Chapter Text
„And what if we run away?“, Friedrich asked, upset and nervous, anticipating Albrecht's answer.
They have been fighting for who knows how long. It was the day before Albrecht's obliged withdrawal of the piece of work he wrote.
“They will take us back”, Albrecht countered, “I won't be able to take a glimpse of you or the school altogether. I’ll be gone. I don’t know what they plan on doing to you.”
“What else is there to do? What would you suggest? Staying? Do you actually want to stay?”
Albrecht watched him. Fear and resentment were the only motivations that directed him over the past couple of days. Sitting on the floor of their shared room, he looked at Friedrich as if he wanted wholeheartedly to believe him. To believe in this plump proposal of being able to just run away.
“Albrecht, we should try it”, Friedrich asked of him, trying to control his voice and anger. All he wanted was to take Albrecht from this damned school. He didn't even blink, looking at Albrecht. “Please. We’re going to leave this night.”
Albrecht knew all too well that he was unable to reject his offer at this point. It seemed impossible to consider it, now that he had imagined, for some moments, that they could actually get away with it. He would have followed Albrecht into a suicide mission. What else was there to do?
***
Friedrich has always been popular, similarly among students and teachers. Until afternoon he knew everything about the teacher’s routines and the windows facing the exit. He proposed his ideas to Albrecht.
“I could tell Hefe I’ll get him a picture of my sister. He’ll throw a fit in the main hall to clear the Eastern side of the school. We should be able to escape before anyone notices."
“That is far too dangerous”, Albrecht stated. “What if he just changes his mind? In any case, we can't tell for sure they won't see us. There is nowhere to hide hundreds of meters around the school, no bushes, nor trees.”
“What if we just vanish whilst dinner takes place?”
“My father will notice. He'll be in the dinning hall tonight."
Albrecht was lost in thought, frowning and with his fingers tugging at his lips.
“We should leave when everyone’s asleep. There is no better way. Even when we consider the risk of waking someone up from our room.”
“As long as Christoph stays asleep.”
“If Christoph wakes up, it’s over.”
***
As Friedrich and Albrecht both quietly slipped out of their beds that night, neither of them knew where they would be the next morning. They pulled their prepared bags from under the sheets. Never seemed the hallways so dangerous. With hearts beating loudly, more so with every foreign sound, they made their way through the school.
They slipped into the night. Their breath was visible in the air and the ground was white of snow, reflecting the spare lights of the night. Silently they hurried towards the main gate, leaving imprints in the snow. They got their bikes on the way.
Albrecht circled directly behind Friedrich with the wheels almost touching. In a way, fear and doom vent on their bikes. In a fast pace they progressed through the forest, the wintry scene of the early day. Even the forest seemed to be sleeping.
They arrived at the river half an hour later with their muscles aching and their knees weak of exhaustion. They stumbled through the snow and carried their bikes through the forest towards the river bank. With full force they threw their bikes towards the open water. The stream carried them unnaturally fast along the broad river.
Friedrich saw the fear in Albrecht’s eyes, watching the bikes being pulled along in the current. But Albrecht kept quiet. He just asked, as if his mind was absent: “Should we better keep our clothes on or off?” The first light of day hung over their heads.
They waded into the water. Even within the first meters, the river tugged at their knees. The cold was close to unbearable. As they began swimming towards the other side of the river, the current dragged them along faster than they got closer towards the other side.
“We should stay on the river!” Albrecht shouted as they reached the centre. “This way, we will get even further away.” His voiced sounded breathless and rushed.
“They will never look for us on the other side!” Friedrich shouted back.
They looked at each other for a moment, pale faces, floating amidst the piercing coldness, trying to stay afloat with heavy clothing dragging them towards the bottom of the river. With lips pressed together Albrecht nodded his head.
The air hit them relentlessly, when they arrived at the other side of the river. Their clothing and bags were dripping wet, leaving water marks in the snow. With stiff arms and legs, they climbed up a hillside, pulling themselves up on tree roots. Friedrich who arrived on top gazed at his hands. The pain vanished – a numb and uncomfortable feeling spread through his reddened fingers. He didn’t feel them anymore as he pulled Albrecht up the hill.
***
They found the cabin when the sun rose and the snow began sparkling.
They collapsed behind the threshold. Leaning against the closed door, eyes closed, they sat next to each other.
“We…”, Albrecht managed to say, “should make a fire.”
Neither of them moved.
The cabin was just as cold as outside, though neither wind nor snow got inside. Opposite the door were shelves full of books and tools, cooking utensils among them. To the left were a few wooden chairs, a small table and a fireplace. On the right there was a mattress on the floor, with old and dusty blankets. There was even a Persian carpet, though every surface was dirty, full of dust and freezing cold. After a few minutes, they felt their own body warmth returning just a bit.
Two windows in between the shelves and the bed captured the light of the sun, which hit the wooden floor. Albrecht moved forwards, facing the sun and closing his eyes. The sun awarded him with the faintest feeling of warmth on his skin. Friedrich joined him and laid down next to him. Albrecht blinked and his gaze fell upon Friedrich’s facial features. They were peaceful.
“Did we make it?” Albrecht murmured.
“I hope so”, said Friedrich smiling, “after all this trouble.”
They had carried the mattress and the blankets in front of the fireplace, which Albrecht had managed to inflame. The fire was timid, strong smoke filled the air, but the warmth began spreading through their bodies again, alongside another emotion. Flickering hope.
“I think I’ll write my parents”, Friedrich said. He gazed into the fire, acutely aware of Albrecht watching him as if he was surprised. “Please help me with the words. I don’t want them to open letters and suspect anything of them.”
Albrecht agreed. Somewhere in his mind he was content with the idea of being able to do something. To occupy his mind and put it to work. He had the majority of blankets over his shoulders, Friedrich seemed to get warmer much faster. He could still see Albrecht’s red lips faintly coloured blue.
“We don’t have any money for food”, Albrecht stated sharply after a few moments.
Friedrich got up. With a loud thud and the sound of metal he put a bag down by the fire, the fabric still wet. It opened up before Albrecht’s eyes. Weapons, guns, more than a dozen. Albrecht wanted to say something, but no words left his mouth.
“I’m going to sell them”, Friedrich announced. Even he seemed to get some sort of satisfaction of being able to do something again, putting himself to work.
“What if they ask questions?”
“For that reason" Friedrich said jokingly, "I know how to use a gun.”
For a moment, both of them wished it was all a joke - to know how to use a gun at the age of seventeen.
“I’m glad you took them. I’m glad you’re selling them”, Albrecht said quietly and staring into the fire.
“I’m glad we’re here", Friedrich answered.