Chapter 12

A/N: YAY! ON TIME AGAIN! WHOO! Let's see if I can get three weeks in a row! So yeah, here comes the big twist! You're all gonna be mad at me I bet...I'll probably do another chapter from Al's POV before I do another from Francis' and Arthur's because I've got a lot of things to put in for it all to work out! So yeah, I won't rant any longer up here. On with the story! Enjoy!

All through the hours of the night, the two children on the elevator slept peacefully, too exhausted for nightmares to plague their dreams. And as they slept, the men who held their lives in the palms of their hands argued and eventually came to a conclusion. One child would be freed. Just which, they didn't know. Yet. But they schemed during the witching hour(1) and developed a dastardly plan.

Alfred was the first to awake, feeling much better then he had the previous day, but his side still hurt him. Sitting up carefully, he unwound his brother's arms from around his waist. His mind felt fogged, and he was dizzy, but he could move and work properly. Getting up unsteadily to his feet, Alfred walked a few feet before having to sit down due to vertigo. Leaning back, Al's head fell back a bit and he looked up towards the ceiling of the shaft.

There seemed to be a small opening where light was coming through about 15 feet above them. It gave Al an idea. Moving over to Matt, he shook his brother awake. "Mattie," he said, "Mattie, wake up."

"Hm..." groggy purple eyes cracked open and looked up at the boy above them. "What is it, Al?" Matt mumbled, yawning. It took him a few moments to realize where he was and what had happened earlier, but once he did, his stomach filled with dread.

"I 've got an idea..." Al said, and leaned over to whisper in his twin's ear, pointing to the shaft.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"You go."

"No, you go."

"You."

"You!"

"The hero never bail's out!" Al said indignantly, jumping up and immediately regretted it, as he fell back to the ground, clutching his head and side in pain and dizziness. Matthew ran over to him to see if he was okay, but Al waved him off. "And besides, I don't think I'll be able to make all the walking I may have to do if I go. That's why you need to, Mattie. Alone" He said with pleading eyes and Matt finally relented.

The boys had decided that one would go through the air vent, which had to lead outside, and escape. The only problem- each one wanted the other to go. After an argument (see above for recap if needed) Al finally convinced Matthew to go through it. Sitting around, they finished their planning, and then just sat around to wait, snacking a little on the food, Al still only eating the broth as his fever made him lose his appetite.

Soon, the moment would arrive when one would be free while the other stayed behind.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Unbeknownst to the twins, Ivan had not planned for that vent to be opened, for no one thought the children would even think about using it to escape. And with no one monitoring the children in either household at the moment, the childrens' plan went unnoticed. Once it was realized that one child went missing, though, there would be hell to pay for the remaining one. Ivan wouldn't let the father's know he had lost track of one kid, so he would play this to his advantage till the child could be found.

o0o0o0o0o00o0o0o0o0o0o0

As the vent grew closer to the boys, they started getting ready to put their plan into action, but first, it was time to say their goodbyes for the moment. Al really didn't want to be left alone in the shaft by himself, and Matthew did not want to have to leave his brother behind. Both knew though, that this was their best chance of somehow getting out alive. With a feverish gaze, Al looked at his twin, and gave him a hug.

"Good luck, Mattie." He whispered in said boy's ear, giving him a tight hug, and wiping the tears that had accumulated in his eyes away. Matthew looked up at his brother with a strong gaze. Alfred's sickness had made him a little more emotional, and Matt knew right now he needed to be strong. Al smiled as he let go of his brother and walked with him to the edge of the platform.

"Be careful, Al. Take care of yourself."

"I will, Matt! Don't worry, I'll be fine!" Al said, flashing his brother a heroic grin, Matt's coolness helping Alfred to calm down too. "Get ready, here come's your way outta here." After one last high five, Matthew prepared himself for the jump into the vent. He had to time this just right. Five...four...three...two...one...JUMP!

Al held his breath as his brother was flying through the air momentarily before landing safely inside the duct, and Al let out a sigh of relief. "I'm here, Al! I'll do everything I can to get you out! I'll be back for you! Promise!" Matthew yelled out as he watched his brother rise out of his view on top of the elevator. Seconds later, his brother's face was out of sight, and Matt took a deep breath. Time for him to be the hero for his brother. He was going to get Alfred out of there, safe and sound.

Getting to his knees, Matt began crawling through the air vent, praying he would be able to find a way out. Then was the next challenge- how to get home.

A/N: And that's the beginning of the end of Ivan's reign of terror! Let's here it for Mattie! Our little hero in training! *cheers and waves maple leaf flags* Al's doing a good job, yes? I'm so proud of them both...*sniffles* Anyway, yes, that is the end of chappie 13! Or is it 12...I need to keep better track of these things...I'll count them later! So yeah, I hope you all enjoyed chapter 13! I will let you all know that I may be updating a lot soon, but that's not because of a new chapter. I'm planning on proof-reading and fixing all the grammar mistakes and typos I have so, yes, just a heads up about that when you get notifications about an update, it's all grammar stuff!

(1)- "witching hour" is a fancy term for midnight. Thank you Shakespeare!

PLEASE R&R TO GET MATTIE SOME HELP HOME!