Hogan's legs moved of their own accord, he understood. Robert heard the quick steps as he started to run.

The young man ran through the forest, his breath coming in gasping gasps as he leapt over fallen trees and through the undergrowth. He knew the captain behind him was close on his heels and he had no time to stop and look around.

He had to find a way to escape. His heart hammered in his chest as he squeezed past a thick bush and considered which direction to take.

Left

There was a narrow path leading through the undergrowth, to the right lay a dense spruce forest. A dangerous choice, Hogan must risk it!

He chose the path and ran on, praying that the man would not spot him. His footsteps were loud on the soft forest floor as he struggled through the brush and branches.

Suddenly he heard a gasp behind him and knew the man was still after him. He had to hurry. His legs ached as he turned the next corner and rushed out into a clearing.

He saw a way to escape - a fast-flowing stream that ran through the clearing. He pushed himself off and jumped in, wading through the cold water and holding his breath as he waited for the man to run past.

After a few heartbeats, he heard the footsteps slow down and finally stop altogether. The now wet Hogan breathed a sigh of relief and dared to crawl out of the stream and look around the clearing. The man was gone.

He stood up and wiped the water from his forehead. He had made it. He had escaped. He ran away as fast as he could without looking back.

Did hogan make it?

"GET OFF ME, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" screamed Hogan desperately as he was pulled out of the water, pinned to his chest. He kicked back and forth as they both walked slowly, after a few minutes it became too tiring for Gruber and he squeezed the little legs so that Hogan stopped moving.

Gruber tried to calm hogan down as he slowly drew circles, on hogan's back, he really needs to wash him when they are both home. But I guess that will have to wait, he has other things to do. He heard a loud hum as he was back on the main road. "Last time I saw him, he was clearly older and wearing a horrible American jacket." remarked Hochstetter as he got out of the car, another car coming. This belonged to Burkhalter, Gruber noted, he knew this car because it came almost every week to do some kind of inspection. "Half a day ago I would have confirmed that, Hochstetter," said another voice, it was Burkhalter, he had heard it because they were both in the same car.

"Is he still in trouble?" asked Burkhalter, smiling slightly, but in his tone he found only dryness as he looked at Hogan as Hogan tried to break away. Gruber wanted to deny it but. It could cost him his life if he lied, Gruber valued his life very much. So he nodded slowly as he looked at the Burkhalter. The fat general moved forward as he positioned his hand on hogan's neck. In return, hogan only became more panicked, the Burkhalter nodding slightly as he got a dangerous gleam in his eye.

Behind the tough facade, the newly turned father was saddened and slightly angry, but he was not allowed to show it. But his façade almost fell when he felt a kind of wetness from the now hysterical Hogan. It was tears, it hurt his soul, but he had to bear it! "General, I don't think this is a good-" It was too late, the deed done and the howling broken by the executioner. Hogan slumped completely. Burkhalter looked at Gruber for a moment, and said only, "If he leaves again, I hope for their sake they like snow" the drought answer would probably make humanity extinct, so dry is the answer. Gruber nodded quickly and tried to salute. Emphasis on trying, he almost dropped Hogan in the attempt, "Leave it, he'll be up in a minute!" said Burkhalter again as he turned and left.

Gruber looked at his general as if considering what to do. That was the silent mayor's theory of everything else. Either Gruber wants to turn Schulz in or someone else wants to turn Hogan in to interrogate Friedrich. Hochstetter secretly hopes that he will offer Friedrich to watch Hogan, Wolfgang knows it's dangerous, but better than Backscheider or Schulz.

Before he can offer, Gruber has already asked him and given him the coordinates with street name and location. "Herr Bürgermeister, could you take Hogan, you'd be the man for the job. I beg-" Hochstetter interrupted him, "of course I do, Gruber." he said as he took him without really looking at him. "The clothes, Herr Bürgermeister, are already ready on the bed. The books are on the shelf and everything else is, I think, self-explanatory?" said Gruber briskly when he saw the Burkhalter. The Major only nodded as he listened to Gruber and turned to Hogan.

Gruber swallowed slightly as he handed Hogan Hochstetter, feeling as if he were losing his own child. Though it's probably only temporary. He doesn't understand it, Fritz doesn't know it either, but he doesn't want to know why he feels this way. It kind of broke his heart, it's funny. A week ago this boy was his hate person, this person wears more masks than a make-up artist could ever make.

"Now come Gruber, we have work to do," Burkhalter said with a smile and squeezed Gruber's shoulder. Gruber is afraid of this man, he is afraid of his general. That smile makes and can kill people in seconds. But unlike the idiot, he seems to be able to bear it; he can bear to hide his fear. It would be his goddamn death sentence, he's already risked it once, he can't afford to do it again.

"Jawohl, Herr General!" Retorted the captain as he turned and started to walk away, he felt an icy cold glare on his back.


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