Killua was just outside the mansion. He'd managed to appear calm for the rest of breakfast, actually eating some of the disgusting stuff in desperation, but he knew he had to leave as soon as possible. If they know... if they know everything...
If he could go to the side, around back, without being seen—
If he could call Miike, get to her before Father did, order her to carry him away... she could jump the fence...
But it was already too late, even if he escaped completely; there would always be another way for them to bring him back; there always was... What if he didn't care, what if he just turned around and killed them... no, he wasn't strong enough, not strong enough—
There had to be a way out. He had to believe there was a way out.
And so he ran, across the open space between the mansion and the forest, into the cover of the trees.
Straight toward the kennel of the great guard dog Miike.
At least I will have tried.
＊＊＊
Kalluto shadowed him from some distance, getting a little out of breath. He hadn't expected Killua to react like this.
Or be this fast, though he supposed he should have expected that.
He realized where Killua was going, and slowed down. Why? Why Miike?
＊＊＊
Killua wasn't as quiet as he should have been, he knew, but he could not stop himself. Stealth would anyway be of no use without speed. If he was caught, he would be able to do nothing against them, but if he delayed, he was sure to be detected.
He had almost reached Miike, he could see her leash trailing off on the right, and he knew the tether was to his left—he turned right and ran, as quickly as he could, no limit, and reached her—startled, she turned toward him, leaning forward, her jaws ready to snap closed around him, and had he time he would have felt fear— She saw him, and retreated a little, seeming half the size she did when she was looming over him. He commanded her to be still, and went towards her as quickly as he dared. He was clambering up her leg when he heard Kalluto's voice.
"What are you doing up there?"
Even as Killua fell, he tried to find a way out, anything, to run to hide, to fight to kill... But should I... no, it would take too long, if Kalluto was there, he was surely not far behind.
"Running away," he said shortly, still on the ground where he'd fallen. There wasn't any point in lying. Not anymore.
"Why?"
He considered the probability that Kalluto was the one member of the family who didn't know.
Too low.
"No reason."
Kalluto turned to leave.
Too high.
"Wait!"
Kalluto turned back, halfway, looking over his shoulder. "Why?"
"Because you've told Mother. Because she'll tell Illumi. I think..." Killua took a breath. "I think he'd really kill me."