A/N my doggo made it through surgery thanks to ur prayers :) now he has a cone on his head HAHHAH

"Somebody else is here,"

The van slowly rolled up to park beside the sign for King's Correctional Facility, crunching to a halt and letting everything fall silent. Thick yellow police tape surrounded the scene, accompanied by signs warning of the property being a construction site.
"Somebody else is here," Hercules repeated, studying the run down van already parked outside the building.

"It could just be a construction worker's van," Thomas reasoned, nodding to the signs littering the building.
"Or it could not," Maria cut in when she saw handcuffs attached the the walls inside the back of the van.

"Let's just stick together, as a group, strength in numbers, and be careful," Lafayette murmured, loading his gun and slipping it into his holster. A chorus of agreement hummed through the van as everyone armed themselves, Artemis growling at the doors carefully. Lafayette frowned and lowered to stroke her fur soothingly.

"Ready?" Maria muttered to Eliza.
"You're coming?" Eliza frowned, her eyes glazed with worry. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"I'm finishing this. I've waited 5 years to finish this, I'm not letting a stupid cold get in my way," she growled, at first radiating hostility until she had to sniffle and cough, only shrinking her back down to her harmless, sickly persona.

Everyone stealthily slipped out of the van, weapons at the ready just waiting for an ambush, but they were clear. With a silent flick of his wrist, Lafayette gestured the group follow as he and Hercules jogged to the side entrance, deciding the main would be too obvious and keeping their knees bent and posture low to make themselves smaller targets.

When they reached the side door Eliza retrieved Samuel's keycard, raising her hand to delicately swipe it against the small black box beside the door.
Click
The door hissed open just an inch, a wave of relief washing over the others as Hercules carefully pushed the door wider open.

He stepped in and everyone else slowly followed, weapons still raised as they moved as one, down the hallway and deeper into the darkness, letting the shadows swallow them. Maria jumped when she felt something grab her arm until she connected the hand to Eliza, who was holding her arm for support, her eyes wide as she glanced around the building nervously. Maria frowned and removed her hand from her arm, taking it in her own instead and intertwining their fingers with an extra little squeeze of reassurance, earning a smile of thankfulness from Eliza.

"Where to first, where would Levi have them?" Hercules muttered, scoping out their surroundings.
"Where did the prison have Levi?" Eliza reasoned, cocking a brow at the boys.
"His glass cell," Thomas murmured, earning nods of agreement from the other boys.

They darted off in the direction of the private containment cell, located between the main staff offices and solitary confinement. Soon Artemis seemingly picked something up because she sped up her pace, making her way to the front of the group and letting her nose lead her. Suddenly Artemis let a booming bark rip and bolted forward excitedly.

"Arty!" Hercules hissed, running after her, cuing everyone else to start running. Artemis skidded into the private containment area and barked again, causing movement to spark inside the cell. The others filtered in and gasped in horror at what they saw.
"John!"

John cowered in the corner, his bare, bruised and lashed back exposed towards the group as he shivered delicately. His skin was glossy with sweat and tears, like a porcelain doll that would shatter to pieces with one more hit. He slowly turned his head, his eyes widening when he saw the rest of the group.

"Mon dieu," Lafayette gasped, dashing to the glass and advancing to open the door, but it was locked, and Sam's keycard wasn't going to open this one.
"John, hang in there we're going to get you out!" Eliza spoke soothingly, her voice cracking as she blinked back her tears, hands pressed firmly against the glass.

With a powerful roar Hercules launched himself forward, slamming his body into the glass to only hurt his shoulder.
"Herc! Stop," Lafayette frowned, grabbing his arm and tugging him away from the glass, keeping his gaze set solemnly on John.

But John's eyes had flickered elsewhere, he and Maria shared a stern gaze, poker faced, communicating with only their eyes. Right now, they were managing to meet some kind of understanding. They had now both seen unspeakable things, and John understood everything Maria had done up until now.

"We should find Alex," Thomas murmured, glancing around nervously. This was awfully easy, and he couldn't help but feel a sickly tension in the air.
"Solitary confinement."
John had sat up now, his voice hoarse and so soft it could've been mistaken for a whisp of wind passing by.
"He might be with Sam," James muttered, looking up at Thomas worriedly.
"Sam?" John croaked with a frown, furrowing his brows.
"You haven't seen him?" James winced, studying John's expression fearfully as he slowly shook his head to gesture 'no'.

"Hercules, Eliza wait here with John, comfort him and maybe figure out how to get him out, we'll try to find Alex, keep your guard up," Lafayette instructed as he slowly walked backwards towards the door.
"Be safe," Hercules sighed, shooting him a forced smile. Lafayette discreetly mouthed a silent 'I love you' before ducking out, Thomas, James and Maria in tow.

They moved swiftly and silently through the prison, not lowering their weapons once.
"Surely we should've run into trouble by now," Maria spoke under her breath, whipping her head around nervously.
"I'm not complaining," Thomas growled a little, cocking a brow at Maria.

They reached solitary and the hall was dead silent, all the doors open but one. Lafayette made a beeline for that door and shoved back the slot hastily.
"Alexander!"
"Open the door."

The others shared worried looks behind Lafayette upon hearing Alex's cold, steely tone. He sounded lifeless, like every positive fibre had been sucked out of his malnourished frame leaving a void of hatred and anger.
"Lafayette, open the door." He repeated with no change in tone or volume, his gaze flickering up from the door to meet Lafayette's eyes.

Lafayette shivered at the eye contact, instantly feeling extremely violated. If looks could kill Lafayette would've been dead in less than an instant. He nodded hesitantly and Maria stepped forward with Sam's card, scanning it and letting the door hiss open.

As soon as it had opened just an inch Alex was on his feet. He launched himself out of the cell and down the hall, disappearing into the prison without another word.
"Shit what the fuck," Thomas yelped.
"That can not be good," Lafayette sighed skeptically, beginning to start after him.
The silent atmosphere of the prison was snapped every time Alexander's foot collided with the rock-hard linoleum, heavy thuds echoing down the halls. A feminine scream pierced his ears and he instantly spun his body to the side, turning a corner into private confinement.

He bolted forward without a second to loose, Conway's massive frame coming into view with his back to Alex. Alex stayed completely silent, charging forward before pouncing on Conway with a sharp heave of air.

Conway released Hercules from gun point with a yelp and slammed into the floor, Alex straddling his back and grabbing a fistful of his hair.
BAM BAM BAM
He slammed Conway's head into the ground over and over, earning another choked scream from Eliza as she begged him to stop, Reynolds holding her against the wall with another gun pressed to her temple.

Hercules jumped up and shoved Alex off of Conway, making him skid to the ground with a hiss.
"You're going to kill him!" Hercules hissed as Artemis pounced on Conway, holding him down with a growl.
"Good." Alex growled, his hair hanging over his eyes and shadowing his whole face, dark eyes glowing in the little light the room did provide.

He launched forward again and snatched a knife from Hercules' holster, raising it to stab Conway's head, but Artemis launched at Alex with a bark, pushing him backwards and letting him slam the knife into the bare concrete ground.
He growled in frustration as the knife had locked itself into the ground, taking Alex 1, 2, 3 yanks before he released it, stumbling back a bit, panting heavily.
"Alexander stop!" Eliza cried, Reynolds watching on carefully.

Alex didn't say a word, his silence horrifying everyone. Alex always had something to say, this was a terrifying turn for the worst. Hercules tugged Conway to his feet, blood dripping down his face as he stumbled backwards slowly under Hercules' hold. Alex raised the knife and with a grunt he ditched it right at Conway, the knife spinning and slicing through the air, missing Conway by a hair's width and slamming into the glass behind him.

Alex's eyes followed the knife and widened when he saw John watching on with wide horrified eyes, breathing heavily as he tried to process what he was seeing.
"John." Alex gasped, completely forgetting about anyone else and launching himself towards the glass, only to slam into it much like Hercules had.
He hissed in pain and growled, swivelling around to face Reynolds.
"Shoot me."

"WHAT?" Eliza snapped with wide eyes.
"Alex stop!" Hercules exclaimed, pinning Conway down.
"What are you doing?" Lafayette yelled from the doorway, watching on with a horror-struck gaze.
"Fucking shoot me Reynolds!" Alex yelled again, slamming his fist against the glass.
"Alex," John croaked from behind the glass, shaking as he turned slowly, his eyes glossy with fresh tears. Alex clenched his jaw, trying to ignore John for the moment.
"Shoot. Me."
"Alright." Reynolds muttered lazily, moving his gun and shooting straight at Alex. Eliza screamed and threw her fist up to hit him as soon as he moved the gun away from her head.

Alex ducked and dodged the bullet with inhuman reflexes, letting it shatter the glass behind him and shower him with tiny snow-like shards. As soon as it was down he launched backwards straight towards John, skidding to his knees and wrapping him in a desperate embrace, taking slow, deep breaths to keep from bursting into tears, he was too dehydrated to cry anyway.

John whimpered and cried, burying his face in Alex's chest and clinging to him for dear life.
"Did he hurt you?"
John hiccuped and nodded, more tears spilling down his cheeks.
"Did he-"
John shook his head sharply, earning a sigh of relief from Alex as he sank back against the wall, holding John in his lap and never planning to let go.

Suddenly Maria came bursting in behind Lafayette.
"Guys," she panted, hanging off Lafayette's shoulder. "You- come you- need to see-"
"Ssh, calm, deep breaths," Lafayette soothed, turning to her worriedly. She took a few deep breaths, her eyes scanning over the room and widening when she registered Hercules pinning a bloody-faced Conway down, Eliza holding Reynolds at knife point and Alex cradling John protectively.
"J-Just follow," she frowned, her breathing slowing as she turned to leave. Lafayette shot Hercules a nervous frown before turning after her.

Hercules yanked Conway to his feet and followed, Eliza grabbing Reynolds by the collar of his shirt and holding her knife to his neck as she lead him out too.
"I'm sorry," Alex breathed into John's hair, caressing his cheek and holding him close.
"It's n-not your fault," John croaked, gazing up at him solemnly. "You came back, th-that's all that m-matters,"

"I'm sorry," Alex repeated, shaking his head as he slowly broke down, tears building up in his eyes.
"No no Alex," John muttered, brushing his hair away from his eyes. "Stop."
"I'm sorry,"
"Stop it."
"I'm sorry,"
"I know! It's okay!" John pushed, grabbing Alex's face in his weak hands and forcing him to look deep into his eyes. "It's not over yet. I love you, but you need to snap out of it,"

"L-Look at what he d-did," Alex stammered, tracing his hand down John's bruised arm as he cried harder. "It's my fault, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,"
"Stop saying that! Listen to me!" John pleaded, shoving Alex's hand away. "Alex you're scaring me,"

Alex looked as if he had been slapped across the face, stunned as he gazed at John before it melted back into regret and fear.
"I'm sorry,"
"ALEX!" John cried, shakily pushing out of his grip. "Ngh, let's just catch up to the others,"
Alex wiped away his tears as he watched John wobble to his feet, falling back to the floor with a squeak and groaning. Alex scooped him up without a word, bridal, carrying him out, over the shattered glass and in the direction the others had gone in.

He walked in silence, John snuggling into his chest timidly with a shaky sigh. He had missed Alex's embrace, the warmth of his body again. They reached solitary to find the others crowded in a semi circle around one of the doors, murmuring nervously.
"What's wrong?" John muttered softly, glancing at everyone worriedly.

Nobody had to say anything as the group parted like the red sea, revealing a river of blood trailing out of the cell and down the hall.