A/N: This chapter was written by my friend, Lecia Reyner. She did an excellent job with this!

Chapter Two: A Plan To Escape

My back was straight as I sat in my bed, just gazing out the window, with my thin cloth like blanket wrapped as tight around me as pull. I should have just told Andrea I was scared and that I didn't want to go alone. She would have said yes right then, I know she would have. The ocean really waves were crashing on the shore, and I swayed back and forth to the water's music. There was a rustling noise coming from the hallway, and a black figure entered through the door, softly, quietly, but menacingly.

"Evelyn Grey, lay yourself down, and sleep. I will speak with you early tomorrow morn."said the voice that I had given me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach since I'd arrived at "The Angels of Mercy". I by complete fault let out a small chuckle, as I thought of the title given to our "dear, sweet" orphanage. Mercy was one thing I thought these godforsaken Nun's did not truly know the meaning of, especially lovely Miss Martha, as was the nickname I had given her some years back.

Sister Martha turned on her heels. "Miss Grey, if you would kindly follow me. You will be sleeping alone in the attic for the night." I hopped out of bed, blanket still tight around me. I could see Andrea looking at me as if I was crazy, as I walked by her bed. I winked. I suppose I figures it was my last night, and I might as well do what I please. I walked quickly behind my executioner, so she had to speed up but instead of following her down the hall I took a turn for the kitchen.

The hallways were much darker than I had expected, and the stairs were a rather frightening scene, for the shadows were placed in all the scary little hidden areas. I was relieved to find the kitchen door unlocked; I would have had a time trying to pick it in the dark. I glanced around quickly before grabbing some bread, and wrapping it in a large cloth used for drying dishes. I wondered how far Miss Martha had gotten before she realized I was gone? I poked my head out the door, to make sure that no one dressed in black was there. No dark things lurking in this hallway. I took off for the "library", I knew that the money was kept in a locked drawer in the large desk where all the payments were made.

I glanced around every corner, and made sure I stepped as quickly and quietly as I possibly could. I reached the library, found it empty, and started attempting to pick the lock. I jumped at the sound of clicking heels coming down the hallway. "Evelyn, Evelyn Grey! You come out this instant, you horrible child! You filthy little..." she paused for a moment as if suddenly God had given her a dirty look. "Please Evelyn, come out and go to bed. We can deal with this whole situation in the morn."

"What an old hag." I whispered under my breath. I kept at the lock, as I heard the footsteps getting softer, and sounding further away. With a click the drawer was opened, and with an unfortunate thud it opened. The clicking became all of the sudden load, and the door swung open "Miss Grey? Are you in here dear?" She said in a cautious, yet sly voice. It seemed absurd coming from a nun, this nun in particular. I was crouched low behind the desk, not moving an inch. I was praying, something I did on a very, very rare occasion, that she would turn and walk away. And for the first time since I'd been at the Orphanage, I felt like God was real.

I heard foot steps walking towards the door, and it shut softly. And then as I was about to be relieved, I heard a click. "Goodnight, Miss Grey." her footsteps were victorious.

"Bloody Hell!" I yelled this at the top of my lungs. I wasn't really all that discouraged, for I had just noticed my escape: the window.

I opened the window, after glancing out, and thought about how I was going to get Andrea. We had food, and we had money. I didn't take all of it, but enough to get by for a few days, and I put the rest back in place like I had never touched it.

I jumped out the window, for I was on the first floor and no bed sheets were needed. I spent the night in the stable, talking with Thomas, for I didn't feel quite up for walking to the ocean, or wandering the streets, which tonight seemed completely foreign.

xXx

In the morning I woke with a blanket over me, and my things hidden in the corner of an empty stall. Tom had brought me breakfast which I told him was unnecessary, since I had food, but he told me if I didn't eat it he would be forced to tell Sister Martha where I was. I didn't see how the two connected, but I ate and talked with him for a while longer, before deciding on how and when to get Andrea out of there.

"Tom. Would you do me a favor?" He looked at me skeptically. I had never asked him for anything before.

"Depends, Evelyn, will I get in trouble?" He said half laughing.

"Actually, you might, but only if you don't know how to lie."

"What is the favor. I not saying I'll do it yet. Just tell me what it is first."

"I need you to make an extremely large... distraction."

"And what, my dear friend, do you mean by a distraction?"

"I don't know exactly, something that will get all or most of the nuns out here and away from where the girls in the orphanage are. Do you understand what it is that I want from you?"

"That is an awful lot to ask of a stable boy, you know?"

"I know, that is why I asked the best stable boy I knew."

"Evelyn, I'm the only stable boy you know."

"Well that doesn't mean you're not the best." I said smirking. He shook his head, smiling, and laughing a bit.

"All right, if you can give me a good enough reason, I'll do it. So tell me, why do you want me to do this?"

"I want to get away, and my friend is coming with me. But she is in there, and I'm already out here. You don't know what it's like in there. Please, Thomas."

"Where are you going to go?" He didn't seem quite as happy as he had a minute ago. I had hoped he wouldn't have cared quite so much for me, and I for him. He was like the brother I had always dreamed of having, and I the sister to him.

"I'm not really sure, but don't worry. I'll figure something out, and I'll visit. I promise. So will you please help me?"

"Alright. Why do I do things for you? Huh?" He threw some hay at me. "You never do anything for me." He said teasingly.

"Well... maybe if I wasn't stuck in there, which I'm not anymore, I could do something for you?"

"There is one thing..." Tom replied, now a completely serious look on his face.

"Which would be?" I asked tentatively. Never in all my years have I seen Tom look so serious.

"I want to come with you." His voice was barely a whisper as he said this. I looked him in the eyes, not sure how to reply. It was completely still and silent except for the wind in my ears and the beating of my heart. What could I say?