Author's note: And now, the BIG escape plan.
Be sure to check out the polls I sometimes put in DevianART to choose drabbles and more for the Key and Wingfeathers collection. Maybe a couple of memes pertaining to my fanfiction. As always reviews/feedback is always appreciated since they give me extra motivation.
Fair warning here, we won't be seeing much of Samuel until further on. Still got big plans for him in Arc 3 and 4 though. Wink-wink.
Last time, the ship Samuel was on reached it's destination: the shoreline to Dang, and the first creature to enter the ship's hold to retrieve him sent chills down his spine.
With Janner still in the box, Zev and Sarah prepare the escape plan for when he's released. Nevertheless, Zev misses his family.
Elisheva searched for days, reaching the Fork! Factory! Not knowing who she is, the Overseer attempted to lure her in but she rejected him. However he shouted threats to catch her one day.
After staying out in the rain to avoid Fangs, Elisheva returns to the Strander Burrow, having fallen ill. Not knowing that she had company.
Two days have gone by, only a few hours more and they would escape. Zev was already confident with his little...tricks.
Sarah Cobbler had been puzzled that the young boy had built them thanks to combining three unusual ingredients and walnut shells to make them.
It was remarkable.
Then on the night before Janner is to be released from the box, On her way to her shift, Sarah overheard Mobrik and the Overseer talking. The latter had been ranting and raving about someone he couldn't catch. Just as well the poor soul was better off away from here.
But she heard something unsettling. The Overseer intended to have Zev involuntarily transferred by the next sunrise!
If she had any doubts before, this sealed it. An escape was the only chance they've got, or else Zev will be the next unfortunate victim of the Black Carriage.
Elisheva was slowly recovering. Yet her body remained weary, so she fell into a deep slumber once more. Alas it wasn't a dreamless one, and her nightmare was just as blood-curdling.
Elisheva found herself standing in the middle of an unfamiliar room, with no memory of how she got there. Suddenly, she felt a hand in fingerless gloves grab her arm from behind, twisting it painfully behind her back. She tried to pull away, but the grip was too strong.
"You thought you could escape me, but you're in my hands now," a voice whispered in her ear, and she felt hot breath on her neck. She recognized it belonging to that same man she'd seen behind the portcullis.
Elisheva tried to pull away, but he held her tightly, his grip growing stronger.
She could feel him leaning in closer, his lips brushing against her neck. Elisheva tried to scream, but no sound came out. The cad's hands were all over her, caressing her neck and hair, and she could smell the foul stench of his breath. She felt trapped and helpless, with no way out.
The young woman woke up in a cold sweat, her heart pounding in her chest. It was just a nightmare, but the memory lingered.
A gravely concerned Nurgabog stayed with Elisheva throughout the nights, tending to her and trying to soothe her delirious ramblings.
In an unsettling nightmare, Elisheva saw a figure shrouded in black robes, their face hidden by a hood. The figure beckoned her closer, and as she approached, she felt a sense of dread wash over her. This was how she envisioned Gnag the Nameless.
She can hear father and brother's screams and cries for help as Gnag taunts them. Elisheva tries to fight him off, but he seems to be everywhere at once. She can see her father Samuel and her little brother Zev in the background, looking terrified and helpless. Elisheva feels a surge of anger and desperation as she tries to protect them, but it's no use. Gnag just laughs and continues his torment, his voice echoing through the darkness.
She thrashes around in her sleep, muttering and whimpering. Nurgabog is concerned by her distress and does her best to soothe her and help her recover. Whatever the girl was seeing, it was spooky.
As the second night wore on, Elisheva's fever broke, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Elisheva woke up with a start, her heart racing and her body slick with sweat.
She was so sleepy and her limbs felt so heavy. But she needed to find out who was there in the burrow with her. Elisheva dared peek through her leaden eyelids only to discover a world of shadows and confusion.
Her eyes opened wider. Elisheva registered that she was lying on the floor covered in all manner of fabric from collar bone to ankles. All she could manage was a torturous moan. "Ohhh," came her weary sound, her body ached.
"What...happened?" Elisheva whispered on a shallow breath. She looked around, disoriented, and saw Nurgabog watching her with concern.
"How are you feeling, child?" Nurgabog asked.
Elisheva blinked then recognized her as the old Strander woman who had a thing for Podo. Elisheva then groaned and rubbed her forehead. "I feel like I've been trampled by a herd of wildebeest."
Nurgabog chuckled, and handed her a wooden bowl full of fluids. "Well, you did have a spot of fever last night. But I think you'll be alright now. Get some rest and drink up those herbs, lass."
Elisheva looked grateful. "Thank you. You didn't have to do that."
Nurgabog smiled. "Ah. It's the least I could do after all the trouble my son and his men have caused you and your friends." And she looked wistful, no doubt thinking of Podo.
Elisheva shook her head. "Whoa, that's not your fault. We've been through a lot in Dugtown and in Glipwood."
Nurgabog nodded. "Aye, but you seem like a strong and brave young woman. You'll pull through."
Elisheva smiled weakly. "I hope so. I just want to find my family, my friends and get out of here."
"Not with those rags and in your condition yer not." Nurgabog chided. "You be needin' sleep and more, ye don't want to faint in the middle o' the street."
Mildly disappointed, Elisheva tried to get up but felt dizzy and so she laid back down.
"I know. It's just that ever since we've split up, I'm feeling so helpless and frustrated at the way the Fangs have been trying to stop us from reaching a safe place. Childish as it sounds, I just wish they would go away and leave us alone."
Nurgabog patted her hand. "Don't worry, lass. But you be needing to rest, get your strength back."
Three days later
Hard as it was to believe, there was something positive about being stuck in the box for three long days: Janner had plenty of time to think back on what he had done to get there and what he would do when he got out. He lay in the coffin and went over it again and again, second-guessing himself, preparing his nerves for the next stage of the plan, wondering if Mobrik suspected anything.
He slept in fits. He descended into a numb trance in which his memories swirled before his eyes like smoke. Every sour thought he'd ever thought, every cruel word he'd ever said, every selfish action he'd ever taken rose out of the darkness like ghosts and taunted him. He replayed arguments, wishing he'd said some things, wishing he hadn't said others.
He was trapped in a place where all he had was himself, and though he'd never thought of himself as a bad person, every motive, thought, and action that paraded through the blackness told him otherwise. Even his alliance with Sarah Cobbler and camaraderie with Elisheva's brother was driven by selfishness.
All his justifications-that he was a Throne Warden, that he had to keep Tink safe, that somehow he and his brother and sister might help keep the dream of Anniera alive-all of it was meaningless if he thought himself somehow worthier of being set free than any of the children in the factory, especially Sarah or Zev.
They had to escape.
Finally, after the third long day, the door to the coffin at last swung open. As before, the light stung Janner's eyes. He groaned and climbed from the coffin stiffly.
"Up, Tool, time to go," Mobrik said. "Straight to the Overseer."
He then saw the browned apple core in the coffin, took it sniffed it and devoured it on the spot. "Hmm, sneaky boy."
Janner, though he was weary to the bone, though his body was bruised from the whip, though he was hungry and thirsty and covered with filth, grinned. He couldn't wait to visit the Overseer.
For a moment, Mobrik was a little perturbed that Janner emerged with a smirk. Yet he regained himself.
"Hmm, I see. Pretending to be brave won't fool, Mobrik. The Overseer will wipe that smirk right off your face." the ridgerunner sneered.
"Lead the way," Janner shrugged.
Janner climbed the steps from the dungeon slowly, willing his stiff legs to work. Just like last time, Mobrik led him into the big, empty room where the carriage sat. No sunlight shone through the high windows, which meant it was nighttime.
Perfect. As long as Mobrik hadn't changed the schedule, things were lining up exactly as Janner had hoped they would.
In the center of the room, the sad brown horse was harnessed to the carriage, except that it faced the portcullis, as if the Overseer were preparing to leave, perhaps on one of his trips to Tilling Court to pick up more kidnapped children.
Janner's mind buzzed, but he was too tired, too stiff to sort out whether or not this unexpected change would affect his escape. Before he could worry about it anymore, Mobrik pushed Janner through the door to the Overseer's office.
The Overseer sat at his desk, a ledger open before him. The top hat, to Janner's surprise, wasn't on his head but on the desk. The whip dangled from a hook beside the door.
"Mobrik, is the horse hitched?" The Overseer demanded as he pored over some documents. "Is my carriage waiting?"
"Yes, sir, your orderliness, sir." Mobrik replied.
"The midnight collections are so irksome!" The Overseer groused and stretched. "Much more convenient when they bring the children to me. Course if she's wandering about, it'll be worth the effort." he said with a smirk.
Mobrik rolled his eyes discreetly, knowing what the Overseer was referring to.
Janner listened, wondering what that was about before the Overseer addressed him.
"And you!"
Janner stared, trying to appear more exhausted than he really was. He wanted the Overseer and Mobrik to believe he was finally beaten.
"I gave you a chance," The Overseer stood up. "And you threw it back in my face like so much cold soup! Mobrik even tells me you managed to steal his apples."
Mobrik nodded pompously.
"Now what am I to do with such an ungrateful tool, hmm?"
Janner's heart pounded. He felt certain that somehow they had found him out. He bowed his head and closed his eyes, praying Sara Cobbler hadn't been punished.
Mobrik sniggered.
"Mobrik, what is our due of ungrateful tools?" The Overseer then said. "Remind me."
"Banishes them to the coal cellars!" Mobrik said.
"Four?" said the Overseer. "So. You managed to carry food into the box with you. As I said, resourceful. Would you agree, Mobrik?"
"Ah, yes. The Coal cellars!" The Overseer turned his attention to Janner again. "And what do we know about the coal cellars?"
"Ooh, the coal cellars is black and dank. And wheezy and freezy, crawly with cocklebugs." Mobrik shivered. "And worser yet, there is no fruit ever!"
The Overseer guffawed. "That doesn't sound very nice. And what sort of life can a toll expect down in these coal cellars?"
"A short one." Mobrik replied then bared his teeth at Janner. "Very short!"
"So it's sorry tools who end up in the coal cellar." The Overseer said and he put on the tophat as he got up. "And double bolt the door behind him, I'm off to Tilling court. Yes."
The Overseer took the whip, "And at dawn that outlander boy will be taking a ride with the Fangs!"
Mobrik sneered at Janner as the Overseer went out the door.
Janner's mind raced. He had only been in the factory for a week, and already he was being transferred. And now Zev was going to be sent away to Throg!
Mobrik bowed and prodded Janner toward the double doors that led to the factory. "I told you he'd shave the brave off your face!"
Janner's heart thudded like a galloping horse. If anything went wrong, it would be the coffin again, and not just for him but for Sarah too. Then Zev will be lost.
"Now move along!" Mobrik shoved Janner. "What's the matter, tool? Too long in the box this time?"
Janner gritted his teeth, he abruptly grabbed Mobrik by the shirt collar. He lifted the little creature and pinned him against the wall, clamping a hand over his mouth before he had time to scream for help.
"I don't intend to stay here another moment, ridgerunner. There's much to do and far to go. You kept your oath by the Holes and the Hollows, and I'm offering you another chance to do your race proud."
Mobrik's eyes widened. "You stole four of my apples!" he whined.
"Four that you know of." Janner retorted.
"You took more?!"
"Keep quiet while I escape, once I'm out of the gate, I'll shout out where I've hid dozens more."
"Dozens? All getting worser!"
"Say you'll keep quiet, swear it!"
"Hills and Hollows, I swear!"
Janner released Mobrik's mouth, though he kept his fist balled and ready to strike should the little man try to raise an alarm.
Instead, Mobrik asked, "Who are you?"
Janner took a deep breath. "My name is Janner Wingfeather, Throne Warden of Anniera."
Mobrik gasped. "You're one of the jewels!"
"That's right. Now swear it, by the Holes and the Hollows."
"Certainly, child. I have no love for Gnag or the Overseer. Go, and do whatever it is that's so important."
Janner studied the little man's shadowy face. He would have to trust him.
"All right. Ten minutes, then sound whatever alarm you wish. I'll be long gone." Janner released him.
So suddenly that it took Janner a moment to understand what was happening, the ridgerunner dashed toward the doors that led to the carriage, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"No!" Janner cried. He ran after Mobrik as fast as his aching legs would carry him, but few men could outrun a ridgerunner.
Just as Mobrik slammed into the swinging double doors, Janner gathered all his strength and dove after him. His fingers snagged just enough of Mobrik's boot to trip him, and the two of them struggled in the door- way.
Oh-oh, sounds like trouble! Zev noticed.
Now was the time to put his plan into action. Zev glanced up to see three Maintenance Managers several feet away. He reached into his pocket for the first two and lit the small fuse, he rolled them towards those three bullies.
The fuse sparked and hissed as the false walnuts rolled to their feet. Zev braced himself, he had to be ready to run.
POP! BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!
That section of the factory erupted into chaos. For Zev's little project had been firecrackers he'd working on for weeks as an escape plan.
Zev took off to the double doors he'd seen Mobrik lead Janner away and tossed another walnut for good measure to keep them busy. He'd just made it to the courtyard…
"Mobrik!" The Overseer's voice called. "Found a worm in your plumyum? And what is that racket?!"
Zev barely ducked to the other side of the carriage just before the Overseer turned around and looked both ways frantically, wondering what to do.
Where's Janner?
To catch a ridgerunner is nigh impossible. However, subduing one once caught, while not an enjoyable experience, is easy enough. Janner dragged Mobrik back into the dark corridor and then trapped him in an empty barrel.
He'd nearly jumped when he heard the loud pops going off in the Factory, Zev's plan must've worked.
The Overseer's footsteps approached the door. The Overseer wasn't a big man, but he was much bigger than Janner, and he had the whip. Mobrik had no weapon; Janner had no weapon on him. His only advantage was his speed.
That was it, then. As soon as the Overseer opened the door, Janner would run for it.
He backed away from the doors, dropped into a sprinting position, and waited. The Overseer stopped on the other side of the hallway doors. Janner ran with every ounce of strength he could gather. He closed his eyes, bared his teeth, and rammed his shoulder into the swinging doors. It hit the Overseer in the face, knocking him backward. He landed hard on his back.
Janner's feet barely touched the ground as he ran. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw pain and confusion on the Overseer's face, and without thinking or knowing why, Janner swept up the top hat from where it had fallen.
"Sarah!" Janner screamed. "Open the portcullis! Now!"
Janner ran straight for the gate, praying with every step that Sarah was one of the two children in the cleft and that she would find the courage to follow through with the plan.
"Zev, get to the gate!"
Zev saw Janner and yelped as he watched the Overseer start to get up.
"You ungrateful tool!" howled the Overseer. "There's no escaping the Factory!" He pulled himself to his feet and limped to where his whip lay.
Then Janner saw a crack between the cobbled street and the teeth of the portcullis. It was rising. As he passed the horse and carriage, an idea struck. He bounded from the front wheel of the carriage to the driver's seat, grabbed the reins, and snapped them.
He spotted Zev up ahead, fumbling with one of his modern day tricks. "Zev, get on!"
The boy glanced up and took a running jump before climbing up on the carriage on the driver's seat beside Janner.
"Up! Up, boy!" Janner urged the horse, and the sad horse lowered its head and heaved.
"Janner! Zev!" Sarah called.
Janner and Zev ducked their heads as the carriage passed into the entryway. Through the open portcullis, were the dark streets of Dugtown. Janner stopped the horse at the gate and peered into the darkness where Sarah stood. She and a young boy held the chain that kept the portcullis open. Her eyes were wide with fear.
"Hop on!" Janner urged.
"Sarah, come on up, we're hitting the road!" Zev beckoned.
She shook her head.
Sarah looked tearful. "I-I can't."
"Sarah! The Overseer's coming. We need to go." Janner reached for her, just as he had planned.
"All the little ones like him, I can't leave him." Sarah replied, looking over at a little boy opening the portcullis.
"Tool!" the Overseer raged again. "Stealing Factory property is forbidden!"
"Then bring him! Come on!" Janner insisted to Sarah.
"Don't you want to see your parents again?" Zev asked earnestly.
"The Fangs will find us. They'll put me in the Black Carriage again. I can't bear it. I can't. At least here, there's food and water and a bed to sleep in."
"That's no way to live!" Zev insisted. "You can come with me and find my sister, we can take you to the country!"
"Sarah, please. You have to come with me. The Overseer—he knows you helped me. He heard me call your name."
"And you two are both Factory property!" The Overseer's enraged voice echoed from behind them.
"Someone has to hold this gate up!" Sarah grunted.
"Abdicate that carriage seat immediately! Or I'll whip you fifth ways to sixth ways."
Both Janner and Zev looked back to see the Overseer lurching nearer, cracking the whip wildly. But he was hurt. His back was hunched, and one leg dragged behind him.
The boy beside Sara started to cry. "Hush," she said. "It'll be all right. Janner, go. You too Zev."
Zev didn't want to leave any of the children in the factory either. But many of these children weren't from Dugtown at all. Like Sarah, they had been snatched by the Black Carriage and taken here.
"Find your sister, Zev!" Sarah told Zev. "If you stay, they'll take you to Throg!"
Zev's eyes widened. "Whaat?"
"I'm sorry, Janner, Zev. Just go!" Sarah said, "When you two get somewhere safe, send help."
"Sarah!"
"Both of you go! At least two of us get out!" Sarah strained to hold on.
"Tools," came the Overseer's wicked voice. He stood at the rear of the carriage, leaning against the wheel for support. He cracked his whip and sneered at them.
Sarah screamed, and the boy with her let go of the chain and clamped his hands over his eyes. He pushed himself into the corner and curled into a ball.
The portcullis lurched down a notch. "Janner, Zev, go! I can't hold it!" Sarah shrieked, not looking at the boys but at the Overseer, inching his way between the carriage and the brick wall.
Just before Zev could even think of throwing one of his firecrackers at the Overseer, Mobrik appeared. He moved in a blur, past the carriage and into the cleft where Sara stood. The ridgerunner pulled her hair and clawed at her hands, trying to force her to release the chain that held the portcullis. The gate lurched down another notch. Any more and the carriage wouldn't fit.
"Go!" Sarah screamed again.
Janner snapped the reins. The carriage pulled forward, bouncing as it rolled over the Overseer's foot and dragged him to the ground.
Mobrik finally overcame Sarah Cobbler, and the portcullis came down. The rear of the carriage cleared the falling gate by inches.
Janner turned, tears stinging his eyes, Zev turned to look as well, and they caught a final glimpse of the FORK! FACTORY! sign. Below it, through the bars of the gate, the Overseer was leaning against the portcullis, screaming. "You won't get far tools! Then it's the Black Carriage for you, I hope the fangs gobble you up!"
They saw Mobrik's face, his lip curled with hatred as he watched the boys escape… Which quickly turned to shock once a salty Zev tossed one of his firecrackers at him.
"Suck it, goblin wannabe!" Zev had snarled. "We mighta lost, but so did you!"
They heard the firecracker go off and Mobrik's yelp.
And they heard Sara Cobbler crying. It filled their heads and became not just Sarah's voice, but the voices of all the children in Skree, all the parents in Skree whose lives were torn and trashed like old paper.
Janner noticed he was crying and so tired that he felt he could fall asleep on the bouncing, swaying bench of the driver's seat. He closed his eyes and let the horse run.
Zev shuddered a little. They got away, now they had to find their families. And Zev had a sobering thought.
But after they do find them, what then? With that portal closed, where can the Bennets go?
To be continued…
Author's note: Now show of hands, who else wants to see me add a segment where sleuthing relatives of the Bennets stumble into Aerwiar, now they're in trouble? Lemme now via poll or vote.