Chapter Eighteen
Vivian had been watching for quite some time now. She noticed that bout every twenty minutes the guards came around. Twenty minutes was plenty of time. The heavy boots clomped past her door and down the hall. Vivian sprang into action.
She lifted up the skirt of her dress and reached for the pouch attached and tucked under the waistband. Inside was the exact amount of material needed for her escape if everything went smoothly. Vivian picked up the first of three Teflon vials and opened it, attaching one of the tubes to the opening quickly to prevent the vapors from seriously affecting her. She should be wearing gloves, yes, and a gas mask, but sadly the eerie Alcatraz replica was seriously lacking in cell chemistry supplies. However, the pillow case with eyeholes cut in would work just fine.
Vivian gently poured the vial's contents onto the hinges of her cell door. The liquid made contact with a satisfying hiss. Now she just had to wait again. Vivian figured one more guard rotation would do.
The boots once again vanished down the hall. Vivian slipped off her cot and wiggled the door. It came free, and was way heavier than expected. She was surprised she was able to move it and gently set it against her cell wall without making a lot of loud noises. She figured it was adrenaline. Vivian peeked her head outside the cell and saw nothing. She tiptoed down the hall towards what appeared to be the door. She honestly had no idea; she had been brought in blindfolded. The only person who would know would be someone who has been here longer than she has, but everyone appeared to be asleep. Except for one.
"What the hell are you doing?" The voice hissed; it belonged to Ernest Cobb, prisoner 2047.
"I'm getting out. I'm done." Vivian said, moving closer.
"I don't think you really have that choice."
"Of course I do", she said, leaning closer so she could whisper, "Look, we were given fifty extra years, Ernest. I'm not going to waste it stuck in Alcatraz for the second time. I've had my fun and now it is time to move on. Plus, they will not be getting anything more out of me and they know it. You are welcome to come with me if you would like."
"Come with you? The last thing I want to do is be with you again. Even talking to you right now is making me very angry."
"Alright, suit yourself. At least be a dear and tell me where the door is."
"That way." Ernest said, pointing into the darkness to the right.
"Why thank you, my darling. See you again, perhaps!" Vivian quietly called over her shoulder as she crept into the dark.
For some reason Ernest wasn't satisfied. He knew Vivian was certifiably crazy, and was probably going to get caught in the process of escaping. Plus, he felt a strong dislike, not necessarily a burning hatred, but a strong dislike. But, the prospect of Vivian being successful and taking him with her? He could be free. He could be alone, at last!
"Wait!" Ernest called as loud as he dared. "Vivian, wait!"
Vivian's head peeped around the corner dressed in what appeared to be a smirk. She scuttled back over to his cell.
"I knew you would come around!"
"How are you going to get me out?"
"Same way I did."
"And how was that?"
"I brought an old friend with me. Hang tight."
Ernest did as he was told. Vivian uncapped another vial and applied it to his door the same way she did hers. The hiss was even more satisfying the second time.
"Pretend to be asleep until the guards come and go again. I'll be back." And with that statement Vivian disappeared back the way she came, reset her door, and lay back down until the boot steps came and went.
Within seconds, the doors were off and they were sneaking down the hall towards the front door.
"What's the plan?"
"You will find out."
"That's quite the plan."
"Yes indeed. Let's go."
The two prisoners stealthily made their way towards the front door, carefully avoiding the cameras mounted on the walls. Vivian disabled the camera facing the front door. She had heard guards talking about how unreliable that one was anyway, so she figured they wouldn't question it going offline again. Near the door was the main office, the trickiest part of the escape. However, since it was night, the office was vacant. Thankfully vacant. And there, in front of them, stood the door. An imposing structure, but one that could be defeated.
As quickly and meticulously as possible, Vivian applied the acid. This door was thicker than the others, and would take longer. They were going to be discovered, and now the question of how to deal with that.
"Get the knives out." Vivian said, tossing the pouch.
Ernest opened the pouch and pulled out two miniature daggers, each of them dangerously and exceedingly sharp.
"What are these for?"
"The guards. Pass me one, I'm going to try and pick the lock on the first door."
With a dagger in hand, Vivian picked at the lock. It was difficult, and time consuming, but in the end it would work faster than the acid would. Vivian heard footsteps coming back around. Then yelling. Then frantic speech into a radio. The response was clear, as they were getting closer.
"We're not going to sound the alarm. That will just cause panic. I want you two to look for them and then radio back when it's taken care of."
"Do you want us to shoot?"
"Shoot to harm not to kill. I don't know how important they are but I don't want to get in trouble if we kill 'em when we weren't supposed to."
"Roger that."
The guards came around the corner in front of the main door. The two escapees remained crouched and frozen. Vivian readjusted the dagger in her hand to the perfect throwing position. It was go time.
Two guards made their way down the path to the parking lot. The woods were nice and quiet, and since their hasty exit from the Alcatraz replica on the account of a traumatic experience it was nice. One guard fished around in a pocket. They found a pair of car keys, and after much difficulty was able to locate the vehicle. They climbed in, backed out, and started on their way.
The vehicle careened down the roads, before finally making it to a large highway. The driver watched the signs, then started following for San Francisco. It was still dark, that was a good thing, but according to the clock light it was almost midnight. They had to drive, fast.
"Where are we going?" The passenger asked.
"To get my car."
"Why?"
"We can't leave without it."
Then-silence. The two drove and drove for almost an hour at break neck speed before the city was in sight. It got closer and closer before they were upon it. Soon, the car was parked, and rifled through for all the loose change and cash the two guards could find. The car was wiped then locked, and the keys left in the door. The two guards then began making their way down the street to a nearby pay phone. The change was inserted, and the number dialed. The one on the left was listening to the conversation, trying to hear who was on the other line. Just as he started to guess, the other placed the phone down on the cradle and wiped the phone and keypad down.
"Come on."
They waited in a seedy twenty-four hour diner nursing coffee until the black SUV came barreling around the corner, screeching to a halt outside. She left a five on the table then walked out, the man in tow. They climbed in and drove off.
"Tommy!" She said, "It's so good to see you!"
"Save the sarcasm, I'm not in the mood. I'm still lost as to why he is here and why you two are dressed as guards." Tommy said, gesturing to the man.
"Ernest said he wanted to come and we just had the escape of our lives."
"Huh."
"How close are we?"
"About twenty minutes. What do you know about my situation?"
"She's looking for you."
"Who?"
"The blonde woman? I heard her talking about you."
"That's not good."
"Maybe it is. Let her find you then scare her a bit."
"Your idea of scaring is almost killing someone, Vivian."
"Isn't that everyone's?"
There was collective silence from the other passenger in the vehicle. It made another startling stop, and the door opened. They had arrived. The three former inmates climbed out of the car and made their way across the car park to a dark green fifties Buick convertible in the back corner of the lot. Tommy handed Vivian the keys. She climbed in and put the top down. Ernest crawled into the passenger seat.
"It's stocked with everything you two will need."
"Why thank you, my dear." Vivian fished out a wad of cash with a large and rather deadly looking knife and handed it to Tommy.
"Why the knife?"
"I don't want to hear any complaints. That knife is a beauty."
"Just tell me why you are giving it to me."
"You never know when you might need it, darling." Vivian said with a wink before starting the engine and taking off. It was time to be free.