The Immigrant

Chapter 21| November 18 1798

I swung my bag over my shoulder as I looked around my room one last time. How it felt so barren without any of my items. I sighed as I looked down at the letter on the table as I walked over to the desk and blew out the candle.
I crept silently down the stairs and out the door. The frosty air bit at my nose and cheeks as I looked up and down the dead street. I flipped open my pocket watch as it read one in the morning. Pale moonlight danced off the shadows of houses as I made my way towards the north side of the city. My breath swirled around my face as I tried to hear any noises above my pounding heart.
I passed by the Hamilton's residence as I smiled sadly. How I'll miss them dearly. Philip, my best friend anyone could ever have. Eliza, the sweet, caring and supportive angel and Alexander who was a proud leader, mentor and a good friend.
I sighed as I buried my free hand into my coat pocket as I walked passed. I made my way about a mile and a half until I reached the outer limits of the city. I knew of a horse stable by the edge of the forest where I could borrow one for the journey.
A faint light flickered at the stable entrance as I stepped in. Horses neighed quietly as I walked in. I found a man sleeping in a chair in the back, a tin cup laced around his twitching fingers as he snored loudly. I threw a pouch of coins in his lap as he woke with a start.
"What in the hells blazing was that for?" He shouted groggily.
"I need to use one of your horses sir." I replied with a cold stare.
The man tossed the pouch in his hands as he looked at me with narrowing eyes.
"For how long?" He hissed.
"For about a week sir." I lied as I knew I wouldn't be giving it back to him.
The man groaned as he got up stiffly and limped to one of the gates.
"You got any bags on ya?" He asked.
"Just the one sir." I said turning so he could see it.
He grumbled as he unlocked the stable door and brought out a striking black and white horse as its warm brown eyes looked down at me.
"Good for long distance and carries a lot of weight." The man murmured patting the horse on its side as it snorted.
"I'll get it saddled up for you." He said as he handed me the reins and walked off into another room.
I gave the horse a soft scratch on its nose as it lifted its head down as I rubbed its soft snout. A few moments latter the man came out with a saddle and a carrying bag. He mounted both onto the horse.
"There you go, he's all yours." The man said whipping his hands on his ripped pants.
"Thank you sir." I said with a nod.
The man grumbled to himself as he retreated back to his chair. I led the horse out of the stable and into the cold air. I climbed up onto the saddle as I placed my white bag into one of the carrying bags. I lifted up one of the reins and gave a little whistle as the horse moved forward.
I read my watch as it was now close to two now. My thoughts flurried as I looked at my surroundings. With New York City at my back I followed the same road Burr and I took to get to Mount Vernon those years ago.
I sighed as the rhythmic clicking of the horses hooves clicked slowly down the road. The road followed the coast until it retreated back into the woods going south. After many miles, the sky was lighting up with the colors of orange and red. By now I had made it at the end of the cove and now was heading into a dead oak grove the stretched for miles and miles. The sun rose slowly over the hills. I thought about all the people waking up in the city. Going about their daily lives as the world still spun around.

Meanwhile
Burr covered his face with his hands. He didn't mean what he said to Ezio yesterday. He thought of Ezio as highly intelligent, optimistic and a caring character. He lowered his hands as he looked out the door of his study. He slowly got up with a sigh as he walked out of his office and up the stairs to Ezio's room. He paused at the door as e cleared this throat.
"Ezio?" Burr called his voice stern but quiet.
There was no answer, not even a sound form the other side of the door.
"I just wanted to apologize for yesterday's quarrel, what I said I didn't intend it." Burr sighed.
Still no answer. Burr stepped back as he looked at the door.
"Ezio?" He asked his eyes narrowing.
He turned the door knob as he slowly walked in. He froze as he saw the room was completely barren of Ezio's items. All his pages gone from his desk, except for one...
Burr walked over to the letter as he picked it up. He read it through as he face grew pale.
"Oh no." Burr hissed.
He folded the note in his pocket as he looked around the room. Burr noticed the portrait of Theodoisa still standing on the desk as he gave a shaky breath. Burr walked out the room and ran down the stairs.
How could of I been so careless! Burr thought as he rushed out into the streets. Pinpoints where the docks were, he walked hurriedly down the streets. The sun shone at the tops of the houses as he made his way downtown. He surpassed City Hall as he caught the eye of a familiar face.
"Good morning Burr." Alexander greeted as he caught up with Burr.
"I've been wanting to talk to you." Hamilton said.
Burr glared down at Hamilton as he kept walking.
"Not now." Burr hissed.
Hamilton frowned as he looked at Burr's flustered face.
"What's going on?" Hamilton asked wearily.
"Ezio, he's gone." Burr growled.
Hamilton blinked with a puzzled look.
"What do you mean gone?" Hamilton said quietly.
"He's left the city, he's heading back to Italy.." Burr choked as guilt rushes over him.
Hamilton's jaw dropped as he looked at Burr dumbfounded.
"Why?" Hamilton asked.
Burr stopped  in his tracks as he looked back at Hamilton with a cold stare.
"Why is not important now Alexander, what I need to do is to find out where the hell he has run off too." Burr murmured as he proceeded forward.
"You don't think he's already on a ship back to Italy?" Hamilton breathed.
Burr bit his lip as he prayed not.
"The only was to find out." Burr said as he walked to a wooden booth next to one of the docks.
"Pardon me sir." Burr said hurriedly.
A man over the counter looked at Burr with a unpleased look.
"What can I do for yer?" He growled.
"Listen, is there any shipments heading to Italy?" Burr asked anxiously.
The man paused as he looked from head to toe of the flustered man.
"The same question was asked yesterday by a young fellow...do you have relations?" The man asked.
Burr blinked.
"Who was this young man, what did you tell him!" Burr asked urgently.
The man sighed as he leaned forward in his chair.
"Didn't get the name but yesterday afternoon a young man around the age of twenty or so asked me if there was any ships heading out towards Italy, which I replied the last one left that morning." The man explained.
Burr gave a sigh of relief but it was cut short.
"So he asked me if there was any going out from any of the other states, the only one is down in Charleston South Carolina and its leaving Friday and that's when he thanked me and left." The man sighed.
Burr looked over at Hamilton.
"Charleston South Carolina?" Burr's voice shook.
Hamilton looked back at Burr with the same worried expression.
"Thank you sir." Burr said as they backed away from the booth.
Burr walked quickly out of the port and onto the streets.
"If you're thinking about going to Charleston I'm coming with you." Hamilton said determinedly.
Burr gave a huff as he rolled his eyes.
"Now be sensible Alexander, you are not going to cross the entire country to find one man." Burr hissed.
Hamilton crossed his arms as he stopped, making Burr stop with him.
"I have the same right as you to find Ezio...if not more." Hamilton retorted.
Burr gave a long depleted sigh as he looked at Alexander in the eye. He knew there was no point fighting with the man.
"At ten tonight meet me at the north end of the city by the old country road that leads into Pensilvania , we'll progress from there." Burr said cooly.
Alexander gave a brief nod.
"Yes sir." Alexander huffed.
They both parted ways. Burr looked upwards at the blue sky. A tight knot in his stomach filled with worry.