As we stood outside Sherwood House on this chilly summer▓s night I wondered, as I often did, if tonight would be the night we got caught. At first Will and Jhon had placed bets as to how long this would last, how long we could get away with this, I hadn▓t approved of this, and I didn▓t think it was good to jinx it. But now I see it was just their way of venting their nerves, we were all so scared. So stood here now I was just as nervous as I had been two months ago, when this had all started.
Me, Will and Jhon waited silently for Mark to get here, although he was the most organised of all of us, he was notoriously late. Will let out a yawn I smiled as the infection spread to Jhon and then myself, Mark approaching us shook his head.
⌠You best not fall asleep on me; we got a lot of money to dish out.■ He said pushing down his mask and pulling up his hood.
We all copied Marks actions and took on our secret identities. Heading out to Pontifact Road we walked in silence each of us carrying several envelopes of rent money. We reached to top of the road and split up dividing the quiet sleeping street into four, I walked to number one and smiled as I slipped the envelope through the letterbox, thinking of the relief this would bring to the occupant tomorrow morning. How wonderful it would be to wake up in the morning to a fat wad of cash sitting on your welcome mat.
About half way through my delivery I felt the air around me turn to ice, scurrying shadows wondered around every corner, the warm heat of unwanted gazes caused me to blush. Someone was watching me. I spun around to scan the area I appeared to be alone, however the sudden appearance of a shadowy figure across the street sat on a rooftop caused me to do a double take, it was gone. Ok keep it together Robin; your eyes are playing tricks on you, that▓s all. Returning to posting the last envelope I signled to the others that I was done (three sharp throughty coughs) and headed back to the top of the street.
Every shadow made me jump a mile. Im normally very confident at night, but something was wrong to night. My razor sharp senses were screaming warnings at my petrified self. But stupidly I carried on to the alleyway where we had arranged to meet Joe.
Standing in the dark I clutched myself as a shiver shot up my spine, I looked around again, I was becoming paranoid. To distract myself I stood and replayed today▓s events; the not so civil conversation with Adam, the bizarre emotions I experienced with George Baxter, the not very helpful MSN conversation. Although I hadn▓t found the time to talk to my parents about the farm I had decided it was probably a good thing, they wouldn▓t believe me if I told them what he was planning, and even if they did they▓d want to know how I knew. I▓d simply have to slyly make sure they didn▓t give in and sell out to Baxter. If they did the whole Southside was done for.
I heard footsteps coming up behind me, and my mind franticly searched to place them, it was a strong and confident rhythm and yet cautious and dainty, if that▓s possible. I listened as the foot steps got closer and closer and closer, pretending not to hear the noise. I waited until the footsteps stopped and I could feel the mysterious person▓s warm breath tickling my neck and I spun round only to find myself alone, well except for Joe stood right at the other end of the alleyway with his cart.
⌠Are you alright?■ asked Joe pulling his bright yellow cart towards me, I smiled with relief (not that he could see it under my hood) and put the thoughts of what had just happened out of my head.
⌠Yeah im fine.■ I replied.
⌠Good, you better go get your boy▓s wait until you see what I got for ya.■ He said a broad grin across his face under his own hood.
⌠Why what you got?■ asked Will as he and the others entered the ally from the same place I entered.
⌠Come here you gotta see this.■ Joe said opening his cart and taking out a ruby necklace on a gold chain and holding it in his palm. Our friend was positively glowing with pride.
⌠Whoa!■ Exclaimed Will as he inspected to necklace, ⌠Nice.■
⌠Good job mate.■ Said Jhon patting Joe on the back, causing him to lose his balance slightly.
⌠Where▓d you get it?■ asked Mark joining the others in inspecting the gem.
⌠Your not gunna believe this right, I doing my rounds like seeing how many idiots there is in the west side, let me tell you business is bombing, and I thought why not push my luck and try Birch avenue (A/N Birch av is where the extremely rich population of Locksdale live.). So as I headed up there I ran into Mr and Mrs Beverly.■ Joe started.
Courtney▓s parents, this should be interesting. Just to fill you in Joe is not only one of the few people we can trust with our identities but he is also an amazing friend who before meeting us used his excellent pick pocket skills to line his own walet, now he uses his powers for good donating anything of interest or just money to us to help the poor. We gained his friendship after we helped get his parents out of a sticky situation.
His con of choice is to go door to door in the west side to either trick people out of their money or just straight out nick it. Sometimes however he simply walks▓s up to people on the street with his cart.
⌠And I got this.■ He said dangling the chain from his finger.
⌠Oh, so you conveniently skipped the part about who it was that actually got the necklace.■ Said Jess Joe▓s little sister. She was the spit of her brother, from her hazel eyes to her expertly defined features, hers slightly more delicate, she even inherited his cunningness and his ability to scam. Her braded hair blowing behind her and her rouged lips bringing out her dark skin (where her brothers white shirt had done the job) Jhon went speechless and a besotted stare slipped across his face, he had a huge crush on Jess.
⌠Why do you have to come and interfere anyway, little sis?■ Asked Joe trying to assert his authority
⌠Because if I didn▓t you wouldn▓t get anywhere, you know your useless without me.■ Jess said.
⌠Yeah thanks for that, anyway that▓s not all I got┘.■ He started only to be cut off by his sister.
⌠We Got.■ Said Jess grinning at me, she loved winding her brother up.
⌠Fine, what we got.■ Joe said sulking and through a bag of money at me.
Catching it I opened it up, now that was a lot of money.
⌠Wow, thanks.■ I said smiling at the two of them ⌠We really appreciate this, and all what you do for us.■ The others nodded in agreement (well Jhon tried to).
⌠It▓s nothing, honestly.■ Said Jess playing with her mask.
⌠Its no problem.■ Said Joe, the two joined in a rare moment of sibling peace.
⌠I bet you ant told them what else yet have you?■ Snapped Jess at her brother, spoke too soon.
⌠I was getting to that, if you▓d just stop talking for like five minuets.■ Joe snapped back.
Jess opened her mouth to argue some more but Mark asked her a question to avoid further arguing.
⌠Jess, what were you gunna say.■
⌠That a friend of ours wants to get in touch with you.■ She replied.
⌠Wants to be part of what you▓re doing, one thing▓s for sure Jack▓s more than capable of helping you out.■ Said Joe.
⌠Definitely.■ Agreed Jess.
⌠Sounds good■ I replied ⌠When will we get to meet this Jack?■
⌠Oh, I▓ll send him round to the office tomorrow.■ Said Joe sniggering. Jess looked at him and rolled her eyes.
⌠What▓s so funny?■ Asked Jhon.
⌠Ignore him■ replied Jess ⌠That▓s how I get by.■
Jhon suddenly fell silent again, amazed at being addressed by Jess. Joe was still laughing at his own mysterious joke.
⌠So is that it? Are we done?■ asked Joe looking around ⌠ Coz usaly when ever I risk my freedom to meet you lot somat goes wrong, and I end up running for my life.■
⌠With any luck we won▓t have any of that tonight.■ Replied Mark.
Right on queue a group of the ▒elite▓ teen squad members jumped down from the roof tops where they had been hidden and assumed a fight stance, blades our weapons ready, now how terrible is that? I cant stand youth violence, we only carry weapons because we don▓t have a choice, it comes with the part, and even then we▓ve never harmed anyone with them.
⌠You had to jinx it!■ Me and Jess shouted in unison at a startled Joe and Mark.
⌠Ok, its go time.■ Said Jhon, taking out his staff.
One bow between us and it in Marks possession, the rest of us prepared to take on these chumps.
⌠Bring it.■ Mocked Will.
But the squad members didn▓t attack, they stood waiting surrounding us and blocking off all our possible escape routes. It was like they were waiting for something.
⌠You know what Robin, I blame you.■ Said Joe clutching his cart.
⌠Why▓s that.■ I said in my man voice.
⌠If you▓d just left me well enough alone and not made me feel sorry for the poor of the town, I wouldn▓t be here right now.■ He replied, I rolled my eyes and Jess clouted him round the head.
⌠Well, well what do we have here?■ Asked Conner stepping forwards ⌠ Four do-gooders and their two assistants.■
⌠Who you calling assistants?■ Asked Joe insulted. Jess shushed him.
Grinning at touching a nerve Conner spoke.
⌠Not comfortable with the term? How about helper, second stringers, reserve team, laky?■ Sneered Conner. Jess shot her brother a look telling him to keep quiet, or else.
⌠You two should have picked your friends more wisely, we didn▓t come here for you, but you▓ll make a fine example of how we treat traitors in this town.■ Said Conner.
⌠ The only traitors in this town are Baxter and his supporters, we have picked our friends wisely.■ Snapped Jess.
⌠Sure she▓ll shush me.■ Commented Joe. Ignoring both of them Conner looked directly at Robin when he spoke.
⌠After your little escapades the other day, what with the meeting and the whole thing with the walet Mr Baxter has put quite a prise on your head, you▓ve angered a very important person, and he won▓t let that slide.■
⌠Im sure I▓ll get over it.■ I said manly.
⌠I don▓t think you will.■ Sniggered Conner, he clicked his fingers and the young fighters ran forward.
Doing quick maths I found there were twelve squad guys and six of us.
⌠Mark, Jhon you take the first two. Jess and Joe you go for the ones over there. Will you and me get these two, let▓s go.■ I quickly instructed, as the others followed my instructions me and Will ran forward.
The two we got didn▓t look too bright; however one of them had a knife, not a good combination no brains and a dangerous weapon. First things first, get rid of the blade. Homing in on the guy with the knife I ran at him a kicked the knife out of his hand, he watched as the blade flew out of view, a prefect opportunity for me to deliver a swift kick to his stomach sending him flying backwards. At the exact same time Will legged up his adversary.
Looking round I found the others were all doing fine, all experienced in getting out of tight spots.
My distraction allowed my squad member to get in a cheep shot. After a punch to the jaw I was sent reeling, clutching my jaw I felt a trickle of blood escape my busted lip. With that I reacted like a bull seeing red, charging past my opponent I took a leg up off the wall and delivered a kick to his back sending him forward. The fight was very one sided from where me and Will stood, we soon had our two guys running off with their tail between their legs.
It wasn▓t just us; all the squad members along with Conner had vanished. We stood around confused.
⌠Maybe we scared them off.■ Said Jhon.
⌠I don▓t know■ said Mark ever the optimist ⌠It seems too easy.■
I had to agree, it was over much too soon.
⌠Stay on your guard.■ I instructed. We all scanned the area, senses on high alert.
A distant scraping sound filled our ears. What was happening? We waited unsure what to do.
⌠Robin■ Said Will his voice panicky ⌠Look.■
I span around in time to see a large procession of squad members dragging a wooden wall across the entrance to the ally, blocking it off. The same was happening at the other end. This was bad.
Suddenly I ran at the wooden wall preparing to get a boost over. I jumped at the wall pushing off it with one foot and jumped for the top, only to slip and land in a heap at the base of the wall, just like in my dream.
Conner laughed at me from over the wall as my friends rushed to my aid. Suddenly double the previous number of squad members dropped from the sky into the enclosure, one I noticed was carrying a bomb. It was clear we weren▓t to survive this one.
⌠Robin, the innocent people.■ Worried Will, the alleyway had one wall belonging to a residential home at the start of the street the other an old unused stone building. If that bomb went off it wouldn▓t just be us who suffered.
⌠Mark, do you think you can disable it?■ I asked my voice shaking.
⌠I think so.■ He replied quietly.
⌠Oh man■ Said Joe watching as the squad members activated the bomb and prepared to fight. ⌠I just knew it.■
The clock started to count down, this was it. Suddenly another guy dressed in black and masquerade mask dropped from the roof.
⌠Who▓s he?■ asked Joe shaking.
Taking a fight stance I addressed him.
⌠Come on then you sicko, you wanna harm innocent people you gotta go though me.■ And I swung my fist colliding with his head. He let out a cry of pain and the others ran at the squad members Mark to the bomb.
⌠And there▓s plenty more where that came from.■ I said completely forgetting my man voice standing over the guy who had made me snap.
⌠Wait■ He called as I went for another go ⌠Im here to help.■
⌠Like I believe that, if people like you can do this what makes you think I think you won▓t lie!■ I shouted losing my wrag completely with this guy.
He suddenly jumped up and ran past me tackling to the ground a squad member who had been aiming for me with a blade; instead he ended up cutting my saviours arm revealing a bow and arrow mark. I gasped.
⌠Now do you believe me?■ He asked leaving an unconscious squad member in his wake. I nodded my reply.
Noticing another squad member charging at him I ran forwards, assuming I was attacking him the mysterious guy flinched, but my kick missed the cowering new guy and hit the unsuspecting squad member as I intended.
Noticing this new guy sat up his blue eyes twinkling and said.
⌠Thanks.■
The others were managing to keep Baxter▓s army at bay so the two of us sprinted to see how Mark was doing, out hearts beating wildly.
The digital clock on the bomb read ⌠00:57■ Beads of sweat rolled down Marks forehead, as he was faced by that classic movie problem.
⌠Which wire?■ He asked.
⌠I dunno, Mark you▓re the smart one.■ I replied panicking, if Mark couldn▓t shut it off.
⌠The red one.■ Suggested the nameless guy.
⌠There is no red one, it▓s the green or the yellow.■ Replied Mark his voice rising.
⌠Green.■ I said the clock now read ⌠00:32■
⌠You sure.■ Asked Mark holding a blade he had nabbed from a squad member.
⌠Of course not, just do it.■ I replied, the three of us braced ourselves, the sound of the others fighting drowned out by out beating hearts rushing blood past our ears, making the most of every precious second.
Suspense. Snip. Silence.
We look at the clock, and no it wasn▓t paused at some ridiculous time like ⌠00:01■ It was ⌠00:07■ I dared to breath again as a huge grin spread across my face, the three of us laughed nervously thinking of hoe close we came to the end.
Suddenly my ears start to work again and the noise of the fight taking place around us returns. Searching for my friends I spot them cornered up against the wooden wall by all of the squad members.
Jumping to my feet I shouted.
⌠Will, bow!■ To my friend carrying the wooden bow.
He through it high and long, I ran forward to catch it. Scanning the wall I located the weak spot, (a lose stone brick) and aimed to wedge an arrow in the crack.
I took my stance and aimed at the brick.
⌠Hey!■ I shouted causing the Squad members to turn round and realise what I was doing. They scattered as a shot the arrow, getting out of the way just in time as the whole wall toppled. None of them got hurt but that wasn▓t the point anyway, I didn▓t want to hurt them just get them away from my friends.
All of the others ran forward to me, Mark and the mystery guy.
⌠Is it over?■ Asked Will, breathless.
⌠Yeah.■ I said happy to be around all my friends, and still alive.
⌠Thank heavens!■ shouted Joe raising his hands to the sky, his sister smiled at him.
The mystery guy walked to stand next to me, he whispered in my ear.
⌠I know what you are.■ He said referring to the fact I was a girl.
I panicked, oh no.
⌠Its alright.■ He said softly in a strangely familiar voice smiling cutely.
⌠What are you waiting for?■ Shouted Conner ⌠Get them! Their not getting away again!■
Conner trying to hop over the wall watched as we walked over the newly demolished building to our freedom, cursing at our safety. We laughed as we said our good bye▓s.
Joe and Jess heading home the mysterious gent gave me one last smile before vanishing as well, my knees went weak and I smiled stupidly.
Noticing this Will shot me his concerned big brother (but not) look. And I just grinned away happy that we were all here.
The next morning.
Alicia Williams woke that morning to a knock at the door that she dared not answer. But memories where still fresh in her mind from the last time she refused to open the door for the rent man.
Putting on a dressing gown she headed down the stairs through the kitchen and into the room. She was greeted by the sounds of.
⌠Oi! Open up in there?■ From the rent man.
She stopped when she noticed a brown envelope on the floor; it was a bit early for the post man to have been. But still she picked it up; it wasn▓t like she was desperate to answer the door.
⌠Oh, my, gosh.■ She gasped as she looked at the envelopes content. She opened the door.
⌠I▓ve come for your rent.■ He demanded brandishing the rent book.
⌠Here■ she said shoving a wad of cash into his hand ⌠Take it; there▓s some there for next month too.■
He looked taken a back but accepted the money none the less, and headed off down the path. Alicia shut the door and turned to see her two children, Danny and Amanda, standing sleepily on the stairs.
⌠Lets have pancakes for breakfast; we haven▓t done that in a while, eah?■ Said Alicia. The huge grins on her children▓s faces were answer enough. She silently thanked Robin Hood and his outlaws, they didn▓t know what this means to her.
She read the letter again.
⌠Hope this helps, lots of love Robin Hood and the Outlaws.■