Prufrock Prepatory School ✓

day three at vfd village

(I know it's technically not Klaus's birthday yet, but I wanted to have his birthday in jail. Also, today's a short chaprer.)

Violet, Pheonix, and Sunny walked to the jail the next morning with the cake. They snuck inside. The others were happy, yet scared to see them.

Violet handed Klaus his cake. Turns out, he forgot it was his birthday, too.

"You can't be here long." Klaus told his sister.

"Why not?"

"Count Olaf found us. And a girl named Esmé." Francine explained. "They're disguised as a police officer and a detective. If they find you here, they'll put you in jail just like us."

Violet sighed. "I was hoping Olaf wouldn't find us so soon." She spotted food on a tray on the floor. "What's that?"

"Our food and water." Isadora told her. "Why?"

Violet got out her ribbon and tied up her hair and closed her eyes. Although Pheonix, Francine, and Isadora haven't known Violet for very long, they knew not to disturb he while her hair was up. Violet opened her eyes and started whispering to the others a plan on how to escape the jail.

"Sounds like a good plan." Pheonix told her after she was done explaining, and was pulling the ribbon out of her hair.

"Thanks." Violet said to him. She turned to the others. "Do it tonight. Around the evening. Maybe while Olaf and Esmé are gone maybe. We'll meet you tonight. Or morning. Whenever it's safe to leave Hector' house."

"What do you mean 'safe to leave Hector's house'?" Francine asked the others.

"Ever since we got caught the council of elders have been watching over this town like a hawk." Pheonix explained. "We have to be careful coming over here. And you three have to be careful escaping."

The three nodded. The Baudelaire sisters and Pheonix left the jail and started walking back to Hector's house. Pheonix told the girls he'd catch up to them later. He took this time away from them to get some food he saw in a box by the jail. It wasn't stealing. He was just taking what other people didn't want. On his way to the jail however, he was stopped by someone he was hoping to never see again.

"Olaf." Pheonix said, in a whisper.

"Yes, it is I! Count Olaf. But you know me better as Coach Genghis."

"What do you want?" Pheonix asked, standing a little straighter to be brave and hopefully intimidate Count Olaf.

"I need you help."

"Like I would ever help you."

"Oh? Not even if you family's lives were on the line?"

Pheonix froze. He may have run away and had no contact with his family, but he still cared for them.

"What are you doing to them?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just hiding them in your basement until you decide to do my bidding."

"Which is?"

"Tell me where the other Baudelaire brats and Quagmire kid are by tomorrow. If you do, your family stays safe. And you won't get hurt."

"What will you do to the Baudelaires and Duncan?"

"Steal their fortunes by any means necessary."

Pheonix sighed. That didn't sound safe. He didn't want to betray his friends, but at the same time, he didn't want Olaf to hurt his family. But, where were his loyalties? Don't do Count Olaf's bidding and get his family killed, or do Count Olaf's bidding, killing his friends but keeping his family safe. Would Olaf even keep his promise? Would Pheonix live to tell the tale?

"Alright. I'll do it."