Escape

Chapter 9

After a few minutes, Kankri woke up again. Karkat was still sitting next to him, talking to Rufioh. "You're awake!!" Rufioh said in excitement, which made Cronus come over.

"Where am I?" Kankri asked in German. Rufioh just smiled as everyone spoke.

"Still in the medical tent. You should be fine. You're just really drugged right now." Cronus shrugged, sitting down next to Karkat.

"Karkat...? Are you okay?" Kankri asked, reaching out to his brother. Karkat ran into his chest, hugging his brother. "...shhh...you're going to be alright...." Karkat hiccuped, trying not to cry. "...it's alright. I'm going to be fine...."

"I can't lose you too...I won't have anyone..." Karkat muttered, crying again.

Kankri sat up, wincing at the pain. Rufioh helped him stay easy. He picked Karkat up into his lap and hugged him. "We're going to see mom and everyone... You won't lose me..."

"As soon as you're feeling up to it, we need to take a train to Switzerland." Rufioh said, letting Cronus translate.

"Sobald du dich wieder gut fühlst müssen wir mit dem Zug in die Schweiz fahren ." Cronus repeated for Kankri to understand.

"Mein Arm schmerzt nur ein wenig. Ich bin bereit, wann immer sie es sind." Kankri said back.

"His arm hurts, but we can leave if you are ready." Cronus said to Rufioh.

"I'll get some supplies and we can leave in an hour. Make sure you've eaten and gotten your things." Rufioh said, Cronus translating for the Vantas's.

Everyone gathered themselves and got some food. Karkat was clinging to Kankri the whole time. His state was blank, but his grip was tight on Kankri's arm.

After an hour had passed Rufioh turned to everyone. "Everyone ready to head out?"

"Bist du bereit zu gehen?" Cronus asked again. Everyone nodded. "We are ready."

Rufioh nodded, leading everyone to the train station. He showed the ticket booth person his military card and told her that the others were with him. She let him onto the train without any further questions. The five of them sat down at one of the train carriages, Karkat sitting in Kankri's lap.

"Let me know if you need anything. It should be fine, only a few stops. One is in Germany, but it should be fine." Rufioh explained, letting Cronus explain it again in German.

A few hours passed as the train went on through the countries. Eridan was wandering around the train, Cronus was making sure Kankri was okay, and Karkat was looking out the window.

"I'm sure they won't find you. As soon as we find your family it should be all okay." Cronus was reassuring Kankri, occasionally looking over at Rufioh. Rufioh never seemed to mind anything anyone was doing.

"I'm fine Cronus. I'm just a bit worried. Since we are passing through Germany someone might be looking for me and Karkat, or even you. If that happens I don't think he can do anything for us." Kankri pointed Rufioh, who looked over at them.

Cronus looked over at Rufioh. "What would happen if someone came in here wanting to take all of us? A government I meant."

"I don't have any jurisdiction over your government, if they come in and take you I'm not allowed to defend you." Rufioh explained, seeing the confusion on Cronus' face. "Uh...if someone comes in I can't come and help. I can't have a say in your government." To this, Cronus nodded.

"Kankri is just worried... I do not know why he is so worried, though." Cronus sighed.

"Ask him... There might be a bigger reason..." Rufioh looked over at Kankri, who was holding Karkat in his lap.

"Kankri," Cronus turned to him, speaking in German. "Is there a particular reason you're afraid that you'll be found? I don't think they even know your name..."

Kankri didn't say anything, he looked away from Cronus. He couldn't tell Cronus anything.

"Kankri? What's wrong? What did you do?" Cronus asked, getting more and more worried.

"We didn't do anything!! You're the ones who did something bad! They know who we are! Everyone does! You were just never told, because you dad didn't like us!!" Karkat started yelling at Cronus, Kankri holding him back.

"What?? What do you mean? I do know you! You're the Vantas's and I've known you basically my entire life! Kankri, what's happening? Karkat, what are you yelling about??" Cronus got more and more worried.

"Silas Vantas!" Karkat yelled. "He ran a rebellion at the beginning of the w-rrrr!!!" He still tried to talk, even though Kankri was covering his mouth.

"Some people on this train speak German!" Kankri reminded Karkat. "Cronus, listen. The government does know who we are. They know our names and faces. They'll easily kill us." He sighed, looking over at Rufioh again. He shrugged, not having a clue what anyone was saying. "Does he know who we are? Or our names?"

"He knows my name..." Karkat said meekly. "...is that bad?"

Kankri sighed. "As long as he doesn't know your last name he should be fine..."

"His name is Rufioh Nitram!" Karkat said in defense.

"Yes?" Rufioh turned to them, extremely confused.

"Karkat was just saying your name." Cronus waved it away, speaking in English.

"I never asked your names. I'm guessing his is Kankri and yours is Cronus? Right?" Rufioh smiled.

"Yes. My younger brother is Eridan." Cronus nodded.

"Okay! I'll try to remember your names." Rufioh kept smiling, looking out the window again.

"What do we do if they come after us?? We can't keep hiding! Unless we're in a different country they can easily get us! We're stopping in Germany!!" Kankri was panicked, turning back and speaking to Cronus in German. He grabbed cronus' hand, fear in his eyes.

"I won't let them take you! Trust me! You're going to stay safe! Rufioh will try to keep you safe too!" Cronus reassured Kankri.