Wow, that first chapter certainly did better than I ever thought it would.

Thank you to everyone who's enjoying it so far. I'll be making more chapters whenever I can.

After all, I wouldn't want to leave any of you-

Chapter 2
In The Dark

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The Capital Of The Empire: Berun
Zettour Manor

I mumble in my sleep, moving unconsciously to hold my husband close. I start to stir awake as my hands pat the air, with no one on the other side. "What in blazes?" I mumbled in confusion, rolling over to reach out for my nightstand and pull the chain to turn on my lamp. The sudden burst of light stung my eyes, but after wearily rubbing my eyes, I could see what I had assumed. My husband was gone.

I furrowed my brow in mild frustration. "He just came back from two straight days in the office and he does this." I sit up from my covers and take a look out the window and then my alarm clock. "Why would he leave for work at 1:30 in the morning? Could they have called him out because of an emergency?" I ponder nervously.

I pull myself out of bed, reaching out to our coat rack to grab my nightgown. I wrap myself up along with slipping on my slippers. Now decent, I shamble my way to the door, being more emboldened as I hear a distant voice on the other side. I leave the bedroom and keep my pace down the hall, soon arriving at the grand staircase. "It most certainly is Hans. He must be making a phone call in his office," I think to myself, holding onto the polished railing as I go down the steps.

Once I'm down the stairs I go right for his office, being curious as to why he left his door open. I glanced inside and saw my husband not even in his tailored uniform, still in his mint green pajamas, running his fingers through his silver hair as his baby blue night cap lay discarded on the floor. His back was turned to the door as he hunched over on the small table that held their landline. I was about to interrupt him, but something about his conversation and tone made me want to listen in on it instead.

"I see, I congratulate you on the campaign in Dacia. But, I apologize if it seems like I'm brushing off your achievements, but why are you calling me at this hour? And why my personal number instead of my office?" asked Hans followed by a long silence.

I jumped as my husband slammed his hand on the table. "What? Are you positive!?" questioned my husband, seeming frightened by whatever was being said on the other line. Another long pause happened before he spoke again. "No, no you did the right thing Major. Listen carefully, I need you and your battalion to stay awake a little while longer… Yes, I know how long they've been operating, but after this phone call is over I will personally call the conductor at your closest station. I'll tell him to board you on the nicest train they have and with any luck, it will get you and your battalion on the train back to the capital within the hour. I'm sure everyone there would appreciate a soft bed to sleep in after what they saw."

"Now is there anything I need to know before I start waking the whole war room?" he uttered tensely, the room once again going silent. "He speaks what?" spoke Hans utterly baffled as he walked a short way to the globe. He gave it a spin, going to what seemed like the other side of the world. "Akitsushieen? That certainly is odd. How were you able to confirm that?" It was a short pause before I saw him nod. "Ah, I see. While that idea of yours was not fruitful, the Empire thanks you for learning that language. I'm sure you're the only one who'd know such an obscure language."

"If that's all I'll make the call to the conductor and his crew now, I don't care if you have to make them fly, I want you all there as soon as possible. Is that understood?" he ordered, standing upright from his hunch to throw out a salute. "For the Fatherland," he barked, before quickly sighing as he hung up the line. I saw his hand rise up to his face and mutter, "Of all times for this-" he began to say until I accidentally bumped into the door, causing its hinges to creek open.

He jumped at the noise, turning back to look at me, his eyes sunken from the lack of sleep. "Gretel!" he yelled marching towards me as I walked backwards away from him. "How much of that did you hear!? Tell me now!" he roared, now close enough to where I could smell the stench of cigars through his gritted teeth. I kept stepping back until my back was pressed against the hallway wall, with my husband of well over thirty–five years looking at me with a look that sent shivers down my very bones. He looked haunted.

"I-i only heard a minute or two," answered, cowering away from him with my eyes squeezed shut. "Please Hans! I didn't mean to listen in on your work call! Promise!"

"Gretel… look at me. Look into my eyes and tell me the truth, and nothing but the truth," he said in a shaky voice. I looked up to him seeing his face covered in shadows, the little light shining on it being reflected by the sweat matting his face. "Please tell me… did you hear the other voice?"

"No! Only you Hans!" I answered immediately, "I beg you, please tell me what's wrong. I know you can't tell me everything because of your work, but at least tell me how you're feeling. You look unwell," I plead with him, reaching out to touch his face. He doesn't pull away as I place my hand upon his cheek, feeling his warmth along with the dampness of his skin. I felt his heart beating and it had to have been beating faster than normal, he couldn't stop shaking.

He opened his mouth, as if wanting to indulge in letting it all out, but instead… "I can't, I can't even tell you that Gretal, I'm sorry," he said slowly, straightening his posture as he turned to walk back into his office. "Since you're up already, can you iron my uniform for me?" he asked, turning his head slightly to eye my still shaken form. "Once you are done, knock before entering. I will most likely still be making calls by then," he finished as he stood in the doorway of his office.

He turned around fully to face me one last time, the office light casting a shadow on him that hid me in his shade. And finally, without saying a word, my husband closed the door on me, leaving me both figuratively and literally-

In The Dark

Editing Number: 8/16/2024-8/16/2024