"My children, have you heard the whisperings around camp? The concern which seems to be striking hard in those surrounding you? I suppose you do not hear much gossip, what with you both being locked away from the outside. Answer me this though, can you not sense the shift in the air? Yes, Erik?"

"What do you mean?"

"You can be many things, but not stupid." Came the sharp response from Schmidt. He had summoned the children to his work space for a simple reason: he wished to see how they'd react when they learned that possible help was on the way. 

It seemed the Nazi regime was short lived. The allies were close to landing, and once they did they would power through the surrounding area. If it wasn't the Americans or the English, then perhaps the remnants of the French, as well as the other allied parties were going to get to them; then it was increasingly hard to overlook to tremendous force that was the Red Army, the Russians seemed to be having very little trouble in drawing closer with every passing day. In truth, the days here were numbered. And what the children before him decided to do then was something which caused Schmidt's interest to pique.

Would they freely go with these people? Return to a life of normality, if they ever could do such a thing; or would they opt for something else. Something more driven, with more purpose. Considering the hate that all but radiated off of Erik, Schmidt was more than sure the boy would walk to the ends of the Earth to find him. On no accounts was Schimdt sticking around to see this place get liberated. He had slowly grown rather bored of the bleak surroundings and wished for something warmer, more exotic, more entertaining.

Not that the two young mutants before him weren't entertaining. The constant mental barrage sent in Liesel's direction never seemed to grow old. It never seemed to fail in its course and success either. He was almost tempted to tell her that another doctor was interested in herself and her twin. Schmidt had planned to leave soon so he was really only limited to how long he could spend here. Would she opt to try and stay with Erik? It was something which caused a smile to appear on his face. The future perhaps wouldn't look so bleak, what with the duo before him if they stuck together.

They were all the future, them three, they would need each other at some point in time. That, Schmidt was most adamant and confident over. Leaning down he placed his hands on his knees and looked over the rim of glasses at the pair. "Help, I do believe is on the way."

Erik and Liesel exchanged a look. It was one of confusion. They didn't seem to quite understand what was being said to them. Schmidt rolled his eyes skyward, had their mental capacity truly shrunk so much since he last saw them a few days ago? They were usually so good at taking on board and listening, well Liesel more than Erik, that boy's constant defiance was going to lead him to more trouble if he wasn't careful.

"We...will be freed?" Liesel tore her eyes away from Erik and looked up at him. "All of us?"

"Well," Schmidt paused to mull over the question. He pouted and clicked his tongue in thought before standing up straight and shrugging nonchalantly. "Those who are still alive, yes I suppose so." He said while walking over to his desk and leaning back against it.

"Why are you telling us this?" Erik frowned and cast a quick look to Liesel. She seemed to still be thinking this all over while pulling her striped shirt closer to herself. The faded blue was nearly grey in colour, and the item of clothing in general was miles too big for her. Not that his fitted him any better...

Schmidt beamed then and clapped his hands. "Straight to the point! That's one thing I like about you, Erik." Along with seemingly having the capacity to still be defiant in the face of pain and border-line torture inflicted on him by himself. One day he was sure Erik would see that he did what he did to try and make him a stronger person. "Call it a bout of sentimentality. In the short amount of time we have known each other, I have grown rather accustomed to you and your ways. In some ways I'd say I know you both better than you know yourselves. It is because of this that I find myself intrigued." He paused as they looked at him with unblinking eyes. "Will you stay on the dictated path that these mere humans will put you on? Or will you strive to make your own path and follow your own rules? Think about it, you don't have to answer me now. I am sure we will meet again, the world is too small for us to not bump into each other again." Schmidt ran a hand through his hair while walking forwards. Placing a hand on each of their shoulders, he smiled. "Tell me your answer when we next meet, yes?" He patted them gently and walked around them. With a huge amount of confusion, they turned and looked at him. "Viel Glück und auf wiedersehen, kleine Liesel, Erik." And with that, the door simply shut behind him. They could hear his footsteps as they walked down the tiled corridor, but after a few moments even these petered off and there was silence.

Slowly looking away from the door and to each other, they wasted no time in running towards the nearest window. Pulling a chair over Erik helped Liesel to get up and kneel on it so she could see over the windowsill. With deep set frowns they watched as the Doctor simply walked to a car, he climbed in and sent one last look in their direction before careering down the road. Even from where they were they could see the way out, the gates opened for him and closed once he was gone. Gone...that lingered for a few moments before his words came back to them.

"We will be freed?" Liesel looked to him with confusion, it was hard to feel anything else right now. "All of us? Even those out there?"

"I don't know, Liesel." Erik couldn't help but frown as he looked away from the window to her. It was strange, without the Doctor present, this building was remarkably silent. There was not a sound to be heard. Even the noises from the outside world didn't seem to penetrate into this room. "Something still doesn't feel right."

"No one has come for us," she stated while jumping from the chair. Her boots clattered against the floor as she turned and looked up at him. "Does that mean we are already free?"

Erik frowned again, glancing out of the window and then to her he nodded slowly. "I think so."

"What do we do?" As such they hadn't actually come to any full proof plans. "Do we leave now, find my sister and take our chances with the weather? Or do we wait for help to come?" Liesel's question hung in the air as Erik reached down and grasped onto her arm gently. He pulled her away from the window and towards the door. They had no reason to loiter in this room anymore, so why were they still here? They didn't need to be here in general anymore, so why were they?

"We're leaving, Liesel. Now."

"But-"

"No." Erik narrowed his eyes down at her as they walked along the corridor. The harsh lighting caused his eyes to look harder than they actually were. Liesel swallowed thickly and hung her head. "The Doctor was the only one keeping us from...from the treatment of the soldiers. Without him here, what do you think will happen to us?" Liesel seemed to realise what he was hinting at as she gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. "We are not going to perish in this place, least of all by the hands of them." He pushed open the double doors and narrowed his eyes at the sight of soldiers already standing on guard outside. Extending a hand he focused and pulled his arm back, the guns which were so idly held onto had been snatched out of their grasps. Turning his hand he made them turn back on their owners. "Why should we wait for help, when we have the means to help ourselves?" He looked down at her when she stepped beside him. "Don't look, Liesel." With his free hand he reached up and placed it over her eyes as his extended hand fisted as several gunshots rang out into the bleak air of the ever greying day.

Although, somehow, liberation didn't feel very liberating. All encompassing chaos was perhaps more apt for the moment. Because that is what happened after the few soldiers before them fell to the muddy grimy ground with dulled thuds. It wasn't the sounds of them falling to the floor which had caught other soldier's attentions. No, the gunshots did that. They may as well have been screaming from the very top of their lungs, that would've had the same result, just without any deaths. The attention which was suddenly placed on them was almost instant.

Gripping onto Liesel's shaking shoulders, Erik pulled her away quickly before the soldiers could get an actual lock on them and open fire. Of course they'd freely shoot them. As Erik plainly stated earlier on; without the Doctor here, there was no one keeping them from a death sentence. He had absolutely no doubt that the soldiers would flatly shoot them. Erik had spied from the window, people getting beaten for much less things than the murder of fellow soldiers. So yes, if they stayed in the open for any longer, they would be shot. And really, dying here didn't once cross Erik's mind. He meant it wholeheartedly, they had the means to save themselves, why not just do it? What was to say that the allies would even get here? Or at least, arrive any time soon? By the time they do arrive everything could've grown worse. They could be split up, and from there on...who only knew.

Turning Liesel around by her shoulders, he leaned down and looked at her. "Open your eyes. It is safe now." The thought of the younger girl flatly seeing death was something which unsettled him. He seemed to easily push the deaths of those soldiers from his mind. But death for Liesel was something which ate away at her mind. He had seen first hand what the effects of being used to kill had done to her. Don't get him wrong, these men were not innocents like those she had aided in killing were. But even still, he did not want her to see anymore death.

She had a lingering innocence to her somehow that he sort of wished would stay. Without it she just seemed so much more older and sterner than her young years. In truth, any damage that needed to be done, Erik had seemed mentally resolute in musing that he would do it. He could shoulder it and keep her safe. When exactly he had become so attached to the small girl, he wasn't sure. But he presumed that that's what sort of happens when locked away with someone for each and every day and every hour for over a month, almost two...or was it longer? Erik didn't know. He couldn't remember how long he'd been here, each day bled and merged into another. But it was long enough to grow fond of Liesel, they had to stick together, that much he could agree with Schmidt on.

They would be stronger together than apart, that much Erik knew. He gave her a smile when finally she seemed to trust him enough to open her eyes. Blinking slowly she looked around, frowning she looked to him. "We're back here, why?"

"Would you rather have a firing squad before you?" Erik plainly asked while rolling his eyes. Okay, fine, he could admit to being fond of Liesel, but damn her blatant unamused tones were a real drag at times. He had just saved her! He had saved the both of them! She shouldn't complain. But then being back in the medical building...it was perhaps not the wisest place to suddenly seek refuge in. For one, it was the obvious. For two, it really bought back horrid memories, and three, it was a dead end.

Liesel reached up and removed his hands from her shoulders. Though she seemed to have taken a liking to one of them because she kept a good grip on him. Considering she was still shaking, it was safe to say she was scared. She hid behind a brave stoic face so often that it was sometimes hard to remember she was child. Being at least three years older than her, Erik could admit to being hesitant rather than afraid of the situation. His hesitation to escaping and getting out easily over ruled any fear he could face when crossing paths with a soldier. Anyway...what could these men throw his way that he couldn't counter with? As it stands, their guns were useless. So their bullets would be too. What else did they have?

"Erik," Liesel's voice pulled him from his thoughts. She tugged him gently and moved along the corridor. Standing in plain sight of the doorway was perhaps most unwise. Following beside her, Erik simply looked at the rooms they passed. Neither had been in them before. Stopping and managing to get his hand free from her grip he pushed open a door. He looked around the study area while being minutely aware to Liesel hovering close by, now holding onto the back of his jacket and shirt. She really didn't want to let go of him. "Erik," she said again while moving away from him and looking out of a window. He walked over, reaching around her waist he easily lifted her up. She was tapping at the glass clearly trying to indicate to something. Only of course being stunted by malnutrition she had to jump and tap at the same time. Being in his arms she tapped on the glass again. He easily looked to where her finger was pointing. A truck.

"Can you drive, Liesel?" Erik found himself smirking despite of the moment. Snapping their attentions to the door both listened to hastened boots stomping on the ground and exclaiming voices.

"Nein." She whispered while being put back on solid ground. "Can you?" She whispered as they hunkered down and made their way through the building. They avoided any windows by being crouched close to the floor. This building was one storey so there had to naturally be another exit. They didn't need to waste time exploring this building, it would be pointless even if there was another level. Walking into a back room which seemed to have been kitted out as a simple kitchen, they straightened up and looked about.

"Come on," Erik spotted the door and pushed against it. Locked, naturally. With a frown he placed his hand against the lock and frowned. After a few moments of concentration it clicked softly and swung open. Grasping onto it, he tentatively looked around it to make sure no one was out here. "Coast is clear."

"What do we do?" Liesel asked as they hurriedly exited the building just as the front door got slammed open. "Where do we go?" Pressing themselves against the wall they edged slowly along. "There are guards everywhere."

"There is a way around them."

"No more killing!" Liesel exclaimed in a quiet whisper, Erik shot her a look. He did not expect that, he could openly admit. "There has been too much killing here already without us adding to it."

"Us?" Erik repeated with some scepticism.

"You are not the only one able to kill, remember? I have it within myself to stop a man's heart with a touch of my little finger, or any finger. It is a much quieter way to go, no?" Shaking her head she frowned and pointed a finger at him, Erik leaned back slightly. After her words of death touches he didn't want her hands near him. "But we are not going to kill!" She wagged her finger like a scolding mother would do to their child. "Unless...I suppose...we have to."

Erik rolled his eyes. He opted not to comment on her moment of hypocrisy. Peering back around the corner he narrowed his eyes. "We must find someone easily swayed."

"For what?"

"For information." Erik paused and nodded forwards. Staying low they ran forwards and hunkered down in the gloom of a cabin. Liesel looked at him expectedly. "You need to find your sister. And we need to find the easiest route out of here."

Liesel beamed suddenly, which caused him to frown. "Distraction!"

"Huh?" Erik was lost.

"Distraction, yes? A lure...a trap as it were." She jumped to a stand and brushed herself down. Erik frowned up at her and shook his head quickly, he grasped onto her arm as she went to run forwards. When did she get so openly reckless?

With a sigh he loosened his hold, much to her happiness it seemed. "You go out there running around like a headless chicken, and they will get you."

Liesel pouted, unwrapping his hand from her arm she held onto it gently. Patting the back, she smiled slowly and looked up at him. "It has been a while to see concern for my sake." She paused, Erik looked suddenly flustered by this.

"Idiot! Of course I'm concerned, you could get shot as soon as you step foot out there!" He seethed blankly in a whisper. It was hard to keep his tone down.

Liesel sighed, "Erik...I am small, and I am quick on my feet. I can be silent too when I wish to be. They won't get me. They can't get me. And if they get me...they'll regret it." Erik blinked slowly, the death touch thing came back to his mind as he hesitantly looked to their hands. Liesel laughed quietly, catching on. "It is fine, Erik! I would never hurt you." Chuckling she patted his hand one last time and looked around. With a pout she scratched at her wry choppy hair with a contemplating expression. "There," pointing she gestured to the back of an abandoned cabin. Evidently the occupants had all gone, the cabin seemed rather derelict. Why it hadn't been reused, neither knew. "We shall meet there, yes?"

"One man, Liesel...we just need one." Erik pressed while holding up one digit to get the point across.

"Just one." She winked and swung her hands by her sides. "You should go." She nodded over her shoulder towards the cabin. Erik looked uncertain yet nodded slowly. Backing up he moved around her and jogged towards their rendezvous point. He stopped in mid-retreat though to stand close to a wall and watch as Liesel slunk away from their hiding place. She shuffled, dragging her feet, looking much like every other blue striped shirted body milling about the muddy compound.

Erik narrowed his eyes, what was she doing? He had to admit when the thought of distraction and Liesel came to mind, he didn't expect her to do it so sneakily. He expected shouting, running...not this. With wide eyes he watched as she approached a nearby soldier. He could see the disdain in the man's eyes as his gaze stared down at her. Even being in the presence of the young girl, the man looked like he was holding everything back not to lash out at her. Erik quickly shot back though when Liesel turned and pointed in his direction. He couldn't help but smirk, so this was her form of a distraction? Waylay one guard...it was sneaky, and really quite clever of her. His nerves of her doing this lessened slightly. But as he looked back his eyes widened and he quickly ran off to the abandoned cabin when he saw the two approach.

"If you are lying, then you will regret it hugely, little mouse." Came the agitated voice of the man.

"I do not lie! I saw a group of men heading this way...I do not understand what they are doing. And I did not want to be in trouble for keeping this to myself. Please...you must understand..." Liesel's frantic voice exclaimed in the air.

"Where are these men?"

"I saw them enter there." Even from the inside of the cabin, Erik knew she'd be pointing a small finger in its direction. Tensing when he heard the creaking of boards under boots, Erik waited for the man to walk up the stairs and enter the large expanse of room.

"I do not hear them, little mouse." The man turned on the top stair near the door and looked down at her.

Liesel smiled, "I do not lie." Reaching out she splayed a hand to his chest while reaching around and opening the door. She shoved the man away and watched as he convulsed on the floor.

"How are we meant to get information out of a dead man, Liesel?" Erik commented dryly while extending a hand and manipulating the metal in the door to close and lock.

"He is not dead." Liesel reached down and pressed a finger to the man's chest. With a start he shot up only to get weighed down by...nothing. For a simple soldiers uniform, there was a surprising amount of metal to use to Erik's advantage.

"How do we get out of here without attracting attention?" Erik asked in a blank tone while he stared unblinkingly down at the man. He was doing a rather good impression of a fish. Opening and shutting his mouth to try and formulate words.

"Also, where is Gretchen Jäger?"

"W-who?"

"My sister." Liesel's eyes narrowed. With a frown she looked down at her forearm before blankly looking back at the man. Even though her sleeves were down, she had that number memorised. "Prisoner 201355." Seeing as how they were twins, there was only a digit out. Liesel being numbered with 201356. Holding up a finger she waved it about before pressing it down on his arm. The man twitched and grunted in pain. "I don't wish to hurt you, truthfully...but I cannot talk for Erik." She stood with a sigh and brushed herself down. "You will not answer me, I think you may answer him." With a shrug she looked to her companion, Erik frowned and pressed his hand down in the air, the metal on the man's uniform was now fully pressing and cutting into his skin.

"Do not think that you are the only ones able to torture. When one has been on the receiving end of it, one does not tend to dwell too much on it. I wouldn't like to say it is second nature...but maybe it is close to it." Erik said while watching briefly out of the corner of his eyes as Liesel turned away and walked towards the window. She didn't have the nerve for such things, which was why Erik made sure she stayed acting as a look out, and not glance over her shoulder. He could deal with doing such actions, but if Liesel was to do it, it would destroy her...electrocuting the man to get him into the cabin was enough of an input. She didn't need to do anything else.

----

Inventory:

Viel Glück und auf wiedersehen – good luck and good bye

Kleine – little

Edited: 7/June/2019.

Reedited: 13/August/2021