The Break

Three separate self launching detonators tore apart the west wing of 257 e. mahogany. Through the roar of explosion waving over the building, elizabeth heard smithins radio that the alarm at the nearby department of investigations had been set off. One one thousand. Two one thousand … Twenty one thousand. It was time to go. She tapped algers rafenner on the shoulders and they snuck to the back door.

algers rafenner was a professional lock pick who stole from mobsters because the thrill was higher. When elizabeth finally tracked him down, she didn’t offer him any money; she simply said he couldn’t unlock the prisoners at the mahogany building. He was there to prove her wrong and that was it.

At the back door, algers pulled out a strange instrument resembling a handsaw. He arranged the equipment on the door and after some sparks with minimal noise, the door swung open while the lock and handle remained in the lockset.

Once inside they rushed down the adjacent stairwell to two floors underground. The political prisoners were there and so were security. But that was expected and algers, who was wearing lieutenant garb, rushed in shouting, “We need to move all the block 32 prisoners to the ridner facilities. Now. They’ve breached the west side. We need to move now!”

This eruption caught the four guards off guards but they quickly recovered. “We received no communication from captain ganes. Who are you?”

“I’m general marshway’s private assistant and he sent me because the blasts disrupted all internal communications. The insurgents will be here in minutes we have to go now!”

“I’m going to contact ganes just to check.”

“I just told you communication is down and we don’t have time. But fine don’t believe me. When the rebels take the prisoners, you’ll have to answer to the general.”

At this moment they heard the firecrackers and gun shots that elizabeth had set up far down the westward hallway. One of the guards immediately checked the west door only to slam it shut to protect them from a rocket that exploded green against the padded door.

“Get them out now!” alger screamed his head off, “Take the east door to the back exit run! I’ll cover the door!”

The guards immediate set to releasing all twelve of the block 32 prisoners.

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For the past few weeks, jacob, under the magistrate’s instructions, had seeded the press with hints of a building Foggistani conspiracy that was theorized to end with its complete infiltration of nilbmah society. And even to jacob’s surprise, he didn’t have to stretch the truth vary far. In every major economic, political and social arena there was a camouflaged Foggistani rook with at least a finger on the reigns. Whether their intentions were benign or nefarious was unclear. Of course that didn’t stop jacob from convincing the nilbmahian public of the latter. And he must have done a good job because the magistrate had called him (as opposed to jumping him in the middle of the night).

“Today the nilbmah government will officially declare war on Foggistan. I have one more assignment. Publish these articles tomorrow in an early edition of the press.” The magistrate passed jacob a folder of papers, which he perused.

“Wait! How do you know this is going to happen?” But the magistrate had vanished.

It was happening a day sooner than it should. The same day as elizabeth’s break. Maybe that was poetic, but still he needed to talk to Jessica. He would be late.

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The guards assembled all of the prisoners and started taking them out the east door. As soon as the first two guards exited, elizabeth, who had worked her way around to the east side of the room, jumped out and tazered both guards. And before the remaining two guards could assist their companions, alger knocked them out with the butt of his rifle. elizabeth and alger quickly found the keys and uncuffed the twelve prisoners, who surprisingly didn’t seem surprised.

“You’re elizabeth garner, right?” asked one of the prisoners.

elizabeth was shocked. “How did you know that? Did you know I was coming?”

“Of course,” the same prisoner responded, “jacob told us.”

But elizabeth didn’t have time to sort all this out. “Come on. We need to go. This way.”

Only halfway down the corridor they heard it. A pterodactyl-like screech thundering down the hall. They all turned to see a red terror barreling toward them. It tore at the walls and ceiling with its gigantic wings. No one had time to recognize this beast as an AssMachestani emissary of legend; they just booked it.

At the end of the corridor when the rest of the group took a right towards the nearest exit but elizabeth turned to face the fiend. She pulled out her pistol and fired twice before dashing off to the left. The enraged emissary followed her while she shot as she ran.

Even after climbing up a flight of stairs, it was gaining on her. After turning a tight corner, elizabeth found closet and hid before the emissary could see where she went. But she didn’t have much time because it would come back and sniff her out – she knew this instinctively. Ready to rush out when the beast passed, she put her hand up to the door and hit something. It was a box. And even though opening up this random box was the last thing she had time for, she did just that. It was like something else took over. She pulled the slender box off the handle and in the dim light from the vents, she read the note written on its top: “I hope this helps. jacob.”

The emissary had over-shot the closet but elizabeth heard it pound to a stop and turn around. It screeched as it came closer. It knew its victim was near and closed in. She was out of bullets and she didn’t think the taser would do much.

She needed to run but she didn’t. She couldn’t help but open the box. Something in it shimmered. As she lifted the object up to get a better view, the emissary shrieked and launched towards her closet.