[i][h3]Vienna, Austria[/h3][/i]
[hr]

	Only the night before last, Evelyn Grey had arrived in transit to Vienna as her missive dictated, but she was not alone on the journey. A German soldier under Seppel Traugott’s command had been assigned to her, to ensure her safety, and her arrival in the city. After all, it would do her no good were she to disappear before even arriving. The thought of escape hung heavy on her mind, as it always had now since being captured by the Germans. She kept the anger and resentment she held towards them inside, all she had to do was survive. Survive this mission, survive the war, and she could leave home for England. That’s all she desired. She felt restless in the company of Josef, and yet, she couldn't blame him. He knew nothing of the hell she had seen. In her mind's eye, as soon as he returned to the front-line, his likelihood of survival decreased significantly. Josef was a young man, perhaps no more than twenty-three, and he was full of ideas. She had treated him for an infected tooth only a month and a half ago. While she remained at Klaus' side, the other German soldier she had saved, only because she had to, Josef followed her around like a lost puppy, as if smitten with her mere presence. To him, she must have been a damsel in distress. A rescued British nurse that pledged her hatred for her home country, and felt a deep connection to her German heritage could work wonders on a young impressionable mind.

	For the duration of the train ride, one of which took nearly a week, traveling from France to Austria, Josef tried his best to be a good host. After all, as Evelyn came to understand it, Josef was Traugott's personal errand boy. She had watched him in the camps fetching him papers, arranging meetings with other military officials, bringing him meals, and so forth. So, to amuse him, she entertained him with his desire to better his English. They discussed all manners of subjects, from the war so far, to love, politics, their favorite foods, and most commonly, German art and literature, in which Evelyn was well-versed due to her upbringing.

	When the train pulled into the station, Josef retrieved their bags, as kindly as any gentleman ought to, and escorted her to a hotel down the street from the intelligence building. She had to admit, the architectural designs of the building put to shame even London’s greatest buildings. There was an air about the city, one that kept her in awe, an aura of wonder and sophistication. Perhaps it was the sense of nostalgia that the city evoked. A large majority of famous people had originated here, Marie Antoinette, and even, most importantly, Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Truly impressive. The citizens of this beautiful city ought to carry with them a deep sense of pride, or so she thought. As they checked into the hotel, Evelyn felt transported in time, not only did the exterior of the building convey a grandiose beauty in the architectural structure, but so did the interior. With room keys in hand, Josef led her to a room next to his, she would be given privacy as a woman, but he would keep a close eye on her. Or as he politely put it, [i]'to ensure your safety'[/i]. After handing over her suitcase, he reminded her when they would take lunch and dinner later in the day.

	After lunch that day, Evelyn and Josef set off through city, as he insisted that she had to see the sights before she left for her mission. She followed him around in silence, only responding to his comments and questions when prompted. However, when he brought her to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, her demeanor changed. This young man, despite being the enemy, was actually doing her a nice favor in trying to make her feel welcome and at ease, and here she was acting as she were better than him. When they returned to the hotel for dinner, Josef, himself, was surprised that Evelyn had become more engaged in their conversation, to which they spent the rest of the evening by the fireside discussing the war, famous German literature, and more importantly family. She kept the questions directed on him, and gave him little chance to ask about her in nature. He didn't seem to notice for he chattered on like a jay bird in the spring time.

	When morning came for her to report to the intelligence building in the morning, Josef accompanied her as far as the doorway, insisting that when she returned for her things at the hotel, he would be gone, returning to Traugott’s command as soon as possible She thanked him for being so kind to her, and even placed a warm kiss upon his cheek, leaving the young lad beaming with a smile as she headed into the building. At first, she stood inside the lobby gazing around until a woman behind a desk asked if she needed help. 

“Ja bitte. Ich habe ein treffen mit Herr Hahn Schwarz.” [i]Yes please. I have a meeting with Herr Hahn Schwarz.[/i] Evelyn said with ease in German, to her, speaking German was as natural as speaking English. The woman at the desk gave her directions to the meeting room, on the second floor, the public information sector. As she climbed the stairs, the sound of her heels clicking against the stone floor echoed through the lobby before she emerged onto the second floor. There another woman, this time with an exceptionally fashionable hat, and brunette hair greeted her. 

“Ms. Grey?” The woman asked.

“Yes?”

“I am Adina Tidivar, Herr Schwarz has been expecting you. You're right on time, as the others have just arrived.” She rose to her feet, and gestured with her hand the way which she should go. Together, the two women strode in matched unison down the hallway until they reached Herr Schwarz office. As she showed her in, Adina left shortly after, leaving Evelyn to take her seat alongside, what seemed to her, a Turkish man, and a man of Austrian descent. When Herr Schwarz introduced each of them to one another, and made a particular remark about her making the right choice in joining the German side of the war, she simply nodded, there was nothing for her to say, and she wanted to keep it that way, gave her the chance of making herself look less like a fool, and raising suspicions or questions.

	She listened on in silence, contemplating the details of the mission and the task that they were given. The thought of locating the gas troubled her, as if they were exposed to it, it would mean death, and her goal, of course, was to stay alive. She eyed the gas mask with some degree of suspicion and retrieved it with a sour smile. Evelyn regarded her partners each with a side glance, Stephan Burkhart, as she came to know him, was rather malnourished, and a bit shorter than the standard Austrian men she had seen strolling about the city. She presumed that his scrawny figure came from the tight rations in the region. As for Nafiz, he possessed a more rounded figure than Stephan, perhaps a hint at some type of military association? Admittingly, he did have an impressive moustache for a man his age, to which she also presumed that he was older than her by several years. Amongst the two of them, she felt like an outcast what with her British nationality. When the time came for questions, she glanced at the entertainment poster on Herr Schwarz desk. 

“Yes sir, only one.” She leaned forward in her chair, and tapped the poster with her finger. “What am I to wear for the event? I have nothing in my possession that is presentable for such a task. I can purchase the necessary attire if needed, unless of course, it is already been arranged.”