It was a sunny day, rare for England. But Alfred wouldn't have known how nice it is today, not yet, as he escaped from an underground prison and is running through a dark tunnel. He hasn't seen real, direct sunlight in a long time, either. Just a little from the falling ceiling. He only got artificial light in the dungeon, and he didn't have it that long either. But today, he will finally be outside, if he can outrun the guards chasing him. The Royal Guards yelled past him, but he didn't listen. He didn't care. As long as they didn't get to him, he didn't care how long and hard they yelled for him to stop. He needed to get away from the guards chasing him. The other prisoners that tried to escape were already captured, so there is only a few of them left. He wouldn't get captured. He hoped he wouldn't. Maybe if he threatened them somehow, once he got to stop running. Alfred thought of taking a hostage so they wouldn't follow him. Put the threat on the person. An important person, of course. It wouldn't be hard for him. He knows how to take hostages, what to do with them. Alfred has successfully taken hostages before, and he got what he wanted. He could do it again, too, and he knows it. Alfred's heart beat increased at the thought of taking a hostage. He loves it. Taking a stranger wherever, having them do what he pleases, just to get what he wants.
Alfred started to see light. The opening of the tunnel. At the prison, he heard some guards talking about a banquet being held right where he was going to go. Only the best people that the Queen choses personally are going to be there.
"Oh perfect. I could grab someone, someone really important. Then they'll stop chasing me, and I'll have another person in my custody," Alfred breathed to himself. He picked up his speed. He was getting tired of the sounds of his feet echoing around the tunnel, the yelling of the guards bouncing of the walls. He stepped out of the tunnel, flooded by light. He wrinkled his nose and squinted his eyes, blinded for a few seconds. His eyes adjusted to the new light sky quickly as he looked around. Buckingham Palace was right in front of him. Alfred couldn't believe it. He's seen pictures, he's heard stories, but now, it's right there. Standing so close to him. All the different flowers and the well kept grass around the fences could be smelt where Alfred stood. A huge water fountain stood in front of the palace. It was beautiful.
Alfred shook his head, clearing the thoughts entering his head. He had to stay focused. There were guards, the Royal Guard, dressed in red, with many shiny metals on their chests. The guards walked around the property on the light brown cement ground. He spotted one that looked most important, but not that into it. He decided that would be his target. Laughing to himself, he pushed up his glasses and ran in that direction, towards the palace. He could still hear the guards behind him practically screaming for him to stop. But Alfred knew exactly what he wanted, what he was going to do. And why would he stop to some guards yelling behind him? The space between Alfred and his target was closing and the gap between him and the guards was getting larger. Alfred's blood filled with adrenaline. As he came only a few feet from the oblivious guard, who turned his head slightly, Alfred's breath caught. He soon shook it off and ran the last bit of space between them. Time slowed. He could hear the guards yell as they slow, gasping for breath, as he reached for the guard's neck. Just as he planted his feet in the grass and firmed his grip, Alfred pulled out the knife he managed to steal back at the prison. He put the knife up to his throat, but the guard just looked up, his expression anything other than surprised.
"Anyone that wants to keep chasing me will be responsible for this man's death! If you leave me alone, he lives. If you want to do anything funny, try to get me, I pull back the knife, and he dies. Deal?" Alfred yelled through deep breaths to everyone surrounding him. He took the time they wasted to study his hostage. He had unkempt, yellow hair. His figure was slightly smaller than Alfred's, and his eyes were green. A very nice shade of green. Nicer than the grass, nicer than the bushes and trees. His eyebrows, well, they were the biggest eyebrows that Alfred has ever seen.
"Even if they did leave you alone, you're not going to let me go, are you?" The guard spoke quietly. Alfred was slightly surprised by the tone in which he spoke. He didn't have fear in his voice, as if this happens regularly. Alfred never would have expected someone to be this calm. But he ignored his surprise, and smirked before he answered. "You are quick to learn, aren't you? No, you're staying with me. That or you die. And that would be no fun for both of us, now would it?" Alfred noticed, though, that the man's voice sounded like he was somewhere else, like he worked to hard. Yet it was smooth and firm, a sound Alfred had never heard from any person before.
"Well? What'll it be?" Alfred yelled to the people around him. They seemed to back down from him, and Alfred was glad to see their response. "Good. Now we'll be leaving." Alfred turned to go. "Oh, and you might want to check your security, it isn't that effective. Obviously." He walked out of the palace's courthouse and into the street with his orange jumpsuit, his knife, and new hostage.
To be continued...