Chapter 10

"Annie- Oh God, you're bleeding!"

A million questions ran through Annie Walker's head the moment her sister appeared in front of her, consisting mostly of words like how and why. Had the circumstances been different, had Annie not been presumably fleeing for her life, she would have immediately embraced Danielle, overwhelmed with emotions that consisted of happiness and joy. But in that moment, knowing her civilian sister was now just as much of a target as herself, Annie was overwhelmed by indescribable fear hesitating or giving Danielle time to have a fully-fledged panic attack in front of a crowd of Amsterdam locals, who would undoubtedly call authorities, Annie grabbed her sister by the arm and forced her to follow as she continued down the street. Danielle attempted to say something, but Annie fiercely shushed her, wincing at the pain in her arm as it snaked its way up her shoulder and into her neck.

"Annie, what the hell is going on?" Danielle's whisper was fearful, and Annie noticed her sister's visibly paled complexion; her eyes were locked on Annie's bleeding arm.

"I wish I knew." Annie muttered darkly. "I could ask you the same thing, though." She pulled Danielle closer, using her sister's body as a shield, blocking the bloodied arm of her jacket from the view of by standers. "Look up Danielle, and keep walking. I know you have questions, but right now we have to go."

"But you're bleeding! There's blood!" Danielle did as she was told, however, increasing her pace and clinging to Annie's side with a fierce death grip, all while managing to keep her voice from raising too many octaves. Annie wondered if she would be able to detach her sister once the reached safety. Unlikely - she almost laughed at the thought.

"Yes, I noticed." At Annie's clipped retort, Danielle scowled disapprovingly. Annie ignored the seething-big-sister glare Danielle projected - one she had, admittedly, missed - and focused on keeping close to the buildings, avoiding the more open areas near the canal. "Danielle, I love you." Annie's voice softened, squeezing Danielle's hand reassuringly, "But you need to be quiet until I figure out where I'm going, can you do that?"

"Maybe if you would let me talk, I could tell you where." Danielle huffed indignantly. "We've only been chasing you for days on end."

Annie faltered at her sister's words, stopping abruptly, and Danielle squeaked as she stumbled to a standstill beside her. She spun to face Danielle, pulling her back out of the way of passing strangers beneath the awning of a café. Teeth chattering, cheeks flushed, Annie looked her sister in the eye for the first time in over twelve months, and realized even though almost everything had changed, some things never would. The same radiant, warm soul peered back at her, the same Danielle that had always been there. But when Danielle looked at Annie, did she see her sister, or someone else entirely?

"Danielle, who is we?" Annie held her by the shoulders, and she gritted her teeth against the now steadily burning agony that blazed up and down the length of her arm.

"Auggie, Eyal, me!" Danielle whispered hurriedly, eyes panicked.

"Auggie?" Annie feigned insouciance, but it was all she could do to keep her heart from soaring out of her chest. As if she had not expected him to look for her. Knowing he was near both soothed the previous terror that had threatened to overcome her, and elicited another feeling all together that she had no words to describe. And then there was Eyal, her rescuer a thousand times over, come to retrieve her again as well. Annie was comforted knowing Danielle's appearance had not been entirely coincidental, and that she had been in safe hands. But why was she alone now? And where was Auggie?

"We have a safe house, just a few blocks from here." Danielle explained, sensing Annie's unease. "Eyal was still asleep and Auggie was gone, so I went for a walk, and then-"

"He was gone?" Annie repeated. Warning indicators waved like red flags in the tumult of her thoughts. She shook her head. "Take me there, Danielle. Take me there and don't look behind you, ok?"

"Is someone following you?" Danielle's voice cracked when under duress. Trying to regain control, she steered Annie out from beneath the café awning and back onto the sidewalk. Annie could see that the gears were turning in her head, and realization caused Danielle to pale a second time, a shade whiter than she had been before. She glanced at Annie as they moved forward. "Wait… Annie, were you shot?" Danielle began to panic all over again, the writing scrawled all over her all too-easily-read facial expressions. "Oh my God- you were, weren't you?"

"Danielle, please, now is not the time-"

In trying to console her sister, who had - in the past - always been inconsolable even on her best days, Annie made the mistake of not paying attention to her surroundings. They passed a side alley, and without warning a hand shot out and snatched Annie by the opposite, uninjured arm, pulling her sideways.

"Annie!" Danielle, unaware of what was going on, clung to the back of Annie's jacket and was pulled along with her. Driven by instinct and the need to protect her sister, Annie tried to turn to the right and out of Danielle's grasp to retaliate against their attacker. She mentally cursed at herself for not thinking to have the gun in her bag more readily accessible, but it was too late now. Ducking her head and throwing her weight backward, Annie first felt her right elbow connect with someone's chest, accompanied by a cry of pain as the hand let loose of her. Free of its hold, she quickly spun around, her fist clinched and flying with the intention of smashing the assailants face as he crumpled to the ground against the alley wall.

He threw up a hand, stopping her before she could hit him, forcing her to look him in the eye. Annie froze, her pervious viciousness assuaged, overtaken by overpowering remorse when she recognized her so-called attackers face.

"After all this time, that's the hello I get, Neshema?"

Eyal Levin gladly took Annie's hand and allowed her to help him to his feet, both of them wheezing against the thin winter air, though otherwise unscathed. Annie immediately threw her arms around the tall Israeli's neck before he had a chance to regain his balance, her laughter a strangled cry of relief as she buried her face in his shoulder and accidentally pushed him back against the wall of the alley. Only one other time in her life had she felt the way she did now, and that had been outside the walls of a Russian prison, freed by this same man after weeks of being held captive. She had almost forgotten that Danielle's vice-like grip on the back of her red-stained jacket. Annie drew back, doing her best to hold back tears, a combination of pent-up emotion and exhaustion finally breaking the levee.

"Where's Auggie?" She asked breathlessly, looking down the alley and then back out toward the street, her heart dropping when she did not spot him.

Eyal's eyes darkened, and he gestured for the women to follow him down the alley and away from the main road and the canal it bordered. Dread swallowed Annie, and even though it was noon and the sun shone brightly despite the cold, the shadows seemed to stretch toward them as they walked together, chasing their footsteps as they fled. Danielle held her hand tightly, her own eyes wide and fearful still. She remained in a shocked state of silence. Annie turned back to Eyal, trying not to allow her own fear to get the best of her.

"Eyal, where is he?"

Eyal's hesitation was foreboding. Ominous.

"Honestly, Neshema, I was hoping you could tell me."

A/N: Andddd another cliffhanger. Thanks for all the reviews you guys. You, dear readers, are the Auggie to my Annie! Love you all! Stay tuned to see what happens next. ;)