I'm so sorry it took me so long to update, but I had really important exams and now that I've finished I can update regularly. If there's anything you want me to add to the story please, send me a message or tell me in the reviews. Thank you :)
-Run! I mean it; RUN!
She was nothing more than a white shadow, her skirts sweeping the floors filled with water. Suddenly that water turned red, darker as she kept running, screams surrounding her, but she couldn't understand them. She felt hot, it was hot around her, but she was freezing as well. In a corner she found her children, the three of them covered in blood. She run to them, run as fast as she could, but they disappeared all of a sudden and out of the blue she found herself falling, and falling, until she fell into the very well-known icy waters. She swam, and swam, and to her surprise two strong hands grabbed her wrists and pulled her out. But they were too strong for her liking.
-I hope you've learned your lesson. - Elsie coughed the water out of her lungs and stared at Mr. Green. - Answer me!
-Yes!... yes…- she cried, her tears burning her cheeks, but he didn't seem to see them, he just smiled at her and drained the water from the tub.
-Now, I want you to dry yourself and come back to our bedroom.
-I have to put the children to bed.
-They can do it on their own. You will come back to our bedroom and we will discuss what you did today.
-Please Carl, there's a storm outside, and they are scared.
-I don't care! – He slapped her hard and walked to the bathroom door. - Dry yourself and come back to our bedroom. That's a bloody order!
He slammed the door closed, leaving her on her own. She tried to stand up but found she had no strength, so the only thing she did was cry. She hugged her legs and cried for several minutes until she heard him call for her.
-I'm… I'm coming!- she managed to stand up and make it out of the tub before she dried herself and put on another nightgown.
With shaky hands she opened the bathroom door to find him sitting on the bed, the door locked.
-Come here. Sit down. – Her legs felt like led, but she made it to the bed slowly. - Now, you've made me look like a fool and a murderer today in front of the court.
-But you are! Charles is my rightful husband, and that's what the judge said.
-Shut up! SHUT UP! - He stood up and started pacing the room. – Obviously the court is wrong, you are mine, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
-You kidnapped me and my children. The must be looking for you.
-No, they are not. The car is lying at the bottom of the river, so everyone will think we are dead.
-No, Charles will know. You won't get away with this.
-Who says it? You? I'm going to show you what I can get away with. – He picked the belt from the chair next to the window and slowly approached her. She slid away from him and jumped off the bed. A knock on the door made both look away.
-Yes?
-Mr. Bromwood, there's a group of Russian men who want to talk with you.
-I'll be out in a minute Mrs. Sarroll.
After the footsteps had dissipated and they couldn't be heard anymore he turned to look back at Elsie.
-I'll be back in a moment. When I return I want you naked in bed. And don't try anything foolish or I will kill the children and then you.
He put his belt on as well as his jacket and left the room, locking the door. Elsie looked around and run to the window. Her children's room was at the other side, but she couldn't see any lights there. The rain was heavy and the thunders were getting closer. There was very little time. She put her dress on and her shoes, catching her coat as she made her way back to the window. Without thinking she opened it and after looking down she climbed out. The wall was very slippery, and there was not much where Elsie could place her feet for support. Without knowing what she was doing she stopped gripping the windowsill and fell to the next window below her. Thankfully the room was empty, but the window was no great support. She gripped the wooden windowsill with all the strength she could master until she found room for her feet. Looking down she found herself two feet away from the floor, which was covered in grass and flowers. Taking a deep breath and looking back at her window she jumped. She hit the hard floor a few seconds afterwards and after regaining some of her breathing back she stood up. She felt a sharp pain on her left side and thought that perhaps she had broken a rib or two, but she couldn't let that stop her. Quickly she made it to the other side of the hotel, her clothes soaking wet and her legs bleeding slightly from the scrapes the wall had caused. She found a mountain of little rocks near the building; she picked them up and with great caution she threw them at the window. No answer came, so she threw another one. A strong thunder made her jump and almost scream, the stones falling to the floor. She looked around and even though it was dark she managed to make out a form, a small form in some bushes not far from where she was standing.
-Jane? Richard? - She called out but no loudly enough to be heard at the other side of the building, where the lights of her room were still on.
The form had stooped walking so she called out again. To her surprise it turned and run towards her. A lightning broke the dark scenery and for the first time since they had been kidnapped she saw her daughter with Michael in her arms running.
-Mum! - The poor dear was crying, and she wondered if they were because of the storm or because she was happy to see her.
Jane crushed into her mother's arms, Michael tucked inside three blankets. Elsie hugged her daughter for more than what was necessary and after another thunder had broken the quietness she pulled away from the embrace and looked at her, taking Michael and covering his face form the rain.
-Are you okay? Where's your brother?
-He's hiding. He found a small abandoned car not far from here. We were making a plan to get you out; I was looking around trying to see any possible back doors or something. At least that's what he said
-Well, I'm here, no need for a plan. Take me to your brother; we have to get out of here before he sees that we are all gone. Come on.
With Elsie's hand on her back Jane started walking into the woods that were near the hotel. Before entering them she turned her head slightly and saw a figure in her room. "Try and find us now" she thought before following Jane. It was really dark, only the occasional lightning brought some light. She felt as if she had been walking for hours, and every little noise, every shadow made her look around her afraid he might be following them. Suddenly they came to a halt on their journey. A car rested against a tree, not very badly damaged.
-Richard, I brought mum. – Jane approached the car, her little curls sticking to her back.
-What about the plan?!- A tiny head pooped out from one of the back seat windows.
-Forget about the plan, I brought mum. That was the actual plan, wasn't it?
-Just because you were the first one it doesn't mean you have to be all bossy.
-Enough! - Elsie's word hadn't been screamed but it had made the argument stop, at least for a while. – No arguments. Does the car work?
-No. Besides, there are no car keys.
-We can rest here for a while, but we will have to continue. He might be out looking for us.
-Or he might be waiting for the storm to clear.
-No. He won't wait, he's probably out already. I'll stay up, but you two can sleep a bit. Open the door Jane and get inside.
Carefully she pulled the door open and waited for Elsie to be inside before closing. It was dry inside, and the noises from the storm were less intimidating. She took off her coat, sat on the back seats and waited for Jane and Richard to be cuddled against her before covering them with her coat.
-Mum.
-What is it sweetheart?
-Do you think dad is looking for us?
-I know it. He loves us and he won't let anything hurt us.
-Will he get here soon?
-I don't know. We have to give him some help and find a village from where we can call Downton. Now go to sleep.
Both children closed their eyes and cuddled against her a little closer. Both looked so relaxed, so safe. Elsie felt a lump on her throat as she stared at them. Michael had no fussed at all, he hadn't cried, and that was starting to worry her. She looked down at him to find him staring up at her, his big blue eyes not moving an inch from her face. She took the first blanket off and placed it over one of the front seats. The second one felt dry, so she kept him swaddled in that one. She held him close to her chest, where he felt warm and started nodding off. She looked out the window but couldn't see anything, just the rain. Maybe the kids were right and he would wait until the rain stopped. She placed her free hand over Richard's hair and rested her own head against the back of the seat. It was then when she started looking back at the events that had led to this.
Robert had decided to report the incident of the previous day to the police, and to her surprise they had taken him to the police station for questioning. Things according to what the sergeant had said were very complicated, because he had a number of legal papers that said that she was his wife and that the three children were his, and according to the law he had the right, but Charles had the same papers, and at least they knew they were legal for sure. Things took a turn for the worst when he decided he had wanted to report her to the authorities for adultery. Charles had almost gone out to find Mr. Green and to kill him, but Craig had stopped him, saying that the Lord or the court would give him the punishment he deserved. The next morning they had all been called to London for a trial. At first Elsie had said no. She didn't want to go, but Robert finally talked her into going. The trial had been short, shorter than expected because the priest of Yorkshire and Dr. Clarkson had both denied Mr. Green's claims with proofs and the judged had sentenced him to be hanged for his previous trial of murder and rape and for false claims towards the church. Of course he had also made clear that she was Mrs. Carson and that the children were Charles' and Mr. Green had no right over her properties in Scotland, her title of Countess or her money. He hadn't liked that, he hadn't liked it one bit, and when they were in the car, she and the children, Mr. Green had pooped out of the blue and had driven away, police cars following him as well as Charles. He had managed to point a gun at them and had threaten them so she wouldn't do anything foolish, and now she was in a broken car in the middle of a forest , nowhere. The only thing she wanted was to get home, but that was very far from view right now.
-Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! The sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be king.
Over the sea to Skye.
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclaps rend the air,
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! The sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be king.
Over the sea to Skye.
Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head.
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! The sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be king.
Over the sea to Skye.
Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden's field.
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! The sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be king.
Over the sea to Skye.
Burned are our homes, exile and death,
Scattered the loyal men.
Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath,
Charlie will come again.
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! The sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be king.
Over the sea to Skye.
Yes, Charlie will come again.
