasn't his superior. Hellstrom just bit something out in German but got in and sat next to me as Landa slid in across from us, "So Rhiannon, did you sleep well?"

"Yes I did, thank you for asking. What about you?"

"Like a baby." He smiled widely, "Hellstrom, how long has this been going on?"

"I do not know what you are asking about Landa." Hellstrom drawled as he gazed at the older man.

Landa scoffed and gestured between us.

"This, you two. If word was to get out about this you would have to answer to many questions. I assume many people can see it, especially yesterday at the lunch and afterwards."

I stilled as Hellstrom remained silent, my blood ran cold. With Landa knowing now…oh god, Dieter…

"It is none of your business with who I am with Landa." Hellstrom hissed unexpectedly as we came to a stop outside the movie theatre, "Nor is it anyone else's business."

"I was just curious Dieter, no need to become offensive." Landa smiled and opened the door for me. I glanced to Hellstrom and slid out as Landa followed me into the theatre, "I'm sure you can find Frederick quickly?"

"Yes I can, thank you Landa." I took a step forwards as Landa went to turn around. I stopped and spun back around, managing to capture Landa's arm in mine. He looked to me surprised as I eyed Hellstrom in the car who wasn't paying attention at all, "Please Herr Landa, don't tell anyone of me and Dieter. I don't…he'll be ridiculed and…please Hans Landa, don't, I beg of you."

Landa eyed me curiously as I let go of him and stepped away.

"We will see."

He turned around and got back into the car and I watched them drive away and down the road before I turned and headed inside. Hopefully Landa would not tell anybody.

I was leaning on the high balcony watching the men and women come in and out of the French building carrying large posters and big swastika flags on large gleaming silver poles. The owner, Emmanuelle Mimieux was in her office with no doubt her husband trying to organize through things. She was a sharp and quiet woman that seemed to glare at every official that walked in here, especially Frederick. Goebbels had arrived a while ago to test out Emmanuelle's theatre and was pleased by it and was now talking to Frederick outside about some minor changes.

The Führer was not going to come but Goebbels was trying to persuade him otherwise and I think the superior man was giving in bit by bit. I eyed a man as he set down a carved statue a few feet left of the entrance to the movie and wiped the sweat off his brow and went back to get another. All this for one night of a movie, it seemed silly to me but then again this was the movie that helped the Germans win a bit more in the war going on. I sighed and leaned against the railings as I pulled out the newspaper I had found lying around. I had changed from the uncomfortable pants and jacket to a loose shirt and leggings so I could move around easier. I kept the boots on though; my other shoes were halfway across town in the dorms. I scanned the paper.

The 'Basterds' strike throughout Southern France and have broken into Gestapo Major Kleinz's stationed house, killing his men along with the Major a then fleeing the scene. This morning Major Kleinz was proclaimed dead by getting hit in the head with a bat. The work of famed 'Bear Jew' in the Basterds army has once again cost a German man his life. Germany's condolences go out to Major Klienz's family and a funeral will be held tomorrow at seven a.m. in the courtyard to honor the brave men that stood up to fight for their country. (Continued on page seven…)

I turned the page and read the rest of the article; it was mostly explaining each of the men and who their families were so that they would not be forgotten. I flipped the page to the sports section, these 'Basterds' were going through military Germans like they were nothing but weeds. What they had against us I had no idea, but I knew the leader was American so he was fighting against us along with France, Russia along with everyone else. But the 'Bear Jew', the one who wielded a club and smashed people's faces in…that man was a force to not be reckoned with. I had heard what they did to survivors as well; carving the swastika into their forehead so that people would know what they were…it sent chills down my back. They scalped us too and kept the hair as some kind of token.

"Rhiannon."

I jumped and flung the paper away from me as Frederick's hand came down softly on my shoulder. The newspaper fell to the floor below us as a man walked under it. Frederick laughed as I turned to him and glared as my heart slowed down bit by bit, "Jumpy heute Morgen? Jumpy this morning?"

"Versuchen nervös. Landa fand mich heute Morgen bei. Try nervous. Landa found me this morning."

"Et Hellstrom's? At Hellstrom's?" he asked as we walked down the steps to the lobby, his green uniform was pressed neatly. I stopped him and fixed the cross on his breast, "Was hat er gemacht? What did he do?"

"Nichts. Welches war noch schrecklicher, Landa selten tut nichts, um eine Situation, die er verarbeiten kann. Nothing. Which was even more terrifying, Landa rarely does nothing about a situation he is capable of handling."

"Vielleicht hat es etwas mit ihm zu tun und Hellstrom nach Berlin morgen dafür Sorge zu tragen, wenn Rallyesport. Maybe it has something to do with him and Hellstrom going out to Berlin tomorrow to take care of rallying men."

"Männer sie verlassen? They're leaving?" I looked to him and ducked as a pole came out of nowhere, Frederick nodded and ducked as well as we walked outside for fresh air.

"Nicht Hellstrom Ihnen sagen? Didn't Hellstrom tell you?"

"…Natürlich…es ist einfach mit entfallen ist alles, natürlich, erzählte er mir. …of course…it just slipped my mind is all, of course he told me."

"Du lügst, Rhia. You're lying, Rhia." Frederick's hand slipped into mine carelessly as he pulled me down the streets. I sighed and looked around trying to wrap my head around it, "Ich bin sicher, er hat einen guten Grund, Ihnen nicht sagen. I'm sure he had a good reason to not tell you."

"Hellstrom ist voll von Gründen zu mir nicht sagen Dinge. Hellstrom is full of reasons to not tell me things." I leaned into his arm as we waited for the cars to pass, "Ich wünschte, er war leichter zu lessen, wie Sie. I wish he was easier to read, like you."

"Ich bin einfach zu lessen um? I'm easy to read?"

"Und verlassen können. Ich kann vertrauen. And rely on, I can trust you." I smiled as we walked across lazily through the streets, enjoying the weather and each other, "Das Leben ist hart. Life is hard."

"Vor allem wenn man in der Liebe mit einem Gestapo bist. Especially when you're in love with a Gestapo." He snorted, "Ich kann Ihnen besser behandeln. I can treat you better."

"Hm, Ich zweifle micht daran, dass. Doch bis Dieter tötet mich, Sie als meine zweite Geliebte bleiben. Hm, I don't doubt that. But until Dieter kills me, you'll remain as my second lover."

"Lassen Sie ihn nicht hören. Don't let him hear that."

"Du hast recht…er kann dich töten. You're right…he may kill you." I joked as we walked into a shop near the edge of town. I heard a commotion near the back but ignored it as Frederick went to go and get something from the clerk. I wandered through the aisles and picked up a can.

What in the world was a Vienna Sausage?

"Donny, hurry up!" I heard a hushed whisper come from behind me one aisle. I tilted my head, not very many people spoke English here that I knew of. I eyed Frederick's back as I began backing up so I could hear the conversation clearer.

"I'm trying! Damn fuckers pack everything to tight! Grab the Vaseline Smitty, then the bandages. Wicki'll have a fit if we don't bring 'em back"

"Don't call me that."

I dropped the can of sausage I had been holding as a short man rounded the corner and ran straight into me. I backed up against the aisle as he pulled away quickly and tripped over his feet and fell on his butt. I gasped and went to help him up as Frederick rounded the corner as well and saw the mess.

"Was vor sich geht? What's going on?"

"Traf ich ihn Leider. Frederick. I ran into him, sorry Frederick." I smiled meekly and turned to the man on the floor as the other man that he had been talking to came up as well.

I stared into bright blue eyes and my heart raced for a moment as I handed him the bag he had been wearing. His breathing was coming in short gasps as if he was in pain but his eyes betrayed him. They were full of excitement, confusion, pain and anger. The taller man was staring at me as well, his brown eyes were wide with disbelief. Frederick's hand came down on the small of my back, urging me to stand up as the clerk came out with a mop.

"I'm Rhiannon, sorry about that." I nodded, watching as the shorter man got up and continued to stare at me with wide blue eyes.

"U-Utivich." The shorter man stumbled over his words and pushed out a hand as I smiled and quirked an eyebrow. He was cute in his own little way. As I shook his hand softly something jammed hard in my brain and I ripped away, holding a hand to my forehead. Frederick's arms circled around me comfortably as his cool jacket pressed against my temple.

"Rhiannon, bist du in Ordung? Rhiannon? Rhiannon, are you all right? Rhiannon?"

I squeezed my eyes shut as I pressed myself further into his chest, god where had this come from? It was like a headache but it felt as though my mind was getting split open, tugged and put on hooks then dragged over ice. Something blue flashed across my mind then I found myself in a forest of trees, laughing at something someone next to me said.

I shook my head as the vision faded into a blur. Frederick was looking down as I wiped tears from my eyes and looked around me. I was in the store, with Frederick, Utivich and the taller man. I laughed shakily and wrapped my arms around Frederick.

"Let's go back." Frederick threw a gaze to Utivich and the tall man before helping me out of the store and into the warm sun. What was wrong with me?

Smithson Utivich was frozen to the spot where he was standing next to Donny in the store as he watched the fading back of Rhiannon walk away underneath Frederick's arm. He couldn't breathe…he couldn't believe it. Donny himself was overridden with joy and anger. Utivich made a noise at the back of his throat and looked to Donny, at loss of words. Donny felt the stolen goods in his bag dig into his wide shoulders as the clerk walked back behind the counter and resumed reading a book.

"Well fuck…a duck."

"She's alive, Donny." Utivich whispered, his head was spinning and he felt feather light like he had just gotten tipsy over really good beer. All this time…and she was here where they hoped she'd be, "Fucking hell, she's alive."

"No shit, Ut'ich." Donny growled, shoving the younger man to get moving and out of the store. Utivich obliged and they walked quickly through the streets, finally catching up with the couple, "Follow them. Hurry. I gotta know where she's staying. We gotta get her back tonight."

"But Donny…" Utivich slowed down as Rhiannon and Frederick stopped to talk for a moment, the young Private was looking into her eyes, "she didn't…she didn't even look like she knew us. At all. She just stared at us as if I was just some guy."

"It's cause you are."

"No Donny, it was like she didn't even remember us…" Utivich stopped the larger man as they watched Rhiannon go into a building with Frederick on her heels. Donny thought over Utivich's words. It was true, it was like they were just some people in a store shopping for food.

"What did they do to her?"

"I heard the government found out a way to 'brainwash' younger kids through being beat and shouted at." Utivich offered as they pressed into an alleyway. Donny crouched down and put his head in his hands, god damn she was alive. Rhiannon was fucking alive. These past months had been hell for him, he had rarely slept and whenever he saw a German he beat their heads in despite Aldo's orders to keep one alive for interrogation. Hell, Hugo seemed to have snapped completely an hour after Rhiannon had been hit in the face by that SS guy. he had hit Wicki in the nose and made him bleed. Knowing Wicki's friendship with the ex-Gestapo German that was saying a lot. Utivich put a small comforting hand on Donny's shoulder.

"God damn Ut'ich…all this time and she's been here under our noses."

"You know, I thought I saw her last night too, when Aldo sent me out to get information on that woman we're meeting next week…I thought I saw her…"

"We need to get her back."

"If she even knows us, she'll fight back you know that right? And she's with that Nazi too, looked like that Frederick Zuller guy from the movie."

"It's 'cause it is him." Donny stood up, his eyes were red and he dared Utivich to make a comment but the Little Man didn't, "we gotta go back and warn the others."

"All right…" Utivich nodded and sniffled a bit before wiping a hand over his eyes before following Donny's quick footsteps into the evening of France's streets.

She had been right under them, and they hadn't noticed.

I watched Frederick sit on the couch across from me as I sat in the chair next to him, my head in my hands as I tried to silence my pounding headache. My hair was bunched up in my hands as I rested my forehead on my knees, the loft was silent save for the occasional turning of a page from a book Frederick was reading. We were in Hellstrom's loft, the closest thing we had come to in case I had passed out, Frederick was done at the theatre and for the day so he offered to stay here with me. I was thankful, I didn't like being alone in here. I shifted my head and let my hair fall from my fingers as I drank water from a small cup.

"You seem…scared."

I eyed Frederick as he stared up at me from the book with concern. I huffed and set the water down as I closed my eyes.

"Ich weiẞ nicht…Genau…Dieser Mann in dem Laden, der mit blauen augen. Ich fühlte mich wie ich ihn kannte…ich fühlte mih wie ich ihn kannte wirklich gut. Als seine Hand berührte meine ich fühlte mich diesen Strom ind plötz fand ich mich in einem Wald Lachen, mit ihm zu redden und dann bam. Ich war weirder im Geschäft Ihnen. I don't know…just…that man in the store, the one with blue eyes…I felt like I knew him. When his hand touched mine I felt this electricity and then suddenly I found myself in some forest laughing, talking to him and then bam, I was back in the store with you."

"Aber sie gingen nie in einen Wald… But you never went into a forest…"

"Ich weiẞ, dass viel, aber es fühllte sich einfach so echt. Ich weiẞ icht, Frederick, vielleicht bin ich verrückt, aber ich fühlte mich als ob ich ihn kannte. Sagt dir der Name Utivich Ring eine Glocke zu Ihnen? I know that much but it just felt so real…I don't know Frederick, maybe I'm going crazy but I felt as if I knew him. Does the name Utivich ring a bell to you?"

"…Nein."

"Gut es stirbt für mich. Ich kann es nicht erklären Frederick, aknn ich wirklich nicht. Well it does to me. I can't explain it, Frederick I really can't." I sighed and looked back up at him, his boyish features were graced by what little light was in the room. So different from Dieter's sharp angles when he was in public with me. He set the book down and crossed his hands.

"Bist du sicher, du bist gut? Ich glaube nicht, ess ist klug, um zu gehen. Are you sure you're well? I don't think it's smart to go around saying that you know strangers."

"Oh Klappe halten. Oh shut up." I threw a pillow at his face as he burst into laughter and tossed the pillow back at me, "Was weiẞt du sowieso? What do you know anyways?"

"Sie wissen, es ist wahr. You know it's true."

"Ja gut, so oder so immer noch nicht wissen kann, was ich versuche hier zu vermitteln. Ich habe einen sehr unruhigen Leben. Yeah well, either way you still can't know what I'm trying to convey here. I have a very troubled life."

"Sie natürlich tun. Of course you do." He ran a hand through his chestnut brown hair, trying to tame a strand of loose locks, "Ist…Hellstrom Rückkehr heute abend? Is…Hellstrom returning tonight?"

"Ich weiẞ nicht. Er sagt mir nie etwas. I don't know. He never tells me anything."

"Wird er verrückt sein, wenn Sie nicht hier sind? Will he be mad if you aren't here?"

"Ihnen anbieten, mich zu entführen? Are you offering to kidnap me?" I dodged his hand as he reached over to swat my leg, he fell short and instead leaned forward with his hand on my foot, "Kommen Sie jetzt Zuller, wenn Sie nicht selbst treffen kann mir, wie in der Welt wird man mich erwischen? Come on now Zuller, if you can't even hit me how in the world will you catch me?"

"Du bist schwer. You're difficult." He teased, getting up and then proceeding to put me in a playful headlock.

I laughed and got up from under him and jumped on his back as he fell to the ground heavily. Of course Frederick had been training for months and years so I was easily defeated. I found myself underneath him on my back as he towered over me pinning my wrists to the floor as he gently pressed his knee into my hip bone, it didn't hurt but if I struggled really hard the pressure was very much there. He grinned above me as more strands of hair fell in his face, making him appear younger and softer than he already was. I glared as I tried to get up, managing to get my wrist above the ground before he slammed it on the wooden floor again.

"Frederick du bist… Frederick you're…"

"Oh, sorry. Oh sorry." He moved off me and I grinned, I sprung on him again and managed to sit on him and push forwards on his wrists and pinned them to his chest as I bent over and looked at him. He was stunned and stared back for a minute, just blinking as my hair fell over my shoulder and became a one sided curtain. His leg moved underneath me and hit the coffee table before settling for just laying there. I smirked.

"Sieht aus wie Sie das Dropdown, Private. Looks like you got the drop, Private."

"Das…Sie betrogen. That…you cheated."

"Nicht bekommen! Did not!" I defended, releasing his hands and sitting on his chest harder, he let out a gust of air and then grinned at me as he managed to sit up. I scootched backwards until I was sitting on the floor with my legs over his as I stared up at him, "Sie wollen einfach nicht, das Gerücht um, dass ich fallen gelassen…sie sich vorstellan, was Goebbels sagen würde, wenn er- You just don't want the rumor going around that I dropped you…imagine what Goebbels would say if he heard that-"

"Du solltest besser nicht. You better not." he put a hand over my mouth and stared down at me. I bit his hand, "Wie geht es deinem Kopf? How's your head?"

"Just fine Kadett. Just fine, Cadet." I smiled and he just hung his head, "Ich bin unzähmbar. I'm untamable."

"Ich dot Zweifel, dass überhaupt. I don't doubt that at all." He looked up at me and we locked gazes, his brown honey eyes were very entertaining to look at, all of Frederick's emotions played through them. It was amazing, "Ich zweifle nicht daran…Bezweifeln dass überhaupt…Überhaupt nicht…Rhiannon… I don't doubt…doubt that at all…Not…not atall…Rhiannon…"

"Ich..Ich kann nicht… I…I can't…"

Frederick leaned forward; it was only a short distance away. His hand came up and cupped my cheek softly, almost like he was afraid to break me. His breath ghosted over my cheek and he tilted my head and pressed his lips against mine. He wasn't rushing the kiss, he wasn't even pressing into my lips hardly.

My eyes closed of their own accord and I wrapped my arms around his neck softly, he fell into me pressing me into the hard floor and twirling a finger in my hair as the kiss suddenly deepened. I could feel…I was weak. He was so much softer, gentler…he was so much more loving I couldn't…he kissed into my mouth sweetly as he pulled me closer, I could feel his heart beating but mine was faster as my breath came quick through my nose. We broke apart, gasping for breath and he tilted my head back and I let him. His nose ran along my throat as he kissed down to my collarbone. My head was in the clouds, I was floating through the wind as Frederick came back up and kissed me again, he was so careful in everything he did. He was so much more loving than Dieter…

"NO!"

I flung myself away and shoved Frederick away from me, watching his emotions go from happy to confused. I backed up until my back hit the couch and I wasn't able to reach out and touch him. I brought my knees to my chest and looked at the chair he leaned up against, his hair was in a terribly messy state and his uniform was wrinkled. He blew out a sigh and brought up a leg and rested his arm on it, his head flopped back and hit the chair with a soft thud. His breathing was slowing down as was mine. We refused to look at each other. I ran a hand through my hair as I rubbed at my throat; his kisses burnt me like a raging fire…and I wanted more.

"I…I can't…" I breathed out; shifting my gaze to the cushion Frederick's head was resting on. He looked to me with that pained expression on his face. He just nodded softly.

"Dieter."

"Frederick-"

"Ich verstehe, Rhiannon. I understand, Rhiannon." He slid over to me carefully, I almost wanted to laugh. The sight of a Private in the Nazi army was sliding across the floor like a little boy just reaching for his toy irked me. He reached out a hand and put it lightly on my knee. I shivered, "Dieter bedeutet eine groẞe Lotto du, ich kann sehen, dass…aber Ich liebe dich. Sie wissen das, und Dieter Hellstrom ist so viel mehr…Ich weiẞ gar nicht, die Worte, um ihn zu beschreiben. Der Mann ist ein Monster. Dieter means a great lot to you, I can see that…but I love you. You know that, and Dieter Hellstrom is so much more…I don't even know the words to describe him. The man is a monster."

"Er ist nett zu mir. He's nice to me." I argued half-heartedly as Frederick got up and smoothed his hair back. He gave a brief scoff.

"Sie wissen nicht, wie er durch die Reihen stieg. Ich kann ihn für das, was er ist zu sehen, aber du bist viel zu verleibt in ihn…Bist du nicht? You don't know how he rose through the ranks. I can see him for what he is but you're too far in love with him…aren't you?"

"Ich bin nicht in ihn investiert, für immer. Er kümmere dich um mich. I'm not invested in him forever, he takes care of me."

"Und wie macht er das, Rhiannon? And just how does he do that, Rhiannon?" he turned to me, his eyes angry and reddened, "Durch Ziehen Sie an einer Leine? Die Hälfte der Armee weiẞ, was ihr swei aufstehen, um in seinem Büro jeden Gott verdammten Tag! By tugging you around on a leash? Half the army knows what you two get up to in his office each and every fucking damned day!"

I flinched as his hand flung out and knocked over a lamp. He turned then and punched the wall angrily; the wall gave a loud crack as he ran a hand through his hair again with his back to me. I slid from the couch and got onto unsteady feet, inching towards Hellstrom's room.

"Ich versuche nur, um Sie vor, was er tat, dich zu beschützen! I'm only trying to protect you from what he did to you!"

"He hasn't done anything to me!" I yelled back, stepping forward, "What the hell are you talking about Zuller! Hellstrom has never-"

"The scars on your fucking back is what I'm talking about!" he turned towards me and before I could scream he clamped a hand over my mouth and dragged me to the bathroom.

I screamed into his hand as he gripped my arm hard and kicked open the door. He shoved me in and put a hand over my mouth again as my heart sped up, I bit into his hand but he didn't seem to notice the small rivulets of blood dripping onto the floor and then smearing on the wall as I tried to pry him off of me. I screamed again but it did no use and my throat was already sore. I felt a hand at my neck…my blood ran cold, Frederick was a soldier, and he was trained to kill.

He was going to kill me.

He pushed me against the wall, ripping my shirt open from the back. And pulling it over my trapped arms, my bare skin scratched against his uniform and he forced me to look at us in the mirror. My hair was in tangles as my shirt hung over my arms. Frederick's eyes were dark and unreadable as anger coursed through him; his bloody hand was dripping onto my shirt as he jerked me around.

"Look Rhiannon."

"HELP!"

"Rhiannon, look in the mirror."

He pulled on my arm and I cried out, tears welling in my eyes, he was going to kill me. Frederick removed his hand for a moment and clamped it over my nose so I couldn't breathe. My vision was fuzzy as he twisted my face to look back in the mirror. I saw it…all of them…

Long silvery marks ran down my back starting from my neck to my spine and were crossed with others. I stopped struggling and stared as Frederick removed his hand from my bloodied mouth slowly, looking with me.

My back was covered in scars, some were so light I had to stare for minutes until I could tell where it ended or began. Other scars were darker but they were near my lower back where they couldn't be seen by unwanted eyes. My hand came to my mouth as I reached behind me and traced a long scar that went up my side. It was smooth and had a small ridge to it like a mountain…how had I not noticed this before?

Frederick's breath was soft and harsh on my neck as he turned my head away from the mirror. Tears streaked down my face as I fingered the scars on my back some more even to the point that my arm cramped up. I stood pressed to his chest for what felt like days as I went through the memories in my head. Dieter…he couldn't have…he's never even hit me hard enough to make my skin turn red. He never hurt me intentionally.

I sobbed and collapsed in Frederick's arms which tightened around me comfortably as I cried into his shoulder. He pressed a kiss to my forehead as he held me, hopefully, for forever. His hands were warm on my back as he gently tugged my shirt over my shoulders again and tied it at the top so it wouldn't fall off. I couldn't feel anything.

"Rhiannon, you have to get up now."

Frederick's voice was miles away as my skin burned with fire from where Hellstrom had touched me, my entire body was on fire. Somehow Frederick lifted me up and carried me into the front room again and put me down on the couch when I came to again. He sat next to me, half bent over as he put a blanket around me. I pulled on his arm until he was forced to lay on his side and face me, the couch was big enough.

"Why can't I remember?"

"Es war vergessen machen. It was to make you forget." He whispered, kissing my head softly. I burrowed into him.

"Forget…Forget what?"

"…"

"Frederick."

"Ich weiẞ nicht. I don't know." He sighed and sat up and my hand fell away from where it rested in his shoulder. He hung his head in his hands as I shifted my shirt, "Ich weiẞ nicht, Rhiannon. I don't know, Rhiannon."

"I've never…noticed them…oh god." A sob racked through my body again and I curled in on myself, "Oh god, he did this…he-he did…Frederick I can't, I don't want to stay-"

"Shit!"

I blinked at his curse and then I turned to the door. The stairs creaked outside and Frederick turned to me, his eyes were wide in fear for a second and then he pointed to my mouth. I blinked then took the blanket and scrubbed at it as Frederick grabbed a cloth for his injured hand. I grabbed the blanket and tossed it under the couch as I wiped his blood on the back of my hand.

"Here!" he hissed, tossing another white t-shirt at me. I slid the wrecked one off and slipped that one on as the lock turned and the door pushed open to reveal a rather pissed off looking Hellstrom accompanied by an always pleasant looking Hans Landa. Frederick clicked his heels together as they stopped and eyed us, just noticing we were here.

"Private Zuller, Ms. Tchaikovsky…you two are up late." Landa commented as he walked into the room. I eyed Hellstrom as he walked past me and into the bedroom. He stopped for a fraction of a second as he passed the bathroom then continued in, closing the door.

"Ich sollte gehen, hoffen, dass Ihr Kopf fühlt sich besser, Rhiannon. I should be going…I hope your head feels better, Rhiannon." Frederick breathed in a rush as Landa poured himself a glass of scotch. I nodded at the brunette, knowing the double meaning behind it.

"Bis bald…vielleicht. See you soon…maybe." I replied, smiling even though I wanted to scream for him to take me with him. Landa watched us calculatingly as Frederick slipped out the door and I locked it behind him. I took a deep breath and turned around, "How was your day Colonel Landa? Exciting I hope?"

"Very…mundane and boring actually." He took a sip of his drink then went to sir on the chair with his arm resting over the sides gracefully, "How was yours?"

"Good, thank you for asking." I flinched and Landa's eyes narrowed slightly as Hellstrom walked out of the room, his trench coat off as well as his hat. He lit a cigarette and poured himself a glass of scotch. I eyed the bag next to his feet as he collapsed onto the couch.

"Won't you join us, Rhiannon? You look so stiff." Landa gestured to the spot next to Hellstrom…our arms would be brushing. I shook my head politely, "Are you feeling well? I heard Private Zuller comment on your head feeling bad."

"I hit my head today, stupidly, coming out of the theatre and it's stuck with me through the day. I think I'm just tired so I'll have to refuse your polite request Colonel Landa…" I replied as I inched towards the door, the knob dug into my back and I smiled as Landa smiled cheerfully.

He knew I was lying, I could tell he knew. Hellstrom's eyes flashed to mine like a cobra's.

"Where are you going?"

My mouth went dry as Landa watched us, entertained. I couldn't form an answer. Hellstrom blew out smoke then jerked his head towards the bedroom before turning back to Landa. I sighed in defeat and walked to the room slowly, stopping to pick up the tattered shirt and keeping it close to my chest as I entered the dark room.

I was done for.