Note: This was really fun to write. But still short. Sorry.

Chapter 3: Rewind

Four hours previously: Stonetown prison.

McCracken paced his cell, awaiting his employer's daily visit. The squeak of a wheelchair caused him to look up. A Prison Guard was escorting Mr. Curtain through the door to the cell. McCracken stood up, brushing off his prison uniform, and nodded to his boss. Curtain nodded back. McCracken picked up the pencil next to his crossword puzzle, and launched it at the startled guard. The pencil struck the guard in the heart, and the trajectory of the throw forced the guard to his knees. Curtain placed his hand over the guard's mouth, and waited until he stopped thrashing. Then the two men dragged the unconscious guard over to the bed. McCracken took off the man's uniform, leaving him only in his t-shirt and boxers, and slipped it on over his own under garments. He then put the prison uniform on the guard, and tucked the sheets in around him. He guided Mr. Curtain towards the cell door.

Crawlings looked up at his colleague.

"Took you long enough, my dear friend." He mused, bowing slightly at Mr. Curtain. "Shall we?" The three men walked and rolled down the hall. McCracken approached a quizzical guard, gasped and pointed over his shoulder. The guard spun, and so did McCracken, as the man slid to the ground, knocked out cold by the Ten Man's kick. Crawlings dragged him into a nearby supply closet, and came out a few moments later, dressed in his uniform. The three men were now the only ones in the corridor, and the only sound they heard was the squeak of a wheelchair, and their own thoughts. They reached Curtain's cell, and wheeled him inside.

Crawlings and McCracken ran down the hall, and out the door. The night air was refreshing to the formerly confined men. They jogged to the rendezvous point, directly behind Curtain's cell. They felt the wall for the hidden door. They could hear Benedict's voice on the other side. One…two…three…NOW! They pushed the door open, and pulled their guns out of their belts. Milligan and Benedict did not put their hands in the air. Milligan took out his tranquilizer gun, and fired at the Ten Men. McCracken and Crawlings leapt backwards from each other, avoiding the dart. McCracken swiflty took out a letter opener from his dreaded briefcase, and flung it at the agent. Milligan pulled his head back, only to be grazed by the whistling projectile. he fell to his knees, clutching his pounding head. Crawlings pointed his gun at the downed man. He smiled. Mr. Curtain laughed, and the five men exited the prison, the night offering a welcome cover for the three escaped convicts, and their unfortunate victims. After depositing the two men at the warehouse he called base, Mr. Curtain returned to the large house where the children now stayed with their parents. This was the fun part. He motioned for his crew of now five Ten Men to follow him. He had already memorized the path through the maze at the bottom of the house, and soon the group of sinister men found the first guard. He was easily ambushed, and the group split up. Sharpe, Garotte, and Hertz were to capture and hold the rest of the house in Benedict's office, and McCracken, Crawlings, and Mr. Curtain went to get the children. He could hear them talking as they approached the door to Constance Contraire's room, as if nothing was ever going to happen to them. Oh, how wrong they were. Mr. Curtain barely suppressed a chuckle, as he kicked open the door. The children nearly jumped out of their skin, and stared in dismay at their sworn enemies. Mr. Curtain smiled. Oh, yes, this was going to be rather interesting.