Gold And Coal (Ryden AU)

2.12 ◇ The Great Escape

"If you ever want freedom, this is your last chance at getting it, you know?"

Startled, I opened my eyes. I hadn't realised I had company.

"2 days you stay here. 2 days to plan your escape."

I got up from the cold cell floor I had been sitting on and walking closer to the bars. Opposite of mine, I could make out 2 hands grabbing the cell bars in the dim light.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Nobody special. But I did manage to escape from these cells twice, so I suggest you listen to me. Where you off to?"

"Newgate."

A pause.

"Do you have money?"

"What?"

"Do you have money," he repeated.

"No, why?" Confused, I tried to make out more of the other man's face.

"Well, my friend, haven't you heard anything about Newgate Prison?" He said, his voice dropping eerily.

"No, are you trying to scare me?" It was working, I was becoming uneasier by the second.

"Not at all, merely to warn you. A lot of people die there, you know? Not even physicians dare enter the dungeons. It smells horrible, it's unhealthy and disgusting. Do you know you'll be chained to a wall? And if that doesn't seem bad enough for you, here's the worst bit."

Another pause, maybe to make his speech more dramatic, to build the suspense.

"You have to pay. Money is essential. And apart from the official fees, there's the guards. Love taking bribes, they do. They have the power. Can do whatever they please. Oh, it's not gonna be a happy time."

I swallowed, resting my head against the bars, terrified.

"Unless,..." he continued.

"Unless what," I breathed.

"I could help you escape you know. From here," he said slyly.

"What's in it for you?"

He laughed, "quite the smart one, aren't we? The thing is, I can't get out of this cell, only yours, I'll give you the details later, but I need your help to get out."

"What makes you trust me enough to think I'll help you and not get away by myself?"

Another laugh. "I don't trust you. I don't trust anyone but myself. No, that's not how I work. I saw your face when you came in. If you fail to help me, I will make sure every damn person in this country is looking for you. And if you are caught, you won't ever get out again."

My stomach twisted uneasily. "Alright. What's your plan," I sighed and prayed to every deity known to man kind that this would work.

●●●

It turned out his plan was hilariously simple, as it required for me to do nothing but remove a couple of stones.

"It's driving them insane," my helpful ally said, chuckling, "each time one of my guys escape, we make sure to blame it on the guards, who supposedly aided us, and each time they get replaced and it happens again. They're too stupid to think about other possibilities."

It was genius. I had been in here for one day, according to him, for I had lost every sense of time.

"The guard should come in here any second-"

And sure enough, we heard the sound of a door opening and laid eyes on the light of a candle slowly coming closer.

A piece of stale bread was thrown in each of our cells and a cup of water placed carefully outside the bars.

The guard left without a word.

We waited in silence for quite a long time, half an hour if I estimated correctly. It may have only been 5 minutes, but your senses get screwed when sitting in the dark and silence.

"It's time - go," he whispered and I felt for the wall, running my fingers over the stones, 1, 2, 3, 4. And five. I pulled at it, and sure enough, it was loose. Carefully, I removed the surrounding stones and reached inside. My hands made contact with something cold, and sure enough, I held a key in my hands.

"I got it," I whispered back and quickly fumbled for the lock on my door. It took some time until I was able to successfully unlock it, and my heart was beating furiously. My hands were shaky and sweaty.

I squeezed out of the door and made my way over to my new friend, or something of that sort.

"Please don't kill me," I whispered as I unlocked his door and he joined my in the corridor.

He didn't answer and we both retreated back into my cell, he pushed me towards the wall and I climbed inside, squeezing myself through the narrow tunnel behind it. He placed the stones back in the wall and placed the keys behind them before following me.

"Keep going," he hissed from behind me and I dragged myself further up. The lack of air was making me increasingly worried and sweat trickled down my dirt covered forehead.

"How much further," I gasped, my throat dry and I coughed, my lungs filled with dust.

"Not far, hurry," his hoarse voice came from behind me.

Brendon, I thought, he'll be pleased to see I'm alive and free. He can protect me.

I dragged my body over the earth again and I glimpsed light ahead. Determination filled my body and I pushed and pulled myself closer to the light. I felt a breeze against my hot skin and breathing got easier again.

Finally, my hands touched stone, and not dirt. I pulled myself out of the narrow tunnel and fell to the floor coughing and spluttering.

My accomplice followed behind me.

"We did it," I croaked.

"Not yet, we're not safe yet," he whispered back and pulled me to my feet. "Come."

I still had not the slightest shimmer as to where we were, so I had no choice but to follow him.

We turned a few corners, headed through some doors until finally climbing out through a sewer drain to the streets above.

It was indeed night, and it was snowing.

"I'm not going to kill you," he said and I sighed in relief.

I still hadn't caught a glimpse of his face, and I was certain he wanted to keep it that way.

"Thank you. For helping me and everything else," I said, dipping my head in gratitude.

"Likewise. You're an intelligent man, maybe we'll meet again someday," he said before vanishing into an alley.

I smiled, he reminded me of my first impression of Brendon.

~

Throw it away
Forget yesterday
We'll make the great escape

Watch it burn
Let it die
'Cause we are finally free tonight

~

What a fun chapter to write