((I promise the next chapter will be better))

His wounds had healed and turned into the scars on his back, face and neck. Mark was glad he had a scarf to hide the lash over his throat. A few days ago, he was sent to a other part of the mine, a few hundred meters away from the one he used to work in.

Mark had met the other miners, all of them prisoners of war. They fought in the same war as his father and brothers did. Some of them went to war knowing why they were fighting, like Matthias, Lukas and Berwald. The other two just went with them because they didn't want to be left behind, Emil and Tino.

''What happened to my brothers?'' Mark asked, while putting a supporting beam between the roof and the floor, to prevent it from collapsing. It was dangerous work but at least he wasn't in a narrow tunnel getting coal out of the stone. Berwald kept quiet en pretended like he didn't hear anything. But Tino responded after a few seconds. ''After the war, we were sent to this mine. Gilbert and Ludwig were always looking out for escape routes with your father. Even though it seemed impossible.'' Tino sat down and leaned on the black wall.

''Ivan was always keeping a close eye on any escape possibilities. But one day they found one. The foreman forgot to move the crates inside of the shack. The crates were still outside, next to the fence. And they weren't running off, leaving us behind like cowards would do. They warned us, although it would make their escape harder. We made a plan, first your father and your brothers. Then me, Emil and Raivis. And after that the rest would follow closely. But it went wrong before we even got over the fence. Wulf ran for the fence and climbed over it, Ludwig and Gilbert were still climbing when we hear someone shouting. We ran back but they were already seen. Your father refused to run away without Gilbert and Ludwig. But Ivan called the foreman and some others. Ludwig got over the fence but Gilbert got grabbed by his ankle and pulled down.'' Tino sighed.

''I wish we had done something by then. We were with more than them but we didn't. We went back, not wanting to get spotted by any of them.'' His voice was full of regret. ''We're so sorry, please forgive us'' Tino said, before starting to cry.

Lukas continued. ''You…you know what happened to your father… Your brothers got sent away, we didn't have the chance to talk to them. But they are still alive, that's for sure. I heard they are at a farm, working on the fields. At least they are above the ground'' the last thing he mumbled.

Mark felt his cheeks being wet, glad he was underground so no one could see him crying. He now realized his father wasn't coming back, he would never return from war. He had been killed by the Russian. He had no one left, his elder brothers far away and his younger brother and sister held hostage by a Spaniard. Mark had never felt so lonely.

A few days later, Ivan unlocked the door of the shack earlier than normal. Mark frowned lightly, not understanding what was happening. ''Marcos, get up'' Ivan snarled irritated. The teen got up from the ground, throwing his blanket in a corner. The Russian grabbed his upperarm and dragged him out, Mark almost stumbled over his feet.

He saw the other Northerns watch him with confusion. Mark was desperately trying to think of something he did wrong the last few days, maybe the Russian heared them talking about his family's escape. If that was the case, he was in big trouble. Ivan clearly wasn't happy about it, judging by his irritated voice and the time Mark had been waken up by him.

Mark was thinking of an excuse, some reason that could hold Ivan from beating him again. He had tried to avoid getting a beating as much as possible, especially after the beating when he asked about his family. Ivan continued pulling him across the path. The teen flinched lightly, scared of what was about to happen.

But Mark was taken to a carriage, infront of the gate of the mine estate. He got pushed in by Ivan, before the Russian got in the carriage himself and closed the door. Mark was confused, where were they going? Where they going to his brothers? Mark wished that was true. ''Ehm… where are we going?'' he asked softly, hoping Ivan would answer. '' заткнись!'' he just snarled back. Mark stared down at the bottom of the carriage. He was clearly not getting any answers from Ivan, but at least he wasn't getting beaten.

Mark was very tired, he had trouble staying awake. But the warm carriage wasn't making it easier for him. He had got used to the cold floor for the past months. But his eyes were closing bit by bit. He had to gain as much sleep as possible, before he would arrive at the fields. His dreams were restless, about his brothers. He would finally see them, after all this time!

He again woke when the carriage stopped. But it wasn't a field which was visible, it was a house. A country seat. He sighed in disappointment. He was back at Antonios house. But Mark was also happy, because he could already see Sebastiaan and Bell. Ivan walked straight to Antonio when he opened the door.

''I thought we had a deal, Antonio?'' Ivan snarled angrily at Antonio. ''Yeah…yeah… I'm sorry mi amigo. There were some problems'' Mark ignored the two and walked towards his siblings, sinking down on one knee to hug his little brother, glad he saw them again. Bell looked at the scar over his eye with suspicion, Miguel had refused to tell her anything about what was in the letter. When Mark noticed her staring, he turned his head away. His scarf was still around his neck, hiding the scar over his throat.

''Because of your problems, I'm losing a hard worker. This was not what we agreed on, Antonio. Finally he was listening and then you call him back'' Antonio sighed deeply and reached for his pocket, getting out something. ''Here, this will pay for the remaining weeks.'' The Spaniard said to the Russian, while giving him the money.

Mark glared at Antonio in anger. He still remembered who took them away from their home. But he kept quiet, as long as Ivan was still here. Bell asked where he had been for all this time, but Mark refused to tell her. He didn't want to be reminded of the mine. The mine, where his new friends still were. Why did everything had to be so difficult? He had to escape with his siblings from Antonio's house and that was already a huge problem. Second of all, he had to find out where his brothers were and get them free too. If Ivan sent them away, the place they had to be now had to be even worse than the mine.

''Gilbert and Ludwig are still alive'' he whispered in Bells ear. A surprised and confused expression appeared on her face. ''What? How? What?'' she said stuttering. ''They are alive? How do you know that? Have you seen them? What about vader?'' Mark bit on his tongue, what did he had to tell Bell and Sebastiaan about their father? ''I…haven't heared anything about him. I haven't seen Ludwig and Gilbert but I have met people who know they are still alive''

Sebastiaan tugged on his scarf. ''Why are you wearing a scarf?'' he asked curious. Antonio turned to them, while Ivan left, still a bit grumpy. The Spaniard walked towards Mark. The teen glared at him, letting go of his little brother and standing up straight. After all he had been through, he wasn't scared of Antonio any more. Nor mad at him, no, he was furious! But he had to keep his cover up, even more determined to escape and find his brothers. Antonio was surely not going to keep him from that.

Antonio opened his mouth, a bit hesitating. What could he possibly say to Mark? He sent him to a mine, to hell. ''Erhm… welcome back'' he said finally, not looking the teen in the eyes. Mark glared angry at him, angry because Antonio was capable to sent him to a mine but not able to look him in the eyes when he had to answer for it. ''Coward…'' he growled at him, softly so only Antonio could hear him. Mark picked up Sebastiaan and walked away, making clear this was the end of the conversation. Bell looked at them in confusion, while standing next to Antonio.

''Where was Mark all that time?'' she asked, tilting her head. Antonio took a while to answer. ''Somewhere'' he tried to avoid giving a proper answer.

''How did you even survive in that mine?'' Miguel asked the next day in the backgarden. '' Because of your rebellious personality, it is a miracle!'' Mark looked up from the strawberries. ''Well, it didn't go really well at the beginning. But eventually I managed to stay out of troubles'' Mark plucked the fruit and put it in a reed basket. ''And why are you wearing that scarf? It's way too hot to wear a piece of cloth around your neck.''

Mark bit his lip, he didn't want to concern Miguel about the past. But when Miguel kept asking, he pulled the scarf down, revealing the scar. Mark had succeeded in keeping the coal dust out of his wounds except for this one. Because the dust could reach his throat far more easy than the wounds on his back. This the scar had a black shade over it from the dust, it would probably never fade away. ''Bell and Sebastiaan don't know and I don't want them to know.''

Miguel nodded understanding. ''But how long are you going to keep up with that?'' he asked. ''One moment of unawareness and they will notice.'' Mark sighed softly and put the basket in the grass. ''Yes, I know. And for that I can't make a mistake.''

Antonio didn't show up for dinner that evening. Only Romano was giving him angry glares, eating slowly. Mark wasn't even seeing them, eating quickly. At the mine, the food had been scarce and what they got wasn't really nutritious. Bell got up from her seat to bring Antonio a plate in his study. When the door behind her was closed, Mark started talking to his little brother in his native language. ''Ik wil niet dat je ooit nog met Romano speelt, begrepen? Hij is net zo'n monster als Antonio''

Sebastiaan played with his food, not happy with what Mark was saying but also knowing Mark wouldn't let him another choice. ''What are you saying, bastardo? I heared my name!'' Romano snarled furious. Mark glanced at him and pushed his chair back, standing up and walking towards him. Romano was getting nervous, moving around and glaring furious.

Mark leaned over, grabbing the handrails of the chair. ''You are going to shut up and stay away from my brother. If you dare insulting me one more time…'' he threatened with a calm voice before letting go and sitting back in his chair. ''I'm going to tell Antonio that you threatened me!'' Romano shouted angry and a bit scared. ''I don't care, go ahead'' Mark said grinning. ''Little Romano can't handle thing on his own. Immediately run back to your cousin Antonio''

Romano grumbled, his nails pinning into the handrails. He didn't know what to do, tell Antonio and be a coward or don't tell him. He finally decided to do nothing. It took a while before Bell returned. Mark frowned and looked up when he heared the door opening. ''Why were you gone for so long? The study isn't that far away'' Bell blushed lightly and picked up the plates from the table. ''Ehrm… because… he wasn't there and I first had to look for him''

Mark put down his fork on the plate. ''Blijf bij hem uit de buurt…'' he warned her. ''He's up to no good'' Bell dropped the plates in the sink, it made a terrible lot of noise. ''How do you know? You don't even know him! He is…'' Mark lifted an eyebrow, looking at her. ''Nevermind…'' she continued, looking away and starting the dishes.

The teen wandered around the dark garden, looking for routes. Things had been moved in the time he was gone, some were against the wall, which they could climb over. But there was still the problem of barbed wire. Mark had to steal a wire cutter to get rid of those. When he looked over his shoulder, he saw the light in the study still on. Antonio wouldn't notice their escape until the morning after. But first Mark needed a plan. He saw the perfect route behind the carnations.

They wouldn't be spotted easily, because of the flowers and because it was in the corner of the garden. Mark only needed to hide a wire cutter and a few crates to climb on, to reach the wall.

It wasn't until a few days later when Mark found out that Bell didn't mind about his warnings.