10 Minute Tales

Jan 22 - 80 Days Museum Escape

"There he is!" a voice exclaimed.
"Oh, bugger." he replied, running off quickly. The visit to the museum had been so lovely, but now they had to go. Winston had acquired a powerful artifact from a cult in the underbelly of London, and it seems that cult had found him again. "Excuse me, pardon me, may I come through?" he asked quickly, darting around people before they had a chance to reply. The cultists chased on, bowling people over left and right.
"Return the Eye to us!" one demanded, fumbling with a flintlock as he slowed down a little. Other cultists tried to clear a path for the gunner, but Winston was around a corner and out of sight. He took another corner and hid himself in what seemed like a janitor's closet, closing the door mere moments before the first of the pursuers rounded this second corner. They ran on, oblivious to his hiding spot. He waited until the coast was clear before peeping through a crack in the door. Jessica, his assistant, came running past! He opened the door and called to her, making her stop and turn around.
"Oh, there you are." she grinned. "Problem with some old friends?"
"I'd hesitate to call them friends, but yes, problem. Shall we depart?"
"At once!" she replied, and so the two ran.

     They made it outside again without a problem, but they barely made it down the grand marble staircase before a voice called out. Sure enough, another cultist was now alerting the others of his escape, and they were closing in again. They had had the entire museum surrounded!
"Blast! We're never going to be able to escape them like this, they have men everywhere!" Jessica grumbled, keeping a better pace than Winston.
"You're quite right!" he replied, ducking as the unmistakeable sound of a gunshot cracked through the air. "Some manner of vehicle would be best!" They looked around, but all the carriages seemed to be unavailable - some drivers were even taking aim at him with another flintlock.
"If you see one, tell me!" Jessica replied, vaulting an ornate fence effortlessly. Winston hopped over, accidentally landing on a flower and crushing it.
"Oh, dear..." he muttered, keeping the path going. The cultists were closing in, some blatant in their blue and yellow robes. It seemed hopeless, until they spotted a queue... and a large, red-and-yellow hot air balloon. Salvation! "All aboard!" he yelled, making a beeline for it. Caught off-guard, the balloon's owner was unable to stop the two from boarding.
"'ey, get off!" he demanded once he had gathered his wits. "You ain't paid!"
"I'm afraid I haven't the time to discuss due wages." Winston hurriedly explained, giving the man a fistful of silver coins. "I trust this'll be enough for a ride, and if it isn't I'll pay you back!"
"Time to go!" Jessica warned, ducking into the basket and working on a sandbag rope with her trusty pocket knife. Another crack heralded the sound of a bullet whizzing through the air, reminding them both they didn't have the time for their typical pleasantries.