A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Seventy-Four

"Please tell me you have an exit strategy. We have been walking for miles in this tunnel, Lotte. Normally I would not mind, but my leg is killing me." Markus gritted his jaw together, forcing his hand to stay by his side and not continuously reaching down to alleviate some of the pain.

"Do you want to take a break?" She paused, glancing back at him.

"Yes, I would very much like to take a break." He leaned against the tunnel wall, watching an unrecognizable look cross the woman's face.

"Then your leg will not be the thing to kill you. Now pick up your pace." She snapped, forging on. "I will not let us get caught."

He couldn't stop the irritated sigh from slipping through his lips. Shaking his head, he new she was right as he forced himself forward. "Please tell me we are not planning on staying permanently in this tunnel."

"Aldrik parked a truck he paid cash for at one of the tunnel exits. We have just a little bit further to go." She reassured him quickly.

"Do you need me to carry Hans for a little while? I am worn out enough all ready, I do not want you to be worn out as well." The words flew out of his mouth easily, but the reality was that he really missed Mina. He'd tried not to think about her. Tried not to worry that she might not be alive anymore. He was tired of trying; he just wanted to hold a part of her. Hans was that part. The boy meant the world to him, same as his mother. He couldn't imagine a world without them anymore.

Lotte paused and looked back at him cautiously. "You should save your strength. We are not out of the woods yet."

He averted his disappointment before refocusing on the tunnel ahead. "You are probably right."

"No..." Lotte sighed, a jab of sympathy in her voice. "I am not. Here, carry him until we get to the ladder."

The still little bundle was quickly growing. Markus couldn't ignore the fact that the little boy was getting heavier daily. Still, it felt right to have him in his arms.

"I wonder how they are fairing." Lotte's words were unanticipated, reminding Markus of that deep-rooted anxiety that he'd been trying to push down.

"Honestly, I have been trying not to think about it." He confessed looking back down at Hans while cautiously calculating his steps.

"That is probably wise." She quietly agreed.

Reaching out, he grabbed her shoulder, pulling her to a stop. "No matter what happens, Lotte, I will protect you. Nobody is going to lay a finger on you."

The appreciation was radiating from her softening expression.

"They will have to kill me before anyone gets through to you, okay?" It was a promise that he wasn't sure he should be making, but if it came down to just them left he would do everything in his power to protect the woman and the child. He'd gone on too long without having a purpose. This was the purpose he was there for. It had to be.

Nodding, she rubbed his arm. "You are a good man, Markus. Never change that." She turned around and pointed to the ladder.

"Is that it?" He stepped in front of her, eyeing up the short distance to the surface.

"Mhmm." She folded her arms across her body, staying put in her spot.

"What are the chances we have company up there?" He subconsciously cradled Hans tighter to his body, protecting the quiet baby.

"Considering we had guests at the house..." She paused and gave him a pointed look. "I would say pretty likely."

Albtraum sat by the ladder, cautiously watching up it as if expecting trouble.

Markus handed Hans back to Lotte.

"What are you doing?" She pulled the baby tightly against herself, her eyes lined with worry.

Grabbing at the ladder, Markus twisted back to face her. "I am going to make sure it's safe before you come up here."

"And if it is not?" She asked the obvious.

Looking up at the manhole cover, he glanced back down at her. "Then you take Hans and Albtraum and get the hell away from here. I will..."

"Markus..." She tried to interrupt, tears filling her eyes.

"...buy you some time." He flashed her an encouraging smile. "Do not look so gloomy, Lotte. We do not even know what is up there."

"No... I did not tell you something earlier." She diverted her gaze from him.

"Lotte?" He stepped away from the ladder, facing her directly.

"I... if..." She let out an exasperated breath. "We are supposed to meet Mina up there. If she is not there, we are supposed to meet up with Aldrik and the others."

"And what? Leave her behind?" He couldn't keep his brows from furrowing together or his voice from growing unsteady.

"I... I am sorry." She wouldn't meet his eyes, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Who's idea was this? Who told you to leave her behind?" He fought to control his temper, but nothing inside of him felt controlled.

"She... she did." Finally Lotte pulled her gaze up to meet his.

"She? Mina? Mina told you to leave her behind?" He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to continue to look him in the eye.

"Yes."

Releasing her, he looked away, shaking his head. "She would not say that. She would not leave Hans behind. She would not leave me behind."

"Markus, she wants you to have Hans. She wants you both to have a chance to live." Tears fell softly down Lotte's face. Her voice was strained.

"That's bullshit and she knows it!" He resisted the urge to jam his fist into the wall. Turning back to Lotte, he pointed an index finger in her direction. "I will not leave her. You do what you have to do when we get out of here, Lotte, but I will not leave her behind."

Lotte's mouth draped open, but she quickly closed it. "Then you could be the one to die, Markus! You cannot sacrifice yourself for someone that you do not even know is alive. You have a child depending on you now. You have to think!"

"I am thinking! I cannot lose her, Lotte. She is my life now." The words slipped frantically from his mouth. He felt like the world was closing in around him. His breathing was ragged and frantic.

"Markus... Markus! Look at me!" Lotte grabbed his chin and forced him to focus on her. "She can handle herself. If she is not up there, she will come and find us. Promise me that you will stick with the plan. Promise me!"

Every ounce of him wanted to scream that he wouldn't agree to that, but the next words came out more naturally, even if it was just barely a whisper. "I promise."

Nodding in contentment, Lotte comfortingly squeezed his shoulder. "Now pull yourself together and get us out of here."