Sleeping had never come so easily. Waking had honestly never been so hard. Both were enjoyed, to a point. The sleep was a welcomed thing, in comparison to either having no sleep, or hardly any. Waking would bring nothing new, but after recollecting the past twenty-four hours; waking could bring about something new. Something new, intriguing, terrifying and worrying. 

Erik woke up first and was greeted by a darkened ceiling. There were patches of chipped paint which looked like it had once been white. After the passing years it had now turned to an off white ivory colour. Managing to shift on the bed, Erik could look around the room. It didn't seem like much. Spacious enough for two beds, some equipment of some sort, chest of drawers; the usual furniture and whatnot. There seemed to be two sets of large windows on one side of the room. These were covered by rather battered looking blinds, which were closed. Even still...small slithers of light still managed to leak through. These small splinters of light helped illuminate the otherwise dark room. It must still be early morning, or the room just never had much natural lighting. Regardless, Erik managed to push himself up onto his elbows. On the other side of the room there was one door, and that was it. The walls, much like the ceiling, were chipped and flaky. There wasn't much to them, no distinguishing features. No pictures hanging, though there were shadowed marks of something once hanging in certain places.

Hearing quiet breaths, he looked slowly to the side. Liesel laid motionless, asleep and for the first time since truly meeting her; content. She never looked content when asleep. She always looked troubled, uncomfortable, on edge as if something was going to get her while she laid in a fitful rest. Rightfully so, something could've got her. And really, what's to say nothing had got at her before he arrived? Really when it came to pasts, he knew nothing of hers. Not that she knew anything of his. With a frown, he sat up and awkwardly flung his legs over the bed he was resting on. Perhaps considering they were out of that place, they could try and forge some sort of normal friendship? That was presuming she wished to stay in contact with him. He after all had somehow unconsciously been the one thing to part her from her sister. He tilted his head to the side as he rested his elbows against his knees and hung his head in his hands.

He sighed heavily, what was to happen now? Well for one, they needed to know where they were. He needed to know. It was evidently clear that Liesel was not up to doing anything other than sleep. As yet she had not stirred. She was usually quite a light sleeper. It was one thing he had noticed about her. The slightest sounds would often wake her. But then the creaking of a shoddy cabin were noises which were often plaguing his sleep too.

Shifting off of the bed, Erik stood on slightly unstable legs for a second or two before managing to walk forwards. He had it in mind to go to the door, to explore what was on the other side. But sounds from outside distracted him. Turning on his heels he walked towards the nearest window. Reaching up, he parted the blinds with his fingers and squinted against the weak sunlight outside. Frowning, his eyes widened at the sights of marching men, makeshift tents being accommodated, men rushing too and fro, vehicles of all sorts, and the sounds of voices.

So many voices, how he managed to tune all this noise out before was lost on him. Retreating from the window he walked back towards the door. Though yet another noise distracted him. Looking to the other bed he walked quickly over to where Liesel lay coughing. It was a horrible rattling noise, and it seemed to cause her some pain. She shifted onto her side and doubled over. Sitting on the edge of the bed he reached over and rubbed her back, hoping that this action would help in some way. Eventually she eased up and laid motionless. He thought she had drifted back to sleep before her eyes opened and she looked with bleary eyes and took in her surroundings.

Inhaling deeply she looked slowly up at him. "Erik?"

"Who else were you expecting?" He replied quietly but then shook his head. There was probably a list of people she would rather awake to. "Without sounding too stupid, how do you feel?"

"You sounded stupid," she smirked and suffered a glare from him, though it was a rather weak one. "As fine as I could be. You?"

"I'll survive." He said firmly while sitting up straight and looking back towards the door.

"Do you know where we are?" Liesel presumed that he knew. He seemed more alert and with it, in comparison to herself. But then again, she had just woken up.

"No, as yet I don't. Do you feel up for some exploring?" Erik looked down at her curiously. Truthfully he didn't feel comfortable leaving her here on her own. If he was gone and someone appeared...who knew if these people were truly helpful? Sure they took them in, and gave them a place to rest. But that didn't necessarily mean they were good people. And also, if they both went and crossed paths with someone there was surely more chance of them being listened to?

As if 'exploring' was the magic word, Liesel's eyes lit up and she nodded. Sitting up slowly she placed a hand to her head which suddenly swam from the movement. Opening her eyes she looked to her hands. Turning them over she raised an eyebrow and looked to Erik. He looked sceptically at the bandages which covered her hands. Surely whatever injury was creeping into them had been taken care of.

"Remember though, we have to be careful." Erik stated as he stood up and held a hand out to help her if she so needed it. Liesel rolled her eyes, as if she needed to be told such a thing. She kicked the covers off of herself and shuffled around before managing to place her legs over the edge of the bed. Swinging her legs for a few moments, she got used to being upright and moving again before slinking off of the bed. Even though he held a hand out to help, she didn't need it, she still decided to hold onto the offered hand anyway. Erik led her slowly over to the door. Reaching out he turned the handle and peeked around the frame. Liesel sort of managed to duck under his arm and look around too, though to do this she had to let go of his hand. With his hand now free Erik placed it against the door frame, the other still held onto the handle.

There was nothing in the corridor which greeted them. Looking both ways they exited the room and stood in the silent corridor for a few moments. There were doors leading up both sides of the corridor, these were spaced apart and the rooms beyond seemed in darkness. Moving over to a door Liesel tentatively opened it and peeked around. The room beyond was spacious, dark, but occupied. Leaning back she shut the door.

Erik had moved forwards in the corridor and found a set of stairs, noticing her sudden tense disposition, he frowned. "What is it?"

"We're in a hospital." Liesel said in a whispered voice while looking in his direction. "A hospital...here?"

"Wherever here is..." Erik mulled over and pointed a finger to a photograph hanging on the wall. There was plaque underneath set in the frame. "I think this place used to be a school." Seeing as how the plaque stated that it was a sports team of some sort, Erik figured it could only be a school. Nowhere else would have such a thing hanging about.

"A school that's been made into a hospital?" Liesel sounded very sceptical as she came to stand beside Erik and crane her neck up to look at the photograph. Erik stepped around her and helped her, carefully picking her up around her waist he bought her up to see the sepia picture and the faces looking outwards, all smiling proudly, a championship cup in the middle of the group.

"Perhaps the actual hospitals are all full?" Erik mused, Liesel looked dubious before thinking over it. He had a point. Surely the causalities of this war far exceeded what anyone ever imagined? If that was the case, then yes; all the hospitals would be full of injured soldiers, and perhaps civilians? She didn't know, but shaking her head slowly, she got placed down before turning and looking at Erik.

"Maybe there's others here?"

Erik looked thoughtful while moving towards the stairs. Placing a hand on the banister he trailed his hand down the smooth wood while descending the stairs. He didn't answer her question. When it came to the others which were with them, he didn't know. A part of him was holding out, but a part of him knew. He knew they were never likely to see them again. Gretchen Jäger included.

Stating something of that manner to Liesel...he didn't want to tell her. Though false hope was perhaps the cruellest thing to ever feel, let alone letting someone dwell with, he just didn't have the heart to flatly tell her that her sister was likely to be dead. Hearing the quiet patter of feet behind him it was safe to say that Liesel was following after him. Turning a corner the two were confronted with another set of stairs. Even from the small landing between the two staircases, they could spy fresh daylight seeping into the downstairs. Along with yet another corridor, and voices, and a set of double doors which led to the outside world.

Exchanging a look they started down the stairs with a small amount of trepidation. They honestly didn't know what to expect once they were down there on the ground floor. What they certainly didn't expect was busying figures, women; nurses in starch white aprons over blue long dresses. Men were dotted about in uniform. To the side was a desk of sorts which had filing cabinets behind it.

Holding gently onto Liesel's arm, just above where the bandages started near her elbow, Erik walked forwards towards the desk. Surely there was someone behind something so important looking? It was stacked with files, books, the cabinets behind it just made it seem all the more important. Reaching the mahogany piece of furniture, Erik let go of Liesel and reached up to knock against the top. The figures bustling about down here paid no mind to them. Which made them relax, somewhat. There was still a small amount of tension flooding through them, and honestly neither knew when that'd disappear.

"Hello?" Liesel offered out while leaning up and against the desk. She peered about and then looked to Erik. "I don't think there's anyone here."

He turned and walked over to a nurse who seemed to not be doing anything of dire need. She seemed surprised by him, and even more so when she looked behind him and got waved at by Liesel. "Hello, I was wondering if you could help us. We've just woke up here, only...we don't exactly know where here is, or what this place is, or what is going on really." Erik said while looking solely up at the woman before him, she seemed to take a few seconds to process what he said before she nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. Turning him around, they walked back towards Liesel. She perked up at the sight of the two of them, she looked pleased with Erik's success in getting someone to talk to, yet the look soon turned to confusion when the nurse ushered them back up the stairs and to their room. It was a look which was shared by Erik, even more so when the door shut and they were on their own again.

Looking from the door, then to each other they decided to watch the scenes from their window. Even as they stood a truck came trundling through the gate and up the long driveway. A pair leaped out of the front while moving around to the back. Moving the canvas flaps out of the way, they took to helping injured figures down. Looking away, they looked at each other. Something told them that though the nurse was likely to tell someone of their awakening. It would be a long time before someone came to see them due to the new truck load of walking wounded who had just appeared.

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Edited: 7/June/2019

Reedited: 13/August/2021