Alternia's New Order

Chapter 7

You have decided that sleep is outrageously overrated. It's not like you've slept much since coming here. Hell, you hardly slept at all when you were free. Now that you were stuck in this place, it was even harder. Your thinkpan is overflowing with thoughts. Everything was going terribly, and you had to do something about it. If not for yourself, you at least had to help Terezi. She wasn't herself anymore. Mr. Moffat has her scared and ashamed. It makes you extremely mad that he would try something so vile with your matesprit.

You needed to get out of this place. It doesn't seem too hard to outsmart these assholes and sneak away. The plantation was only five miles from the closest town. Wouldn't take to long if you got through the nearby woods and...of course! It was all so fucking obvious now. You were getting out of here.

When morning came, you still hadn't gotten any sleep. However, you also didn't have the ability to give a fuck about it. Everyone is lined up and taken to the field, as usual. Only, this time, Mr. Moffat separates you from the rest. You follow him back to the site of your shed building, saying nothing. The man can't help but babble on about some pointless shit you don't pay attention to. Why should you listen to him? To avoid getting the shit whipped out of you? Oh yeah. That's right. Upon reaching the site, Mr. Moffat turns to you with a smug expression. "Don't you think so, Red?" he asks. Oh fuck. Maybe you should have been listening. You gulp and just nod in response. You have no idea what he asked you. Luckily, you just agreeing seemed to be the right answer.

Mr. Moffat leaves you to work. Whoopee. You pick up where you left off, quickly stripping the rest of the wood. Looking over the blueprint, it appears relatively simple. By noon, you have already finished the base. Gog damn was it hot. Alternian summers were hot as hell, quite literally. You just had to get through this day, and it would all be over. Tonight, you would tell Terezi about your escape plan and the two of you would get away. You're either really eager or really nervous, most likely a mixture of the two.

This day seems longer than any other day since you've been here. It's surprising. You didn't think it could get much worse for you before. Slaving away every day for some pompous ass was not your ideal occupation. These hours seem more like days. Sweat beads persistently along your forehead. You wonder about the others. What had they been up to since you left? Did the New Order do better things for them than for you? You really hope so.

After a small eternity, the work whistle blows. You start to pack up your work, and Mr. Moffat arrives for you just as you finish. "Hey, Red. Looks like someone is finally following orders around here" he laughs. You say nothing. Not one word about how much you hated him, about how you know what he's done and what he's trying to do, about how he won't be able to boss you around after tonight.

Back at the sleeping quarters, everyone else has already arrived. The fire was set, and food was being passed around. Terezi smelled your arrival and gave a small smile as she brought you your share of food. You smile back at her. Best to wait until everyone else was out of earshot before discussing your plan. For now, you sit around the fire as usual, your matesprit at your side.

When the final whistle signals bed time, you grab onto Terezi's arm. She turns to you, looking confused and caught off guard. Making sure no one else sees, you pull her behind the sleeping quarter. This was it.

"Karkat, what the hell are you doing?" she whispers harshly. "Getting us out of here. I have a plan" you reassure her. She cocks an eyebrow, still confused. "There's no way out. Are you crazy?"
"Maybe a little" you admit. It was pretty accurate to say so. If anything, you were at least crazy about her. "Just hear me out. If we get through that forest and follow the road into town, there is no fucking way they can ever find us again. It's not that far. I know we can do it."