Chapter 11
The Great Escape

Alec turned to face Corrine.
"Why did Erik leave my party so fast? What did I do?"
Corrine stood up to comfort her brother when the door flew open and her mother stormed in. Corrine could tell by the stern look on her face that she was in a foul mood.

"Where were you?" Corrine's mother demanded.
"Alec dear, why don't you go find something to do?" Corrine said calmly.
"I demand to know where you were?" her mother shouted, as Alec quickly left the room.
What are you talking about mother?"
"You know perfectly well what I am talking about. In case your memory has left you, I will remind you. LAST NIGHT. Does that jog your memory? You disappeared two hours into the party. I AM SICK OF THIS CORRINE."
Corrine sat down and ignored her mother.
"All right Corrine I see you've decided to ignore me. Well maybe you won't ignore this. I am sending your brother away."
To Corrine those words were worse than a slap in the face.
"NO MOTHER YOU CAN'T" Corrine screamed as she jumped out of her chair, while ignoring the fact that this was the first time she ever acknowledged Alec as her brother.
"I most certainly can, and I will."
"Where will you take him?""There's an insane asylum in England that I will send him too. They will treat him well there."
"NO mother. I won't let you," Corrine said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Corrine, you're old enough to be courting, and NOT taking care of that thing. Once he's gone, you will find a decent wealthy young man and marry him. Is that understood?"
Corrine glared at her mother, and refused to answer.
"Pack his things, we'll be leaving in a hour."

Alec pushed his way past his mother, and ran into the room straight into Corrine's arms. The door shut, and they heard the door lock. Alec jumped up and ran to the door. He tried unsuccessfully to open it, which caused him to cry hysterically.
"I wish Erik was here," Alec sobbed

It only took a few seconds for Corrine to gather her thoughts. She knelt down and gripped her brother's shoulders.
"Alec, listen to me. We don't have much time. Pack everything you own into your suitcase," Corrine said panicky.
"But Cori, don't let her send me away. Please Cori?" He begged.
"Go hurry," Corrine said sternly.

Corrine ran to her writing desk, and grabbed a sheet of paper so fast that the rest of the papers fell to the floor. She hurriedly wrote a note, and looked over to where her brother was slowly packing his things. Corrine, went over and took over the packing.
"Why are you doing this Cori? Do you want me to go away?"
"Of course not, that's why we have to hurry."
After she packed his things, she ran over to the mirror.
"Erik once showed me how this mirror works. We have to open it," Corrine said as she quickly ran her hands over the mirror.

After 15 minutes of frantically searching for the lever, she was starting to panic. She let out a long sigh of relief when the mirror finally opened.
"Come Alec," She said to her still crying brother.
Corrine knelt in front of her brother.
"Alec, you know I love you. You're a brave boy, and I know you'll do exactly what I say. I want you run as fast as you can, and take this note to Erik. He'll know what to do. Your suitcase is too heavy for you to carry, so leave it behind the mirror. I'm sure Erik will get it later."
Corrine put the note in Alec's pocket.
"Don't lose the note. It's VERY important that Erik gets it."
Corrine pulled Alec into a final hug and with tears streaming down her face said;
"Be a good boy, and do everything Erik tells you. Obey him just like you do for me. Don't give him any reason to be upset with you. I love you. Now hurry."
"I love you too Cori."

Alec moved out of Corrine's embrace and ran down the corridor. Corrine watched until he was out of sight. She put the mirror back in place, and cried as she waited for her mother to return.