“Why have you been hunting for me?” Klaus asked, struggling back to his feat. “And what the hell is an Imperial Hunter? How the hell am I alive?”

Franz reached out to steady Klaus, but when his help was shrugged off, Franz nodded and continued his explanation. “Like I said, there is a limited amount to what I can tell you at the moment. Several oaths I have sworn bind me. But, I will share what I can. Distant people with a connection to you sent me here to first observe you and then, should you meet certain criteria, retrieve you for a purpose that will be made clear.” Franz paused and waited for Klaus to respond.

Klaus stepped back, opening the distance between himself and Franz. Not that it mattered, given how quickly Franz could move with those blades of his. Klaus shook his head, banishing the idle musing to focus on what was important.

“So, according to you, a man who has just saved my life, you have been following me for weeks. Moreover, now, that you are here in front of me, you say you cannot go into any details as to why. Worse, you state outright the end of your mission regarding me, is abduction? Do I have that all right?”

Franz cocked his head and shrugged.”Pretty much, since you have met the criteria I was sent to assess.”

Seeing Klaus growing stiff and moving to step further back, the swordsman lifted his hands to rest them on the hilts of his weapons. Whether it was a comfortable motion he did without thinking, or a subtle threat, Klaus was not sure. All the same, it caused Klaus to stop his movements.

“I can’t say anything more on the criteria itself, and as to the latter questions, it is much the same, I am afraid.” Franz’s tone even seemed somewhat regretful. “You will have to console yourself with the knowledge that you will know the answers to your questions when you are meant to. Regardless of your feelings on the matter, you will have to come with me.”

“Is that a threat?”

“A promise.”

Klaus’ eyes glanced down to Franz’s hands, which tightened ever so slightly on the hilts he had been holding. No, not a promise; definitely a threat. As Klaus tensed and Franz’s eyes narrowed, a sound came from behind the swordsman that pulled them out of their almost confrontation.

A weak laugh.

As one, Klaus and Franz turned to look at the body of Anselm who, as chance would have it, was not yet dead. At some point, the Blood Eagle had pulled himself up to a sitting position. Hands pressed tight to the sword wound low on his chest, Anselm struggled to staunch the flow. He was not having much luck, but his efforts seemed to be at least enough to offer a parting jab at Klaus.

“As much…as I would love…to see you kill yourselves…I don’t think I’ll…last that long,” Anselm said slowly, gasping for breath between his words.

“Then why the laugh?” asks Klaus.

The bloody grin Anselm directs their way sends a chill down Klaus’ spine. The Blood Eagle visibly pushes some of the pain away to answer while he still can. “Well, it’s because we’ll still be getting our revenge. You see,” his eyes flick to Klaus, “the Blood Eagles know all about you and your family. When those emails show up…but we don’t…it will be your family…that pays…the…” Anslem slumps to the side.

Heedless of the potential mistake he is making, Klaus staggers on still-sore legs over to the Blood Eagle, grabbing for his shoulders to haul him back upright.

“Where did you make me send that information? Where?!”

A firm hand came down on Klaus’ shoulder, causing him to flinch. Franz stood next to him, but Klaus had never even heard him move.

“I’m sorry Klaus, he cannot answer you. He is dead.” Franz’s hand tightened on Klaus shoulder. “And we have to be going.”

While Klaus was being pulled upright he frantically tried to think of a solution. Only one came to mind. Standing the rest of the way on his own, he faced Franz.

“If I promise to go with you without resisting, will you help me save my family?”

Franz paused. One hand still on Klaus shoulder, the other tapping on the hilt of his sword. The Imperial Hunter took his time before responding.

“Though dead now, Anselm was right. If none of them show up by the morning, the Blood Eagles will go after my family.” Seizing every advantage he could, Klaus pressed on with his plea, hoping it would be enough to convince the man. “If you help me get to who received the emails, I can delete them and my family will be saved. Please.”

Klaus put all the hope he had in the plea, but his heart dropped at Franz’s response.

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“Why?”

That single word, while full of curiosity, also had the sound of ambivalence to it. Like Franz did not care either way.

“What do you mean ‘why’? I want your help to save my family. I am willing to sacrifice everything for that.” He shuddered. “The Blood Eagles are among the worst of the gangs in this city. They can and will kill my father and brothers. Worse is what they will likely do to my mother and sisters.” Klaus pled one more time, “So please, if you help me now, I swear I will go with you willingly after. Just save them.”

Rather than respond, Franz stepped back and began to circle Klaus at a slow pace. Quiet steps gave way to squishing as Franz did not alter his stride around the blood of the dead Blood Eagles.

“You know what your asking will take you into danger, correct? For I will not go by myself, at the chance you might take your family and flee. Even with all my strengths, and they are many, you would be risking your life going with me. At that is the only way I would do this for you. No,” he paused, looking intently into Klaus’ eyes, which had been following Franz in his circuitous route, “you already know this. But you ask anyway.” Franz came to a halt back where he had started, hand leaving the hilt of his sword to rub idly at the long scar down his cheek. “You really are quite interesting.”

“Does that mean we have a deal?”

“Yes, we have a deal.” Franz raised his other hand into the air, a finger extended. “But it will be up to you how we find their hideout. I am a bit out of my element here.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Klaus said, feeling nothing but relief despite the knowledge he might soon be facing again. “I’m sure one of their phones has the information we need.”

In point of fact, all three had the same address listed under a contact called Underboss Junger. Klaus was not sure if Underboss was a title, or just what they called him, but with the lack of any other significant names across all three phones, Klaus was hoping that he had found the address of their target.

“I have the information we need.” Klaus pointed to the western portion of the factory. “Six blocks that way should be the address.”

“Good,” Franz nodded. “If we head there now, we should be able to get there in full darkness.” So saying the swordsman began walking towards the entrance of the factory that Klaus had been brought in through.

“What about the bodies?” Klaus asked. “And what about Dr. Halter?”

“I’m afraid we are in a tight schedule now,” Franz called over his shoulder, still walking, “but your police will eventually find it, and your friend will receive proper last rites then. Now come, we have to go.”

Knowing he had already used up more than his fair share of luck tonight already, Klaus didn’t argue, though he did cast a sad, regretful glance back at the barrel that held Dr. Halter’s body. The man had been a mentor and a friend. Klaus felt guilty not doing more for him but knew that the doctor himself would have pushed for him to save those still living.

Klaus stepped out of the factory back into the darkened streets of the city. No one was out this time of night, and the only car near him was the one the now-dead Blood Eagles had used to get here. Already Franz was opening the passenger door.

“Guess I’ll drive then.” Klaus hurried to the car, got into the driver seat, and turned the keys that still sat in the ignition. A slight stutter and then it was running. Klaus typed in the address to the car’s GPS. Pulling into the street, he then drove east.

“I have to admit, you have impressed me,” Franz said, breaking the silence. “It’s a rare man that can be dropped into the unknown, almost die, and race off the violence against someone else a heartbeat later.” The man grinned from the seat next to Klaus. “And to think I thought you a simple civilian over these past few weeks.”

Since Franz brought it up, Klaus asked a question that had been bugging him since Franz had saved his life. “That’s another time you have mentioned weeks, but I have only seen you today that I can remember. Where have you been observing me from?”

“Why the alley beyond your apartment, of course,” Franz said with a chuckle. Leaning back in his seat, blades awkwardly positioned for him to be as comfortable as possible, he continued. “Why do you think a homeless man would keep visiting only the alley behind your apartment looking for food, yet always run away whenever you offered him any? It was because I couldn’t have you catch sight of who I was until after I was ready to make contact.” Franz sighed. “Sadly I had to move up the timeline after you were taken.”

Coming to a stoplight, Klaus glanced sideways at Franz. The trenchcoat was more than a bit cleaner than what the homeless man had been wearing, but it would be similar enough if Franz coated it with enough mud and garbage. Klaus snorted. Not like he would be lying about something like that, given everything else he had told Klaus so far. Which still wasn’t enough for his taste.

The light turned green. As he gripped the wheel to turn it, a nearby streetlight put the new scars across his hands in stark relief. Given all the injuries he had suffered, Klaus knew similar scars would be covering a good chunk of his body.

“I am sorry.”

The apology from Franz broke Klaus’ examination of his hands. “Why are you sorry?”

“The healing potions I gave you were of a lesser quality than I usually have. Normally you wouldn’t even have a scar from the wounds you suffered.”

Klaus shrugged, strangely uncaring. Scars were the least of his worries right now, and given the unknown looming ahead in his future, not something he could concern himself with at the moment.

“At least I’m still alive,” Klaus finally responded after a few minutes of silent driving, “no matter what else happens, the fact that you saved my life, and are helping me to save the lives of my family, puts me in your debt. One that I’m not sure I’ll be able to repay.”

“No,” Franz shook his head, interrupting Klaus before he could say more. “So long as you keep your promise to willingly come with me when I say it is time to leave, there will be no debt between us.”

“Alright. But if you do think of something else, just ask.”

Klaus could feel Franz’s eyes on him as he made the final turn. The massage parlor they were looking for loomed ahead despite its seemingly small size. In rough shape, the paint on the exterior sign was fading, and the bars that covered the windows showed signs of rust. The low profile was probably why they had chosen it.

Coming to a halt out front, Klaus put it into park and turned off the engine. Opening the door, Klaus could have sworn Franz muttered how things were getting even more interesting.

There was no time to consider the swordsman further, however. The night was almost half over and the lives of his family still hung in the balance. Klaus took fast strides to the front door of the massage parlor, Franz but a step behind.