The darkness outside seemed absolute. Even the moon seemed to be hiding behind thick, dark clouds. The stars themselves could only just been seen through the slight splinters in the clouds. The rain continued to fall, it had let up for a brief time, only to come back with a vengeance. The weather mirrored everyone's states of mind, except those of which who were in charge. With the ever growing bad weather, it was inevitable really that a storm would come rolling in. And storm it did. All of a sudden a bright streak broke through the clouds, the accompanying thunder drummed deeply from above as lightning crackled sharply, twisting and turning before it fell silent again.

The heavy air was still, sticky even as the storm bought with it a horrible humidity which wouldn't go away. Without a means to get a window open, the small shack was dark and discomforting. The two occupants had it relatively easy in comparison to the other prisoners in the camp, it was only them in here, after all. Despite of this, and the fact the roof had started to leak a little, Liesel stood a little way from the window looking up at it with wide cautious eyes. She could not see much through the torrential rain sailing down the pane of glass, but what she could see caused a smile to slowly appear on her face.

She loved storms. It was as simple as that. She loved watching them. She loved listening to them. She loved lightning, and she loved being able to feel the lightning even more. It was more of a sense, a feeling than an actual feeling-feeling. When it came to electrics, anything electric, she could sense and feel it. Harnessing it was something which had got inflicted on her here. But it ultimately failed. But with something of this magnitude; of something with such natural, raw power, she was afraid. She was fearful of the pain which would come from it. And she was certainly fearful of what she could do with that power. With a quiet snort she frowned. Would she be able to redirect such a force, or would it destroy her from within? Lord only knew what she would be used for if she could use such a power. As it stands, she had such minimal skills it was pathetic. She was not strong.

When a rather loud rumble of thunder echoed through the air, she jumped. She got bought from her thoughts by the splitting sound of the air groaning outside and the rattle of the wind and rain against the window. With unease she rubbed her arms. She suddenly felt rather conscious of the strength of the storm. Turning on her heels she walked over to her bed. Only, she paused and looked slowly to the other. Rolling her eyes she couldn't help but find it typical that Erik was able to sleep through such a racket. But then she had to remind herself, he was resting and recuperating.

Sniffing lightly, she looked up at the dripping of the leak in the corner and shuffled over to him. With a poke to the shoulder she frowned gently when she had to repeat the action. "What?" As anyone would, Erik sounded rather disgruntled with being so rudely woken up. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at her. "Can't sleep?" He questioned quietly. Slowly nodding she watched as he seemed to become aware to the storm outside. With a slow growing frown of his own he shifted about on his bunk and nodded at her. Liesel blinked confused. Erik looked at her plainly while seemingly losing patience and falling back against the hard bed with his eyes shut. He wasn't really in the mood for this. It was too early in the morning. Or night. Or whatever...he had been woken up and when giving Liesel an option all he got was a confused look sent down at him.

Cracking open an eye he watched as she rather hesitantly slid in next to him. "When I was small my mother used to let me do this." She explained while turning onto her side and looking at him. "Mainly because she feared I'd act as a beacon. Not sure where she got that bright idea from. Surely if I was one she'd get caught in the crossfire...I don't know," Liesel ended up shrugging and shutting her eyes. Feeling movement she looked up at Erik. He had turned to face her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He paused to attempt to huddle more into the pillow. "Now, I don't mean to sound rude Liesel, but can I finally go back to sleep?"

"Sure." She replied casually. Erik wasn't swayed on the simplicity of her answer so he opened a cautious eye and saw she had settled with her own eyes tightly shut. She seemed to be trying to go back to sleep. With a sigh he followed suit and his own eyes slid to a shut, and despite of the storm outside and the noise it created, he actually found himself able to tune out and fall back into a dreamless sleep.

----

When it came to the morning it seemed they were both left to their own devices with waking up. It was definitely welcomed, but on the other hand being left alone allowed time to dwell over what was next. Either way, when it did come to waking up, Erik found himself feeling a little confused. For one, he couldn't seem to breathe. For two, he never remembered his bed being this warm.

Even in his half asleep state he found himself at a loss before opening his eyes and looking down. Liesel had taken to using him as a pillow it seemed. Her head rested against his chest and a small hand was clutched onto his shirt. The night's events slowly came back to him before he wildly accused her of sneaking into his bed. He remembered he opted to allow her in rather than return to sleep knowing she'd either get none or just stand in the cold watching the storm some more. Placing a hand to her shoulder he gently shook her. He got quiet grumblings from her before she seemed to come to. With bleary eyes she sat up and looked around before looking down at him. Rubbing her eyes one last time she stretched and sat with her legs outstretched before her. Sitting himself up too, Erik stretched the best he could. These beds weren't designed for two people to sleep in. Narrowly missing hitting Liesel in the head he simply sat the same as her and looked towards the door.

"What do you think it is like out there?" Liesel asked. Even as they sat in silence they could hear shouts and orders. A clean up was clearly being undertaken.

"Would you like to see?" Erik sat himself onto his haunches before standing up and walking along the bed before reaching the end. Jumping down he turned and got a confused look sent his way.

Liesel was slightly at a loss as she watched him go towards the door instead of the window. "Erik, what are you doing?"

"I'm curious," he seemed to mull over the word before stopping at the door. He looked it over before running a hand through his hair. He winced as he snagged a tangle or two, but nonetheless it didn't stop his assessment of the door.

"About what?" Liesel shuffled along the bed before getting to the end. Flinging her legs over, she watched as he drew closer to it.

Erik tapped a finger to the hinges before looking at her from the corner of his eyes. "Two things really, Liesel."

"And they are?"

"What's going on, and how much does it take to get this door open."

"It's locked from the other side, Erik." Liesel hated to state it.

All she got was a blunt look from him before he let out a quiet sigh and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I didn't listen to you, Liesel."

"Sorry?"

"When you said to do as I'm asked. I didn't listen."

She blinked and shot off of the bed. Clasping onto his shoulders, though she had to tiptoe slightly to do so, she turned him to look at her. Shaking him gently she frowned. "Idiot! What were you thinking?"

"Tell me, has listening to them and doing as they asked worked out well for you?" Erik blatantly asked with a frown. Placing his hands on the ones on his shoulders, he slowly peeled them off and placed them by her side. Standing back up straight he sighed and shook his head.

"Did not listening work out well for you?" Liesel shot back with a frown, he could barely sit up because they had beaten him badly. She didn't understand how Erik seemed to think doing the opposite, had an opposite effect. It certainly didn't work out for him, not at all. Bruises were still healing on his face, along with shallow cuts.

Erik shot her a glare. "Hitting me is the worse they can seemingly do. Have you not noticed the lack of damage inflicted on us psychically? We can be beaten, but we are not to be killed." He paused to glance at the door again. "We're being kept alive simply because the Doctor is asking us to be. No, not listening didn't work out for me as you can see. But...if this is all I got for failing to do as I was asked, then I can try and put up with this pain. Pain doesn't last, Liesel. Just remember that." Erik frowned and ran a finger over the metal which made up the plaque which had the handle, or lack thereof, and keyhole on it.

She pressed her lips into a thin line and looked down at her scruffy scuffed up boots. They had seen much better days. "Erik...what can you do?" Her green eyes narrowed curiously as they flicked up to look at him.

With the slightest of smiles, he spread his hand across the plaque and concentrated. Liesel tilted her head to the side. Frowning suddenly at a rattling noise she all but gasped and looked with wide eyes as the door swung open. Before it swung open fully Erik grabbed the edge and pulled it to a close. Keeping it open a fraction he peered out. He had to squint against the grey light of day, but other than that he breathed in rainy scented air. Looking over his shoulder he gestured a hand to Liesel. She hesitantly stepped forward, only to have her arm gripped onto gently and for herself to be tugged forwards.

Managing to lean down she stood in front of him as he kept a hold on the door and stopped it from swinging fully open. "How?"

"Metal," Erik replied while she sent him a curious look from over her shoulder. "You have electricity. I have this," he said while casting a look to the lock, it took some concentrating but he had managed to unpick it from within.

Liesel narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Metal is a good electrical conductor." She stated while looking around at the clean up that was happening outside.

"That it is, you're right."

"How good are you at accessing your powers?"

"It takes some time." He admitted with a frown. It took him minutes to unlock the door. "You?" He asked curiously, she had asked this question for some reason or another, Erik only saw it as fair to ask the same.

"Same," Liesel tilted her head to the side curiously. "We're at a disadvantage. Unless you can stop bullets?" Liesel pouted and looked up at him.

"I don't know..." Erik frowned the thought of gunfire caused him to have a momentary pause. He had not realised that they had started seemingly speaking about their escape plans.

Liesel scratched her head and stood away from the door. Side stepping around him she watched as he shut the door and locked it again. "They have my sister." She saw to just blatantly say. Erik moved away from the door and stood in front of her. Liesel smiled sadly at him. "She's more dead than alive...but I can't leave her..."

"Do you know where she is?"

"No."

Erik frowned. Escape was seemingly impossible if Liesel was not willing to leave without her sister. He could not blame her. He wished to find his father, but somewhere within him seemed to speak with clarity and state the obvious that he was never likely to see him again, or at least in this lifetime. Placing his hands on her shoulders he leaned down to her level. "Liesel, we are not leaving yet. If you are able, find where she is. And when it comes to leaving, we'll take her too."

"Really?!" Her eyes lit up at that.

Erik smiled awkwardly and nodded. Though he was certain he said what he did to lighten her up, and to get her back on board with escaping, he was more than certain that it wouldn't work. The last thing he expected though was to suddenly have her arms thrown around his neck and to be pulled down to her level and held onto tightly.

"Thank you!" Liesel shut her eyes tightly and gripped onto him for a few more seconds before letting go. She couldn't help but laugh though over the bemused look that was on Erik's face. Blinking quickly he shook his head and tried to shrug the moment off, not that that worked with Liesel still chuckling over it.

----

Edited: 7/June/2019.

Reedited: 13/August/2021