The American Nightmare

Chapter 9: Escape

Bella, Cheryl and Jacob sit miserably as the cold air of the prison chills their bones. Rain patters the roof and the wind rushes against the weathered stone of its walls.

"I'm sorry, Bella," Cheryl says gently. Bella wipes a tear from her cheek, reminiscing about her lost romance. "He didn't deserve you, Bella," Cheryl says.

"He doesn't deserve anyone." Jacob says harshly.

"Bella, I'm here for you," Cheryl whispers in Bellas ear, and then wraps her in a hug.

"I'll kill him haha." Jacob says. He turns to look at them. "Wow. Girl best friends moment."

Cheryl laughs seductively and Bella blushes.

"I am so tired of this stupid basement," Jacob sighs. "I can get us out of here, but you can't say anything. You need to trust me, there are things happening in this town that you don't understand."

"I understand... I only wish..." Bella says sadly.

"Wish what?" Jacob interrupts.

"I guess I just had a dream," she sighs, "a dream of living here. Being happy. I always thought that dream was going to include Edward."

"I'm so sorr..." Cheryl says.

"Give up on your dream and die." He interrupts rudely once more. The girls scowl.

"Why would you say that?" Cheryl says with a displeased tone.

"Wow, my muscles are really sore today." Jacob says, not paying attention.

"I cannot believe you."

"Anyway, ladies, we should get out of here. I'm lowkey kind of hungry right now."

"It's because you didn't eat the dough."

"It's because I'm not a sheep, haha. The government doesn't tell me what to do. I refuse to consume that microchipped dough." He says, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.

"It wasn't that bad, dude."

"That's what they want you to think." he says darkly.

Suddenly, the door shakes and someone puts a key into the door's lock. The three prisoners gasp and turn towards it as Edward walks in slowly.

"This is it. We are being taken to be hung." Cheryl whispers, tears filling her eyes. Bella looks sadly at her while Jacob flexes his muscles in his reflection in a pool of dark water.

"No, wait. I came to help you escape." Edward says in a whisper, "Bella... I'm sorry for what I did. I know it's my fault. I just... I knew poor little Y/N would never survive out there. I know you can. I will help you as best I can."

"I've gone over it in my head a thousand times, Edward. You are a smart person. I mean, you probably took high school biology like 50 times. There's no reason you would have chosen Y/N over me, unless you truly loved her. Leave us. I'll survive without you." girlboss!!!

"What's Biology?" Cheryl interjects. "And High School? What's going on? You aren't telling me something."

"I swear I'll tell you everything, when we are safe." Bella says. Cheryl nods.

"Bella, just know that I'm sorry. I swear I'll find you in the future and make it right." At this, Jacob turns away from the pool of water and finally notices Edward.

"Oh hey, bloodboy, what do you think you're doing here?" He says with an angry frown.

"Nothing. I'm leaving. I'm sorry." He leaves sadly, turning to look one last time at his forsaken love.

"I can't believe he didn't even say anything ominous as he left... he must really feel bad." Cheryl says, "But regardless, he has betrayed you and he doesn't deserve your forgiveness."

"Ready to rock and roll, ladies?" Jacob says with a grin.

"Please be careful Jacob, I worry about the outcome of this decision." Bella whispers

Jacob begins to remove his clothes. Cheryl shields her eyes dramatically. Jacob jumps forward and in a fluid motion his body shifts shape. Cheryl cries out in fear.

In an instant, he becomes a fierce wolf, his head towering over the girls as his foot pushes the door open.

"Let's go." he barks. They slowly walk out the prison door, past the sleeping body of the guard, and through the back door into the wilderness. Jacob lowers himself down and the girls climb onto his back to ride into the forest.

They ride through the dark forest for a few minutes, the moon shimmering through holes in the foliage. Finally, Jacob reaches an abandoned cabin in between the trees.

"Stay here, until I can take you to another village. I'm going back to town. I must save everyone." He turns and runs into the dark woods.

Back in Roxbury, the news of the prisoners' escapes spread across the town. Fear boils over into fury as townspeople flood the streets, armed with their pitchforks and axes.

"The witches will not take this town from us!" cries Emmett.

"What do we want?" Hale screams to the crowds.

"NO WITCHES!"

"When do we want it?"

"NOW!"

As they approach a small home near the center of town, their torches ignite a fire that spreads across the old wood. They cross town, setting houses on fire and forcing small families out into the open.

"Please! We had nothing to do with their disappearance!" One woman cries, holding her baby in her arms.

"Do I look like I care?" screams Hale.

"You are heartless, Hale!" shouts her husband as he emerges from the burning house, carrying everything he could save in his arms.

"Are you suggesting that we save the witches in this town?" cries one man, raising his pitchfork into the air.

"He's a witch!" another woman shrieks. Men surround the family, grabbing their arms and dragging them to a cart being pulled by horses which is already full of townspeople. As their paths toward the jail become aligned, a line of carts forms, surrounded by the furious mob. One cart straggles behind the rest. Within it, John Proctor stares at the road behind them with a devilishly angry grimace.

From the corner of his eye, behind a burning building, Proctor sees two twinkling eyes reflecting the flickering fire. As the cart pulls forward, the figure steps out from behind the building, one paw after the other.

"Jacob!" He mutters, realizing the rest of the cart is oblivious to his presence.

A moment later, Jacob begins to race towards the cart, his paws hitting the ground in a steady rhythm. With a swipe of his leg, a wheel falls from the cart and it falls.

"Come on, everyone, follow the wolf!" Proctor shouts, jumping from the cart and fighting off the few of the aggressors that surround the cart. He lifts a woman and her child off the cart onto Jacob's back and beckons the rest of them to follow him on foot.

The last member of the mob left standing cries out to the carts ahead, but his cry dissolves into the wind as their lights recede into the distance.

An hour later, the escapees finally reach the cottage, where they are greeted by Bella and Cheryl. The townspeople settle down onto the ground as the small child cries out into the cold, seemingly empty forest.