Chapter 16: Escape

I knew that there was no other way. If I was to leave this hellish place, I have to play my part.

If it means walking through the tunnels of hell...then so be it.

I knew that once I left this place, I had friends that I could count on, and allies that I never even knew yet will be there for me.

November 26, 2018 8:00 p.m.

An hour and a half flew by fast. To say time flew fast was an understatement, because as Ratigan predicted, the party was about to begin. People of high-social standard or an aristocrat of Britannia were already invited to the celebration of the new soon-to-be queen once she was married to the king and crowned. Not to mention, others were already invited to perform the entertainment for the highest honor of the royal couple.

As for Anna...well, she was a little sceptical at this. A part of her was telling her that this was wrong, but she also knew that there was no other choice. If she was to escape here, then she needed to follow along with the resistance's plan, and to do that she had to be near Ratigan. However, that left her the question about Basil...How was he going to rescue her alone?

Her thoughts were put on hold for now as she was being prepared by both the dressmakers and a single hair-stylist. The dressmakers had already finished making the dress, something that Ratigan had already been a step-ahead before he got Anna. She was now garbed in a regal yellow and white dress that had long sleeves that were white and had a neck frill around her neck, and her boots were replaced with golden-yellow heeled shoes. Her hair was trimmed slightly to make her look more regal and was now braided into a bun with a golden flower to keep it in place. One good look at the mirror, and Anna couldn't deny that she looked absolutely fabulous and beautiful. Not to mention her hair-stylist did an amazing job with her hair. However, this still felt a little wrong for her, despite the good things she got. Nevertheless it felt like she was made to become the devil's wife.

As she was finished being prepared, she was brought before Ratigan by Royal Guards, who was now changed into a new uniform that was royal blue with red trimming and had a purple mantle. But before she was brought before the higher-ups, he gave her back her watch, just as long as she doesn't use it in any attempt to escape. If she does, then those children will suffer. Unfortunately for Ratigan, Anna had no intention of using it. However, she had to hold back a smirk as she knew that he made an error on that. The moment she saw Basil, she knew that she would have an advantage to help him once the opportunity struck. So for now, she needs to be patient until she sees him.

At the great hall, the same place where Anna went, was packed with many people who have come far and wide from every land in Britannia. A table was already placed along with two chairs, guarded by two Royal Guards as both Anna and Ratigan sat in their respective chairs with Fredrick already standing next to Ratigan. Then, the royal cooks arrived with trays of food as it was placed on the table before them. Anna couldn't deny that the food was really good, almost close to a five-star restaurant quality. But unfortunately for her, she didn't have the appetite as she was still lost in her thoughts about Basil. However, to keep herself looking too suspicious in front of Ratigan without making a single slip over what she knew from Dawson, she decided to eat a little bit while feeling less thrilled about this party that Ratigan made.

Seeing that she wasn't quite thrilled yet, Ratigan smiles as he summons a Royal Guard, and whispers something into his ear, which he then nods as he goes off somewhere. Then about a few minutes had passed, trumpets played as everyone ceased there talking as a Royal Guard announced, "His Majesty, King Ratigan and his soon-to-be wife Anna, will now wish to see the performance! All entertainers, begin your own performance before the royal couple!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd as the show was about to begin. Many entertainers came before Ratigan and Anna as they began their performances, but they only did it one group at a time until they were either finished or the royal couple weren't satisfied. The first group of performers entertained the royal couple by performing balancing acts by walking on a ball, others were juggling by themselves then quickly switched by juggling with each other, and one performer was doing fire breathing. This not only wowed the crowd, but the other entertainers as well while Ratigan smiled at this act. Unfortunately, when he looked at Anna, she wasn't even smiling, nor was she paying any attention to their performance. If she didn't at least smile, then that means that this performance wasn't satisfying for her. "Next!" Ratigan called as their performance came to an abrupt end.

As more of the entertainment was performed, Anna wasn't even paying attention to any of them. The only thing happening to her right now was just thinking about Basil. She was trying to figure out how he was going to rescue her. In fact, there could be a hundred, no, a thousand and one ways to do that, and most of them would probably end-up in failure if he didn't have any backup. However, a part of herself was telling her that she was worrying too much, this was Basil for God sake, he'll always figure something out. So with a sigh, she put her fork down as she finished playing with her food, and placed her elbow on the table while leaning her face on the side of her hand, after Ratigan once again called "Next!" as she starts to watch the performers while continuing to wait for her rescuer.

The performers that Ratigan and Anna were now watching, was a male stoat who was a professional knife thrower and his assistant a female ferret, who had her arms raised while a target was behind her. The male stoat took his handful of knives and tossed them at her, each of them impaled safely away from her as the crowd were impressed by such an amazing but dangerous act. However, a lace from her shirt came loose as her shirt started to go down, yelping slightly as she covers her furry chest as she runs away in embarrassment while the crowd starts to mutter. Seeing that the performance went too well than he expected as he didn't foresee this outcome, the male stoat looks at Ratigan, then smiles as he gives a sheepish chuckle while shrugging his shoulders.

Ratigan's eyes narrowed, then looked at a Royal Guard who he nodded to. Giving his own nod, he tilts his head to another guard as he follows him. The first Royal Guard grabs the male stoat, but Anna was about to protest on this and stand up from her chair if Ratigan hadn't quickly placed his hand on her shoulder, keeping her sat there while giving her a look that said be quiet. In fact, long before Anna entered before her people, he told her not to say anything unless spoken to, and to keep herself in-line by doing what she was told. Fail to do this, and those children will suffer. So in short, she is to be seen and not heard, not to be spoken to unless circumstances change. To Anna, she felt like a dog who was supposed to listen and do nothing, and that right there sickened her to the core as she was reduced to this. Nevertheless, she had to keep her mouth shut and do what she's told...for now.

As the other Royal Guard takes his pistol while cocking it, he brings it towards the male stoat's head. "Wait!" Ratigan called out as he stopped the Royal Guard from pulling the trigger. "I have a more fitting idea." He takes out his silver watch, then says to Anna, "Allow me to demonstrate another type of power that I already discovered. Watch this."

Anna had no idea what he meant by that, but decided to watch and find out for herself.

Ratigan points his watch at the male stoat, then presses all three buttons without turning them as the lid opens itself and the hands begin to slowly turn. The male stoat watched those hands as Ratigan said, "Hear me now, for I as your king command you to take your own life."

Anna couldn't believe what he heard from him. He wasn't being serious was he?

The male stoat seemed to relax, then his eyes flashed with light for a short second, much to Anna's complete shock. To shock her even further, he said while in a trance, "As you command, my king."

The Royal Guard lets him go while the other gives him his pistol, then the male stoat pulls the hammer while bringing it towards his head. Anna had only enough time to turn her head away and close her eyes from the resounding gunshot. This was just too cruel, Ratigan hypnotized that poor man to make him commit suicide, and in front of an entire audience no less.

Speaking about the audience, everyone began panicking slightly while the higher-ups were frightfully talking about what happened just now and the performers began backing away while the dead male stoat was carried away, and the servants began cleaning-up the blood that was slightly on the floor. The Royal Guards jumped in to prevent any of the performers from trying to leave until Ratigan shouted, "SILENCE!" Everyone began to quiet down and stop what they were doing. "Now then," he said with a calmer tone. "To all of you performers who are still here-"

He was interrupted as an accordion was playing as everyone including the performers looked up at the second floor. They saw another performer who was dressed in a gypsy outfit and was a male labrador as he was sitting on the banister. He wanted to take everyone's mind off of what happened now as he began to sing, "Oh, this world is filled with wonder and life. Full of refined beauty and love."

Ratigan looked at that performer while glaring his eyes at him from trying to interrupt from what he was trying to say while Anna couldn't deny that the music he was playing was lovely and the song he was singing was a little catchy, but nevertheless he was pretty good.

For every minute, for all that is in it

The life of our time is sho-o-o-ort

So-o-o-o delight

Ratigan sighs as he had enough of his catchy singing and took out his revolver, the same one he used to shoot Basil with as he cocks the hammer while Anna once again closed her eyes, and this time she covered her ears due to the gun that he had was that close.

BAM! Some of the audience jumped from that sound while others winced as the accordion played its last tune and a body landed in the fountain with a ker-plop while one of the performers looked over the fountain to see the body, only to get a splash of water towards the face.

Ratigan blows the smoke from the barrel, then says, "Now let me see, where was I?"

"Ah sir," Fredrick whispers to Ratigan. "You were about to address the performers."

"Oh, yes, of course. Thank you, Fredrick." Ratigan stands up while putting his revolver back inside his uniform. "Now then, to all of you performers who are still here, you've done a splendid job in entertaining me." His face turned serious. "However, it is clear to me that you haven't been able to entertain your soon-to-be queen. So now I'll give you all a choice. Either perform something entertainable or else…" He slid his finger across his throat while hissing to simplify his warning, causing the performers to gasp slightly. Anna's eyes glared at Ratigan at this, he would literally execute these poor people for not entertaining her. How sick could he get? Unfortunately, she knew that she would feel partially responsible for having these people killed. So for now, she needed to watch the performers entertain her, or risk seeing them being executed. However, Ratigan then said to the performers, "Or better yet, since I am still in a generous mood, you could leave this place and face disappointment from me. So what will it be?"

Some of them gulped, then all the performers began backing away as they rather faced disappointment than facing death. None of them had the courage to step forth…

All except for one…

Resounding feet cut through the silence and a single figure began to step forth. He was a male mouse who had a black hat with a white feather on top of his head, a silver mask on his face, and he wore a collared red cloak with his black boots and silver soles at the bottom that exposed it as it almost covered his entire body.

Ratigan was a little surprised, though his face didn't show it, that a single individual decided to step forward. Even Anna herself was a little intrigued by this masked individual. Who was he exactly?

"Your Majesty," he said in a smooth voice. "If this'll please you, I will make the young lady smile."

Ratigan had an odd look on his face while crossing his arms, contemplating to himself whether or not he should let this masked individual proceed, but Fredrick tapped his shoulder and whispered to him, "Sir, he is new here and none of the other performers will do it. So maybe you should try him."

Seeing that he had a point since none of the other performers were too cowardly to step-forward, he sat down on his chair while sighing and saying, "Very well then." He then motions his hand towards Anna. "Proceed how you will with her."

The masked individual bows slightly, then he walks towards Anna while she and Ratigan watch him closely. He then brought his white gloved hand to Anna, which she noticed from the inside of his cloak that there was a white underside and he wore a black suit and white cravat, she even noticed that he had black trousers and...a silver utility belt? Now why would he have something like that? "Milady," he said to her. "Would you care to dance with me?"

This was a bit sudden for her. Nobody ever asked her to dance with her, not ever in her life. "I can't," she nods truthfully. "I don't know how to dance."

"It's quite alright, I could teach you. That is...if you'll permit me."

Seeing that he was going to teach her, and not wanting to be rude or risk seeing him get executed, she slowly reached for his hand and said, "Okay." She felt him gently take her hand as he led her to where they will dance.

As the two of them were alone together, the masked individual placed her hand at his waist while he placed his own at her waist, then took her other hand as he was ready. Looking at the performers who had their instruments, he nods at them. At first they had no idea, but one performer who had a violin seemed to understand as he started to play. Everyone watched as the two dancers started to dance, and at first things went well, but that was when Anna started to falter and nearly trip if the masked individual hadn't caught her. There was a small bit of laughter from the crowd as Anna's ears turned a tinge of pink from embarrassment while the performer who had the violin stopped playing. "Milady," The masked individual said to her. "Let me give you some advice. It's courtesy for a man to lead the lady, not the other way around." He took her hand again. "So just relax your body and let me lead you."

She nods her head in understanding as she takes his advice and relaxes herself. The masked individual looks back at the performers with their instruments and nods at them. The performer who had the violin nods back as he starts playing again, then the other performers who had their instruments joined in while everyone watched as the two dancers started again, and this time they were doing this right.

As Anna was being led by the masked individual, he twirls her around and dips her, making her gasp slightly at this. The way that he was dancing with her felt like he was being gentle, instead of her body being controlled by Ratigan's power, which actually surprised her. But for Ratigan while he continued to watch, he couldn't deny that this masked individual was giving an excellent performance, and at least now that Anna was finally entertained. Not to mention, this gave her an opportunity to learn how to dance like a lady so that next time he dances with her, he wouldn't have to use his powers on her again so she wouldn't make a fool of herself in front of everybody. However, as he noticed something that Anna did not, the masked individual had a gauntlet on the left side of his wrist. So why would he possess such a thing?

Back to Anna, while Ratigan continued to ponder as he had a finger under his chin, she began to feel...something unusual as she thought, What's happening to me? I never felt this way before. But… She sighs as she was thinking about Basil. When those thoughts about him came, she shook her head while taking her eyes away from the masked man and thought, Wait, why am I thinking about-

"Anna," she heard the masked individual say her name. "Anna, look at me."

She looks at him with a confused look and asks, "H-How do you-"

The masked individual shushed her. "Listen to me, I'm going to get you out of here." He twirls her again as he continues, "No matter what happens, I promise I will protect you."

As they resumed dancing, Anna couldn't help but wonder about this man. Was he a member of the resistance who came to rescue her? Better yet, who was he exactly? Her eyes squinted at him as she asked, "Who are you?"

The masked individual smiles at her and answers, "Oh, come now, Anna, surely by now you must've figured it out. After all…" He looks at her with those familiar green eyes, then his voice changes to an all-too familiar British voice, "It is rather elementary, of course." He winks at her.

Anna gasped slightly while her eyes widened with complete shock as something started to connect. The masked man who was dancing before her, the one that Dawson told Anna about who will come and rescue her, this masked man...was none other than Basil! "It's you!" she said to him.

Basil shushed her again, but Ratigan's keen ears heard that shush as something within his thoughts confirmed his suspicions. He slams his hands on the table, making the plates and utensils rattle as he stands up off of his chair and yells, "Hold it!" The music stops along with the two dancers with Basil's back facing him. "You're not from any of the town's districts, and you don't look like an aristocrat or someone of high-social standard. So who are you exactly?"

Basil smiles as his voice changes to that smooth tone while keeping up with the ruse as he answered, "Oh, forgive me, Your Majesty, where are my manners. I haven't properly introduced myself. After all…" He looks back at Ratigan without turning around. "I'm sure you read my proclamation five years ago."

Ratigan had an odd look on his face. "Proclamation? What're you talking about?"

Basil's smile didn't even falter. "I see." He brings out his gauntlet, much to Anna's surprise that she didn't see it until now. "Then allow me to jog your memory." He presses a hidden button on the gauntlet, since the gauntlet itself was just as white as his gloves, and a lid slides up, revealing some buttons and a microphone. "The proclamation said, that your reign of evil is coming to an end." There were murmurs in the crowd. What did this masked stranger mean? "No more will the people become your slaves. No more will the people turn against one another. No more will they see their loved ones get slaughtered by the cruel and unjust. The time has come for all to stand against you."

The people were starting to become worried. Doesn't he realize that such talk is dangerous? Such talk like that would make him into a traitor of Britannia and will be executed on site. Basil pressed a few buttons, then there electricity running as everyone ceased their murmuring, and were in awe along with Anna and Ratigan as they all watched as the collar of his cloak glowed slightly. The glow went downwards as its color slowly changed from red to blue. Anna even noticed the white underside underwent a different color change as that same glow went upwards, changing it from white to red while Basil continues his speech, "We will become the spark of the revolution and march forwards towards freedom, and I will become the torch that will inspire others to take up arms and point it straight towards your kingdom." As the glow came to an end, black visors closed over his eyes from his mask and Anna had noticed something in his hand as he had already taken it out of his utility belt. Then, he looks back at Ratigan with a serious look as he concludes his speech, "For I am The Masked Phantom, the symbol of the revolution!"

He gave a hefty toss to whatever it was he had as it sailed quickly over to Ratigan, making him quickly come out of his stupor as he caught it with both hands. Basil quickly embraces Anna with one arm while his cloak was around her, as if it was acting like a shield to protect her while he added, "And I have come for Anna Johnson, who will join me in the revolution to end your reign of tyranny!" The crowd was in complete shock as the man standing before them was The Masked Phantom. The one that everyone was talking about who was now in Kingsland. The symbol of the rebellion and the leader who will bring down Ratigan's kingdom. Even Anna herself was surprised that Basil was The Masked Phantom. Nevertheless, she couldn't help herself but embrace him as Basil's ears turned a tinge of pink, knowing that she needed it.

Ratigan smiles as he finally remembers the proclamation that was made five years ago. What's even better, the rebel who was standing before him, revealed himself in front of him and an entire audience of witnesses no less, it was like he was giving himself up on a silver platter. But what was he trying to do, throw a grenade at him? Something like that almost made him tempted to revel at this. In fact, he could easily turn back time a few seconds and take the grenade outside. Better yet, he could give him back his grenade while taking Anna away from him, and watch as the symbol of the rebellion goes up in pieces. However…

Beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep

"Huh? What the…"

He was wondering what that weird beeping noise was as he opened his hands, revealing an odd circular black device with a small red light. What was this thing? It didn't look like a grenade…

As the beeping stopped, he felt something being pierced into his skin, making him grunt slightly from that, then electricity spread everywhere across his body as he howled in pain and landed on his chair. The moment when the Royal Guards saw their king in danger, the whistle was blown as they came and started to surround them while taking their pistols out. However, Basil had already anticipated this as he took something else out of his utility belt, then threw it at the floor as the Royal Guards looked down and saw four small black balls. It took only a second as each of them popped and smoke was starting to fill the great hall. With a swish of his cloak, Basil pulls out a pistol of his own that he kept easily hidden as he raised it up and shouts, "LONG LIVE THE FREEDOM REVOLUTION!"

He pulls the trigger three times. BANG! BANG! BANG! Everyone came out of their stupor as they started screaming and panicking as everyone darted here and there towards each exit. He puts his pistol back and picks up Anna bridal-style. "Hold onto me!" He tells her. He taps his back heels two times as a strange whirring comes from the soles, then he takes off in a sprint, almost close to that of being superhuman as they pass by some people. "Do excuse me, I need to borrow your shoulder!" He said to an aristocrat who had his back behind him, but couldn't look as he felt his shoulder get stepped on while grunting as Basil soared towards the second floor. When his feet touched the floor, while the smoke was starting to slowly dissipate, he took an exit as he carried Anna away from the great hall.

Back down below, Ratigan was struggling to fight through the pain as the electricity hadn't left him, as if it was keeping him down while The Masked Phantom was getting away with his bride. With clenched teeth he said, "Stop...him!"

As Basil continues to dart here and there across each hallway while continuing to carry Anna, she couldn't help but continue to look at his face. Despite knowing that he was The Masked Phantom, he looked so...handsome. What a minute, why was she thinking about that? Her beating heart couldn't slow down as she felt her ears turn red. Was this the way mice do it when they feel...well something? Wanting to take her mind away from him, she lowers her eyes and thinks about the children. When the children cross her mind, she looks back at Basil and says, "Wait, Basil, we have to go find the children!"

"Don't worry about the children, they will get them."

"'They'? What do you mean by that?"

"You will know as soon as we get outside."

She looks ahead, then she yells, "Look out!"

Up ahead, some Royal Guards were in front of them as one of them pointed a rifle at them, but Basil jumped and ran on a wall as he passed over them. Then as they arrived in a hallway balcony, he jumps on a banister and runs on it, then jumps off it as he sails over to a chandelier, making Anna scream slightly from that. Sparks shot out from the chandelier as the Royal Guards were shooting, but Basil jumped off it and went to another chandelier in front of him, then jumped again as he landed on the floor. Kicking a door down, he ran towards some stairs, but Royal Guards were there. As he runs towards them, he jumps on the banister as his boots slide on it, but one of them tries to catch them and misses. When he gets close to the end, he jumps and lands on a serving trolley as it rolls forward and it was heading straight towards a window. "Hold on!" He tells her.

CRASH! Basil jumped at the window and shards of glass were falling with them while Anna screamed. However, before that happened, Basil pulls out a grapple gun from his utility belt, and as they continue to fall, he points it up and fires it. A hook and cable shoot upwards as the hook makes contact on hard stone as it attaches itself, then they swing towards another window and crash as shards of glass were strewn at the floor and Basil landed as he slid his feet, making the floor squeak in the process.

Anna was trying to catch her breath while trying to slow down her beating heart after going through that experience. Seriously though, how the hell did Basil do those things? This wasn't like him to perform such stunts. Speaking of Basil, after already cutting the cable from his grapple gun, then putting it back in his utility belt, he looked at her and said, "Are you alright?"

She glares at him while having enough of this acrobatic shit coming from him and slaps his shoulder while saying to him, "Put me down! Put. Me. Down!"

Basil puts her down, but before Anna could protest after what he just did, a group of Royal Guards saw them while one of them said, "There he is!"

"Oh, pick me up, pick me up, pick me up!"

Basil quickly picks her up bridal-style, then once again taps the back heels of his boots two times as a whirring comes from the soles, and takes off in a run.

For about a few minutes of running, dodging Royal Guards, and gunfire here and there, Basil jumps over another balcony while grabbing a piece of rope, swinging downwards as his feet knock back a Royal Guard, sending him flying towards the other guards as they crash at the floor. When he lands, he quickly throws three more of those small black balls as each of them pops into smoke, then throws another circular device, this time it was silver as it was beeping its small red light. As it came to an end. Bloom! The door was completely blown apart and Basil ran towards it.

Going down some stairs, he came to a car as he put Anna down, then said while going around to the front, "Quick, get in the car!"

Not wanting to be told twice, Anna gets in. However, she had an odd look on her face as she looked at Basil while he too got in and said to him, "Wait a second! Do you even know how to drive?"

He looks at her and answers, "Of course, five years can change a man."

Anna sighs while buckling-up and mutters sarcastically, "Yeah, well that's pretty damn obvious."

While Basil starts the engine, a side-mirror gets shot off as Anna yelps. "Get down!" Basil pushes her down while hitting reverse, then slammed his foot on the gas pedal. The tires screeched as they backed up, then Basil got down himself while turning the wheel as the front window was hit with bullets, and while the vehicle was turning, that too was riddled with bullets. As he sat up, he hit the forward while hitting the gas pedal again. But as they speed forward, the back window gets shattered completely, then they break through the back gate, one of the four entrances towards the castle.

With the car speeding forward towards the city, it was only a matter of time before they were home-free. Nevertheless, while the escape was a complete success, the journey towards The Freedom Lands was just the beginning.

Woohoo! Anna and Basil have managed to escape Ratigan's castle, but now there on the run as the journey to The Freedom Lands has finally begun! Join me next time as the escape from the city of Kingsland begins. But once I return to this story it'll be either two or three chapters.

Till then, I'll see y'all later for now!