A Second Chance

The Ersatz Elevator Part Two

ASHLYN'S P.O.V.

We were dragging the unconscious body of Jerome into the lobby of 667 Dark Avenue. When I say we, I mean Olaf and me, Esme was following behind us. She said it wasn't in to carry people across streets.

"Hey! You!" The door man said.

"Is just handsome foreign man and gorgeous lady dragging someone unconscious, please." Olaf said with a smile, dropping Jerome's legs.

"Oh, for a moment there, I thought it might be something suspicious. There's still a citywide manhunt. Did you have a nice evening, Mrs Squalor?" The door man asked.

"Oh, my, yes." Esme nodded, walking in front of us. "There's nothing quite like a luxurious 46-course lunch followed by a jot pickled fish and lengthy musical numbers."

"You flatter me, please. Now drag the snoring husband upstairs pretty lady. We must make arrangements here." Olaf instructed her.

"Righto." Esme said walking over tome and taking Jerome's arms and starting to climb the stairs. "Come on Jerome."

"Sorry for being suspicious. You can't be too careful with an actor on the loose." The door man said apologetically.

"I couldn't agree more." Oaf said in his real voice with a grin.

ESME'S P.O.V

Once I final reached the top of the stairs I found the orphans stood in front of the fake elevator. Thank God I got here when I did. They were about to discover our plan.

When they saw me, they screamed. I screamed as well so it would look like I was scared. They looked down at Jerome worried.

"Jerome!" Klaus said.

"What happened to him?" Violet asked.

"Nothing to worry about, darling. He just collapsed in the middle of dinner." I said as dragged him to the apartment doors.

"Collapsed?" Klaus repeated.

"Well, fell sound asleep." I corrected. "You should be asleep too. It's whatever time it is." I

"Is Gunther here?" Klaus asked.

"Who? No, no." I said, kicking the door open. I dropped Jerome onto the sofa and threw my coat on top of him. "Do you smell something? Like a...school librarian smell?"

"Jerome, wake up." Violet said shaking his shoulders.

"Let him rest." I told them impatiently. "Sleep is natural, like cosmetics or frivolous lawsuits."

"It's just, we need to tell him something important." Klaus told me.

"Tell me. I'm important." I said quickly. They said nothing. "And you're important to me. I know I mean I seem like an insanely powerful woman who spends too much time at work and too much money on earrings. But I'm also your guardian. You can tell me anything." I said realizing they wouldn't tell me unless I pretending to be caring.

"Well, you might not believe us." Klaus said.

"Try me." I insisted.

ASHLYN'S P.O.V

Olaf was calling his henchmen on the phone on the reception desk at 667 Dark Avenue. Olaf was sat on the spinning chair behind the desk. I was sat in front of him on the desk, I had his left hand in my right one and I was tracing parents on his palm with my left hand.

"Herring Houdini." I heard the hook handed man say.

"It's me, idiot." Olaf snapped. I smiled at him and carried on tracing patterns.