CHAPTER NINE

Stephanie slowly stirred from her slumber. After a few drowsy blinks, she was able to open her eyes and not see a blurry view. She did not know when she had fallen asleep; she did not even realize she had dozed off. Stephanie stretched out her limbs and felt a soft surface beneath her – she was definitely not on the motel's couch. She looked around, squinting in the daylight, and discovered that she was still on Hans' bed. Her movement ceased and she slowly turned her head, half-expecting to find a sleeping Hans next to her, but the space beside her was vacant. A relieved sigh flittered through her mouth and she continued to inspect the room. Just like the morning before, Theo was still asleep, but Hans was surprisingly already awake. He lay on the couch, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Despite feeling bad that she had stolen his bed, Stephanie felt a giggle build in her throat. Hans looked extremely awkward on the hard couch.

"Good morning," Stephanie whispered to him.

His head turned to her and for a few seconds he said nothing, as if he was searching for words to say.

"Good morning," he finally mumbled back.

"How'd you sleep?" Stephanie held back a chuckle. "You look very cozy."

Hans groaned and flipped onto his side.

"That well, huh?" Stephanie smiled cordially. "Your back must be sore. You can take back your bed."

"No, it's fine. Another few minutes on this bloody thing won't kill me," Hans muttered quietly.

Stephanie stared at the man that was supposedly her captor. Two days ago he had killed Mr. Takagi and she had hated him for it, but now things were different. She had chosen to stay with Hans and Theo, even though she knew it was a stupid thing to do. The truth was they started to treat her more like a person than a hostage once they got out of the Nakatomi building. However, she knew not to let her guard down. They were capable of murder and thievery; they could easily turn on her the moment she started to hold them back.

"Hans, can I ask a question?" Stephanie carefully asked, not wanting another fight like yesterday.

"If you must," he sighed.

"Where are we going from here?"

Hans perched himself up on one arm as to get a better look at Stephanie.

"You really do ask too many questions," Hans replied. Stephanie waited for him to snap something at her or to at least give one of his infamous glares, but he did neither of these. He actually answered her honestly.

"Germany."

"What?" Stephanie exclaimed before covering her mouth. Theo shifted groggily in his bed, but did not wake up. "We're going to Germany?"

"No, Theo and I are going to Germany. You are being kidnapped to Germany."

"But that's so far from here! Don't you think it'd be safer to go to somewhere a little closer?"

"It might be safer for you, but you forget that Germany is my homeland. Besides, the farther we are from this country the better."

"Aren't you known as a threat internationally, though." Stephanie frowned. She did not understand Hans' logic.

"Yes, but that is why we are going to a rural part of Germany," Hans spoke slowly, as if Stephanie was a small child.

"I'm not stupid," Stephanie huffed. "I was just confused."

"It doesn't matter. You're still merely a hostage." Hans rolled back onto his back, this time closing his eyes. "Now, no more questions."

Stephanie continued to watch him, attempting to soak in this new alarming information. It seemed that her list of problems just kept growing as each day passed by.