Escape

Chapter 23

Months passed. The makaras stayed at the camp after talking to a ton of soldiers to explain that they needed to either leave Karkat or take him. They decided to let them stay, which relieved everyone. After about four moth, the war ended. The allied powers had won and hitler fell. The soldiers ran into the camps, yelling and cheering. The war was over. They finally won. They could go home! Home, somewhere Karkat had to decide now.

"Karkat!!" Rufioh said, running up to him and picking him up. He tossed the kid over his shoulder. "We won! We won kid!!! The war is over!! We get to go home!! I get to see my sisters and brother and mom and dad! I get to go home!!" He hugged the one eyed kid.

"...Rufioh?" Karkat said shyly.

"Yeah?" Rufioh was still smiling, wide and brightly. "...oh..." He realized. "Where you go..."

Just then, Haakon and Gamzee walked in. Kurloz wasn't with them. "Karkat? Anything?"

Karkat looked at Haakon, then back at Rufioh. He stood there for a minute, no one said a word. They were all dead silent, waiting for Karkat to act.

After what seemed like an eternity Karkat turned to Rufioh and hugged him. He hugged him tightly, burying his face in the soldiers chest. "Zhanks for everyzing... You really saved me.. Zhank you for all you did... Go back to your family and tell what you did. You are good and...and I'll never ever forget!"

Rufioh hugged Karkat back, smiling softly. He got down on his knees and looked Karkat in the eyes. "Keep safe kid. Go find you mom and sisters. I know they're out there. Go find them and tell them some weird American who's obsessed with a made up super hero helped you out. Tell them you survived... Tell them...- tell them you're one tough kid!" He hugged Karkat tightly, letting him go to the makaras after.

Haakon took Karkat's hand and started leading everyone out. "Wait!" Rufioh stopped them for a minute. He grabbed his hat and the captain America comic. He put the hat on Karkat and handed him the comic. "Just a little something to remember me by."

Karkat hugged Rufioh again. "I will not  forget..." He said once more, before leaving with the makaras. All four of them left the base camp, heading back into Germany.

A year passed, Karkat had gotten used to living with the makaras. Haakon tried not to remind Karkat of Silas, but he sometimes did. Gamzee constantly made eye jokes, Haakon told him to stop a first, but Karkat soon joined in. Kurloz and Karkat still never really got along. Other than that, Karkat was content living with them.

One morning, someone knocked on the door. No one was expecting anyone, so it was odd. Karkat decided to answer the door, not usually doing so. "I'll get it!" He yelled back, opening the door.

Standing outside were three girls, who Karkat know. His two sisters and mother. Karkat covered his mouth and hugged Dessie. "Oh my god!! You're alive! You're alive!!" He buried his face into Dessie's shoulder.

Dessie was smiling and crying slightly. "Yes! We're here, it took forever but we're finally back. And, I love you Karkat!" He said, kissing her son's forehead.

Karkat let go and hugged meulin. "I missed you too!!" He grabbed nepeta. "And you!!" He was smiling, which was a rare sight, now and then. "Wait!!" Karkat yelled back into the house. "Haakon!!! Come here!!!"

All three makaras came out of the house, in shock to seeing the girls. Kurloz grabbed meulin's waist and kissed her. Gamzee hugged nepeta. "...Dessie..." Haakon said sadly, hugging her. "...where have you been...I've missed you..."

"I know, Haakon..." She hugged the large man back. "I tried looking for you! For Silas and my boys...where is Silas??" Dessie asked excitedly.

Haakon looked at Karkat, who had already gone inside. "I need to explain something to all of you, inside..." He said, leading everyone inside the house. They all went in and sat down, Karkat was sitting against a wall.

"Karkitty! Why don't you come over here?" Nepeta asked, making room for him.

Karkat looked down, hugging his knees. He tried to hide his eye, but nepeta had already seen.

"Karkitty...please..." Nepeta begged, frowning.

"Leave your brother alone..." Dessie said quietly.

"I'll explain..." Haakon looked at Karkat. "I know he doesn't want to..." He sighed, sitting down across from the girls. "Let me be blunt. Silas and Kankri...are dead..."

Dessie looked at nepeta and meulin who were already crying. She tried to stay strong, but losing them was heartbreaking. "W-how?"

"Silas was taken by the gestapo where Karkat, Kankri, Cronus, and Eridan were soon captured. They killed Silas and took Karkat's eye..." Haakon said quietly.

"They tortured me..." Karkat muttered from the corner. He stood up and went over to Haakon. "...I want to explain..."

"I don't think you should..." Haakon mumbled.

"I want to." Karkat said bluntly. "Cronus and Kankri were taken to a different area. There was another person that got us there. His name was Rufioh, he actually took care of me for three years. But, he was also taken somewhere else. Eridan was treated fine. I was taken to Silas, where they were trying to find out where you were. He wouldn't say. They...-" Karkat paused, lifting his shirt. Scars still showed, 'jew' was written. "They cut this into me and on my arms. They're still there too, but less. When Silas still didn't talk they threatened to cut out my eye. He yelled and begged them to let me go as he gave them what they wanted. They still cut my eye out, they slit his throat. I watched while my eye bled. I passed out soon. Rufioh and Eridan got us out, while escaping Kankri got shot. He died soon after. Cronus and Rufioh dug a hole and he was buried near the train tracks. I stayed with Rufioh instead of Cronus... I stayed with Americans for three years. Haakon and them showed up later and took be back here when the war ended. That's how they died..." Karkat crossed his arms, looking away.

"...oh Karkat..." Dessie got up and hugged Karkat. "I'm so sorry..." She hugged her son tightly, trying to comfort him as best as she could.

"What happened to you?" Karkat asked, still hugging his mother.

"Well, the nazis found us and took us to a camp...we stayed there... We were lucky. Most died, got experimented on, or gassed. We survived. All of us. Nepeta was the youngest there, only seven. When we got out we quickly found rosa! She was also looking for you. Porrim and kanaya were fine, they missed you though. Everyone did. After we regained our strength we came looking for you again. Now, we're here." Dessie explained, still hugging Karkat.

"...I love you..." Karkat mumbled, never letting go of Dessie. "...please don't leave me again..."

"I won't! I won't ever leave you!" Dessie kissed the top of Karkat's head. "...never again..."

Later that night Karkat climbed out of Gamzee's bed and found Dessie. He woke her up, crying. "...momma..."

"Oh...Karkat..." Dessie frowned. "What's wrong? Was it a nightmare?" Karkat nodded, hugging her. "Oh...come here..." She hugged her son, keeping him close. "You can sleep with me..." Karkat nodded and curled up with his mom.