No Turning Back

Chapter Fourty-Three: Reunion

He did not like the feeling of needing someone's help. He had always relied on himself and being in this state frustrated him.

"Sorry...", Richtofen whispered.

"It's fine, don't worry", Kiana smiled.

The two then made their way to the room as Richtofen's legs threatened to buckle under his weight. Once they finally ascended the stairs of his office and out into the open air; Richtofen felt the cool air brush against his feverish skin.

Trembling, he pushed forward as they made their way towards the adjoining building. After taking the steps down into the next room; Richtofen pointed to a barrier. 

"Zhis vone, it is a door. Zhe barricades are gone", Richtofen explained breathlessly.

Kiana cleared the debris off of a nearby counter top for Richtofen to lean against. She then hurriedly grabbed the door handle before pulling. The door struggled to open against the cluttered floor before finally giving way. Richtofen then stood up and slung his arm back over her shoulders.

The doorway led to a sharp corner before revealing a long narrow corridor. As they made their way down, Kiana noticed many doors which lined both sides of the corridor. Some of the doors were shut whilst others were completely open. There were large smears of crimson blood along the tiled floor and bloody hand prints which decorated the walls. Kiana's stomach churned as she tried not to imagine the violent scenes which had taken place.

Finally, at the bottom of the corridor, Kiana noticed a metal door. Richtofen pushed through the fatigue as he kept this eyes fixed on the door ahead. As they shuffled closer, Kiana noticed a metal placard embossed with indecipherable Cyrillic.

"I'll get the door", Kiana announced before Richtofen hobbled closer for her to open it.

As the door creaked open it revealed some kind of staff room. There were two old sofas which lined a large dusty coffee table. Off to the side, Kiana could make out the outlines of what looked like a small kitchen.

"Well, I had no idea this was here. Could've been living it up in style", Kiana tried to lighten the mood.

"Let's get you to one of those sofas", Kiana added as the pair made their way to it.

Every muscle in Richtofen's body trembled as he tried to gently lower himself down onto the sofa. The weight of his cosmonaut suit only made the matter worse as his fever seemed unrelenting.

"I don't know why on earth you insisted on that suit", Kiana shook her head.

"Your fever, it's getting worse", Kiana said as she put the back of her hand to Richtofen's forehead. She let out a sigh before finally continuing.

"Richtofen, you're going to need to take that damn suit off. That thing is only insulating your fever", Kiana explained awkwardly.

"I hope you have something on under there", she cringed uncomfortably which caused Richtofen to laugh.

"Und vhat if I don't? Jou vill get quite zhe eye full, ja?" He mumbled before trying to catch his breath.

"Even in this sorry state you're still cracking the jokes", Kiana rolled her eyes.

"I could go get Dempsey to do it instead of me..." Kiana asked.

"Nein, I'd razher succumb to zhe fever zhan let zhat ape put his grubby paws near me", Richtofen scoffed.

Kiana approached Richtofen before trying to sit him forward. As she fumbled for the opening on his cosmonaut suit - her hair grazed against the side of Richtofen's face. The close proximity reminded him of that day in the projector room. His head began to spin with the memories as he relived it in his mind. But it was cut short when Kiana finally spoke.