A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Sixty-Six

As soon as the explosion was set off, there was no stopping the repercussions that would soon follow. Mina flung open the grass-covered hatch on the ground, helping people escape into the tunnel. She paused when she noticed one of the guards raise a gun in her direction. Her eyes widened as he pulled the trigger, but within seconds Werner shoved the gun out of the guards hands and held him in a chokehold.

Werner tightened his grip until the fellow guard went limp in his arm. Releasing the man, he stalked over to her. "What the hell, Mina?"

She could see the anger in his eyes; feel the judgment in his voice. Swallowing, she tilted her head up and squared her shoulders. "You and I both know that this is the right thing to do."

"Right or wrong does not matter! You are going to get killed!" He growled at her, ignoring the escaping prisoners.

"I do not care. Everything that we stood for... everything I thought our country stood for is a lie! I will not stand by and turn the other cheek. My parents would have..."

"Your parents would have been proud, kiddo." He let out a heavy breath, glancing around at all the mayhem. "What do you need me to do?"

Flashing a quick smile, Mina gave him a hug. "Thank you!"

Pulling her away, Werner looked uncomfortably around to see who noticed the show of affection. "Hey now... do not get sentimental on me."

"My bad." Mina looked around. The barrack the meeting had been held in was a pile of rubble and destruction. There was no sign of Armina anywhere. "I have to find a friend. Make sure everyone is able to get down here. Protect them."

With a gruff nod, Werner took his place, helping an old woman down in the tunnel. "Ma'am."

"You cannot go calling me Ma'am after you and your kind have beaten down everyone in this camp." She blustered to him before rubbing his hand gently. "But thank you for the kind gesture."

Smiling, Mina sobered up and ran off into the flurry of fighting and fleeing. She stopped a woman pushing through the throng of people. "Have you seen Armina?"

Shaking her head, the woman continued making her way to the escape.

Sighing, Mina kept heading toward the blast sight. "Armina! Armina!" She felt a hand grab her arm and pull her to a stop.

Dinah's narrowed eyes halted her from striking at the grip on her arm. "A guard pulled her to the south end of the camp. My first priority is protecting these people. I cannot..."

Rubbing the woman's hand, Mina allowed her to release it from her arm. "Thank you, Dinah. You lead these people out of here. I will find Armina. Do not wait for us."

Nodding and backing away, Dinah showed her knowledge of the plan. There was gratitude in her gaze as she disappeared in the crowd.

There was no time to search her out; she had to find Armina. They were running out of time to keep things quiet. Forcing her breathing to remain steady as she ran through the deserted area of the camp, Mina watched for anything that seemed off. There was nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. Nothing that said where her friend was. She started looking in windows of some of the sleeping quarters, clearing them as she made her way through the camp. Nothing.

Letting a heavy breath out, Mina paused to look around. Other than the dead bodies from fighting, she didn't see her friend. Shoulders slumping, her gaze paused on a guard shack a few more steps away. Throwing her gun over her shoulder, she bolted to the small building.

"Armina?" Snooping around, she poked her head into the building. Nothing stood out, but there was more to the building then just the opening. A board creaked under her feet as she stepped inside. Her pulse was racing as her gaze darted around. Something felt off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

Her senses weren't quite off as a board moaning pulled her gaze to the end of the barrel of a pistol. Her body instinctively straightened, tensing as the business end of the weapon aimed at her head. A guard pulled the hammer back as his steely eyes steadied on her.

"Not yet." Edith Weber shoved Armina into the room, eyeing up the guard casually. She flashed Mina a toothy grin of complete pleasure. "I figured it would be you behind this. Tell me... how long have you been planning this, Sauer?"

Remaining silent, Mina allowed herself to relax a bit. It did her muscles more harm in remaining tense then to just be guarded. She refused to acknowledge her friend watching the situation unfold, blood dripping down her lip. Every ounce of her wanted to ask if she was all right, but the voice of reason told her to keep her mouth shut and see what Edith wanted.

"You do not look surprised to be standing in front of me right now." Edith allowed the pistol to rest by her side. She walked closer to Mina, eyeing her as if to size her up for something. When she didn't respond, Edith nodded her head calmly. "I took the liberty of phoning in a warning when I saw you helping prisoners instead of executing them. There should be someone arriving at your house of residence to take in anyone you have been associating with. I am sure you did not pull this thing off alone."

Rolling her eyes, Mina allowed her expression to grow bored. "You really think that will impress me?" Taking a step closer, she stood almost nose-to-nose with her nemesis. "I did not think you were trying to get back on my good graces, Weber."

Edith's eye twitched at the remark. She holstered her weapon and backhanded Mina harshly.

Staring at the ground, Mina straightened back up. She silently sucked in deep breaths, not allowing the action to strip away her forced calm demeanor. She needed to stay in control if she were to even begin to attempt to get out of this situation. "What I meant to say is, finding out that I was behind this whole thing before it happened would have been impressive. You are no more than average, Weber. Try to remember your place as your ego grows."

It took only seconds for the anger to spurt its way through Edith's menacing blue eyes. Mina was sure the memories of what she'd done to the woman many months ago were flashing through her mind. The woman pulled her gun out of the holster.

"I thought killing me was the last thing you wanted to do?" The calmness had dissipated as the words spewed through Mina's clenched teeth.

"I am not finished with you yet." Edith's bitter words gushed out as her weapon found its way to crashing against Mina's head.