Façade
"You cannot be serious..?"
"It's the best way, Annie, unless you want to be dressed as a man for the next week. Let me remind you that will be troublesome when you have to bunk with the others." She sighs in agreement, and Benjamin continues. "Now, have a seat and let Lilly get started."
Annie cringed as she sat down, biting her lip.
This wasn't her idea, in fact, she was against it. Achilles told Ben to get her into the jail, by disguising her. But everyone in New York knew her, so she has to change her looks. And if you asked Annie, that was the worst option.
"Annie, are you listening?" Lilly asked with her arms crossed.
Her head shot up, "Yes."
The hairdresser's eyes squinted, "Alright, you have two choices for color. There's this light brown, and black. Or wait, I also have this brownish red too."
Annie shook her head furiously, "Why do I even have to dye it?"
"Because," Benjamin said frustrated, "You need an effective disguise. Now stop whining about it, and get it over with. The longer you hold this off, the longer Connor spends in jail."
She looked back at Lilly, "The light brown, I suppose."
"Alright, and the length, how short do you want it?"
Slowly, she ran her fingers through her hair. "Just not shorter than at my shoulders."
The hair dresser nodded, and went to work. Annie purposely asked for no mirror. She would miss her hair, and she knew she would look like a total different person. But what wandered through her mind was what would Connor think? Would he like it?
She knew Connor would not mind, and would easily accept the change. It was only hair right? Right.
The curvy hairdresser cut it to her collar bone, and then put the dye in it. It burned her scalp, and the skin around her eyebrows, where she had also applied it. When it was washed out, Lilly put some unknown oil in her hair, claiming it would make it look glossy and healthy.
Lilly finally led Annie to the mirror, proud of her work. Ben had commented on how different she looked, claiming no one would ever recognize her.
When Annie looked in the mirror, she was silent. She looked like a completely different person. But she could not decide for better or worse.
Would Connor even recognize her?
Annie took a deep breath, and turned to look at Lilly. "Thank you," before walking out the door, Benjamin following behind her nervously.
"I think you look-"
She turns to look at him, "I do not want to hear it! Just give me the uniform and somewhere to change so I can get Connor out. That is my biggest priority right now."
"Of course." Ben walks in front of her, leading her to a house. When they walked in, no one was in there, but it was furnished.
He walks to a dresser and pulls out the folded clothes.
"These were tailored to fit you, so they shouldn't be too uncomfortable. You are going to be posing as General Hanson's daughter. Her name is Ellen Hanson, so I am sure you can work off that."
"Sure," Annie says nonchalantly as she takes the clothes from him, moving to the bathroom to change.
Connor has been locked in for about two days, but they were longest two days of waiting Annie ever endured. Though she was excited to finally be put in action, this was not a way she enjoyed going about. Being put in a putrid prison with rapists, murderers, and arrogant guards did not sound fun. But there is an ulterior motive, and that's what keeps her driven.
When she walked out of the bathroom, she put the tricorne on. She hated to admit it, but the blue and white coats looked better with her new hair color.
"Perfect," Benjamin said when he saw her approach. "You have your weapons and everything? Good. There is a horse tied out through the back for you to use. I am afraid I cannot aid you any further. You will be on your own, along with the decisions you make."
"I know, spare me the lecture." She shakes his extended hand, and walks towards the back door.
As Annie rode down the cobblestone streets of New York, she thought of a personality. Ellen is a general's daughter, so she is probably spoiled and bratty. And she could easily pull that off.
Annie pulled her horse to a stop in front of the prison, letting the stable boy tie up the black steed.
Just as she thought, the guards outside stopped her.
"What's yer' business here?" The shorter one asked.
She scoffed, crossing her arms. "You must not know who I am." She throws back, with a British accent.
"Yer' right, I don't."
"My name is Ellen Hanson, and you have just made the mistake of denying my father's orders." She pulls out the folded paper from her breast pocket, and shoves it towards the other man. Benjamin had put it there in case something like this occurred.
The man read it over before straightening his back. "I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't know General Hanson had a daughter- here go inside." The other one held the door for her as she walked in with a glare.
She made it past the other guards, and went to find the quartermaster. As she made her way down to the pit, she could hear the confused rabble of the prisoners.
She found the quartermaster, sitting at an old wooden table, with a cup of ale. Annie would be lying if she said she was surprised.
He didn't even notice her approach until she slammed a hand down on the table.
The quartermaster jumped, and glared at her.
"Whattya want, girl?" His confused glanced became deeper, "Ay, wots a girl doing here anyways?"
"My name is Ellen, and I'm here for assignment."
He gives a loud belly laugh, "And jus' who do you think you are?"
She grits her teeth, "My father is General Hanson and I suggest you start being straight with me."
The man merely swallowed, "All right all right, no need to get your panties in a bunch. Ain't nothin' for you to do down here, so go take post or somethin' up there."
Despite her longing to punch the insufferable man in his jaw, she just nodded. Grabbing a rifle off of the weapon rack, she holds it to her side while walking back up the stairs to the common cells.
While she had been gone, they let the prisoners out. Annie had to fight the nerve to begin looking for Connor, so she didn't look around. She wanted to pinch her nose at the stench, but put her chin up and walked towards a group of guards.
They saw her approach, and heard them whisper frantically while straightening the backs and moving to make space for her. She guessed they knew the memo.
"Excuse me; I'm wondering if you need me anywhere?" She asked with her chin still slightly up, as if demanding their respect.
"Ah, well they ain't doin' much now, jus' wanderin' 'bout. We usually jus' watch 'em."
"Well then I'm going down stairs," she points to the taller man with scruffy facial hair, "You, accompany me."
He knew he had no other choice, and followed behind her.
Some of the prisoners were crazy, screaming and trying to start fights. Though she held on to her composure, she wanted to flinch away.
When she got down stairs, she saw about five guards. Most were just talking to each other, pushing prisoners when they got to close.
But her eyes caught a glimpse of the familiar black hair, still pulled up and braided. She stopped herself from smiling, but merely watched.
"Stay with me," she motioned to the man as she noticed the gazes of man all over her.
The guard pushes a prisoner out of the way, so she has space to lean against the brick wall.
She looks at Connor, who was sitting backwards on a chair, playing a game with another inmate.
Annie turns to man standing beside her, "What are most of these people in for?"
He shrugs, "Jus' bout everythin'. You got counterfeitin', murderers, liars, cheats, rapists. Ta' usual."
"Any important people?" She raises and eyebrow and smirks.
He smiles back, "Well, we got tat' assassin who's been killin' 'ereone. Sittin' right ova' there." The guard points at Connor.
"What a surprise."
The white man talking to Connor notices their staring, and motions for Connor to look. He leans back and looks at them, eyes squinting when he looks at her.
She licks her lips as they go back to talking. Annie then looks back to the guard.
"You can go back now."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I can handle my own."
He departs, and she goes back to looking around. Most of the men here were either old or new comers. Her lip twitches when she catches their stares, and lifts her gun a little as a warning.
Suddenly Connor stands up and walks back towards the stairs. He glances at her briefly, but doesn't stop.
She thinks about talking to the man sitting down, who has returned to his game, but decides against it. She comes to the conclusion that the best time for her to see Connor is in the night shift, and there is only another two hours before they switch out.
So she will wait.
…
"You sure you wanna stay?"
"I feel the need to feel this place out more, before I get comfortable."
"Well all right, wotever you want." The quartermaster retreats back down to the pit, while the day shift guards head to the barracks.
The night shift mostly contained of tired drunkards who yell and insult the inmates before leaning against the wall and dozing off.
It was the perfect time to approach Connor, and she was glad she waited.
She walked slowly to the cell and looked inside. He was sitting on the old worn mattress, with his head in his hands. Hearing her footsteps, his head shot up. Annie moved to the front of the cell, peering in with soft eyes.
"Connor," She whispered.
Instantly, Connor stood up and nearly ran to her.
"Annie," he starts with a startled yet hushed breath.
"Shh," She moves a finger to his lips. Then she smiles, running her finger down his chin, absorbing the feeling of his skin. It was strange to feel the light stubble forming.
"I did not recognize you… your hair...?"
"It was Achilles' and Benjamin's idea. I hope it doesn't look too bad?"
"You still look beautiful," he says as leans his forehead against the cold iron, looking down at her.
She smiles at that, "No one has a clue as to who I am, not that I know of at least."
"Good," Connor nods, "We need to keep it that way."
Annie sighs and flattens her palm against his chest. "Know that you are not alone Connor, if there is anything you need, I can try to get it for you." She looks at his eye, which was puffy and red. "I will get you some salve for your eye tomorrow."
"Do not put your identity at risk." Connor warned.
"I won't, I promise." There was some shuffling from one of the corners, and she pulls away. "I was assigned to stand post at your cell, but when you wake up I won't be here. I have the last two shifts."
Connor wanted to say something, but there were tired grunts still filling the air.
Annie turned around a leans her back against the cell door, her hands woven through the bars, grasping Connor's larger hands. She shook her head to let the hat cover her face, to give the allusion of her sleeping.
"You should rest Connor, God knows, you may need it."
He squeezes her hand and digs in his pocket, "I have this key, and I thought it would unlock my cell. It does not fit, what do you think it is for?"
She turns her head to look at it. "Looks too big for a normal cell. I am guessing it's for something bigger. Where did you get it?"
"Weems."
"Is that the man you were talking to?"
"Yes, he is helping me. I will let him know of you, he may be able to help you as well."
She turns to look straight ahead again, "Good idea," she reaches through bars again one last time to hold Connor's hand.
He sighs sadly, taking her hand and stroking it. "Be careful, Annie." He whispered in her ear.
"I promise," she whispers back.
He kisses her shoulder before departing to the bed. Annie didn't move away until she heard the soft murmurs of his even breathing before sneaking out.
…
When Connor woke up the next morning, back sore from the hard mattress, he looked around for her. Like she had said, she wasn't there. Instead there were just guards walking around banging on cell doors with their guns if they got tired of looking at you.
But something was peculiar. He looked in the corner at the foot of his bed. There was a small plate covered with a napkin that someone had pushed underneath the cell door.
From what he could smell, it was bread with some butter, salted maize, and spiced venison. On top of the napkin was note:
Hide the plate when you are done.
-A
There was a small heart after her initial, and Connor's lips twitched, almost smiling. Along with the food was a small jar of numbing salve, which he appreciated just as much as the food.
Quickly he ate the food, hiding the evidence under the rancid mattress before lying back down, pretending to sleep.
Connor just wished that he wouldn't have to spend more than a week in this miserable hole.