The cell is situated in the cellar of the quarters and it's cold and damp. They have been locked there for some hours and it's already night. The officers haven't said anything to them so they have no idea about what is going to happen.
Alice is shivering, curled up next to Uncas.
"It's all my fault" Uncas says with guilt reflected in his eyes "If I hadn't proposed to live in the cabin..."
"Don't say that!" Alice exclaims touching his cheek "I agreed with that. And you are not the one who attacks innocent people in the street".
Knowing that she might be scared, he tries to offer her comfort "We are going to get out of here. Then we'll go from this horrible town with Susan. We can go to the Delaware camp with our family. We'll be fine there".
After the battle with Magua, they were living in the indian village for some months, while Uncas recovered from his wounds and they even married there in the Delaware tradition. However, despite the fact that people there were very respectful with Alice, Uncas knew they didn't understand his union with a white woman. After all, they had listened his father talking many times about him continuing the Mohican line, so they assumed he was going to marry a Delaware woman. Uncas was aware that probably Alice would never be truly accepted among his people so he decided it would be better to live in a cabin on their own. He preferred to be the one who suffered the worse stares from local people, instead of the other way around.
"I would like to live there" she smiles slightly. Then she remembers her daughter, who might be in Sarah's house. She is sure the kind woman took the child with her when she heard the news of their arrest.
"Oh my poor Susan...she must be so scared without us" she can't help the sobs coming to her throat.
"Sshh, my love. You said she was strong remember? he puts her head against his chest as he strokes her hair tenderly. "And Sarah will take care of her until we return".
Alice seems to relax a bit and Uncas starts braiding her hair, something that always brings her comfort. Finally, after a while, they fall sleep.
Next morning, they awake by the noise of the lock on the door. Two officers get into the cell as Alice embraces Uncas in a protective instinct towards him and also to feel protected herself.
"Woman, you are free to go" one of them informs "I hope with this night here you have learnt to show more respect towards the officers"
"But...but my husband?" Alice asks confused.
"The indian stays here. He is the one who killed the men" They grab her and drags her to the door.
"No I won't go without him!" Alice shouts.
"Go Alice. Susan needs you" Uncas says firmly.
He is right. I need to comfort her she thinks Then I'll find a way to get him out of here.
She follows the officers to the front door of the quarters.
"What are you going to do to him?" she asks.
"The punishment for murder is death. He will be hanged tomorrow"
Hearing that, Alice's world crumbles. She barely notices the officers closing the door, leaving her in the street.
Alone in the cell, Uncas thinks about what is going to happen with him. He knows the punishment for murder can be death though he didn't dare to tell Alice so she wouldn't be scared. At least, the officers have released her so she is safe now. He is willing to die as long as she lives.
Alice, her beautiful wife, sweet and caring but also brave and strong. Uncas remembers the first time he saw her. He never thought he could share his life with her. But she had remained by his side and then Susan came, bringing more joy to their life together. He doesn't regret any second of the few years he has spent with his two princesses but he regrets having to leave them alone now.
Alice knocks on the door. It's not proper to visit an officer in his house but she's totally desperate. After hearing the terrible news of Uncas's fate, a thought crossed her mind: Captain Jones!
He seems a kind person and he was really polite with them that horrible day in Sarah's shop. He even saved them from those thugs, despite the fact that they were an interracial couple. He told them that they could count on him if they had problems in the town so he is her last hope.
Suddenly, the door opens and Captain Jones appears on it.
"What happened?" he asks surprised of seeing her in his house.
"Excuse me Sir. I'm Alice. We met each other in Sarah's shop some weeks ago" Alice explains "I know it's not proper to come to your house but I've got serious problems"
"I remember you. What kind of problems?" he asks confused.
"Well...it's Uncas...my husband. Please I need to talk with you"
"Of course. Come in please." Captain Jones lets her pass and close the door behind them. "Sit down please"
She sits in one of the chairs and he does the same. He encourages her to continue.
"Yesterday, the two men who disturbed us in Sarah's shop attacked us again in the street. They were holding knives and my husband had to killed them in order to protect us" Alice explains in the verge of tears "But officers put the blame on Uncas only because he is indian. We were arrested but today they released me. However Uncas is still there and he will be hanged tomorrow despite he is innocent"
"I haven't been informed about this" the officer says with a thoughtful expression.
"I thought...I thought maybe you can help us. You have influences between the officers and you were that day in the shop. You know those men attacked us. They won't believe Sarah as a witness but they'll believe you" Alice explains with hope in her voice.
"Well... I think I can help you" the officer thinks for a moment "However I could have problems trying to release a prisoner. I will need something in return"
Alice is a bit shocked because of that statement. "But you know...we don't have much money..."
"It's not money what I want" Captain Jones cuts her off.
"And what do you want?" Alice asks confused.
At that moment the officer's expression changes completely. It's like his previous kind face was only a mask which has fallen, revealing his true personality.
"A night with you" he says looking her up and down.
"What...what are you saying?" she asks worried.
"You are a beautiful woman. I want to lie with you" he explains as if it was the most common thing in the world.
"But...but I'm a married woman! she exclaims offended.
"Not in God's eyes"
Alice is horrified by his behaviour. She thought that he was a gentleman and he turned out to be no more than a pig. Furiously, she stands up to leave.
"You decide if your lover die tomorrow or not. I'll be waiting for you today at seven" Captain Jones says in a calm tone, making her to stop.
It's the only way I have to save Uncas she thinks desperately, tears rolling down her cheeks. Feeling totally helpless she runs to the street.
Captain Jones watches Alice as she leaves the house. In fact, he has been watching her since they arrived to the town and he thought defending them in the shop will bring her to his bed eventually. After all, she was an indian's lover, a woman with a low moral who would lie willingly with a rich officer when she had the chance. However, that never happened so when he heard about them being arrested he ordered the officers to release her. It was a matter of time for her to come to him asking for help.
Tonight you'll be mine.
Author's note: Well, as you can see Captain Jones is the main villain of this story. I don't know if before this revelation I managed to make you believe he was a good person or if you suspected about him. He is really a despicable man. I have to confess that, though he is my creation, I already hate him.
What do you think is going to happen? Will Alice spend the night with the officer in order to save Uncas?
