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That night, Madison slept in the barn. She assumed the Martins knew she was there, and since they never asked her to leave, they probably didn't mind.
It wasn't comfortable, trying to rest her head on a lumoy bail of hay, but it provided a rustic feel that seemed to make her more grounded. Just being here, even if it had been no more than a day, made her happier than she ever was in the city.
Early the next morning, about four o'clock, she began to get restless. The hay she slept in felt damp and dirty, and she suddenly realized how disgusting her current situation really was. This was the same dried grass that the livestock ate, and it probably harbored millions of different types of bacteria.
This made Madison remember her aunt Kathy, back home. She was a germophobe. Big time. She couldn't touch a doorknob without using hand sanitizer.
Madison smiled in the middle of all the darkness that engulfed the rafter. Boy, would Kathy have a field day with this.
All at once, memories flooded back. The girl became nostalgic and homesick.
She felt her stomache rumble as if she would vomit.
She began to sweat like she was having a panic attack.
Her eyes became misty.
After throwing some random clothes on, she tossed the duffle bag over her shoulder and pulled her hair back into a high ponytail, that was still partly straightened from the day before.
She jumped up and did a little tip-toe run over to the ladder that lead back to dry moldless earth.
Practically jumping down it, and onto the ground, she hoisted the gigantic doors open, and gaped at what was seen.
Various redcoats were either sitting or lying on the porch, alongside different wounded continental soldiers. Their was a tall handsome man, obviously British, talking to Benjamin.
She hadn't seen this coming. She couldn't believe she'd forgotten about this part of the movie. Madison sprinted across the yard and practically jumped up the steps.
The Brit turned to give her a worried look.
"Well, hello." he said, attempting to ignore her attire and be as polite as possible.
Madison looked at Benjamin then back at the man.
"... Hello." she said.
Then, things began to go bad.
Benjamin and the British man turned at the sound of hooves pounding the ground. Madison's head snapped in the direction of the Dragoons, watching them get closer.
"No..." she mumbled.
Benjamin looked at her, but then turned back to the scene in front of him.
She wanted to run over to Thomas and shove him into the house, as she thought of his impending doom.
"No no no no." she babbled, her eyes getting misty once again.
But she couldn't alter the movie. If she did, she might never get out of it. But... that's what she'd came here for, right? To change history? Now that she was here, she was having second thoughts. Maybe it was best to just let it happen. Maybe... oh god, maybe it was best to save him.
She hurried over to the boy, who was only over a year or two younger than her.
"Thomas!" she whisper-yelled.
He gave her a wide-eyed look.
"What?" he whispered back.
"When Tavington gets here, he'll take Gabriel, but you can't try to be the hero and save him! Do you hear me? Don't be the fucking hero! I swear if you do I will slap you so hard-"
Madison was cut off, as the colonel began to speak, giving orders to his men.
He said something to the workers of the farm, but Madison wasn't listening.
She was too busy focusing on the young boy standing beside her. Her small hands wrapped around his forearm so tight, she thought she saw him wince.
A man walked up to Tavington, handing him a marked parcel.
"Who carried this?" the evil man asked.
Nobody answered.
THe air around the porch grew tense.
"WHO CARRIED THIS!?" he shouted.
"I-I did, sir." Gabriel finally answered.
Madison squeezed her eyes shut.
"I was wounded, and these people gave me care." he tried explaining. "They have nothing to do with the dispatches."
Tavington smirked.
"Take this one to camp. He is a spy. Hang him, put his body on display." he said, casually.
Thomas jerked his arm away from Madison, and took a step forward, looking mortified.
Benjamin tried to object, explaining that he had no reason to be hanged, but the colonel wasn't hearing it.
"Kernel..." Benjamin began to raise his voice.
"Father!" Gabriel whisper-yelled, as the men holding him tightened their grip.
Tavington suddenly caught on.
"Oh, I see. He's your son." he said. "Well maybe you should've taught him something about loyalty."
"Sir, I beg you to reconsider! By the rules of war-"
"Rules of war? Would you like a lesson, sir?" Tavington threatened, pointing his pistol at Mr. Martin.
Madison stood helplessly in front of the children on the porch.
"Or perhaps your children would..." he pointed the gun in Madison's direction.
Her eyes widened.
Benjamin ran over to them protectively.
"No, please! No lesson is necessary!" he practically begged.
"Sir... what of the rebel wounded?" the man from earlier asked, breaking the silence.
"Kill them."
The man looked like he wanted to argue, but he'd never butt heads with his commanding officer.
So, everyone was quiet.
And in that small fraction of a second, it seemed like an eternity. A long, drawn out stretch of regret, that Madison felt, because she she knew exactly what was to come. And she was starting o realize that she couldn't stop it.
Then, he spoke.
"Father, do something!" he demanded.
"Be quiet!" Benjamin hissed at him, walking back onto the porch.
Madison forced the water from her lashes, as the whole thing happened so quickly.
It wasn't as bad as she thought. It was actually just a blurr... like someone had pressed fast-forward.
She wasn't fully aware of what was happening... only snippets fully registered in her mind.
"Gabriel, run!"
...
"Thomas?"
...
"THOMAS!"
...
And then there was the gunshot.
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