Chapter 3
When they reached the outskirts of the forest, Jefferson slowed down and Belle followed.
"Now the question is, how do we get to this place without getting detected." Jefferson said, practically to himself.
Belle was still taking in the sights and the fresh air.
"If we make it to Main Street we will be in the clear, but until then we need to be extra careful. Of course we could always go down Honey Lane, but there's a chance he could be out helping with the search." Jefferson continued to mutter under his breath but Belle tried to make out as much as she could.
"He? Who's he?"
"Trust me you don't want to know." But of course she did. Before she could protest, though, he grabbed her hand and they set off, moving quickly towards an awning that would block them from the streetlights glow.
Jefferson then stopped abruptly and shoved Belle to the ground before they could make it there. They sat crouching behind metal waste can. A police car with a shining light drove by them and then it was out of sight.
"They're everywhere. I don't think we have any of choice but Honey Lane."
"How far away is that?" Belle asked.
"Not far. Right across the street and down a little. We'll have to run again, you ready?"
Belle nodded. He wrapped his one arm around her waist and they began to run. They made it across the street without any trouble and they crouched down as they continued along the road, using any form of covering to their advantage.
Finally, they reached Honey Lane, a quiet road with minimal lighting and only a few houses spread along it.
"I think we'll be alright around here. For the most part at least." He looked apprehensively around the street, moving at a slow pace as if getting a feel for his surroundings.
"Shouldn't we continue moving quickly? There's still a risk isn't there?" Belle asked him while tugging a bit on his hand.
"No. Sudden movements here will attract attention to us. It's better to walk slowly."
Belle looked at him speculatively. "Is there someone specifically that you are afraid of running into?"
He glanced over at her, and then leaned in closely. "I'm afraid of running into anyone Belle. And here's some advice about this place. Trust no one. No one but me."
"What about your friend? Can I trust him?"
"Her. And no. Not yet at least."
They continued moving at a sluggish pace, past various manors' that ranged in size. Most were not too grand but all had a very Victorian look to them.
"They're all so beautiful. The houses."
Jefferson didn't answer nor acknowledge in any way that he heard her. He continued to look around the street, trying to spot any onlookers.
"How did they catch you?" Belle asked him. She had been curious about that for a while.
He sighed deeply and then took a break from watching the road and looked at her.
"You ask a lot of questions." Belle shrugged in response.
"I suppose it makes sense though. You have been trapped in that cell for many years."
Belle wanted to continue their conversation they were about to have back in the cell, but she thought there was a better time and place for that. This conversation would alleviate her curiosity for now.
"It's a very long story but I'll give you the quick version of it. I was running away from someone. Someone who I had come for in need of help and…well I wasn't given the response I had hoped for. I was nearly to the woods when a police officer stopped me and brought me in claiming that I was behaving suspiciously."
"Can he do that?"
"He did. Something you'll find out very quickly is that in this world whether something is right or wrong doesn't matter. People tend to look out for themselves over anyone else, whether it is the right thing to do or not. It's all about power."
Belle nodded, trying to take in what he was saying. It was hard for her to think such things about a place she had never been before. About an experience she has yet to live out. She had very limited encounters with people but what he was saying made sense so far. Most of them seem to have left their heart somewhere else.
"Anyway, the mayor seemed to think I was a danger to her town and instead of locking me up in jail, she deemed me mad, worthy of time spent in that sad excuse for an asylum."
"The mayor? Regina?" He nodded.
"I think she's the reason I was in there. She would pay me visits every now and then, just staring at me through the hatch on my door. Why would the mayor visit me?"
Jefferson smiled at her.
"Well you know don't you? You said you knew why I was there. Does it have to do with her?" Belle pleaded.
"I think that you don't give yourself enough credit. You ask many questions that I believe you already know the answer to."
Belle took this in. So she was right. All along. It was the mayor.
"Regina is a cruel woman. If you are to take any of my advice with you it is that you never believe a word she says. She is a lying, deceitful witch and she will do anything to keep her power. You understand?" As he spoke he got more infuriated by each word he spat out.
"Yes. I understand."
His eyes glazed over, it was clear he had something on his mind. There was something more to this that he wasn't sharing.
"I am not crazy." He mumbled to himself.
The houses were starting to get closer together the further they made it down the street.
He began to look around again. "We are almost there." But he didn't say it in a way that would make it seem that this was a good thing. His words came out like a death wish. He gripped her hand tightly and they started to pick up their pace. Then Belle noticed that he kept his eyes on one house in particular.
It was a beautiful house; it had a Victorian design, with pink siding and green trimming.
"Who lives there?" She asked, admiring its beauty.
"The man who owns this entire town. His name's Mr. Gold. You'll want to avoid him. He has close ties with the mayor."
"Oh. Are they together?"
"No. They detest one another."
"But I thought you said they were close?"
"They are. But only because they both have similar methods in getting what they want. They manipulate. It's best to avoid the two of them completely."
"Got it." Belle said. She decided it was best to believe everything Jefferson was saying to her. He had no reason to lie.
They moved quickly past Mr. Gold's house. There didn't appear to be any lights on inside so it was safe to assume he was already in bed. But Jefferson wasn't taking any risks. He guided them into the yard of the neighbor who lived across from his house and they ducked behind the hedges.
"Sorry but it's best to be certain he can't see us." He muttered as they moved quickly across the lot.
Finally, they had made it far enough past Mr. Gold's home where they could move back onto the side walk.
"We should be fine now. Almost there."
Belle nodded. She was sort of enjoying the adrenaline rush. It made her feel more alive than she's ever felt before.
"This is working out much better than I…" Before Jefferson could finish his sentence a police car came flying around the corner, lights blazing, siren piercing the air.
"Oh no. Run!" Jefferson screamed as he clenched onto Belle's hand once more. They swept to the right, through a yard and out the other side. Belle took a quick glance back at the car following them but as she did she noticed that Mr. Gold's front room light was on and at the front porch stood a dark figure, watching them. She gasped and then continued to push herself as fast as she could. They were back on Main Street but there to greet them were four more police cars heading straight towards them, one merely a few yards away.
"This way!" He yelled over the sirens; they had never moved so fast. They were sprinting across the street, searching for an alleyway to escape to.
"Jefferson! What are we going to do?" Belle cried.
"Just run! Whatever you do don't stop!" She put as much power she could into her strides. Turning back briefly to see how close they were, she was surprised to see the one police car merely a few feet away now, capable of running her over if he felt it necessary. Jefferson turned back as well and once he realized how close it was, he swerved them quickly to the left, which threw him off, as they headed towards an alleyway in the distance.
They had almost reached it when Belle stepped on a sharp piece of stone and fell to the ground. The second she collapsed, Jefferson was right there to pick her up, swinging her into his arms. He continued running, making it into the alley just in time.
"Are you okay?" He asked, somewhat out of breath.
Belle, arms wrapped tightly around his neck, nodded into his vest. "Yeah I'm okay. Sorry."
"I can't believe they were on us that quickly. How the hell did they know where we were?" He asked quietly.
Belle had a feeling. "I think it was Mr. Gold. When we were running I turned back and I saw someone standing on his porch, watching."
Jefferson groaned in frustration. "Damnit."
Belle had never seen him this aggravated. He set her down and pounded his fists on the brick wall. He then leaned his head against it, closing his eyes as if entirely giving up on their plan.
"Jefferson it's fine. We can still make it."
"Their everywhere Belle. The second we step out of this alley they will have us surrounded. Then I will be thrown in jail and they will send you back to the asylum." Belle's heart dropped. No. There was no way she was going back there. Never again.
"What kind of attitude is that? Look Jefferson you've gotten us this far. Don't give up. We will find a way to get to your friends house. How far from here does she live?"
He lifted his right arm and pointed straight and then over to the left. "About half a mile from here."
"That's not far at all! We just have to figure out a plan to get out of here without getting caught."
"Yeah well you better come up with something quickly because cops aren't obligated to just chase us in cars. They'll find us any second now."
Belle began to panic but then took a few deep breaths and tried to think of a plan.
She started to pace back and forth, hobbling slightly because of her hurt foot, while Jefferson continued to stand with his head against the brick wall.
After a minute of not coming up with anything she was about to give up as well. She leaned herself on the wall opposite of Jefferson and looked up at the sky, as if that would help inspire a brilliant idea. And it did.
Looking upwards she noticed that the building they were next to had a fire escape. There was a ladder not too unreachable attached to the wall with connecting railings for each floor of the building. If they were lucky, one of the windows might be open.
"Quick Jefferson lift me up." He slightly moved his head in response.
"What?" He mumbled
"Come on, come over here, lift me up." He finally turned towards her.
"Lift you up? Why?"
"Look!" She pointed to the ladder. He stared at it speculatively, feeling rather foolish for not noticing it before. He walked over to her, grabbed her by the waist and then slowly hoisted her up. She stretched as far as she could and eventually got a hold of the ladder.
"Give it a really hard pull." He told her. She tugged away at it several times but it wouldn't budge.
"I'm trying, but it won't work!"
"Keep going! You can do this Belle!"
She continued and with one final pull she got it to come down low enough for them to both climb on. They made their way up the ladder and onto the first platform. Jefferson yanked at the windowsill but it was no good. They were about to continue up when a loud voice caught their attention.
"They went this way!" Jefferson and Belle stared in horror at one another for a brief second and then flew up the next flight. They tried the second floor window. This one was locked as well. Belle was beginning to panic but Jefferson decided to act rashly. He began pounding on the window.
"Hello! Please open the window! Hello!" The voices were getting closer.
"Jefferson what are you doing? No one's going to open the window for some random man in the middle of the night!" But that didn't stop him. He continued to knock.
"You're going to draw attention to us!"
"That's the point. Hello! Anyone home?"
"Not from the police!"
The voices were right around the corner now. They were in trouble.
Jefferson stopped, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"We tried." Belle whispered.
The shadows began to approach them. They turned towards each other, both looking sympathetic for the other. When suddenly the window flew open and a hand grabbed Jefferson, tugging him inside. Then Belle was shooed in as well. Right in time.
They found themselves in a tiny, dark, one room apartment. Their savior was hiding in the shadows but it was clear it was a woman.
Jefferson stepped forward. "Thank you. We were…we're lost. This is Belle and I'm…"
"I know exactly who you are." She said in a quiet voice. Stepping slowly out from the shadow she revealed herself.
She was a petite girl, young, but tired looking. Her long, golden blond hair was pushed back with a black headband, revealing her pretty but weary face. She looked as if she hadn't slept in months. Belle was about to ask who she was but she didn't get a chance.
"Alice." Jefferson said quietly. His face was in a state of true disbelief, as if he was staring at a ghost.
"Hello. Mad Hatter."