A/N:

Thank you Finnobhair for the review! When I first read about Malarkey's near demise in the book, it was a shock! He's fortunate. So you've also caught onto Marie's consistent sickness; I wish I could reveal it but all will be explained soon enough :)

Thank you BobtheFrog for the review! They should've checked the labels better! It was a really close call. I'm glad you felt Marie's emotions, thanks for your kind words!

Thank you kEs-2717 for the review! Hopefully the boys have learned their lesson from drinking from foreign bottles. I'm glad you're still looking forward to more!

Thank you SilverMistKunoichi for the story follow and the favorite!

Thank you AliceGirl6 for the story follow!

Thank you Byron W.4 for the review! I had forgotten about it too until I reread it! Poor Malarkey!

Thank you ladyliberty7476 for the story follow!

Thank you just8boutany6 for the story follow!

Thank you Guest for the review! It makes my day knowing that you and others love my story. I really appreciate it! 3

Sorry for not updating in awhile, guys. I had a nasty cold and a fever that didn't seem to pass for almost a week, and a friend of mine unexpectedly passed away. This came as an extreme shock and also made me really depressed. I'm still trying to come to grips with it, so things have been difficult lately.

Dialogue from the TV series.

Landsberg district (Bavaria), Germany

April 27-30th, 1945

White, that's all Marie could see for as long as her vision spanned, white everywhere. As she took slow steps forward she peered down to see that even the ground under her bare feet was coated pure, natural white. There were no sounds; the only thing that Marie's ears could hear was the sound of her own shallow breathing. She was alone in this empty blankness, and she didn't even remember how she'd gotten here. Yet she felt no panic, only curiosity as she wandering into nothingness. The vastness seemed like it went on for eternity. Marie felt the presence of another behind her; she hastily whirled around to see Emilia standing before her. She was wearing a simple, white gown; her hair cascaded down past her shoulders. She looked more radiant than she ever did before. There were no bullet wounds present in her dark skin, her complexion looked perfect and healthier than Marie had ever seen.

Marie opened her mouth to speak, but her voice was muted. The only thing she could project was her thoughts.

Am I dead?

The angelic figure shook her head. "I came to see you." She paused a minute, closing her eyes in a peaceful gesture. "I want you to move on from what happened to Skip and myself." She stated simply, as if it was the easiest task that could be done.

How do you expect me to do that? Marie was stunned by Emilia's sudden proposal.

"More pain is bound to come, Marie, but you can't hold onto it forever. Skip and I are in a better place. We're worried about you and Don." Emilia explained, giving her a sympathetic smile.

Skip's here too?

Emilia nodded, glancing beside herself. She stared as if she saw someone, but Marie couldn't see anybody.

I don't see him.

Emilia didn't answer; she only continued to stare where she claimed Muck was standing.

Emilia, I can't see him. Skip? Where are you?

Marie continued to think the same thoughts over and over, but Muck never revealed himself. Suddenly Marie's conscience shifted and she was lying in a dark room on a foreign and firm bed. It all came flooding back to her, she was in Germany and she had been sleeping. She sat up, wiping the beads of sweat that had collected on her forehead as she tried to make sense of the strange dream. Emilia and Muck had died three months ago, yet it still felt too premature to just "move on" like Emilia's entity suggested. She lay back down on the pillow, her thoughts racing with explanations. Was the dream a message or was it nothing but a normal dream, she couldn't figure it out. Marie could hear the other girls sleeping soundly in the dark, their breathing synchronized in rhythmic harmony, unknowing and undisturbed by how Marie had been visited by a ghost from her recent past.

"Emilia, are you really there?" Marie whispered, clutching her blanket in anticipation.

There was no reply or sign that Emilia's ghost was present.

Marie sighed at her foolishness. Was she really expecting an answer? She scolded herself for her childish hopes and denial, clenching her eyes shut as she attempted to force herself to get some sleep. She wanted to be well rested for tomorrow, that was when Malarkey was returning.

Marie waited in the town square, her hands folded behind her back in patient posture. At any moment Malarkey would be coming by jeep, right as Nixon's current event lecture was going to start. Malarkey had been gone a couple of weeks, and they were some of the slowest days of her life. Her health continued to decline, but Marie did her best hiding the symptoms from everybody. She was already planning on seeing the battalion surgeon in secret, not wanting anyone to worry about her. Other than that, Marie spent most of her time writing; she even wrote Guarnere and Toye about what happened to Malarkey. She knew Malarkey wouldn't approve, but the two battered friends deserved to know. She already had a feeling about the nature of the replies she'd receive back. Guarnere would be furious.

The screeching of halting tires on the brick roads alerted her. She looked up to see Malarkey climbing out of the vehicle, his belongings slung over his shoulder as he chatted with the driver. His red hair was tidily combed to the side, and his previous unruly beard was shaven. He looked like a new man. She smiled, unable to contain her eagerness. Some of the men noticed his return and hooted in welcome, he waved them off with a grin on his face. His eyes landed on Marie waited before him and his smile broke out even wider. He stopped before her, dropping his stuff to the ground and pulling her into a smothering embrace. She returned his hug with fervor, gathering up as much of him as she could. They held that pose until she saw Lipton standing besides a building. She loosened her arms and wiggled her way out of Malarkey's loving grip. Even though Lipton's focus wasn't on them, his warning replayed in her mind:

'You know how much trouble you can get into for this? You know how fast the brass will discharge you if they found out you're sleeping with one of the men? Not only that, it would be a dishonorable discharge! You're smarter than this, Marie!'

Before he could question she leaned over to him. "Lipton knows." She whispered.

Malarkey furrowed his brows. "What, about us?" He glanced over his shoulder, in Lipton's direction.

Marie nodded. "He warned me about getting caught and the consequences."

Malarkey crossed his arms in thought. "How long has he known?"

"Since February."

Malarkey sighed. "And he's only talked to you about it? I'm sorry, it seems like you're taking the brunt for the fraternizing."

"It's mostly because of the pressure from the brass. If there's one wise thing my mother told me, it's this: 'like a compass needle that always points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman.'"

Malarkey patted her shoulder in understanding affection. She wanted to reach out and hold his hand, but it was too risky with all the higher officers prowling around the area. She hated feeling this way; this was the first time in their relationship that she was afraid. She didn't want to be scared to do something as innocent as hugging Malarkey in public.

Nixon announced his current event lecture, and Easy Company flocked to him in an instant. Most sat on the pavement, some on chairs if they were lucky enough to find some by nearby shops. Malarkey and Marie sat down besides each other, waiting for Nixon to read from his clipboard. Marie studied Nixon's haggard appearance with worry. He had delved even deeper into alcoholism since entering Germany, drinking countless bottles of Vat 69 and other hard liquor a day. He hadn't been the same since he'd been demoted and moved back to Battalion S3. His eyes always looked tired, and his thick, dark beard was starting to get bushy, while his skin was turning sallow. She was afraid he'd become like her mother, and eventually drink himself to death.

Nixon flipped over the first page from the clipboard, mumbling something about food packages and European families. "Oh, I'm sure all of you will be happy to hear Oklahoma! is still playing on Broadway."

Luz laughed, taking a cigarette out of his mouth as he cheerfully sang the first note of the famous chorus. Marie couldn't help but join in herself, along with the rest of the company.

"Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain

Where the waving wheat

Can sure smell sweet

When the wind comes-"

Luz signaled everyone to stop with a slashing motion with his hand. Everyone fell silent, except for the unsuspecting replacement, Patrick O'Keefe, whom was sitting up front.

"-Right behind the rain!" O'Keefe finished, his last note climbing extremely high. The men burst out laughing, making poor O'Keefe become embarrassed. Marie could see the back of his neck turn red.

"O'Keefe, you sitting on your bayonet there?" Christenson laughed.

Nixon interrupted with a sad moan. "Aw, Rita Hayworth's is getting married."

The men groaned with equal disappointment, while Marie snorted in amusement. The news about Rita Hayworth appeared to have wounded the men's hearts, marking the end of the current events lecture. Everyone sat up, grumbling to themselves about how Rita's marriage wouldn't last, as if they were mediators in her life. As the company started to head for their positions, Marie naturally went toward the makeshift aide station. As much as she wanted to spend time with Malarkey, she knew he had a lot of catching up to do.

"Marie." Malarkey's voice called to her.

She turned to see him standing where they had been sitting; his hands shoved in his BDU pants pockets. She waited for him to continue talking, the two of them not breaking eye contact.

"I love you." He said, his words coming out both confident and gentle. Even so, he still could feel his body begin to wince, fearing what her initial reaction would be to his confession.

Marie smiled, her heart thudding in her chest as a warmness spread through her entire body. The words she never realized she'd been longing to hear were finally uttered. Marie wasn't sure how to express her elated sense of happiness as she stood there, smiling and blushing like a schoolgirl.

"I love you, too."

Marie peacefully listened to the raindrops hitting the windowsill, her head comfortably resting on Malarkey's chest. Continuing their old ritual of sneaking out when it was dark had started again, despite their fear of being caught had increased. Resisting each other any longer didn't seem possible for them, their romance had become like an addiction. It had started raining that night, and Marie had gotten caught in the rain and was soaked as she went to meet him in a nearby building (which he made sure wasn't occupied). Seeing her chilled figure shivering made him feel guilty, but her happiness couldn't be wavered by a little rainfall. She was just happy to be with him again. Now the two of them were lying on an old couch, just enjoying the tranquility and each other's company. Malarkey's body was still recovering from the methanol scare, and his cardio was suffering from doing nothing but lying in a hospital bed for the past few weeks. While they made love Marie could hear him sucking in for breath more often than he used to; his pace had also considerably slowed, but Marie didn't mind. She missed being with him, smelling his scent, hearing his voice, she yearned for his presence and how it felt to lay with his embrace. She could hear his breathing level has his chest rose up and down; he was drifting off to sleep.

"I had a strange dream last night." Marie heard herself say, unsure why she was even bringing it up.

Malarkey's eyes fluttered open. "Mm?"

"I dreamed that Emilia's ghost visited me."She could feel Malarkey shift under her. She'd grasped his attention. "She told me that I have to move on, and that Skip and her are worried about me. She said Skip was with her, but I couldn't see him." Marie went on as she recalled the bizarre dream.

"That's so weird. I dreamed about Skip last night." Malarkey replied.

"Really?" Marie sat up so she could look into his eyes. The two of them were silent, not knowing what to say about the weird coincidence. She lay back down on his chest, her mind returning to her previous assumptions about the dream.

"You should head back and get some sleep." Malarkey suggested, though there was reluctance in his voice.

"No. I'm fine right here." She replied, nuzzling herself into his chest. The two of them remained in that position for the rest of the night, listening to the pitter-patter of the rain outside.

The next morning was a flurry of activity. As Vest was passing out mail, the company received the word that 300,000 Germans had surrendered. Now they had orders to move out. Easy Company was gathered outside, packing everything onto trucks and scurrying around to make sure nothing important was forgotten. Marie stood in the eye of the hurricane, checking her medical pack to make sure she hadn't left anything vital behind. She didn't want to have a lack of supplies like she did in Belgium, not when there was a possibility that they could be entering Berlin.

"It's not even her dog! It's my dog, she's taking my dog!" Nixon suddenly erupted, standing a few feet from where Marie was. He took off his helmet and threw it to the ground.

The men around Nix quieted down, staring at him in confusion. Some started to load onto the trucks, trying to break the tension of Nix's turmoil. Marie felt sorry for him, everything around him seemed to be becoming worse. She wasn't sure how much more he could take. Malarkey, Perconte, Bull, Luz, and Webster gathered beside her, watching the spectacle as Nixon continued to rave to Winters and Lipton. Later they'd find out his wife was divorcing him, but no one wanted to ask him what was wrong while he was so upset.

"Ay, Perconte, you got a lighter?" Speirs asked, approaching the group in a calm manner.

"No, sir, I don't smoke." Perconte answered, hiding the fact that he did actually own a lighter.

"Docherty?" Speirs asked Marie, hopefully.

"I don't either, sir."

"Hey, where we goin'?" Perconte piped up, changing the subject.

"We're going to the Alps. Lemme see that lighter." Speirs gestured for Perconte to hand over his lighter, that he had a feeling he had.

He had found it and decided to keep it, but because he felt it was valuable he hid it from everyone. Perconte sighed and handed him the lighter. "The Alps?"

"Yup." Speirs responded.

"That near Berlin, sir?" Bull questioned.

"No, that's in Bavaria. The birth place of national Socialism." Webster said in slight wonderment. Marie couldn't help but smirk as Bull and Luz gave Web a clueless look. Leave it to the man whom studied at Harvard to stump everyone around him.

Luz had found a baseball and a mitt, and was tossing it back and forth between his hands. "So that mean no drop into Berlin?"

Speirs puffed on his cigarette. "No drop into Berlin. Hitler ordered the Waffen SS to hole up in the mountains and repel all invaders. He wants them to start a guerilla war."

"So where exactly is the town we're going?" Malarkey asked, wanting more information.

"The ultimate goal is to reach Berchtesgaden, at the boarder of Austria. But we have to stop at a place called Landsberg first to keep an eye on some suspicious German activity. It's a little section that's not far from Munich." Speirs explained. "You guys should start getting on the trucks, it looks like we're pulling out now."

They did as they were told, splitting up and heading toward their platoons as they climbed onto the trucks. Easy Company was excited to be heading toward the mountains and not into Berlin. Bavaria was beautiful; the countryside was absolutely breathtaking as they passed forests and rolling hills that seemed endless. During most of the ride Malarkey talked about his time in the hospital, and how hard it was to be discharged after he felt better. The doctor that was assigned to take care of Malarkey wanted to keep in for the rest of the duration of the war, and his reasons were unclear. Maybe he was against the fighting? Malarkey never wanted to find out. Occasionally their conversations were cut short from the men singing Blood Upon the Risers, but the merriment that surrounded them was pleasant. The company passed a sign that read: "YOU ARE NOW ENTERING ENEMY TERRITORY KEEP ON ALERT". As the day dragged on, the men started to become impatient. They toured through different villages in search of houses to rest in as they closed in on Landsberg. On the way to the main destination the trucks passed a group of SS soldiers marching in the opposite direction. The glum faces avoided contact with the eyes of the Americans. They knew their defeat was closing in any day now, especially after the surrender. As the sullen faces marched by, Marie felt a deep-rooted anger stir within her gut; these men were SS, the worst of the worst. They didn't deserve to walk free with nothing but a slap on the wrist. Malarkey sensed Marie's boiling fury; he placed his hand gently on hers in an effort to make sure she stayed calm.

Webster suddenly shot up from the benches of the truck, his face contorted with animosity. "Hey you! Hey-you-!" He screamed, directing his attention at the Germans. "That's right, you stupid kraut bastards! That's right! Say hello to Ford, and General Fuckin' Motors! You stupid, Fascist pigs! Look at you! You have horses, what were you thinking?" He sat back down, breathing heavily from rage. Before anyone could stop him he stood up again. "For what? You ignorant, servile scum! What the fuck are we doing here? Huh?"

"That's enough, Web." Liebgott mumbled. They all agreed with him, what were they doing here? But listening to him passionately rave about it wasn't making anyone feel any better. Webster sat down again, a thick vein throbbing in his neck as he watched the Germans march by. Marie could imagine that letting out his aggression felt good, although the Germans probably didn't understand a word he said.

A few more miles down the trucks were in Landsberg. Marie watched three crouched over Germans get shot in the back of the head. It was a quick execution, but Marie felt completely numb toward it. Abernathy jumped in her seat, giving 2nd platoon around her wild looks. Barb casually smoked her cigarette, glancing back at the dead bodies as the trucks drove by. She shrugged in disinterest and went back to smoking her cigarette.

"It's amazing what people can get used to." Malarkey whispered to Marie. She only nodded, agreeing with him though she didn't like it. It disturbed her how easily watching someone die was to her now.

Lipton was in charge of 1st and 2nd platoon for the time being. The first thing the company had to do when arriving in Landsberg was to clear out houses for a place to stay. Instead of sharing dwellings with the Germans like before, they were ordered just to force the Germans to leave. They followed Lipton into one of the houses that had been chosen as 2nd platoon's base. Lipton kicked the door in, startling a brunette woman inside. She shrieked as the wooden door broke from the hinge, raising her hands as she started to back away.

"Harper, tell her not to move." Lipton ordered as he marched in. Everyone else came in, pointing their guns and checking corners, rounding every nook and cranny.

"Stehen bleiben." Abernathy told the terrified woman, whom was now trembling visibly, still holding her hands in the air.

"Malarkey, Babe, Liebgott, Web, Janovec, Goode, check upstairs." Lipton motioned for them to head up. "Harper, ask her if there's anyone else in the house."

"Bist du allein?"

"Nein, ich habe einen Neffen! Er ist in seinem Zimmer!" The woman stuttered.

"Sir, she said her nephew is here as well." Abernathy answered.

Marie could hear commotion upstairs, sounding like stomping footsteps and shouting. She heard something break as the struggle continued. The woman whimpered as she started to inch toward the staircase.

"Hey! Stand still!" Lipton shouted, pointing his gun at the woman.

Marie went over and clasped onto the woman's hand. The woman looked at her with fearful eyes. Marie gestured for her to take a seat in the nearest chair, leading her in the direction. Another crash came from upstairs, making the woman jump as she was startled.

"Ask her how old her nephew is." Lipton said to Abernathy.

"Wie alt ist er?"

The woman lowered her head, her lips quivering. She didn't answer so Abernathy repeated herself. Marie glanced over at Lipton, the two of them exchanging silent conversation. They knew her reluctance to speak was a bad sign.

"Nein! Nein! Nein!" An unfamiliar voice yelled upstairs. More thumps from struggling were heard upstairs.

"Shut the hell up!" Liebgott shouted.

John Janovec, another new replacement, came jogging down the steps, his face breaking out in perspiration. "Lieutenant!"

"What's going on up there?" Lipton asked.

The woman started to pull against Marie, but she kept her hand tightly wrapped around her delicate wrist. Something was happening and she wasn't going to let this woman out of her sight.

"The man up there is a soldier, he's puttin' up a fight." Janovec replied, huffing. "Can we shoot him?"

Lipton contemplated for a moment. "I would say take him as a POW, but Speirs' orders were to take no prisoners."

The woman had started to cry, tears spilling down her face. She wept as Lipton thought out loud, having difficulty deciding whether he should give the order for them to pull the trigger or not. Then again they could need him alive for questioning.

"Ask her if her nephew was involved with the Schutzstaffel." Lipton ordered.

Before Abernathy could open her mouth, the guys were forcing the woman's nephew down the stairs. They encircling the German and had his arms locked around there's, pushing him down each steps. He squirmed against them, crying out in irritation as he tried not to move forward. The woman started for him, but Marie pushed her back down into her chair, and gripped both of her arms and held her down.

"Just take him to CP and see what they want to do with him!" Lipton raised his voice above the commotion. The men forced him out the front door as the woman wailed in agony.

"Shut her up, will you?" Barbara snapped, glaring at the woman. "She was potentially hiding an SS soldier in her house, she has no fuckin' right to cry."

Abernathy bit her lip, not knowing how to handle the situation. Marie finally let go of her and the woman collapsed to the floor in grief. Barbara scoffed at her pathetic reaction, taking the cigarette from her lips, flicking the ashes on the woman, an action that made Marie shoot Barb a disapproving look. Mistreating these people wasn't the way to go, especially a defenseless citizen. They were already forcefully evicting her from her home, she'd been through enough.

"She needs to be escorted somewhere else." Lipton said softly.

"Leave that to me." Barbara elected, hoisting the woman up from under her armpit and harshly jerking her up to her feet. She led her outside as the woman stumbled on her own feet, having a hard time keeping up. Marie followed her outside, just in time to see the woman and her nephew get handed off to some MP. The MP showed no signs of being gentle with the nephew, but they were more courteous toward the woman, which made Marie feel a little better. She still felt guilt for taking over someone's home, but they had to do what they were ordered to do.

"Well that coulda went smoother." Malarkey sighed, giving Marie a winded look as he returned.

Perconte came running up to the flustered group then, a panicked expression on his face. He came to a skidding halt before Lipton, catching his breath before he opened his mouth to speak.

"What are you doing, Frank? Isn't 3rd platoon supposed to be patrolling the woods?" Lipton asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We were, sir, but… we found something weird." He panted.

"Weird?"

"I've already told Speirs and Winters, they're assembling everyone to see. I can't explain it, sir." The panicked look in Perconte's eyes made it aware that whatever they found wasn't pleasant.

The company followed 3rd platoon into the woods, all curious and slightly afraid as to what they would find. What could be so strange that Perconte couldn't explain? Marie didn't like the feeling that these woods gave her, there was something unnatural about them. She felt a chill run down her spine as the stared around at the endless trunks of the trees, and how it appeared to be the only type of vegetation around. The company was gripped in the same uncomfortable silence, not speaking to one another as they neared their destination.

"There's something wrong with these woods." Marie muttered.

"What do you mean?" Malarkey asked her, though he kept his guard up as he walked.

"Listen."

Malarkey tuned in his hearing for a moment. "I don't hear anything."

"Exactly. No birds or bugs chirping, no sounds of wildlife. I can't even hear the wind blowing through here." Marie told him, her face etched in worry.

"Yeah you're right, that is odd. Not to mention something smells off." He added, wrinkling his nose.

The company came upon a clearing, and what appeared before them was shocking enough to stop all of them in their tracks. A large fence and gate scaled across the land, and inside were people. But these people didn't have normal appearances; their skin was grey, they were incredibly thin, and they wore strange, stripped clothing that resembled pajamas. Their sunken in faces stared aimlessly at the group of soldiers that had come upon them – they seemed almost unresponsive.

Marie glanced warily over at Malarkey, already feeling a sense of dread wash over her body. He didn't meet her eyes; his attention was on the gate as he stared back at the grey figures, slack-jawed.

Winters ordered the gate to be opened. With a pair of wire cutters the lock on the gate broke, and several soldiers ushered back the grey creatures as the gates were slowly opened. Easy Company started to march in, cautious and confused as they stepped past the perimeter and safety of the fence. The closer Marie got, the more the smell had overpowered her nostrils. It was a pungent, foul smell that made her eyes water uncontrollably from the sharp sting it brought to her senses. The grey figures in the stripped pajamas reached out and touched the sleeves of Easy Company with their bony fingers. They spoke in quiet German, almost as if they were whispering about the newcomers that had entered through the gates. The figures gently touched Marie's back and her arms, their expressions unreadable. Easy Company started to disperse, splitting up to explore the grounds as more stripped people emerged from various huts that were scattered about. Pits had smoke wafting up, some soldiers peeked inside, covering their mouths from the smell of burning flesh and famine that was found within the pits and piles of skinny bodies. Marie didn't know what this place was, but she knew it wasn't good. Starved people and burnt bodies, not to mention how sickly everything appeared to be that surrounded this place. She took out a rag from her pack and tied it around her nose and mouth in prevention of disease, and to mask the terrible smell. She stood motionless amongst the mass of wandering, grey figures. The balding heads, sunken in eyes, and stripped pajamas passed her like a slow wave in the sea. The grounds they walked on were covered with nothing but ash and dirt. No vegetation could grow in a place that bred so much suffering and death. She watched the figures stumble past a pile of charred corpses, paying no mind to the smell of a neighbors roasting flesh. Perhaps they'd grown accustomed to such terrors – or they just couldn't find the empathy in their hearts any longer.

She followed Barbara toward one of the huts as she opened the door. Barbara covered her nose in disgust as the two women peered inside. Barb grasped her hand firmly around a flashlight and shown the light inside. More figures stirred in what looked like stacks of wooden shelves, which they used bunk beds that rose to the ceiling, and were way too crowded together. The hut smelled of stale urine and diarrhea; human waste could be seen dripping from the shelves and was on the floor. Marie pressed the rag around her face even closer to her skin, afraid to breathe in the lethal mixture of odors. She turned and left the hut, her heart sinking each moment more horrors were discovered from this place. As Marie walked, one of the grey men clutched onto her forearms, his eyes were wild with insanity and relief. His skinny arms couldn't grasp her tightly as he hastily brought his blistered lips to her cheek, giving her desperate kisses. Tears streamed down his face as a strangled sound erupted from the back of his throat. Astonished, Marie had clung to the grey man, supporting him as he collapsed into sobs, the likes Marie had never heard before. Barbara watched them with heavy eyes, for once she was speechless as she witnessed this broken man hold onto Marie as if he would never let go. Marie looked hopelessly over at Barb, not knowing what to do or say.

"What the hell is this place, Hun?" Barbara asked in a quiet voice, scanning the perimeter.

Marie only shook her head, unable to find an answer. Across the way the company opened an abandoned train car, revealing even more piles of bodies inside. The death count was growing, and still the company had no idea what horrible place this was. Eventually the man let go of her and wandered off blindly as he cried. Marie saw him grab onto Janovec, and give him the same emotional greeting. She kept moving, feeling like she was lost in a maze of despair. She saw Liebgott talking to one of the grey figures, translating for Speirs, Nixon and Winters. Marie stood beside the group, hoping to overhear some answers.

"He said the guards left this morning, sir." Liebgott translated to Winters as the man nervously rubbed his baldhead, speaking rapidly in German. "They burned some of the huts first, with the prisoners still in 'em, sir. Alive."

"Jesus Christ." Nixon breathed.

"Some of the prisoners tried to stop them. Some of them were killed. They didn't have enough ammo for all the prisoners so… they killed as many as they could… before they left the camp. They locked the gates behind them and headed south." Liebgott continued on, listening intently to the grey prisoners words.

"Someone must've told them were comin'." Nixon sighed.

"Yeah, I think so." Liebgott agreed.

"Will you ask him, uh, what kind of camp this is?"

Liebgott asked him and the man replied, jumbling his sentences.

"He says it's a work camp, for uh, I'm not sure what the word the word means, sir. Uh, unwanted? Maybe?" Liebgott furrowed his brow as he tried to search for the correct meaning.

"Criminals?" Nixon asked.

"Nah, I don't think criminals, sir. No… Verbrecher?" Liebgott asked the prisoner.

The prisoner rambled on, as Liebgott listed his answers.

"Doctors, musicians, tailors, clerks, farmers… normal people."

"Juden." The prisoner repeated over and over again.

Liebgott's face fell. "Jews… Poles, gypsies."

Marie had heard enough. She walked away, feeling her stomach churning with nausea as tears stung at her eyes. As she briskly made her way through this hell she almost ran into Abernathy, her face white and sickly.

"Sergeant Docherty, you know what kind of place this is?" Abernathy muttered, her voice shaking uncontrollably.

"I just heard. It's a work camp for Jews and the Polish." Marie replied, her voice equally thick.

"Not just that." Abernathy shook her head. "I was talking to one of the prisoners. It's a sick camp where those who can no longer work are sent. There's a typhus epidemic that's sweeping Germany right now, this is where they're sent to die."

Marie brought her hand up to her lips, though it was still covered by a rag. How could something so monstrous been going on and they hadn't realized it until now?

"These people need medical attention." Marie started going through her pack, finding anything that could help these people.

"Rations and water are already being passed out to them." Abernathy pointed toward a truck that had been driven in. Soldiers gave the begging prisoners bread and water as they swarmed the truck, desperate for nourishment.

"How much are they giving them?" Marie suddenly interjected.

"I don't know-"

"They can't give too much to them! They've been starving for too long! They're so malnourished that their metabolisms are in a anabolic state, their food intake mush be monitored!" Marie ran off to try to stop the soldiers from making a mistake that could cost these poor prisoners their lives. As she made her way toward the mob of prisoners, Malarkey had stopped her, his expression equally shocked and grim.

"Hey, Marie, Babe, c'mere." Malarkey called, pointing down at the dead bodies that were burning in a nearby pit. "Look at their arms."

Marie noticed numbers tattooed to the skin of the bodies. She felt her stomach lurch at how these men's lives were identified through numbers instead of names. This was more than just a confinement for prisoners, this was something much worse, and part of Marie didn't want to know.

"Like cattle." Babe mumbled in disgusted shock.

"Goddammit." Malarkey whispered, covering his mouth with his own rag. He reached out with his free hand gripped Marie's. She could feel him trembling as his fingers held on loosely to hers. She didn't want to break his grip on her, but she had to stop her company from feeding the prisoners.

"I have to go tell Winters that the prisoners can't be fed like this." She informed her friends before running off to find Winters.

She found Winters talking over the receiver of a radio, standing at the entrance to the camp. She waited beside him as several soldiers flocked in his area, swamping him with questions as he signaled for them to wait a moment. Marie would usually be patient when waiting to talk to the Major, but her request couldn't wait, not if it meant the safety of these prisoners. She scooted her way ahead of them, making herself seen by Winters. She hoped he'd sense her urgency and desperation to be heard.

"Major Winters." Marie alerted him. His cyan eyes landed on hers, his face worn with stress and the severity of the camp they discovered. "I see some of the soldiers feeding the prisoners with quantities of food that are much too large for them to digest. These men are severely starved, and their metabolisms can't handle what is being given to them."

Winters drew a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The battalion surgeon just told me the same thing. I contacted Sink, he's on his way with Colonel Strayer and a doctor from CP to see this place for himself." He gave Marie a grave look. "I need you to do something."

Something about Winters' dolorous and reluctant tone made Marie feel uneasy. "What is it, sir?"

"Several of the prisoners told us that there's a women's camp that's just up the path from here. I called into CP and they confirmed it. They agreed that it's best that you, Corporal Goode, and Private Harper accompany a small team to enter the camp."

"Why us, sir?" Marie asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Because you're women. Given the state of the camp, and the possibility that the women's camp could be under worse circumstances, we agree that it's best if women were to liberate the camp. It could help the prisoners feel at ease."

As much as she was dreading the thought of experiencing this twice, she knew those prisoners needed help and that Winters was right. Winters sent a runner to retrieve Abernathy and Barbara from the camp.

Special thank you to icanttellthemthatsir for helping with the German translations :)

Quote: "Like a compass needle that always points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman" - Khaled Hosseini (A Thousand Splendid Suns)

Translations:

Stand still

Are you alone?

No, I have a nephew! He's in his room

How old is he?