We walked along a grate floor I looked below to see another level below us. Pipes of assorted sizes snaked along and vanished into the walls. Steam billowed up occasionally making the pathway making us sweat. Already I could feel a few beads of sweat drip down my forehead, I suppose that it was also the anticipation and nervousness that was really getting to me. I could practically smell freedom from where we were, and it smelled fantastic. I looked behind to see everyone else trying to keep their cool I couldn't blame them, this was exciting yet a very dangerous thing we were attempting. We came to a thick pipe that wide enough so that a human could move through. Michael led the way and us all followed behind. We passed a few large empty square rooms that were filled with rust and slime covered walls. We turned to a left, walked a little further then made a right. We then came to a stop at a wide opening and I looked to see three different entrances leading to god knows where. And tied up in the front of the entrance was Bellick. Over top of us I could hear footsteps and I knew that we were right underneath the guard's room. Teddy and Michael rushed over to silence Bellick as he attempted to scream for help. The rest of us cast nervous glances up at the ceiling, the footsteps stopped a blood curling silence then the footsteps few weaker as the guards left. We all breathed a sigh of relief.
We dragged Bellick into one of the entrances and retied him. I didn't glance at the head CO as I made my way following Sucre who was ahead. Michael had taken Bellick's CO jacket and cap to disguise himself as a CO. He then nodded for us to follow him as he led us through another series of tunnels to one of the many large square spaces. A ladder was wielded in the middle of the space and I looked up to see a grater above us. Past the grater I could make out the starry sky.
"Wait here," Michael said. He then left. We all were practically sitting ducks now. None of us knew what Michael had planned up his sleeve. We all waited with nervousness filling in the empty space around us. Then without any warning whatsoever, a blaring alarm rang off. I froze like a deer in a headlight as did everyone else.
"We're screwed!" Teddy hissed through his teeth. His eyes were tinted with fear. Just then Michael popped his head into the small confined space and for some reason his eyes sparkled.
"Dude we have to go back," C-note panicked.
"Don't worry," Michael reassured. "I set off the fire alarm in Psych Ward. Now get into your white jumpsuits."
We all listened and placed the white jumpsuits over top of the clothes we had on now. Michael climbed up the ladder first then waited at the top. We all climbed up as far as we could and waited until Michael gave the signal. Michael then pushed open the grate and went out into the open. He poked his head down.
"Hurry," he whispered. We all climbed the rest of the way as fast as we could. Once out Michael positioned himself in the back and we all positioned ourselves like the other whack shack inmates were positioned in a single line with myself in front. Michael nodded forward and we slowly moved. I tried to act like the other mental patients so I made my movements more jerky. We walked to the entrance and headed into the building.
Inside was smaller than the entrance to Cell Block A. There were more locked gates and a man dressed all on white buzzed us in.
"Hold up." The administrator said.
"Stop," Michael commanded.
I halted dead in my tracks, I heard Michael and the administrator exchange a few words.
"Whoa, that's John Abruzzi."
"Yes," Michael replied. "And?"
"Said to be the most dangerous inmate in all of the Cell Blocks."
"Do you have anything to put him out?"
The man extracted a small syringe and handed it to Michael.
"This'll knock him out cold."
Michael took it and gave a small smile. "Good." Before the administrator could react, Michael stabbed the syringe into the man's neck and pushed the sedative in. The man collapsed to the ground and Michael threw away the syringe.
"Come on," he said rushing up to take lead. We all broke into a light jog towards what seemed like the basement of the place. We came to a trapdoor and I opened it with some difficulty. I looked back to see Michael and Tweener now having a small conversation that none of us were able to hear. I turned back and jumped through the trapdoor to a lower level that was narrowed and dimly lit.
"What now?" Teddy demanded. I could tell in his voice that he was really getting anxious.
"We keep moving forward," Michael said coming in front behind us. He pushed to the front and started to walk down the narrow hallway. Thick pipes were wielded all along both walls that enclosed us. I just kept my eyes forward trying not to think of the word claustrophobic. We came to a ladder and started to climb. Michael pushed open another trapdoor and we all climbed up to a more spacious room. While keeping low we made our way along the hallway and Michael opened a door. I soon realized that we were in the infirmary. Close by in another room was Michael's brother Lincoln, but also a guard. Michael placed his finger to his lips the message was clear – quiet. We all quickly and quietly made our way to the room that Lincoln was in. Michael then opened the door and the guard jumped up in surprise.
"Wha-."
Michael took out the saw-toothed shank that he had earlier.
"Unlock my brother," Michael demanded.
The guard immediately did so and raised his hands in defense. Then Teddy came up quickly and slammed his fist into the guard's head knocking him out cold. Lincoln nodded his thanks and Michael nodded in return. Michael walked to Dr. Tencredi's office and then paused as he went for the handle. He looked back at us and then grasped the knob and twisted. The door came open with a click and Michael breathed a sigh of relief.
"We need to get those bars off that window," Michael explained pointing to the window closest to the desk. C-note and Sucre ran to grab a mattress while Teddy and Abruzzi went to grab the water hose from the fire case. I waited for Teddy and Abruzzi to get back as did Michael.
"Are you alright?" Michael asked.
I looked at him and only gave him a small nod. Teddy and Abruzzi came back and I took the hose and wrapped it around the bars before tying it into the tightest knot I could get it into. Sucre and C-note returned with the mattress. Michael made sure that everything was secure and that it would turn out according to his calculations. He then went back to the elevator, opened it and tied the other end of the water hose to the bar that was wielded to the very back of the elevator. Michael stepped out and then hit the down button. The elevator doors closed but then sprung right back open. Michael frowned. He tried it again but the same thing happened.
"Someone has to go in there," I blurted out. Everyone nervously looked at each other wondering who would they have to force into the elevator but then-
"I'll go," Tweener said stepping into the elevator before Michael could stop him. The young inmate pressed a button on the panel and the doors slowly closed. We all possibly wondered the same thing – will this be the last we see of Tweener? Our thoughts were cut short as the bars on the window creaked and groaned under pressure. We all watched as the bars flew out of the window and crashed onto the mattress. Michael gave a small grin and then walked over to the window. Just as he was ready to pull it open a voice spoke up – a voice that we were not all familiar with.
"I knew it."
We all turned to see a man in a white mental inmate jumpsuit standing in the doorway, his hair was sticking up in all directions, his eyes were completely wild and in his hands was a radio and receiver.
"I uh, knew that um this was happening," the man went on slowly stepping towards us. "Ever since you came into Psych Ward."
"Haywire," Michael pleaded.
"Either I come," Haywire lifted up the radio and receiver and warned. "Or I make a small person-to-person call."
We all froze there not knowing what to do.
"He's in," Lincoln said.
"What?" Abruzzi hissed grabbing Lincoln's arm. Lincoln threw Abruzzi off and answered. "He's in."
Haywire grinned and set the radio and receiver down before coming towards us. Behind him Tweener entered the room and Michael gave him a nod of thanks.
"We cross that wire," Michael pointed to the cable. "To the other side. Give Lincoln your jumpsuits."
We quickly stripped off the white jumpsuits but we were safe for we had our grey prison clothes on. We handed Lincoln the white jumpsuits and he climbed out of the window, adjusted himself accordingly, threw the jumpsuits over his stomach and then crawled across using his legs and hands.
"Line forms after me," Abruzzi said cutting before C-note. "In alphabetical order."
"Now hold up Abruzzi," C-note complained.
"You want a seat on the plane you do as I say." Abruzzi then climbed out onto the ledge and followed Lincoln's movements across the cable. There was a sudden crash behind us and we turned to see Westmoreland on the ground, blood was visibly showing on his clothes. Michael and I rushed to him and knelt down.
"Let's see," Michael whispered. He carefully rolled up Westmoreland's shirt to reveal a gruesome sight. Blood had completely crusted most of his left side, the wound itself didn't look so good and it even showed signs of infection.
"I have to go," Westmoreland whispered.
"It's okay," I replied gently.
Westmoreland ripped a necklace from his neck and handed it to me. "Give Anna papa's love."
I took the necklace not knowing what to say. I opened it to see a black and white picture of a young girl. I looked up to see mostly everyone had gone except Manche.
"Go on Michael," I said.
Michael looked back to see his brother motioning impatiently for him to come. Michael looked back and I nodded. He rose to his feet and gave me a sympathetic look – the same look that he gave me on the day that I was stabbed. He ran to the window, climbed out and then proceeded across the cable.
"Go," Westmoreland said.
"I never wanted any of this anyway," I whispered to him. Just then sirens and lights started to wail and flash I watched as Manche headed out too in a blind panic. "I'll be fine."
There was a horrible snap and I raced to the window to see that the cable had broken. I turned back to Westmoreland to see him motionless and I walked over. Dead. I rose to my feet and immediately felt a gun pressed to the back of my neck.
"Freeze!"
A/N: There is still one more chapter left. Spitfire47