CHAPTER 6: risk and resolve

The late autumn air settled heavily around them as Nathan found himself once again walking through the dark, narrow alleyways of Paris. It had been two weeks since he'd last seen Maria, but her face was a constant image in his mind, lingering in the moments before he closed his eyes each night and waiting for him the moment he opened them. The Resistance had become more than an obligation or moral duty; it was a force that now kept him alive, filling a void he hadn't known was there.

He reached the door of a small, unassuming bakery that served as one of the Resistance's meeting points. It was shut tight, save for a faint candlelight flickering through a crack in the door. After a moment's hesitation, he tapped softly three times, the pre-arranged signal. The door opened a sliver, and he was ushered in by a middle-aged woman he hadn't met before. She was sturdy, with streaks of flour on her arms and a kindness in her gaze.

"You're the one Maria spoke of," she whispered, nodding as if confirming her own thoughts. "Come with me."

The smell of fresh bread mingled with the familiar, metallic scent of gunpowder as they descended into a hidden cellar. Jean was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, his gaze narrowing as he took in Nathan's appearance.

"We have little time, so listen closely," Jean said, pulling out a worn map and spreading it on a rickety table. "There's a shipment of munitions due to arrive tomorrow evening at the train station. We need it. You're going to make sure it's within reach when we come for it."

Nathan glanced over the map, taking in the train tracks and guard placements sketched with care. The plan was to slip into the depot unnoticed, disrupt the security perimeter, and ensure the guards on the night shift would be sparsely spread, making it easier for the Resistance fighters to breach.

"And I'm supposed to do all that without getting caught?" Nathan asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Precisely," Jean replied. "We're all making sacrifices. You, more than most. But if you're with us, really with us, you'll do what it takes." His eyes softened briefly. "And Maria is counting on you."

The mention of her name caused Nathan's resolve to solidify. He took a steadying breath. "I'll do it."

That night, Nathan returned to his barracks with the map burned into his memory, each guard position and patrol shift replaying in his mind. He was tired, his every nerve stretched to its limit, but the thought of Maria kept him going. The idea that she believed in him, that she'd taken a chance, lit something deep inside of him.

The next day came swiftly, the hours racing by as he put his plan into action. He subtly influenced the guard rotations, suggesting to his superior officer that it would be more "efficient" to station men near the outer perimeter of the station instead of in the storage areas. By the time night fell, he'd convinced enough of his fellow soldiers to leave gaps in security, creating a clear path for the Resistance fighters.

As the clock struck midnight, the stillness in the air grew charged. He knew they'd be coming soon, slipping through those gaps he'd created like shadows. He positioned himself by one of the station's dimly lit corners, out of the way but alert, his heart pounding in his chest.

A low whistle pierced the quiet night, and he caught a glimpse of movement: Maria, Jean, and a small group of others approached, moving swiftly and soundlessly. Nathan felt a wave of relief wash over him. They'd made it in unseen.

He watched Maria in action, her focus sharp as she signaled to the others. This was a different side of her, a side forged by war and necessity, and he couldn't help but feel admiration and a strange protectiveness toward her.

The team moved like clockwork, gathering the crates of ammunition and explosives, each person playing their part with practiced precision. Nathan's gaze never left Maria, even as he scanned for approaching guards. Time stretched, each second feeling like an eternity as he held his breath, praying that no one would stumble upon them.

But just as they were preparing to leave, a shout rang out from the far end of the depot. One of the German guards, who had strayed from his post, had spotted them. Panic flared through Nathan's veins as he watched the guard raise his rifle, his eyes narrowing in on Maria.

Without thinking, Nathan acted. He shouted, a string of German curses designed to distract the guard. The man turned toward him, momentarily thrown off by the sight of a fellow soldier seemingly defending intruders.

"What do you think you're doing?" Nathan barked, charging forward and gripping the guard by his arm. "Those are supplies being transferred under my orders!"

The guard's eyes darted between Nathan and the Resistance fighters. "But… who gave you the authority?" he asked, suspicion heavy in his tone.

"Are you questioning my orders?" Nathan countered, his voice firm, his grip unyielding. He could feel his own pulse racing, knowing that this was a gamble, that at any moment the guard could turn on him.

There was a beat of silence, and then, thankfully, the guard hesitated, doubt flickering in his gaze.

"I… I just thought—"

"Think less," Nathan snapped. "Get back to your post."

The guard stiffened, but he complied, muttering under his breath as he moved back into the shadows. Nathan watched him retreat, holding his breath until he was sure the man was out of earshot. When he turned back, Maria was looking at him, her eyes wide with a mix of relief and astonishment.

"Thank you," she whispered, barely audible in the stillness.

He nodded, unable to speak, his mind still racing from the confrontation. They moved quickly after that, slipping out of the depot with their stolen supplies. As they made their way to a hidden safe house, the adrenaline that had fueled him began to wear off, leaving a bone-deep exhaustion in its wake.

Once they were safely hidden away, Maria approached him, her gaze searching his face. "You could have been killed," she said quietly. Her voice held a mixture of anger and concern. "Why did you risk yourself like that?"

Nathan shrugged, trying to mask the turmoil inside him. "I did what needed to be done. For you… and for the Resistance."

A silence settled between them, weighted with unspoken words. She reached out, her hand finding his, and for a moment, he allowed himself to feel the warmth of her touch, a grounding force in the chaos surrounding them.

"This life… it changes us, doesn't it?" she murmured, her eyes reflecting a deep sadness. "But maybe it also shows us who we really are."

He nodded, unable to voice the conflicting emotions churning within him. He was no longer the farmer from a small village, the man who had once felt distant from the turmoil of the world. He was someone else now—a soldier, a man willing to risk his life for a cause he'd never believed in before. And as he looked at Maria, he realized that this transformation was as frightening as it was inevitable.

The night ended with the two of them standing side by side, a silent promise passing between them. They would continue this fight, bound together by their shared commitment and by the strange, fragile connection that had blossomed in the midst of the violence.

As dawn began to creep over the rooftops of Paris, Nathan knew there was no going back. He was no longer just another soldier following orders. He was part of something larger, something that demanded everything from him. And though the road ahead was fraught with danger, he was ready to face it—for Maria, for the Resistance, and for the man he was becoming.