Annelise walked through the snow, pulling her coat collar close around her. Her blonde hair was in two braids.

It was dark, and slightly difficult to see in front of her, but Annelise was determined. She reached into her coat pocket, and felt the tiny Star of David. She had kept it hidden for the entire War, but decided to have it on her today. If the Nazis were going to take her, they would take her, but they couldn't destroy her pride.

In her other pocket was a letter. It was full of information about the Nazis in Berlin, from Lukas. Annelise had been told by Mathias to give this letter to Jon or die trying, and she would.

The small pub where meetings used to be held was on her right, and she stepped inside, savoring the warm air on her face. She looked around at the tables. There were tables completely full of soldiers, and she tried to avoid looking at them.

She looked around again, and took in everything about the room besides the Nazis. She cleared her head and looked at everyone. There were soldiers, yes, but also citizens of Lillehammer, no different from her. They were all scared. It was obvious in their faces, in their eyes. The radio was playing a song she hadn't head before, but she liked the tune. Even more comforting, were members of the Resistance, seated at different tables all around the room. Sara sat with Charlie. Nils and Jon were together, laughing about something quietly. Mathias wasn't there.

Annelise worked up her courage and walked forward, sitting across from Jon and Nils, who moved away from each other when they saw her coming.

"How was your day," asked Jon. The question was code for do you have it?

Annelise nodded. "Very good." This meant yes.

She reached into her pocket to hand over the envelop, but froze. German eyes were upon her. What if they saw? What if they asked her to empty her pockets? What if they saw the Star of David? She was scared. Her breath stopped.

She shook her head. I'm going to be brave. No matter what the cost, I'm going to help win this war, and I will be brave.

She pulled out the envelop and handed it to Jon. He took it and put it in his coat. The exchange was over in a few seconds, but Annelise watched in horror as the Star of David caught on the letter and fell onto the floor, feeling heavier than a block of stone, and louder than thunder. It bounced across the floor until it was near the foot of a soldier.

Why did I ever bring it? I'm going to get us all killed! Damn you, Annelise!

Everything seemed to freeze as Jon, Nils and her exchanged glances. So much for pride.

Jon glanced at the door with his eyes, and Annelise nodded, turning away. She walked back outside, ignoring the silence that followed her through the pub, and the scraping of chairs as a soldier stood up behind her. She kept walking and went into the cold.

Her bravery was gone. As soon as she was outside, she ran into the snow, ignoring her hat that fell off, ignoring the wind ripping strands of hair from her braid. She waned to scream. She knew people were following her, but she didn't dare look back.

Her panicked mind drifted as she sprinted, her breath running short, her lungs and throat burning, gasping for air. Alexander's letter hadn't arrived for five days, now almost six. Was he in battle? Had he been relocated?

It is war. Letters aren't anyone's top priority.

Mathias wasn't in the pub. He couldn't give the letter to Jon. He was a suspect of being in the Resistance. Annelise wasn't. Yet.

"Stop," shouted a voice behind her. She didn't stop. She pretended she hadn't heard the voice, even though a part of her shrieked stop.

Her body cried for water, and Annelise had to pause. This allowed the soldiers pursuing her to catch up with her. "Did you not hear me the first time," he shouted. "Stop when you're told to!"

"Why were you running," asked another voice. Annelise felt her heart speed up as two more soldiers walked up. The snowstorm was dying down, but it was still windy and cold. White obscured the horizon.

"I.." She didn't have an excuse for running. "My mother is sick," she said. "I was running to the store to get her medicine."

"Are you aware that the pharmacy has been shut down," asked one of the soldiers. Annelise knew his name. Johannes. She had head someone call his name in the pub.

"No." This wasn't a lie. She didn't know the pharmacy was no longer open. "Why?"

"The owner of the shop is Jewish," said Johannes, in a superior tone. "Elias Andersson. Ringing a bell?"

Annelise knew him. Swedish. He had moved to Norway before the War started. When the Germans occupied the country, he couldn't escape to his free country.

"Yes."

"You knew he was Jewish?"

"No." She did.

"Oh really," asked Johannes sardonically. "Because I found this near my foot in the pub you just exited." He held up the Star of David that had fallen from her pocket.

"I've never seen that before in my life," she lied, but her face must've given her true thoughts away, because the soldier just laughed.

"It fell from your pocket. You know this symbol, this Star of David."

He reached out and grabbed her wrist. "If I were you, I would admit the truth."

She tried to pull away, knowing that her pistol was just in her coat. "Get off of me," she half-growled, trying not so sound afraid.

"Let her go," shouted a voice. She turned her head and saw Lukas standing across the street, his pale hair longer than she remembered. He ran over to them. Annelise saw a huge red scrape on his cheek.

"She's my sister. She's done nothing wrong." His low voice was calm, but Annelise knew him well enough to tell that he was furious. She was suddenly very grateful for their similar looks. The soldiers believed his lie.

"Your sister's got quite a temper," Johannes said in a low voice. "Control her."

The soldier let go of Annelise's wrist, and she yanked her hand away.

"What's your name, boy," asked Johannes.

"My name is Lukas Thomassen. And she has a name," he said, nodding his head at Annelise. "It's Annelise, not 'sister.'"

The soldiers nodded. "How did you get that scratch," asked Johannes, pointing to Lukas' cheek.

"I tripped and feel on a tree root," he said. He sounded sincere, but Annelise thought he was lying. "It's hard to see in a snowstorm, as you may have noticed."

Johannes glared at Lukas. "Don't waste our time again." They turned and walked away.

As soon as they were gone, Annelise hugged Lukas tightly. He hugged her back, surprising Annelise. Normally he hated hugs. "Are you alright," she asked him. "Did you get captured in Germany? Were you hurt?"

"If I was captured, I wouldn't be here," he said in his monotone, faintly smiling. "I'm not injured that bad." After a moment, his expression changed to one of worry. "Where is Mathias?"

"He's at his house," said Annelise. "he sprained his ankle, but he's fine. And about the envelope you sent..." She didn't want to tell him.

"I was an idiot," she began. "I carried a Star of David in my pocket on the way to the meeting place. When I pulled out the letter, it fell by that soldier's foot. Jon told me to run, and I did. That's why they were interrogating me."

Lukas shook his head. "Did the letter get delivered?"

"As far as I know, yes."

"I hope you're right." Lukas turned away. "Come with me. I'm going to Mathias' house.

He began walking. Annelise followed him. They walked down curved streets covered in snow. The wind was still blowing.

"Can you tell me anything that you saw in Germany," she asked Lukas quietly.

He didn't respond for a long time, but finally he said, "It was terrible. There were Nazi parades in the streets. I was in Berlin. It may be the most dangerous city in the world right now. Every name you've heard on the radio... Hitler, he was there. I can see now why so many follow him." There was a pause. "I hope he burns in Hell."

Annelise hung onto his every word, desperate for news. She nodded when he was finished. "Will the War ever end," she asked.

Lukas shook his head. "War doesn't end, Annelise. It is only an endless cycle of bloodshed with gaps in between. I can hope that this World War Two, as people call it, will finally put some sense into the world. I can only dream of a world where we are bound by love and unity, not hate and fear."

They were at Mathias' door. Lukas reached out to knock, but his hand froze only a few inches away from the door. He swallowed, and knocked.

The door opened, and Annelise saw Mathias' grinning face, his blue eyes wide. When he saw Lukas, his face froze, and changed completely. He ran up to Lukas and hugged him tightly, almost scared to let go. Lukas froze at first, but, after relief washed over his face, hugged Mathias back. The two of them stood like that for a long time. 'Lukas, I missed you," muttered Mathias.

Lukas nodded. They broke the hug, and just stared at each other in disbelief. Mathias saw the red scratch on Lukas' cheek, and ran his fingers over it. "Are you okay?"

Lukas nodded. "I'm fine, Mathias." He smiled slightly. "Definitely fine." He turned to Annelise. "Thank you for walking withme. Stay safe." He nodded at Annelise before walking inside with Mathias.