An Eternity of Change

Chapter 27

August 2, 1945

Jaylyn snuck into the section of the camp where she knew Adam was located; she didn't think Mengele or the other guards would like it if they knew she was plotting to escape. It would be the first time Adam actually saw her after her escape, she'd been worried about his reaction and kept busy by her 'duties', but she couldn't hide forever. The guards didn't even see her as she skirted through the shadows and slip inside the dimly lit building. Nick had told her Adam's cell was still in the same location so she composed her features to look as heartless as possible before stepping forward and staring down the hall, though it didn't matter much as most of the prisoners were too sick, injured, or getting a fitful rest of sleep to even notice her. She finally found him in the corner of his cell, dried blood plastering his hair to his face, when she stopped in front of the bars he looked up.

"Another experiment? Mengele can't even wait an hour to let me rest can he?" Adam's tone was full of venom.

She frowned. "I've traveled with you for how many years... wow, one hundred fifteen? I'd think you'd recognize my voice on the spot."

"Jaylyn." His gaze darkened and he glared at her in anger. "I was right, you did abandon me... and for those monsters!"

"Do you think I like wearing this? If I get caught I'll be in a worse situation than you." She hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was watching before picking the lock and looking at him. "Well, come on, let's go, I can get Abe on the way out."

"I can't." Adam shook his head. "My spine was broken, I can't feel my legs... After I tried to escape and fought against the Nazis... my punishment was severe."

Jaylyn stepped closer and grimaced from the sight of his wounds up close. "I can try dragging you... I could come back for the boy."

"No, get him out first." Adam insisted. "Leave him somewhere safe and then come back."

"I'll try." She agreed, brushing some hair aside to get a closer look at the wound. "I swear I'll get the two of you out alive, before they can do anything else to you."

Adam closed his eyes tiredly. "Hurry... Don't let Ripper see you."

Jaylyn stood up and left, locking the door and sneaking back out just as silently as she had came. She glanced back one last time before crossing the camp to another building where a portion of the prisoners were kept, this one in particular contained Nick's wife and small son. The guard outside snapped out of his half-asleep daze and went to attention as she walked up, they nodded to her as she motioned him away, grateful for being relieved of his duty. He wouldn't be in the morning after three people went missing.

The people inside hushed down their whispering as she entered and coward in fear as she walked by with her gun in hand. She stopped when she found Nick's wife clutching a small boy to her chest, fear evident in her gaunt gaze. Jaylyn nodded towards the door and prodded the woman in the side; she couldn't risk the others figuring out what she was doing. Luckily the woman obeyed without her needing to risk speaking and slowly limped towards the entrance. Once they were outside Jaylyn locked the door behind her and put the gun in a less threatening hold.

"Follow me and stay quiet." She commanded before turning towards the entrance where Nick would be waiting for them.

The boy looked up at her in confusion. "Are we going to disappear like the others?"

"In a way." Jaylyn replied quietly. "You're going home."

"Has something happened to Nick?" The wife asked, her pale complexion growing whiter.

"He's waiting for you but you need to stay quiet if you don't want to be caught." Jaylyn responded, pausing between two buildings as a few guards walked past.

She led them out into the open, though she did manage to stay in the shadows still as they walked to the front gates. She gave them a signal to wait there before walking out into plain sight; a second later Nick joined her.

"They're both safe." She told them, motioning for his family to come out. "Get as far away from here while you still can."

"Thank you." Nick replied, hugging his son and wife tightly. "I owe you, we all do."

"You won't if you get caught, get moving now before guards start to notice."

"Come with us." His wife suggested.

She shook her head. "I have to get my own family."

"Viel glück, good luck." Nick responded, embracing her briefly before pulling away and taking his family out of the camp.

Jaylyn waited until they were swallowed by the shadows before turning back around. She started to make her way towards Abraham and Marie's location when a rough hand grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. Once the spots stopped dancing across her vision from the impact of her head hitting the wall, she found Ripper staring down at her.

"Going somewhere?" He asked with a murderous smirk. "I saw what you did, you know I'm sure to get a promotion if I bring you back for Dr. Mengele. He has missed your screams... I miss them too to be honest."

Jaylyn struggled against his grip and received another hard blow to the head. She clenched her teeth to avoid making any noise before lashing out and jabbing his throat sharply. Ripper made a choked sound and loosened his grip enough for her to escape, though she could hear him coming after her. She turned a corner and found herself trapped in a corner, panicking slightly she took out her knife. Adam had trained her to fight close range; she couldn't let the training go to waste. Unfortunately the attack didn't come from the direction she'd run in at and the thrown knife sank deeply into her leg. Ripper jumped down from the roof a moment later as she pulled out the weapon with a whimper of pain.

"Should I kill you or take you to Mengele?" Ripper grinned and kicked her to the ground before smacking the knives away from her. "Perhaps I should kill those traitors first and come back for you."

"No!" She kicked his leg out from under him before scrambling to her feet and limping away at a slowed run.

Another knife went into flesh, this time in her shoulder. She reached back and pulled it out before throwing it aside and pulling out her gun. Ripper smirked and tossed his next knife up and down as if to intimidate her. She ignored it and pulled the trigger, he fell to the ground with a howl of pain and she ran off. After that, soldiers would be showing up to see what was happening, she'd have to come back for Adam and Abraham when it was safer.