BITTER - Michael Gray.

TWENTY.

♛

For such a cold December morning, the bright sunlight was flooding into the cell. The normally grey walls had a new blue tint to them, clashing with the orange glow from the lamp. Olivia sat on her so called bed, legs crossed, head on the wall and eyes shut. Her hair was tangled and matted from days of no brushing and her skin was worse than ever before. Prison life wasn't treating her all that well.

"Hamilton." A woman's voice echoed throughout the room. The cell door was unlocked and opened to reveal Liv's least favourite guard.

"Morning." Olivia didn't bother opening her eyes to see the sight in front.

"Hamilton. Open your eyes." The guard instructed.

"Must I?" She sighed with sarcasm weaved into every word.

"I won't ask again Hamilton." The guard latched onto Olivia's arm and pulled her upright, her eyes opening in the process.

The vicar was stood there with a copy of the bible tucked under his arm.

"Is it Sunday? Christ I've slept more than I thought." Olivia mused. "I wouldn't bother anyone father, I think it's all a load of shit to be frank."

"No Miss Hamilton. That's not why I'm here." The vicar solemnly spoke.

The penny dropped.

"Get the fuck off me." She tried to push the guard away from her with her broken wrist but there was another for backup.

"Don't fight it." The vicar was so calm in his words it was unnerving. "The lord will bless you-" He began.

"Shut the fuck up why don't ya? Get off me please." She begged and sobbed as the guards pulled her out of the room, pulling her arms behind her back.

The corridor was long and winding. Screams and cries of the other inmates echoed down the metal hallway, all begging for mercy. The walls seemed to close in, getting tighter and tighter as the light source disappeared. She didn't want to die for something she didn't even do. Her blood boiled at the mere thought of Tommy Shelby and how he screwed his whole family over. Olivia's wrist throbbed as one of the guards bent it behind her back. Her lips tingled as she remembered Michael and how he kissed her. She wanted him by her side. She was scared, for the first time in a long time.

Olivia was yanked up a set of stairs to where her end was. Her face paled. There were two.

"Polly?" She screamed.

"I'm here. I'm here." The woman choked out as she was hooked in by the rope.

"I can't, I don't, Pol I'm not ready." Olivia wept as the cord was tightened around her neck.

"Think of your mother. Her warmth that will embrace you again. Your father, he yearns for his daughter darling. And Sam. Cheeky Sam, he can't wait to have his sister back. They're waiting for you." Polly whispered softly.

"Anna's waiting for you Pol. I know it." Olivia turned to look at Polly. "I love you so much."

"I love you too. Don't ever forget that." Polly tried to smile but her heart just wasn't in it.

Polly began to whisper a prayer to God, but Olivia squeezed her eyes shut. She could see her family, laughing and beckoning for her to join them.

"Mum I'm coming. I promise." She whispered so quietly only she could hear.

The guard placed his hand on the lever as Olivia's heart lodged into her throat. This was it.

She toons. deep breath and waited for the floor to drop beneath her. But it never did.

"Wait!" A man shouted as he ran into the cellar, paper in hand.

Olivia didn't know what was happening. Her head was a blur, all she can remember was falling into Polly's arms. Both women were bawling as they realised they would live.

They'd cheated death.

♛

Michael was in an all too familiar position himself. He was cuffed and being dragged to the gallows with John and Arthur close behind him. His stomach was churning and he felt like he was about to be sick as he was grappled into the noose. Staring his officer in the eyes was like looking death in the face. He had no escape now.

His mother, father and brother flashed across his mind, how he took off and never told them where he was. Polly popped up too, how she was so protective over him, purely out of love. Olivia then came up. That charm he tried to resist so badly, but just couldn't. That smile, the one that says 'you could never hate me'. That fucking kiss. It didn't matter know, he had at most three minutes before he'd by hanging by a rope. He wanted her with him. She could calm him in these situations. He needed her.

Michael's eyes were bulging out of his head. He couldn't die. He couldn't. He couldn't.

The vicars smoothly delivered the Lord's prayer as the rope tightened around his neck. No. No. No.

The lever was ready to be pulled by the senior guard, his hand rested on the handle.

His eyes were still wide.

"In the bleak midwinter." Arthur broke the silence.

"In the bleak midwinter." John echoed.

The floor never dropped.

"Wait!" A police officer entered the room with formal looking documents.

"What's going on?" Arthur shouted.

He got no response. He was simply released from his noose, as were Michael and John.

They too were alive.

And everyone was going home.

♛
a/n: i cried at polly's little speech god that was too much. maybe it's me and i've had a hard week. this is also a bit shorter i know but the next ones will be longer.  i'm not prepared for what's about to come :( x