They had arrived in Berlin before the land was completely engulfed in darkness . The storm still raged angrily , swirling around the sleek , snow-covered car , but at least , as they approached the city , street lights had been erected to guide the soldiers with their large trucks and their thousands of captives .
Not that he cared for those captives .
Crawford glanced at the boy who during the long ride had fallen asleep out of sheer exhaustion – which suited Crawford fine , for when asleep , the boy could no longer interfere with his driving nor could he try to throw himself out of the car , which he had indeed tried earlier that day ... twice ; until Crawford slapped him again and jarred him out of his irrationality .
The SS headquarters' compound loomed from seemingly out of nowhere ; magically appearing from the curtain of snow and ice , armed sentries waved him inside with reverential nods .
He had his own quarters at the largest building , furnished with all his requirements , but he had not counted on bringing someone along with him ...
Perhaps he should move to his house near the mountains and have a vacation with his new plaything ... he wouldn't be missed until the Fuhrer asks for him , which would not be too soon . The Fuhrer was probably far too preoccupied with the Americans joining that war to take notice of a missing SS platoon and certain Brad Crawford .
He smiled .
Yes , he deserved a little vacation in his secluded cabin ; perhaps for a week or two . That was ample time for him to enjoy his new plaything .
He pulled his car to a stop in front of the imposing stone building , which towered over them from seemingly out of nowhere . The swirling snow and sleet acted as curtain to conceal this ominous structure .
Soldiers scurried from inside and braved the biting cold to greet their ranking leader with a salute ; at the head of the group was a white-haired Irishman with one eye .
" Guten abend , Herr Crawford ." He said , saluting smartly , despite the snow nipping at angrily his nose .
Crawford looked at him approvingly . At his late twenties , Farfarello was his most trusted assistant . A truant from the IRA , he had gone to Germany in search of bigger challenges at the start of the war .
Crawford glanced at Ken , huddled inside the car and Farfarello obeyed the unspoken command by picking up the boy easily in his arms and heading back inside the building .
Crawford barely threw his abandoned car a glance as he strode after the man , knowing that the young cadets would soon be crawling all over the place to clean it up .
Farfarello threw him a questioning glance as he strode through the crowded hallways of the SS Berlin headquarters . All SS soldiers , both young and old gave way to the highest-ranking officer who was preceded by his captain .
Dubious looks were thrown everywhere , presumably meant as quiet messages but Crawford caught them and disregarded it .
" An empty cell ." He said quietly , before detaching himself from the queue of saluting soldiers and departed for his room .
The boy would be sent for later , until then , appearances should be kept and none should know about his intentions until he could safely spirit him away to one of his private cabins .
Farfarello complied , studying the sleeping boy in his arms . What could have possessed his normally ethical commanding officer to abduct a young boy and bring him to HQ ?
He was good-looking enough , with promise of improvement , his face , though creased with pain , it was one of a strong-willed person . Farfarello recognized strength when he saw it .
He brought the boy to one of the many unoccupied cells in the basement of the building . Ever since the war began , prisoners had been rarely kept there . The SS thought it better to send all offenders to labor camps , or worse – to death camps .
He gave a feral grin as he closed the heavy metal door ; if Crawford had really intended to keep him then ... it would mean that Farfarello would be employed to –
He gave a loud manic laugh as he strode back into the main building , towards Herr Crawford's chambers .
† † †
The cold seeped in through his pores , crawling under his skin like a raging disease . His body convulsed on the hard wooden bunk as he opened his heavy eyes , his teeth chattering uncontrollably .
The first sensation that assaulted him aside from the cold was a mad pain ; combating the chill was a raging , burning throbbing of his injured leg and his face where the skin had broken open from Crawford's assault that morning .
Morning ?
Had it been just less than twenty-four hours ?
His fingers touched the wound and was surprised to feel something like a gauze or cloth taped to his skin . His leg had already been properly bandaged as well .
Had Crawford ... ?
He dismissed the thought . As of right now , his biggest problem was escaping his new prison .
He staggered to his feet and scaled the narrow cell in the dark , trying to ignore the overwhelming stench that threatened to suffocate him , there was no way out . The only window to the outside was just a small round hole in the wall that one could not fit one's head in , and even so, thick metal bars had barred the window . Only the breadth of his hand passed through sideways could forward through the small space and only the thick swirling snow could completely enter the room .
He frowned as another rack of coughs shook him and he gripped his arms to ignore the chill . He could not see a door ...
He stumbled towards the far wall and groped the rough wall for the passage that would mean freedom , but his fingers met only the resistance a cold , smooth wall of concrete .
He was halfway across the room when a bright light blinded him .
Instinctively , he raised his hands to shield his eyes , his heart throbbing in anticipation .
Is it the American ?
Somehow , the thought of the imposing man made him nervous , but there was no way in hell that he was going to give him the satisfaction .
He raised his head , ignoring the blinding radiance and gave a defiant scowl .
The bastard .
/Oooh , such a potty mouth , are you ?/
Ken frowned . Had he really heard that ?
/ No you didn't . But I'm talking to you , kiddo ./
What the ...?
His scowl turned into a look of suspicion as he squinted to get a clear view of the figure in front of him .
The build was smaller , barely spanning the height of the American but certainly taller than he . Bright orange hair gleamed from the illumination from the doorway .
" Who are you ?" He called out , his teeth chattering from the cold .
He really hadn't expected an answer and he narrowed his eyes when he got one .
/ Schuldich / Came the reply . / Let's go kid , Herr Crawford is waiting for you /
" No ! I'm not going to ! You have to kill me first !" He yelled . He backed off towards the edge of the room , determined to give a fight if 'Schuldich' persisted . He was going to kill him if need be ; even with his bare hands .
A laugh echoed throughout the room . It was one of derisive amusement .
Finally , a voice spoke out . " I don't think you can do that , Ken ." His voice was nasal , odd-sounding to Ken's ears .
He stared , jolted at the mention of his name . " How do you know my name ?"
" I just know . " The man answered . " You can't hide anything from me ."
Ken caught the flash of white teeth as the man bared his teeth in a smirk . Finally he was able to glimpse the man's features .
It was smooth and a bit elongated , with fine curves of his nose and chin . His face was so unlike Crawford's angular one and he showed a little bit emotion ; a far cry from the American's stoic mask of ice .
The man who called himself Schuldich – Guilty ? What kind of name is that ? – tossed him the thick clothes he had been wearing just that morning and donned it quickly , eager to ward off the chill .
He eyed the fully open door , briefly debating with himself to make an escape from the building but the redhead soon spoke , with his back turned on the newly-arrived captive . " You won't reach the road alive , Ken . There are armed sentries everywhere . The best chance you have is to wait it out ..." the man hesitated . " With Crawford ."
" Why did he have to take me ? Why didn't he kill me instead like he did with ..."
His voice cracked at the sudden unbidden thought of Omi , sprawled on the snow with blood streaking the pristine white .
Schuldich didn't reply and instead approached him slowly , his arms stretched forward .
Ken pressed himself further against the wall , gritting his teeth . He was going to get out or he was going to die . There was no way that he was going to let them play with his life .
Suddenly , without warning , he bolted towards the right towards the open door , but a hand lashed equally swiftly and latched on to his wrist with a firm , vise-like grip .
He didn't really understand what had happened next . Only that his knees buckled from under him and he was slowly being carried away .
He could hear loud voices talking , raucous laughter and snippets of conversation from among the soldiers they had passed and then the voice of Schuldich ringing in his head , saying : /Don't try anything you might regret , Ken / , before the hazy colors of consciousness blackened out completely .
† † †
REDEMPTION : Sorrrrrry for the long update ! You know how it is when life just ties you with a leash . Y__Y
Shime : Ah , new character introduced . ^__^ This should make the story a liiitttle bit more INTERESTING ! *bwahahahaha*
Mariki : Ken will always be perfect even if that bastard Crawford , hurts him *stick out tongue at Crawfie* WHO IS KUROE ??? O__O (Who's the 'leader' of the Crashers? the guy in white ? The cutie ? The one I saw in Gluhen ep 12 ? Would you know ?) Tell me PLEASE ! ^__^
Kaen-chan : *lol* Stupid Crawfie . *kicks Crawford on the head* that's what you get for messing with Kenken !
Marsupial : *bows* Arigatou ! Glad to see you here ! ^__^
Genki no Kitsune : Hai ! Hai ! *cowers and runs off to update*