Chapter VII

Run Away

A half-an-hour later, Captain Haddock, after calming himself down, left the police station.

He couldn't still believe his "little brother" was the murderer. A negative feeling then took possession of him. The old sailor felt defeated, without air. The pain was taking control over him, and thus, images of Tintin murdering the British men appeared on his mind. He just let a few tears out of his face, and made sure nobody was watching him crying.

Haddock arrived to the Sakharine Manor some time later.

Like Tintin before, he felt there was something different, possibly in the air, or in the sound of silence. He couldn't tell, as his shock was torturing him.

He opened the door as he saw Guido, Dmitri's falcon, flying away from an opened window. The Captain then saw Mr. Sakharine reading a note, and he had a sad expression. Wanting to get distracted and rid of his shock, the sailor approached him.

-Mr. Sakharine?- he asked.- It's everything okay?-

-Dmitri's leaving to America.- the Russian replied

-I'm sorry to hear that, but...- the Captain said.- ... I think that's the best for him.-

-Why do you think that?-

-Let your son to be distracted from that shock he had. He needs to have some time for himself, and then, he'll return like if nothing happened. Dmitri deserves to reflect things in another place, where he cannot be accused of a crime he didn't even committed. He no longer lives with you. I think you didn't "let him go". I know it's hard for a parent to release their offspring. -

-How do you know that?- Sakharine asked.- You have no children.-

-But I used to have a crew.- Haddock replied.- It was hard for me to let some of them go. They wanted to live their life. They have urges, passions... they didn't deserve to live inside a ship.-

Mr. Sakharine then started to think it better. From all his children, Dmitri was the only one who had a 'special bond' with him. Since Annia used to be absent when he was a child, Ivan was the only figure he had around. He tried to nurture him the double, as he thought it was going to fill that empty space that "was reserved for motherly love".

Ivan then recalled the date when he decided to be attached to his son. It was the day when Dmitri started to use a wheelchair.

The sound of a car screeching came to his mind, then a crash.

He suddenly stopped remembering because, until today, that memory always made him cry.

-I think you're right.- Sakharine said, not revealing a sad tone.- He's an adult, and can live by himself.-

-See?- The Captain commented.- Dmitri might never return from America, nobody knows. But what we're sure is that it doesn't matter where he is, he'll still be your son and you'll always be his father. Give him time. Let him to take a recess. Dmitri deserves it.-

-I feel better now.- Sakharine said with a cheery-like voice.- You're right. He needs some time for himself, and I accept that.- said as he nodded.- If you excuse me, I'll go to visit my son to wish him luck in this trip of his.-

And then, Mr. Sakharine left.

Captain Haddock went directly to the guests' room.

He appeared to feel better, like if he didn't remembered why was he worried at first place. A sensation of peace started to surround him, making him to feel fresh. His breathing returned back to normal as he was sniffing those positive emotions. The sounds were turning happier as a smile appeared on his face.

He directed then to the window, and saw all the Italians and tourists passing by. Ones were taking photos of the surroundings; others were walking and talking at the same time.

Then, a familiar voice was heard.

-Captain, I'm back.-

The peace stopped and the sailor's heart wanted to stop as he was hearing that voice.

The man turned and saw Tintin and Snowy have arrived.

The lad looked messy, like if he had a fight with somebody.

-Is everything all right?- the reporter asked.

For his bad luck, he remembered why he was feeling sad and "betrayed" before arriving to the Manor.

-Tintin, why?- he asked with a disappointed voice

-Um, may I ask what are you talking about?- Tintin wondered

-It's everywhere. Why did you do an atrocity like that?-

-Excuse me?-

-Tintin, don't make yourself you don't know.-

-But Captain, I don't know what you are talking about.-

-Lad...- the Captain used now a demanding-like voice- Why did you murdered Rawlins and his assistant?-

-Captain, you know I didn't do it.- Tintin replied with an offended-like voice.- Why are you asking me that if you know the answer?-

-Your face is everywhere. You're Europe's most wanted man.- the sailor continued.- The clues are obvious! Why did you did that!-

-I already said I didn't murder those men!- Tintin defended himself

-Your anger says another thing!-

-Captain, you'd anger too if you were offended by that comment he said.-

-But not angered enough to leave an event to remove the life of two innocent men!-

-I left the party because I wanted fresh air!-

-And you know what? You left shortly after them!-

-It was a coincidence! I I went to the lake to reflect! I cried there because I regretted my anger!-

-The murderer is described to be a red-headed, average-weighted, pale-skinned, baby-faced male!-

-It can be any red-head! Not only me! A local, or some tourist!-

-Then why were you identified as the murderer?-

-Maybe because the killer might have had a "baby-face"?-

-And you have one!-

-That doesn't mean I'm the murderer!-

-You are!-

-No, I'm not!-

-The gun they found in Dmitri's house is the same model as yours!-

-You know I didn't bring my gun to this trip!-

-How do I know you're not lying to me?-

-Because the personnel at the airport would have found out I was carrying a gun when I was being checked!-

-Liar!-

-Why do you call me a liar? I am not lying!-

-I cannot believe you murdered innocent people!-

-I did not murder them!-

-You did!-

-I didn't!-

-Another murder happened today! In a fashion similar to the duo with the ridiculous name! And guess what, the murderer was described as the same as the one who killed that lawyer and his assistant! And you were out at that time!-

-I was searching for clues!-

-And why the people at your surroundings didn't take you to the police department? Because you threatened them? Eh? Is that true, Augustin van Kuifje?-

Then, at hearing his real name, he slapped the Captain.

A silence suddenly surrounded the room.

Tintin had a surprised and pissed off expression.

Captain Haddock, who had a surprised expression on his face, was recovering from the slapping. He removed his hand from his cheek, and the mark of Tintin's hand was visible. That area was red, and one could tell it was his anger that gave him the enough strength to leave a print like that.

-You broke your promise.- he said with a serious tone

He could feel the disappointment of the Belgian reporter. His anger was returning. His eyes were being covered with an unbelievable hate.

-This conversation is over, Captain.- Tintin said with a calmed voice.- Good night.- said as he went to his bed.

And then, silence was the only thing that was being heard.

His surprising was... indescribable.

The bearded old sailor wanted to let all his feelings out. The problem, he was unable to. The scene replayed in his head once again, and, even if he was there, he couldn't believe what he saw.

He was now thinking on what to do now. He was sharing the room with one of Europe's most wanted men.

How'd the rest of their friends will take it?

Will they believe the news?

He sat then on his bed and saw Snowy, who appeared to hide under the bed when the conversation was getting violent, was approaching him, trying to seek some comfort. It seems what the dog heard affected it so much. It was like a small child watching its parents having a hard, violent discussion. The Captain then tried to calm down the white dog, as it was whimpering.

-It's okay, little one.- he said.- He's just disappointed of what he did. When this ends, Tintin will return to be the same innocent lad we grew up to love.-

Snowy didn't appear to believe this. He hasn't, or at least doesn't remember seeing his owner like that. His anger usually vanishes within seconds, but this time, the magnitude of that negative feeling was so strong the dog thought it'd never vanish.

-xxx-

12:00 a.m.

Tintin woke up. He couldn't sleep.

His discussion with the Captain left him a lot of anger it then transformed into depression and guilt.

The lad could hear the clock's ticking, the breathing of the Captain, Snowy, and the silence.

What's happening with me? He wondered.

He was now worried.

The discussion replayed in his mind, like if it was torturing him. Every time he saw that, he wanted to cry. All he wanted was to take a vacation, and it turned now to be a mix of job and "losing friends".

Then, a thought came into his mind.

Run away?

It was an interesting idea.

Now everybody hated him because of the murders, it was better than receiving hate mail. Tintin sighed.

He was confused, and didn't know what to do.

Minutes later, he got up and left to the bathroom.

When he arrived, he locked the door and saw himself in the mirror.

As the Italian citizens, he started to hate himself.

He directed his sight to another direction, and found a bottle with paint for the hair. He read the instructions, and suddenly, saw his reflection. He had a doubting look, and, then, it later changed to a determination one.

He searched then for scissors, and, once he found them, he proceeded to separate from his iconic quiff.

And the hair fell down.

Now, at his eyes, he was no longer "Tintin, the adventurer and successful reporter". He looked like another person, almost unrecognizable. At one side, he wanted to turn back the time to evade the discussion with the Captain, or at least to stop himself from removing his quiff.

He then snapped off those thoughts and took the bottle to follow the instructions of dying his hair.

After a long while, Tintin's hair was finally another one: blond.

He then cleaned his mess, and left to where his stuff was.

He put away all his belongings, in silence, trying not to wake up the Captain or Snowy, who seemed to feel better. The lad looked then to his clothes, and decided it was better to change them, as everybody was aware of how the Belgian reporter dressed regularly.

From between the amount of "old man clothes" he had in one of his suitcases, he found one that will surely match with his new self. Those denim clothes were intended to be a "Plan B disguise", but, because of what was happening, and due to being now a fugitive, Tintin had no option, but to use them. He kept his white shirt, because it made him look like a young rebel from the rural areas. Not exactly the look he wanted, but at least he was not recognizable.

The lad then locked the bathroom's door and gave a last sight to the sleeping ones.

-Goodbye, guys.- He said in a low voice.- Thanks for all.-

And Tintin, with a new identity, left the Manor and his friends.

-xxx-

10:30 a.m.

Everybody was having breakfast. This time, a silent one. The Captain looked at the empty seat. It was clear he regretted what happened yesterday, and wanted to apologize. But the lad was not around. He thought he was in the bathroom, having some time of reflection, explaining the locked door. Haddock then directed his sight to his plate, like if he was not hungry. Annia then asked about his sudden sadness.

-Mr. Haddock, sorry about my intrusion, but, is everything all right?- She asked

-Well...- he said

Suddenly, a knocking was heard.

-I'll go.- Mr. Sakharine said as he took his cane and left.

The Russian man opened the door, and saw the dim-witted detectives.

-Good morning.- the house owner greeted to both men.- How can I help you?

-We're here to take Tintin with us.- Thomson said

-To be precise, he's arrested.- Thompson added

-What? But why?- The Russian asked

-He was identified by the witnesses to be the murderer of the Ying-Yang Boys and a yet-to-be-identified British tourist.- One of them said.

-You can't take him.- Sakharine said.- That's not enough proof!-

-He's upstairs, in the bathroom.- The Captain said as he approached.

-Good.- and then he turned to the officers who were behind them.- All right, guys. You can enter.-

The officers entered to the house, and located the room.

-It's locked.- an officer said.

-Of course it's locked.- another one replied.- Let me do this!-

They broke the door, and saw no one was there.

-He escaped!-

The Sakharines and the Captain arrived.

-He's gone?- The Captain asked

-Or that or you're just hiding him.- Thomson said.

-But how? I'm not hiding him! If I did, I'd have never told you he was in this bathroom!-

-You have all the reason.- Thompson said.

-Send a red alert!- one of the officers said.- Italy has now closed its doors until the murderer appears.-

-And you'll be under house arrest.- Thomson said to the group.- Which means you cannot leave this place!-

Mr. Sakharine then hugged his wife as the Captain took a deep breath.

Tintin, where the hell are you? He said in his mind.

-xxx-

A/N: I hope you liked this.

I'd try to update this fanfic, and my another one, "The Beginnings of a Young Reporter", as soon as possible. I have also RL issues (and sometimes writer's block).

If there's something OOC, please tell me so I can fix it!

Got Hooked? PLEASE REVIEW! That motivates me to continue writing!

Oh! And for Ranmoon Boy, Want to know if you're near or not from the truth? Then... keep reading the fanfic until I finish it *trollface*