Author's Note

.｡｡*ﾟi hope you're staying safe and being kind to yourself! .｡｡*ﾟ

Love youuu 💗

"Muggs, your nose is bleeding," Grim said quietly, gesturing up to his own nose.

Muggs lifted his hand and wiped under his nose, drawing it back to find a bit of blood. He didn't seem fazed in the slightest, sniffling. "Yeah," he muttered, watching Alexei undo Tide's shackles.

"Let me see," Grim said worriedly, taking Muggs by the shoulder cautiously, and bending a bit to look under his nose as more blood trickled out.

"Don't touch me." Muggs' voice was low and threatening. "I'm fine. It happens sometimes."

Grim backed off immediately.

"Here," he said, reaching down to tear off a frayed end of his trouser leg, creating a makeshift cloth. He gave it to Muggs, who stared down at it carefully before accepting it. "You still snort cocaine?"

Alexei chuckled, shaking his head as he gave Grim a pointed look in response. "What do you think?"

Muggs dabbed the rest of the blood from his nose with the material. "Alright we gotta go. Haggerty will be back soon, and if I see him again, I'm going to strangle him with my rosary."

"Wouldn't want that," Grim muttered, as Alexei slid open the cell door. "How do we get out without anyone seeing us?"

"I don't suppose you brought disguises for us as well?" Tide asked.

"Not exactly," Alexei replied, checking to see if the coast was clear. He signaled for them to follow. "Just follow us. If anyone asks, we're taking you to the chapel for mass. All death row inmates are entitled to it."

"How did you know that?" Grim sounded incredulous.

Alexei shrugged. "Superintendent over on Duane Street did his research."

For the first time Tide's voice became deadly serious. "Grim, you do realize if we get caught, they'll hang us sooner rather than later." He hadn't yet crossed the threshold of the cell, as if held back by an invisible fence.

Grim looked back at his friend. "Well, that's a risk I'm willing to take."

Tide bit his lip, shaking his head as he looked down the empty corridor. His eyes displayed a wide range of emotions. "Grim, I can't," he whispered.

Muggs fumed, moving toward Tide angrily but Alexei grabbed his arm, letting Grim take care of it.

"Tide, come on," Grim urged, his voice becoming softer as he returned to his friend in the cell. "I ain't going without you."

Tide didn't have to say he was scared. Grim could see that plain enough in his eyes. They were both scared. But Grim feared more for their friends who were putting themselves in danger to help them. Forging friendships in the Refuge was one thing, but a reunion in Sing Sing would mean tragic consequences.

"Logan," Grim said carefully, holding out his hand. "Please. We have to go."

With a shaky breath, Tide clasped Grim's hand in his and took a step with him outside the cell. Then another, until they were out in the corridor with the other two.

"What about the warden?" Tide's face paled a bit at that, but his tone remained cool. "What if we run into him? And how do we get out?"

"Duane Street's little sister's got that covered," Muggs replied while he took charge forging ahead, navigating the dark passageways. "And a few others are getting the keys to the back entrance. When you get in the wagon, you're gonna have to play dead."

"Nothing we ain't already used to," Tide grumbled.

Alexei held up his hand, halting the group as a pair of guards strolled down the opposite corridor, swinging their clubs on a few cells. The four pressed flat up against the wall, shrouded in shadow, and waiting for them to pass.

They hurried up the stairs, reaching the daylight of the ground floor.

"Slowly," Muggs whispered. "Act like you're supposed to be here. And they'll believe you."

"How's that?" Grim asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's a funny thing with people," Muggs replied without looking back at him. "They won't question you if you're confident."

"Is that…" Tide trailed off, stopping in place, making Grim bump into him.

The four followed his gaze to a large cell on the far end of the upper block. It was considerably more comfortable than the other chambers.

"I didn't even know he was here," Grim said, staring over at Dr. Sayers behind bars. The white-haired man hadn't noticed them. Instead, he was reading a newspaper.

Muggs glared at Dr. Sayers, clenching his jaw as Alexei shifted his eyes to the dusty floor.

"Come on," Alexei mumbled, ushering them onward and around another corner to a back walkway. The yard fence was just beyond that locked door.

When Sophie, Crazy, Rails, and Cards collided with them, each party almost had a heart attack.

"Jesus," Tide exhaled a heavy breath, clutching his chest. "I thought for sure we were dead."

"We'll all be if we don't get out of here," Cards answered with a shrug.

Crazy held up a key. "Jack and Marquette are waiting with the others. Come on, we gotta go."

"Sophie, are you okay?" Alexei asked, giving her a quick hug. "The warden…he didn't…"

"He didn't," Rails confirmed, giving Alexei a reassuring nod. "She just talked him in circles about her wealthy aunt making a donation."

Sophie gave Alexei a small smile. "I'm okay."

She turned and embraced both Grim and Tide in hugs. "I know you don't properly know me, but I'm—"

"Jack's little sister," Grim guessed, hugging her warmly.

Tide studied her. "I'd know that kind of moxie anywhere."

Footsteps echoed from the cell block behind them, and Crazy moved to the back door. "Okay, it's about that time," he said, hurriedly jamming the key in the lock. "We'll have plenty of time to eulogize when we're on the train. Let's go."

Cards ushered them out, meeting Z and Fleet on the other side.

"Most of the patrolmen are in the front," Fleet reported, giving a half-grin. "Z set fire to paddy wagon, and we kicked it down the hill, heading straight for the warden's apartment. Should've seen them coppers sprintin'!"

Grim and Tide exchanged a worried look.

"Well, I guess we should leave before they book you for that," Rails muttered, shoving them along.

"You coming?" Sophie asked Alexei, who was studying Muggs as he hung back.

Muggs seemed to communicate something with Alexei simply by a glare.

"Right behind you," Alexei said to Sophie, pushing her out the door. "Go. We'll catch up."

Crazy stared back at the two in disbelief. "Where the fuck could you possibly be going—"

But the door had already shut.