He grabbed one of the strange orange fruits in the tree, while sitting on a branch. Mark looked down to the ground and threw it in the blanket that Miguel was holding.
''Careful…'' the old man commented when the orange almost missed the blanket and almost fell on the ground. Mark grumbled something back, plucking the next orange.
He hoped that the branch would be able to hold him, because it was a bit too high to fall down from here. Mark shortly looked down, he didn't like heights.
He wasn't scared but he also didn't like to be up in a tree, one little mistake and he would fall down a few meters.
It had been a few week since his arrival in this house, it still seemed huge and rich to him and his siblings. And the work in the garden was never done, it was just too much.
But that could also be caused by the neglect for the past few years.
Mark had tried to avoid Antonio and Romano as much as possible, but especially the young kid seemed to have made it into a sport to annoy him as much as possible.
Everywhere Mark went, Romano went. Doing anything to irritate him, making noise, insulting, making him trip.
The teen tried to control himself, it was for the best to just ignore the kid. But it was getting harder every day.
Going to church had been a hell, Mark refused to believe in the catholic nonsense. But his brother was slowly going to believe in it.
And how harder Mark tried to stay away from Catholicism, how harder Antonio tried to convince them. Every meal now started /and/ ended with reading from the bible and saying a catholic prayer.
The last few days, Antonio even wanted them to pray before they went to sleep. It wouldn't take long or the Spaniard would even want them to pray for every step they would make.
Until now, they still were praying protestant prayers. But Mark suspected that even his sister was sometimes praying the catholic way, mostly in church.
Sebastiaan and Romano actually seemed to become friends with each other, surprisingly.
Mark had seen them playing in the front garden. Although Sebastiaan had walked away when he saw his big brother looking. The kid knew that Mark wasn't happy about it.
And whatever Mark said to Sebastiaan, about it being the catholics fault that they were here now instead of home, the boy didn't seem to believe the teen.
Mark plucked the last few oranges which he could reach and threw them in the blanket, before climbing down carefully down the branches, jumping the last bit.
He helped Miguel putting the oranges in basket, but was still thinking. The old man seemed to notice that Mark wasn't paying much attention to what he was doing.
''What are you up to?'' Miguel asked suspicious. ''I hope you're not again thinking of an escape''
Mark woke up from his daydream and looked at Miguel, a bit disturbed. ''No…no…'' he could still feel the bruises, a few scars on his arms, legs and back were a permanent reminder of the failed attempt.
Mark wasn't going to give up that easily, but he wasn't planning on an escape right now. He had to wait a few more weeks, until there was a possibility to escape, without getting caught again that quickly.
The pile of garden garbage was gone, it was removed immediately after Mark had tried to escape that way. And a few days after, when Mark was able to move again, on the place where the wall was touching the shack, there was placed barbed wire, to prevent anyone to climb over it easily.
First he had to find a better escape route. One that could also be a route for Bell and Sebastiaan. And he needed a plan B, just in case.
Mark got the ladder and placed it back in the shack, before picking up a crate and bringing it to the house.
When he walked into the flower garden, he saw Sebastiaan and Romano playing on the grass nearby the pond. Mark stopped and looked at them for a moment. Sebastiaan was laughing when Romano did a magic trick with a few pebbles.
Mark grumbled irritated, he thought that he had been clear to Sebastiaan about Romano. When Romano noticed Mark, he stood up and walked towards him, taking two oranges out of the basket, scowling shortly before walking back to Sebastiaan.
Mark frowned and continued his way to the kitchen.
Bell was making a salad, softly singing a song from their own home. Mark cleared his throat to make her aware of his presence.
She turned around and smiled, slightly tilting her head. ''Thank you, Marcos'' she said cheerfully.
The expression on Marks face changed rapidly, from normal to angry. He glanced at her, putting the crate on the floor. ''Marcos?'' he asked, a sharp tune in his voice.
Bell had seemed to have noticed her mistake. ''Ehm… I'm sorry, Mark'' she looked down at the floor, grabbing the crate.
Mark grabbed her wrist, not harshly but still tight. ''We aren't going to stay here for the rest of our lives! We're going back home! And our names are still Sebastiaan, Bell and Mark. Not those damn Spanish ones!'' he whispered but the rage was still hearable in it.
''Let go…'' she squaked softly, looking him in the eyes. A hint of fear in the green eyes. Mark let go of her hand. He wanted to say something, something that would make clear that he didn't mean it that way. Bell pulled back her hand and turned around, slicing a orange.
''I…I'm sorry…'' he mumbled ashamed before walking out. He didn't understand why he had been that mean to his sister, it wasn't her fault.
That evening, he returned late to their room, not wanting to have to talk to Bell. Mark softly opened the door, trying to make as little as sound as possible.
When he peeked around the door, he saw that his siblings were already asleep. He sighed relieved and walked inside. The teen still didn't had the slightest idea about what to say to Bell.
He didn't understand why he did that to her. But he would make sure it would never happen again.
''Wake up!'' he heard a voice saying, feeling someone tugging his arm. Mark blinked confused before opening his eyes to see who it was. The scowl in the others eyes made clear that it was Romano.
Mark growled irritated. ''What?'' he snarled shortly. ''How late is it?'' Mark said while sitting up and looking out of the tiny window. The sun was just appearing at the horizon.
He jerked his sleeve out of the kids hands. ''It's seven o'clock, and I'm hungry!'' he replied scowling. ''And why is that my problem?'' Mark snarled pushing Romano away. ''I want breakfast!'' Romano said, raising his voice.
Mark saw Bell turning in her bed, she would wake up if Romano kept screaming like that. And Mark still hadn't think of anything to say to her. ''Ssjt!'' the teen said to Romano while getting up from his bed and pushing Romano out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
''I'm not your slave, get your own damn food'' Mark said while looking Romano in his eyes. He was getting angry, the kid was just being rude. ''You're still a lousy protestant! Now, get me some breakfast!'' Romano shouted furious, raising his voice.
The kid was crossing the line. Mark raised his hand to make him shut up. Antonio opened his door, still a bit sleepy. He just looked into the hall, trying to find out what was the reason of all the yelling.
Romano saw Antonio entering the hallway, but Mark didn't, he was standing his back facing Antonio. Antonio did a few steps towards them, wondering what was going on this early. Mark was angry at Romano for insulting him again, waking him up that early and putting up such a attitude.
His hand hit Romano's face harshly, to make him shut up. It was silent for a moment. Romano reached for his face, screaming like he was being murdered, peeking through his fingers to watch what Antonio would do, slightly smirking.
Mark breathed deeply to stop himself from beating the kid anymore when he suddenly felt a blow at the back of his head. ''Have you gone mad?'' he heard someone shouting. Mark turned around, his arms in front of his head to protect it.
He saw Antonio, furious, just a few inches away from him. ''Romano is just a kid!'' The next blow hit him in the stomach, making him gasp for air. Antonios rage didn't stop, it just went on and on.
He had been calm and patient but no one would hurt Romano and get away with it! Mark did a step back, still holding his arms in front of him. He was also getting angry. Romano was the one who was deserving a beating! Not he!
The anger of the past weeks came up again, all at the same time. Marks fingers clenched to fists and he put his right foot behind him, before he fought back. The Spanish man stumbled on his feet when he got punched back.
Mark was furious and kept hitting, the stomach, the head and the troath. Romano was shouting, in fear and anger. Mark didn't hear the door behind him opening, Bell and Sebastiaan were looking in horror at the fight.
Antonio found a moment to recover and moved forward. The catholic was older and stronger than Mark, although a bit smaller but also quicker. The next hit knocked Mark against a wall, leaving him with a nosebleed.
He wiped a bit of the blood away and his fist moved rapidly towards Antonio. Romano was moving away a few paces, not sure about who was winning the fight. The Spaniard dogged the hit, Mark tripped forward, barely managing to keep standing on his feet.
Antonio grabbed his arm and twisted it on his back. Mark gritted his teeth and tried to free his arm, every movement caused a painful sting. He could see his brother and sister still standing in the doorframe.
But they didn't do anything to help him, they just stood there, confused and a bit scared. ''He is still a kid!'' Antonio shouted angry. ''You will go to hell!'' Mark continued trying to free himself, his arm being pulled up a bit further.
''Let go, bastard!'' he snarled back in pain. Mark saw a few drops of blood falling on the carpet in the hallway. Sebastiaan started crying softly. ''I…I… don't want… Marcos to go to hell'' he said sniffing.
Antonio shortly looked at Sebastiaan. ''If he keeps acting like this, he most certainly will!'' he said back before turning to Mark.
''Why do you keep resisting? Can't you see that your siblings are getting scared of you? Can't you see that you're the only one who keeps fighting against Catholicism. And you attack a defenseless kid, have you gone mad?''
He frowned and held the arm tight. Bell did a few paces forward and grabbed Antonio's arm. ''Please stop, he didn't mean it this way'' she said to him.
Antonio looked at her and eased his grip lightly. ''I'm sick of this disobedient behavior of yours. I'm still your guardian. You swear, fight and disobey my rules. This isn't over'' he warned him before letting him go. ''Get to work'' he said, glaring.
Mark looked back to Antonio, still angry. His arm still ached. It was still earlier than normal when he went working, but Mark turned and walked out of the house, towards the gardens. In the reflection of the pool water, he washed the blood of his face and hands.
It took another hour before Miguel arrived in the garden. ''What did you do?'' he asked when he saw the bruises on Marks face. ''Nothing!'' he replied, still angry, not looking up from his work.
Miguel frowned. ''Mark… what did you do?'' he asked again, this time stopping with working and looking at the teen. '''Some problem with Antonio and Romano…'' Mark growled back.
Miguel sighed deeply. ''Why do you keep getting in trouble?'' he asked, slightly irritated. ''I don't know, okey! They are just pissing me off every single time. Especially Romano!'' Miguel did a few steps closer.
''But you realize you're only bringing yourself, Sebastiaan and Bell in trouble? Antonio has been very patient with you but I don't know if he will still be that easy to you after this.'' Mark grumbled something back, knowing that Miguel was right about it.
It was already afternoon when Mark heard voices in the front garden. Leaning on a broom, he stood next to the hedge. On the other side, he could hear them talking, sitting on a bench.
One voice belonged to Antonio, the other one was unknown.
''I don't know why he keeps fighting. His brother and sister are already turning into good catholics. But he refuses everything that got something to do with the church.
And this morning, he attacked Romano, out of the blue. I asked Romano, he said he was just walking towards the kitchen to get some breakfast when Marcos stormed out of the room and beat him up. I tried, but he is just too stubborn'' Antonio said.
The other person grinned. ''You're always too nice, my friend. That's why he keeps fighting everything you say'' the voice said. Mark tried to breath at softly as possible so he could hear the talking. ''That's why I asked you to come, if you can take him with you, I can make proper catholics of his sister and brother.''
It was quiet for a moment. ''Hmm… I think I can do that. How old is he? It's hard work at the mine'' Marks eyes widened with surprise, he was going to be separated from Bell and Sebastiaan? ''Sixteen, almost seventeen. And believe me, he has got enough strength.'' Antonio grinned softly.
''In a few weeks he will be begging to get back here. You have been spoiling him, that's why he's acting up'' the unknown voice said.
The men stood up from the bench and Mark walked away from the hedge, before they could see him. But the men didn't come to the other garden, but walked inside.
It wasn't until late, when Miguel returned home and Mark walked to the house when he saw the strange man. He was about the same height as Mark was and even in this heat, he was wearing a scarf around his neck.