Chapter 4

Oswald made his way down to the basement, not sure what to expect in the storage space. He found the pelican at the base of the stairs with four crates of different sizes in a line away from the steps. The wooden crates all had the front facing panel pulled out and as Oswald got closer, all seemed to hold someone inside. He stopped next to the pelican and asked, "So how are they?"

"Quiet since I got down here," the pelican said with a shrug.

Oswald walked down the row, taking in the beat up forms of Donald, Goofy, Horace, and Mickey. He kept his face stern, noticing they were all tied up and gagged, attached to the crate they sat in. He walked back to the pelican and leaned his back on a prop box just beside the stairs. "This is stupid," Oswald mumbled to the pelican.

"You don't have to tell me that," the pelican said with a laugh. "I wanted out of jail so I could see my little girl grow up. Now we're sitting ducks for the cops to catch us and add to our rap, we're now all accessories to kidnapping."

"You know, everyone else seems to think the same way," Oswald said, planting the idea into his brain. "I don't think I've talked to everybody yet, but the ones I have want to mutiny."

"So what would the plan be?" the pelican asked, looking down at the rabbit.

"Capture Pete and Julius, set these guys free, and make a run for it," Oswald offered. "They can give those two to the police and we get the freedom we want."

"And if the police show up before we can escape?" the pelican asked.

"We'll just say we didn't have a choice," Oswald said with a shrug. He eyed the pelican and asked, "Who all escaped with us."

"Well, you and me, obviously," the pelican offered. "Sherman, Phil-"

"Wait, you're not Phil?" Oswald interrupted, surprised the name he had thought up actually belonged to one of the convicts.

"No, I'm Robbie. Phil's a fox."

"Oh, okay," Oswald said with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I'm terrible with names."

Robbie shrugged before going back to his list of names. "Sherman, Phil, Hudson, Milt, Devon, and Joe. And then Pete and Julius."

"Who's the pig?" Oswald asked.

"Hudson."

"Hudson, Phil, Sherman, and you are all on the same side," Oswald offered. "Just need to talk to the last three."

"Don't talk to Devon," Robbie warned. "He's too close with Julius."

"Is he the..." Oswald let his voice trail off, hoping Robbie wouldn't notice his lack of knowledge.

"He's the mouse Julius would talk to during recess," Robbie explained.

"I never got recess," Oswald said, keeping up his act. "Wasn't exactly a model prisoner."

"That's probably why I don't remember you," Robbie said more to himself. He eyed the rabbit and asked, "Where you ever put in solitary?"

"No, they almost did a few times but they never did," Oswald tried. He turned back to the four crates just as a bang sounded from one of them. Oswald jumped forwards, rather it being him who stopped his friends from making noise than Robbie, and went to Horace's crate. "Quit that," Oswald ordered, noticing the horse was banging a foot against the walls of his cell.

Horace looked up at Oswald with a glare that said more than any words could before banging once more against the side of his crate.

Oswald threw a side long glance at Robbie before knelling down to pull down the gag from Horace's mouth. "What'cha want, horse?" Oswald asked, pointing his rifle at the man.

"Bleck!" Horace exclaimed, licking his lips. He looked up at Oswald and the gun as he said, "I need to use the bathroom."

Oswald let out a sigh before looking back at the pelican. "Robbie, toss me the knife. I've gotta take someone to the bathroom."

A pocket knife slid across the concrete floor, stopping beside Oswald's feet. He picked it up and leaned into the crate, flicking it open to cut Horace's hands free from the crate. He shoved the knife in his pants as he backed out, pulling Horace free of the box and raising to his feet. He pointed his prop gun at the horse and ordered, "Let's get this over with." He used his rifle to move him towards the stairs, getting to the base when a dog and cat opened the door.

"Where are you taking him?" the cat demanded, the two aiming their guns at Horace.

"He has to go to the bathroom," Oswald offered.

"When he's done, bring him on stage," the cat ordered, stepping back to let the two up the steps. "Pete and Julius have a surprise set up for all four of them."

Oswald gulped down the solid fear that had appeared in his throat, silently ordering Horace up the steps. The two walked down the hallway in silence, Horace throwing a look over his shoulder in fear. They got to the stage entrance where Oswald said, "Hey, check out the stage real quick."

"Nooses, great," Horace said with sarcasm as they took in five ropes tied and ready hanging from above the stage.

"Wait till the guys see that," Oswald mumbled to himself. He poked Horace in the back with his rifle and ordered, "Go on, to the restrooms."

The two made their way to the guest bathrooms, Oswald stepping around his friend to push open the door for him. Once inside Oswald rested his rifle against the doorframe once more to untie the rope around Horace as he whispered, "Sorry about all of this."

"Don't even bother with that," Horace grumbled as he was set free from his bonds. "You criminals are all the same."

"Horace, it's me, Oswald," the rabbit said, letting his nose fall as he looked up at the horse.

"Oswald!" Horace exclaimed only for Oswald to quickly reach up and cover his friend's mouth.

"Not so loudly," Oswald hissed. He let go of Horace's mouth, pulling out Ortensia's phone with his free hand. "Go ahead and use the bathroom. Hopefully Mickey knows what he's doing." He kept his attention down to the phone as he read, We've got everything ready to barge in. Let us know when.

Oswald let his thumbs do the talking. ASAP We've been ordered to take them on stage to be hung. He hit send before adding, You might have 4 of the cons on our side.

An indication of Minnie currently texting got Oswald to wait and watch the screen as Horace flushed.

How many in total?

7 + Pete and Julius.

We're making our move.

Oswald shoved the phone back in his pants and fixed his nose as he looked up at Horace washing his hands. "Come on, we've gotta get going."

"You gotta tie me up again, don't you?" Horace asked, drying his hands.

"Yeah, but it'll be lose," Oswald informed, quickly doing so. "When things get crazy, break free and do what you can, okay?"

"I'll try."