Chapter Twelve
Alexander paced the length of the Tower, looking for possible points of entry. Weak areas. Anywhere that he could fit in. Eventually, he found one towards the back of the tower. Bricks had eroded to form a sort of foot-hole that would allow him to hoist himself through a low-level window. There was no telling what he would stumble upon when he got through the window, but that was another problem for another time. With little fanfare, he set to work. He ignored the searing pain in his wrist and ribs as he climbed towards the window and slid his body through the sill.
It was dark. It was so dark. It looked like he was in a hallway, but it was hard to tell for sure. Alexander blinked a few times, struggling to adjust his eyes to the lack of lighting. He looked around for any guards that might be walking around before starting down the hallway. He needed to find where John was kept before anyone knew that he was here.
Eddy walked down the hall that intersected the one Alexander was in, moving away from John's cell, worry written across his face. "He's gonna be fine...they wouldn't let him die…" he muttered nervously to himself, trying to bring himself some comfort. He wasn't sure why he cared so much about John's health. He just did. His voice echoed it the hall and carried through the air.
John was being checked over by the doctor. Just in case. His complexion and his mood had worsened since he'd been ill. He felt depressed and weak, and longed to not be by himself in this. He longed for comfort, and didn't care at this point who provided it.
"You're good to go, John," Sherwood declared finally.
John stood up. "Thanks, Trenty…"
"Um, it's Doctor, thank you," Sherwood corrected.
"Awwwwwwwww, that's boring..." John pouted. "Humor me, I'm ill."
He was escorted back to his cell by two unfamiliar guards. He sat on the floor of the cell, his hair a mess in his face and his skin sallow and devoid of any lively glow, and started to wonder what Alex was doing right now. Maybe he was fighting in a battle with their comrades, maybe he was working in the tent they used to share back at camp, who knew. He put his head down between his knees as he thought.
Alexander continued down the hall, craning his neck to get a better look at the men who occupied each cell.
There weren't many cells. John was in the one at the end.
Alexander reached an intersection between hallways. At the end of it, he could see a tuft of blond hair against cell walls. John's blond hair. Alexander grinned, taking a few steps forward. As he moved closer, however, he noticed that he was not alone in this hallway.
There was a guard.
Eddy walked through his hallway to the intersection. He saw an outline of a person in the darkened hall across. "Who's there?" he asked quietly but firmly.
Alexander squeezed his eyes closed. So close.
"Uh...no one?" He ventured.
Eddy didn't recognize the voice. "Come out of the shadows or I'll have to assume you're trying to break in and pull out my gun." He raised an eyebrow.
"Kind of a wild assumption to jump to, no?" Alexander hoped that cracking jokes would help him put Eddy at ease. "I'm just here to see John...er...Mr. Laurens. I'm the...uh...the new guy. I'm supposed to interview him to see what George Washington is doing across the sea
Eddy had never heard about a new interrogative officer. "You're here to see John? I'm sorry, but it's late if you couldn't tell, and he's not been well." There was slight worry in his voice mentioning John's illness.
"What's wrong with him?" Alexander betrayed his own lie; it was a knee-jerk reaction that he could not manage. He stormed out of the shadows towards John's cell. "What's the matter with him? John? Are you okay?"
John heard Alex's voice…wait, what?! His head shot up and he looked out the cell door. "Alex?!" he croaked. His throat was apparently dry.
Once Alexander had emerged, Eddy recognized him from John's drawing. He stopped him before he could get too close to John's cell. "You're Alexander," he said, not in an accusing manner. He also kept his tone down; John did have guards, after all.
"Yeah," Alexander afforded Eddy a disinterested look. Now that his identity was out in the open, there was no reason to keep up the act. He didn't care about Eddy at all. He looked over the guard's shoulder at John. "John, are you okay? Have they...are they...treating you okay?"
"Please come to the door, I'm not keen on moving right now…" John replied in his dry voice. "I'm fine. And Eddy, please make sure he's not shot."
Eddy understood these two were close friends, though he didn't know the very deep connection they shared. He nodded in response. "Alright, John."
Alexander didn't quite like that John's guard was so familiar with him. He looked Eddy over dispassionately before pushing past him to get to John's cell. He hadn't approved of being blocked from it in the first place.
"John." He knelt down by the cell door, looking John over with great concern. "Are you okay? We've got to get you out of here, buddy."
"I'm okay…" His physical appearance claimed otherwise, but John was too happy to see Alex again to bring that into account. "I can't believe you're here…"
"Why not? It's not that far away," Alexander tried to smile playfully. It wasn't very convincing. It was obvious that John was not in good shape. Alexander looked around for an opportunity to get John out of the cell. "We missed you back home."
"...it felt far away…" John was starting to tear up a bit. Oh, how he wished those bars weren't between them so they could embrace each other! This felt wrong, their reunion being between a door that couldn't be opened.
"I didn't feel a minute of it." Alexander lied, still working at his smile. He ignored his aching wrist and ribs, as well as the gardening-tool wound that had not yet healed properly. "So, what's the deal here? It seems like you've got some pull with that guard over there." He dropped his voice as he nodded back to Eddy. He was hoping that the guard could be convinced to let John go.
"Oh yeah, Eddy and I go way back to my time on the boat here," John explained with a nod. "Be glad you didn't get caught by his brother."
"Hm." Alexander wasn't very impressed by Eddy or the idea of his brother. "Think he could get you out of here? If we leave now, we might be able to get out of this country before they realize that you're gone."
"...hm," John thought for a moment. "Maybe."
Eddy stood by, not able to hear their conversation.
"Hey, Red." Alexander turned to look at Eddy. He didn't afford the man much respect. He didn't think that redcoats deserved much respect. "Think we could unlock the door, here?"
"Um, if you address me that way I won't," Eddy replied, crossing his arms. He would not take that kind of treatment. At least John had given him a nickname that was still his name.
"I'm sorry - your royal highness, your majestic guard...would you please unlock this door?" Alexander had been through hell to get this far. He would not be thwarted by a guard with a power complex.
He didn't get much respect from people around, they treated him like a rookie. It was the least he could get from a guy he'd only seen in a drawing.
"...fine." Eddy went into his pocket and looked for the key.
Reggie was doing a quick sweep of the halls. The whole struggle he'd been having with Thomas was fresh in his mind, and it uneased him.
Alexander let out an annoyed huff, standing up and taking a step away from the cell door to let Eddy unlock it. He folded his arms across his chest as he waited, mostly so that he would not grab John the moment that he was free. He still had to act like a gentleman. He had to act like a gentleman until they were finally alone.
He was tired of being a gentleman.
Reggie made it to the cell block. "Edward, what the devil are you doing!?" he exclaimed/asked his brother as he saw him about to put the key in the lock.
Eddy jumped and dropped the key. "I swear, it's not what you think-"
"Reggie! So… wonderful for you to join us," John said from his cell, hearing the newest voice in the hall. Based on his tone, he was not excited for Reggie to be there.
Alexander turned to look at the newest guard. His fingernails dug into his arms. Yet another person trying to stand in his way. He was growing impatient with all of the barriers being placed between him and John.
"Open the door." He commanded Eddy through gritted teeth.
"Who is this man and why is he giving you orders, Edward?" Reggie asked, frowning. "If you open that door you'll be committing an act of treason."
Eddy didn't know what to do.
"You don't want to stand between me and that door," Alexander warned both of them, his voice coming out as something resembling a snarl. "I have done more than I would care to do to get to this door. I won't be stopped just outside of it. So I'll ask you again - open the door."
"Edward, don't listen to this-I don't know what you are, but you disgust me," Reggie said, glaring at Alexander and looking expectantly at his brother.
Eddy's key was on the floor. He glanced down at it.
Alexander saw Eddy looking down at the key and took advantage of his moment's hesitation. He lunged at the guard, grabbing his gun from him and knocking him to the ground with the key. He took turns pointing the gun at Eddy and Reggie.
"I won't ask again." He told them both firmly.
Eddy hit the ground. His nose was now bleeding, and he looked frightened as the gun was pointed at him.
Reggie pulled his own gun and pointed it at Alexander in return. "I don't believe we are under your command. You, scum, are an intruder. Put down your gun."
Alexander's finger twitched towards the trigger, focusing the gun towards Reggie. "That is just not going to happen. I have come here to return Mr. Laurens to his home. I will not allow you to get in my way."
Eddy began to slowly stand.
"Laurens is not leaving that cell," Reggie promised, also itching to pull the trigger. "He is our prisoner and he will remain our prisoner."
"This is the last chance I'm going to give," Alexander warned, his eyes glinting. "Let him go."
"No," Reggie replied, a growl in his voice. "He gave himself up. He's ours now. Not yours."
Again came a knee-jerk reaction. John Laurens did not belong to anyone - least of all this terrible, terrible redcoat. Alexander's finger pressed down on the trigger of the gun. The moment he saw a red spot appear on the chest of Reggie's shirt, he knew that he hit his mark. He then turned to Eddy, his expression murderous.
Reggie fell to the ground, his gun skidding across the floor as it flew out of his hand. He was dead within a few minutes, blood staining his red coat maroon and his white shirt red. His eyes were wide open.
Eddy registered what just happened. Before he could even think he ran, grabbed his fallen brother's gun, and pointed it straight at Alexander. His expression had turned from frightened to vengeful. There were tears in his eyes. "You...you killed Reggie…you killed my brother…" His mouth quivered. He was trying hard not to burst out in mournful tears. He didn't dare look down at the lifeless body at his feet.
"You're next if you don't open that door." Alexander did not lower the gun.
Eddy's hand with the gun shook.
"Eddy, just...open the door…" John finally spoke up. His voice was more a whisper. It was leaving him for the moment.
"Listen to him." Alexander advised, glancing over at John briefly. "This does not have to end badly for you. It does not have to end badly for any of us. Just open that door."
Eddy remembered Reggie's earlier words. "Y-you open it." He kicked the key to Alexander's feet and lowered his gun. "I'm not a traitor." He turned, wiping his eyes, and started to run in the other direction.
Alexander made sure that Eddy was far enough away that he would not be able to shoot him fatally before leaning down to pick up the key. He inched towards John's cell, still not taking his eyes off of Eddy's disappearing figure.
Eddy soon vanished, turning into a hallway.
John watched Alex come closer. Almost there…
As soon as Eddy vanished, Alexander whipped around and jammed the key into the lock, turning it despite the pain it brought to his injured wrist. He threw the door open, looking over his shoulder frantically.
"Let's go."
John weakly managed to stand up. He nodded. His heart was pounding; finally, there was no more door between them.
Alexander placed his hand on John's back, steering him towards the window that he'd crawled through earlier. It would not be an easy escape on the body - he'd probably break another rib on his way down - but it was their only option. He looked over his shoulder again as they reached the window. Still clear.
"You first," He told John, gesturing towards the window. "If I don't make it out, head for the docks. You'll be able to hitch a ride with a privateer; they're all over the place. Hurry."
"You'd better make it out," John replied in his hoarse voice. He approached the window and crawled through, his feet scrambling for a hold.
"I'll do my best," Alexander promised, backing up to cover John as he made his escape.
John took a deep breath, glancing down at the ground below him, and let go of the ledge. He landed and immediately winced, but he was alright. He looked back up at the window.
Alexander heard John hit the ground and backed himself onto the window ledge. He threw a glance over his shoulder, hopefully looking for some smaller incremental drop that would lessen his fall. There was none. Even the foothold that had allowed him to reach the window in the first place was out of reach. With a sigh, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall out of the window.
He hit the ground, which was blessedly softer than the one outside of the government building he'd been in earlier was. He looked at John, his mouth curving into a smile.
There were no bars between them now.
John smiled back. "...let's get out of this country," he said with a hand outstretched to Alex.
Alexander took his hand, savoring the warmth of it. He gave it a gentle squeeze before letting his hand fall to his side without John's in it any longer. Without another moment of hesitation, he started for the direction of the dock.
John followed Alex to the dock. He was lagging a bit due to his already weak legs and the fact he hadn't gotten much of any workout in his time in prison.
Alexander noticed John's slower pace and slowed his own. He knew that John must have experienced certain unpleasantries within the confines of the Tower, but chose not to ask about them until he was far enough away from the Tower that he could not turn around and kill every man who was involved in John's incarceration.
Instead, he focused on the way that John put one foot in front of the other. He made sure that John did not stumble. He watched the way that John's knees wobbled. He wanted so badly to carry the poor man to the ship, but he could not. Not without being arrested for a wholly different crime than patriotism to the colonies. He settled for preparing himself to catch John, should he fall.
As they neared the dock, Alexander scanned the row of ships. Ideally, they would find one that was unattended. He would settle for a profiteer who would accept the gun he'd stolen from the Tower as payment for their passage. He looked to John in askance, hoping that John trusted him enough to secure their passage home.
John looked back at him, his gaze tired but hopeful, and he smiled just a bit. Enough to make it clear that Alex had his faith.
Alexander led them through the docks, trying not to draw anyone's attention. As they walked, Alexander noticed a young man walking away from a small ship with a self-satisfied smile. He looked at the ship - it was completely empty. He turned to smile at John, reaching for his hand again. On the bustling dock, no one would notice if Alexander took John's hand. Nobody at all would notice if Alexander lured him to the empty ship and happened to move around a few ropes in the process. Nobody would care if the ship started moving away from the shore and Alexander was holding John's hand all the while.
John held tight to Alexander's hand as they moved to the boat and out to sea. He was afraid if he let go Alex would be gone away again, and he'd be found once more by the redcoats and returned to the Tower. This was silly, of course, but being stuck in prison so far away from Alex made him realize just how important he was to him.
Alexander led John to the boat, tossing off ropes as they moved. He lifted the sails, just as Mr. Hancock had taught him to do what seemed like a lifetime ago. He felt John's eyes on him and wasn't too surprised to find that he enjoyed it immensely. He liked showing off this new, adventurous side of himself. He liked playing the hero.
As the ship broke free of the dock, Alexander saw a few officers pushing through the bustling crowd, attempting to locate the escaped prisoner and the rogue who had helped set him free. Without meaning to, he let out a loud laugh. He felt so giddy - they were free and there wasn't a thing that any of them could do about it anymore. After so many people had done everything in their power to make sure neither of the men were ever free again, they had made it.
They were free.