For three long months, Lizzie prayed for even an hour without Angus around. Finally, her prayers were answered one night when Angus claimed he was going to a party.

"I'll be home before midnight." he said. Lizzie glanced at the clock. That gave her three hours to do everything. She could do it, if she was fast. "I love you." Angus kissed her goodbye. Lizzie gave him her automatic response of "I love you, too." And watched out the window as his carriage rolled away. As soon as it was out of sight, Lizzie ran up to the room. She packed a couple dresses, some money, and Daniel's clothes. A little food was also packed in case Daniel got hungry. She could wait until morning. She made sure the lights were out before leaving the house. She called out a carriage driving by and asked if he could take her to Rutledge. The driver asked her if she was sure and Lizzie paid him a little extra to wait for her.

The ride was a long one - it took about an hour - but they made it. Lizzie tried to get through the gate, but she found it was locked tight.

"No!" Lizzie whispered. She noticed a guard patrolling and called out to him. "Please, sir, my sister is inside and I need to bring her home. She's not insane, just falsely accused. Please, let me take her home."

"No one leaves Rutledge without the doctor's say. Come back tomorrow morning and talk to him." the guard explained.

"I can't wait until morning! We need to leave now! Please come back!" Lizzie cried, but the guard walked on. This put a damper on her plans. If she left without Alice, she would be a horrible sister. Not to mention Angus might do something to her. Perhaps she should initiate her plans another day? But when is another opportunity like this going to come? A month? A year? She couldn't stand living with her parents' murderer any longer. But at the same time, she'd rather leave with her sister than leave her behind. Down-hearted, Lizzie returned to the carriage. If she left now, she'd still have enough time to get home and unpack. Angus would never know what she did.

She swung open the door and inside the carriage, sat Jack. He inspected a large butcher knife as if it were a butterfly specimen and not a bloodied weapon. Lizzie cried out and called for the driver. The driver jumped down from his seat and revealed his face in the light of the street lamp. It was Angus. Lizzie gasped and started to back away.

"Angus, I-" Lizzie started, but Angus held up a hand that implied he wanted her quiet.

"So you thought you could leave me?" he asked in a smug voice. "You thought you could just pack up and leave? After everything I've done for you?"

"Everything you've done for me? Ha! You mean kidnap me, rape me, beat me, get me pregnant, and force me to marry you? Not to mention you killed my family! Alice tried to warn me, but the trauma from the fire twisted her memories. She thought she saw a centaur in our garden, but who she really saw was you! Kidnap, rape, battery, arson... I'll see you charged. I'll enjoy watching you hang!"

"Who do you think they'll believe? The word of a hysterical woman or a very influential about-to-be doctor? My God, Lizzie. I hardly believe it myself." He smiled his infuriating smug smile.

"My father was influential, too. I'm sure they'd rather listen to the daughter of Dean Liddell than some monster of a student trying to play doctor." Lizzie snapped.

"You silly bitch. I've made absolute sure that I would never get blamed for any of my crimes. Do you think your parents are the first I've killed? Who do you think killed my abusive father? Who do you think killed my mother and her drunken boyfriend? Who do you think killed my uncle when I needed to move out? I have rock-solid alibis. You'll only get yourself into trouble, or better yet, stuck in the asylum with your sister! Now, I'll give you only this one chance: get in the carriage and stay quiet about all this, or refuse and I'll let Jack bury his cleaver into your chest." Angus said. Lizzie glared at him. She didn't like either of her options. Either way, she'd leave Daniel in dangerous hands.

This chapter is short because there are two options for an ending: Bumby's Ending and Lizzie's Ending. Choose which ending you prefer.