Chapter Text
She was running through the forest trying to avoid following the combat, her heart was pounding thanks to the adrenaline that ran through her blood, she was alone and could not with so many behind, she waited for them to approach and shoot. After hearing their footsteps and the sound of the guns she let herself fall, held her breath and prayed not to be finished off. The most eternal seconds of her life passed until she noticed the footsteps moving away, she waited with her face buried in the grass with her eyes closed so tight it hurt.
She crawled slowly to her feet, his uniform and face full of dirt and the occasional annoying ant in his hands, he threw his helmet away and resumed his march to safety.
His plane a Bf 109G-4 had crash landed on enemy ground being the worst crash landing he had ever made in his life, he was near a field and not far from British soldiers, the best idea was to play dead after they had found it.
She didn't know how far she walked, the sound of birds filled the small forest that surrounded her, sore in her ribs and legs, the sea of green was already opening up to a rural property, it looked a bit run down, someone already lived there she thought, she took a breath of air and headed for the place, God I wish they weren't enemy soldiers, however, before she reached the entrance the pain became unbearable and she fell unconscious.
Everything became dark
After several hours she woke up with a start, she was in a small bed, next to her a candlestick with a jug of water, scared she got up carefully, she noticed that her wounds were healed. Nerves became present, had she been captured, her heart fluttered.
The place was only lit by oil lamps and the brightness was not the best, electricity was nowhere near the place apparently, she thought.
- Oh, you're up.
Said a voice behind her as she closed the door.
She hadn't noticed that the door had opened, she got defensive quickly.
- Don't worry I won't do anything to you, I found you badly hurt outside the house.
- Umm h-how come you speak German
- Long story long, you better rest for now, did you need anything?
- Ah, I was speechless, nervous.
I was speechless, nervous, a little surprised.
- I saw you fall in the distance in the morning, must be your insurance, how come you survived with those shots behind you?
A bead of sweat trickled down his temple and his mouth went dry.
- Lucky maybe, what's your name?
- Amelia Watson and you?
She thought about it for a second, she didn't know what she was doing, was this girl giving her confidence and then what? But something about her made her feel calm, he was looking her straight in the eyes, at least he was taking a lot of her attention, was he trying to know her movements, she sighed letting the air out.
- Kiara
- Just Kiara? - commented Amelia -
- Yes, just Kiara," she laughed.
- Well, Kiara, I'll let you rest, tomorrow we can talk.
The girl retired leaving him in the room, she was still confused, was it a stroke of luck, destiny as some people said?
She settled on the bed looking at the light of the lamp, she was still very nervous, scared, her insides felt tight, if only she could get out and run away from there, but, on the other hand, she was not quite captive to think of being handed over to the British, she shook her head and buried her face in the pillow until she fell asleep because of tiredness.
Hours later the sunlight woke her up, a small ray entered through the crack of the window reaching her face, luckily it was already dawn, she carefully sat up, still a little sleepy, she looked at her advantages and checked her wounds, they were already healed.
- Good morning - knocked on the door -
- Good morning - answered Kiara -
Amelia came in.
- I see you are better; I came to invite you to breakfast.
- Are you sure? I might be uncomfortable
- Don't worry, I'm alone
- Alone here? It's dangerous
- Don't worry, I've been coming here for a long time, it's my parents' country house.
Dubitatively Kiara got up and went after her, was she really alone in a place like this? It honestly seemed to be in the middle of nowhere in the middle of a godforsaken field.
In the dining room a simple but sufficient breakfast was prepared to start the day, it was quite a cozy space with hand painted pictures here and there. A large window illuminated the space taking advantage of the morning light. The table and chairs were not matching, somehow Amelia had managed to have just enough.
She just sat and stared at the table for a few minutes.
- Are you all, right? - Amelia asked –
- It's been a while since I've seen a proper breakfast
- Have you been in the war for a long time?
- Yes, since the beginning
- I see...it must be hard
Kiara didn't answer, the anxiety was coming back a bit, somehow, she had the feeling she was going to run off and fight or get on the damn plane.
- Sorry, it's weird for me to be in a moment like this, calm.
- Don't worry about it, I hope you like it.
Breakfast passed somewhat awkwardly, I didn't try to look at Amelia for too long, the looks went unnoticed, however, it was the best thing I had tasted so long ago and I was so comfortable.
- I was thinking about doing laundry, I was going to ask you if I did yours.
Amelia commented to break the ice, no doubt she was also uncomfortable with the silence.
- But I don't have any more.
- I think I have something; it might fit you.
- W-well if you have something
- Come on, let's go.
Amelia took her to her parents' room, it was spacious, but it was messy, the bed was not made and there were things thrown everywhere, neatness was not her thing thought Kiara or maybe her arrival changed the whole situation, while Amelia browsed through the closet looking for some bigger clothes, there was only a shirt that could be suitable and also pants.
- Do you think this might fit you?
- If it's no problem, I can use the suspenders so the pants don't fall down heh.
- Well, I'll leave you to get dressed
Amelia left the room giving Kiara room to change.
It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it was enough to feel a little more comfortable and without the aviation uniform full of dirt and sweat.
- You look good," Amelia laughed, "I'll go wash your clothes.
- Umm you don't have to do it, tell me where and I'll go.
- Well, okay, come with me and I'll show you.
They both went out to another room where there was also a washing machine where Amelia kept the clean clothes, something as banal as a washing space brought Kiara a lot of memories.
- I haven't seen something like this for a long time.
- Well, there's no light here so we have to make do heh.
- That's right - throwing her clothes into the washing machine - and what are you doing here, all alone.
- I'm on "vacation", the place where I work was closed and I decided to take some time off.
- I see, it's because of all this, I guess.
- Yes, other companies have priority for now.
Kiara had a moment of silence and couldn't stop the words from coming out of her mouth.
- I'm really grateful that you gave me a hand, I would never have imagined it.
- You were very hurt, by all this, I should change the healing.
- It is not necessary, I did it this morning.
- Oh yeah? And how?
- Umm emergency I always had bandages among my things.
- That's very good, I mean you are cautious but how could you heal your back.
Kiara got nervous, it was true, unless she was a contortionist, the feeling of the earth swallowing her up was present, no one had been told what was going on with her, the doctors were aware of it and never said anything, on the battlefield she was a case apart as she always healed herself without anyone's help.
Kiara sighed
- I don't know how to explain this... My wounds have already healed.
- But how, that's impossible
- You see, I am something different, I can heal my wounds quickly, even if they are deadly.
- Amelia let out a nervous laugh - I'm sorry, but I don't understand.
- I know it's hard to understand, really....
Suddenly she was interrupted by Amelia
- Let's go to the dining room and make ourselves comfortable, it seems to be a long conversation.
Both went to the living room of the small dining room where they took their positions, with a pit in her stomach Kiara was thinking what to say.
- Now tell me, please.
- Kiara sighed - before the war started a government group searched for people who were linked to some "supernatural" event, they have a belief that there are special people and that they can use them for their own benefit. I don't know how they find out about these things; I don't know if they follow up or have someone who finds these people, but one day they came to the house where I lived with my parents and just took me, they couldn't object, it was an order after all. I spent many days in a laboratory where they tested me and found in me a special candidate. At first, I did not know what to do, I was afraid to disobey and they would do something to me or my family.
Kiara paused, the memories were coming back like vomit and she couldn't sort out so much information, she just needed to let it all out.
- I joined the aviation and I was in training for months until the war broke out, there was something in me, I don't know, a fire that made me go into action and clouded me, I only thought about attacking, no matter the accidents, I was able to recover very fast so I continued without stopping, I shot, I launched bombs and rockets, I was in everything possible, when we arrived here, to attack something happened, I thought I didn't want this anymore, I directed my plane with intentions of landing nearby to simulate that they have me captured, that's why you saw me fall.
- Ah - said Amelia - wow...I'm speechless.
- I know...it's weird I understand that you don't believe me.
- It's not that I don't believe you...but there is so much information...I can see your back, just to corroborate.
Kiara lifted up her shirt quite embarrassed just enough for Amelia to see, the bullet wounds were just small round scars, Amelia couldn't help but notice that the whole area was covered with cuts and other shots, even her ribs, what Kiara said was true, all that punishment wouldn't have been endured by someone ordinary.
- It must have been painful.
- Yes, for a moment - she lowered her clothes - sometimes the pain is so intense that I faint, but then it eases.
- How could I not believe you if you're on your feet today, it's impressive.
- Really...doesn't it scare you?
- Why should it scare me, you're just like me, you're not a monster.
Kiara took a pause and began to sob, inside the place where they took her, it was normal to be treated as monsters or lowly objects, she wished in those moments when they had been mistreated that someone would tell them something like that, you are not monsters you are like any other person, you look like us, you feel like us.
Amelia carefully approached him and hugged him to contain him, all that information was amazing, she understood the suffering he had gone through how not to put herself in his place.
- Are you better?
- Yes, sorry, I didn't mean to....
- No problem, you must do it, all that tension and that bad, obviously it will make you want to cry... I'll get you some water.
Amelia went out for a moment leaving Kiara alone, she was trying to compose herself, they were painful memories that had not left her mind.
- Here I am - she hands her a glass of water -
- Thank you.
- Would you like to help me get some things from the greenhouse? To go with lunch.
- Sure, let's go.
Several months passed without Kiara being able to go outside the camp, sometimes she wanted to go for a walk and go around the place to know it, but she knew she would be stopped by Amelia, it was all so that she would be safe and that they would not suspect, anyway, the only one who was close was Amelia and few people approached the place, at least that left her calm.
A heavy rain began to fall, Amelia lit the fireplace as the cold was making itself felt day after day. Slowly she placed pieces of wood so that they would start to burn and keep the fire alive.
- Do you need more wood? - asked Kiara.
- No, don't worry, there is still enough for these days.
Kiara sat near the fire to warm up a little and be more comfortable, her clothes had become slightly damp from the rain and it was uncomfortable.
- Now that these days have passed, I didn't find the time to ask again why you speak German.
Amelia cleared her throat
- I was self-taught, I'm very interested in languages and that's the one I became familiar with.
- Interesting, you sound very good.
- I really appreciate it, it's the first time I've used it so much.
- You are quite good.
- I have some cookies in the oven, I won't be long.
Amelia got up leaving a notebook on the coffee table, Kiara noticed that a card had fallen from it, she thought for a few seconds whether to take it or not, but by inertia she took it. She was not a person who liked to look at what did not belong to her, but having it so close it was inevitable, could it be something bad?
Her reading English wasn't as bad as when she was trying to speak. She opened her eyes in surprise, the card was from the British Ministry of Defense, maybe just coincidence she thought.
She felt Amelia's footsteps return and slipped the card into her pocket to quickly hide it from her sight.
- Almost there, just a moment to go.... Are you all, right?
- Yeah, yeah everything's fine, you just found me unfocused.
- Oh, I see, it happens these days like that.
The rest of the day passed quietly. However, Kiara could not get out of her head that doubt, why Amelia had contact with him ministry, the mystery revolved in her head relentlessly so she waited for nightfall and went to where a small library was located, with the light of a candle she scanned the place, browsing through a book appeared a photo, Amelia wore a uniform and was accompanied by her parents in a kind of ceremony. This only left her with many more doubts and with the latent feeling that her hostess was not being sincere.
Carefully and with great delicacy she left everything as it was and approached Amelia's room, through a small slit the faint light of a lamp was filtering through, would she be awake?
With her heart pounding, she thought of knocking on the door, but suddenly it opened.
- ah! Kiara what a scare
- I'm sorry, I just went to the bathroom
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a large number of documents and books on her desk.
- Well, I'll go back to bed, good night.
Kiara retired head down and annoyed, there was no doubt, something was hiding Amelia, she hesitated to ask her directly but she could not take risks, tomorrow she would do it, if it really had to do with the British army.
Time passed slowly for Kiara, until dawn came, she had not been able to sleep so she went out of the house to take the fresh morning air and to wash her face with cold water.
- She's already up - said Amelia -
- Yes, I didn't sleep well last night
- No, are you in pain?
- No, it's not pain or anything like that, I was just thinking.
- Umm and may I know what you were thinking about?
- Are you really being honest with me?
- Oh? I don't get it.
- Do you have something to do with the army?
Amelia was silent, a lump in her throat formed and the words got stuck.
- Does that mean yes? Are you planning to turn me in or what?
- Calm down, of course not, well it's true, I work for the army, but I won't give you away I swear.... - he sighed - I'm on leave this season.
- Tell me, are you a spy or something?
- Yes, I work in intelligence.
- That's why you know German... Have you already informed them about me?
- I tell you no! - he exclaimed - I've disappeared for the same reason, I don't want to stay there, I don't want to get involved in this anymore.
- What is this place then?
- I live here, it was an abandoned house, I left my home in London to come here and be isolated, besides there is no one coming around here, it's safe.
- I don't know if I believe you.
- You've been here for several days now; do you think you'd be here right now if I'd given you away?
- I don't know, maybe you're just waiting.
- Amelia raised an eyebrow - you sure are stubborn.
- What are all those papers in your room?
- They are reports I brought from home, they have important information and I wouldn't have left them handy.
Kiara just remained silent, she couldn't have been so naïve and that made her bite her tongue in anger, but anyway Amelia was right, they would have taken her away by now.
- Something must have happened to you to make you want to leave him.
- Yes, something terrible that was my fault - she paused - when I was in Berlin investigating a family there was an altercation where I killed one of them and left the others wounded so they wouldn't tell on me...I have never been able to recover from that, being told a thousand times that they were enemies didn't diminish what I felt, in that sense you will probably understand me.
Both of them had their hands stained with innocent blood, the guilt of having taken the lives of people who had nothing to do with it, was constantly going around in their heads, hammering without stopping, even if Kiara wanted to, she could not ignore the fact that she could really understand him, but she could not get rid of the feeling of insecurity when being next to him either.
- I guess it's true...but that doesn't take away from the fact that I feel cheated.
- I know, I'm so sorry...I didn't know how to approach it.
Kiara just retreated back, honestly, she was so angry about it, did she want to see his stupid face, or was she really avoiding giving her away, the feeling of disgust was evident, she felt betrayed and hurt that she had given up her trust so easily, she felt like a fool.
- Kiara listen to me, I really didn't mean to not tell you.
- It's hard, technically we are enemies, you didn't know how I would react.
Amelia just remained silent for a moment looking at him looking for an apology.
- Yes, it's true
- We'll get through this together, I owe you.
- I-I really? - she hesitated -
- You brought me to this place knowing the danger, it's something to be thankful for.
A smile appeared on Amelia's face, that made her very happy and she felt relieved, she didn't want anything bad to happen between them, she had gotten used to Kiara's presence during all this time. On impulse she hugged him, she felt very safe with her, on the other hand, Kiara was surprised, but she didn't back down and reciprocated the hug with warmth, a feeling was blooming in her, she needed to protect Amelia, that was her feeling, they were both alone at that moment, in that world convulsing by the war.
After that accident they didn't talk about it anymore and went on with their daily lives, the happiness of simplicity was something they both longed for, even monotony in moments like that was so desirable, they didn't know what they would manage to do or what would happen after all the storm that was settling over Europe, would they see each other again? Would they be separated?
One of many nights Kiara stood outside, looking up at the sky from the doorway, sitting on the small staircase leading to the entrance, on one hand she felt lucky, on the other she wanted it all to be over and to be at peace. After a few minutes looking at nothing she directed her sight towards the distance between the trees, she perceived a small light, apparently a flashlight, something was not right, she went back inside to look for her binoculars, in the distance she noticed that it was a group of British and American soldiers. she quickly went inside.
- Amelia there is trouble, soldiers!
- Here but how?