Chapter Five
It was still dark out when the stagecoach pulled up to the inn. I waited silently by the window as it was loaded. The one called GC was driving it. We were traveling by several different ways of transportation to shake off the police, and even Basil.
I didn't realize Ratigan was behind me until he asked, "Ready, my dear?"
I jumped a little. "Yes sir."
"Come on." He strode to the door.
He went out first, shielding his face from sight as he stepped into the stagecoach. I went next, wearing a funeral dress and a veil over my face. GC helped me into the coach. I sat across from the professor, dreading every single moment of this journey. The rest of his gang would follow in other stagecoaches and wagons.
The coach started. It took us through the deserted streets of London. I passed places familiar and homelike to me. I was leaving it all behind.
Dawn rose slowly as we were leaving London, casting a golden hue over the buildings and streets. I looked away from it all. I didn't want Ratigan to see me get upset.
"Something wrong my dear?" Ratigan asked, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"No, Professor."
"Are you sure?"
"No sir."
"Meg," he began, "why the long face? A wonderful opportunity awaits you!"
Frustrated, I put on my fakest smile and continued looking out the window. He then pulled the shades down. I could feel him staring at m.; I resisted the urge to look for a while. Finally I couldn't do it anymore. I glanced at him.
To my utter surprise, he grabbed me and gave me another kiss. I was disgusted. I yanked myself away from his grasp, and retreated to a corner of the stagecoach. It didn't help his mood. He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him. I struggled feebly under his grasp, but to no effect. I recoiled when he touched my chin.
"My dear," he began, "you need to show me some respect. You did agree to become my wife, did you not?" I nodded dumbly. "Then start acting like one!" he snarled, shoving me back to my seat.
Things got progressively worse. When I was sent to dine with that monster, I refused to go. He then told me if I wouldn't eat with him, I couldn't eat at all. I held up for three days; by that time, I was starving. I finally came to dinner on the night of the third day. But then Ratigan wouldn't let me eat until I sang for him. I despised him.
The next day I devised a plan to escape. I knew Anne was in the stagecoach behind me; I could get to her easily.
I slide over close to the door. Ratigan was trying to teach me the history of Denmark; something I already knew well. He didn't notice me open the door and tumble out until it happened. I fell to the ground, rolling around. Before I could get up, I heard gunshots as Anne tumbled out besides me.
"Get up," I urged her. I pulled her up by the arm, and we both made for the woods. More gunshots rang out as the stagecoaches came to a stop.
"DON"T LET THEM GET AWAY!" Ratigan roared.
We stumbled blindly through the forest, tripping over tree roots, getting scratched by branches, trying to get away from the thugs behind us. Anne was starting to tire. They were gaining on us, I was sure of it. I found a hollow tree and shoved Anne inside. "Stay here," I breathed. "They want me, not you." I continued running.
"Godspeed, Meg," Anne called out quietly behind me. I wove through the trees, trying to lead them away from her. I dove under some brush, catching my breath. GC and Tom came into view almost immediately. I stopped breathing.
"She ain't 'ere, dimwit!" GC yelled. "She went t'other way, I'm sure!"
"But I saw 'er," Tom protested. "I swears it."
Go with GC; go with GC, I thought.
"Well, she ain't 'ere now. 'Er tracks ended over there. We're going that way!"
"But-"
"Boss'll get mad if we lose 'er." She went that way, stupid, and that's the way we're goin'."
Both mice went the other way. I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, well, it looks like you fooled them, my dear Meg."
My blood froze. Slowly I stood up and turned around. Ratigan was standing behind me, smirking. He looked even more evil than I had ever seen him.
I ran. I could hear myself shrieking at the top of my lungs. Suddenly I was on the ground, Ratigan pinning my flailing arms and legs down. He leaned in close to me.
"Meg," he hissed, "I don't want such a delay in our trip. You can't defeat me; I'm unstoppable! You can't trick me or play these silly little games. You won't win, EVER!"
RAEB: (calling) Meg? JWJ?
(Meg walks in, completely out of breath. Her clothes are torn and her hair a mess.)
RAEB: What happened to you?
Meg: A very angry ra-, er, mouse. Wait, mouse doesn't sound right either. Rodent? Yeah, that's it. A very temperamental rodent.
RAEB: What the heck are you talking about?
Meg: That... fiend! Yeah, fiend sounds about right. Anywho, he chased us for like, five hours!
RAEB: Who chased you?
Meg: Wait, where's JWJ?
RAEB: I haven't seen him for a while.
Meg: Uhoh. (grins) Wait, this is a good thing. Oh happy day!
RAEB: I give up. (walks away)
