As I walked toward the front entrance, I eyed the place, trying to get my bearings. Ava had arranged our escape in such a way that I could claim I had put it together quickly and on my own, although we had fail safes if Higgins doubted me. I glanced down at my pumps. A blade was hidden in the heel. The metal embellishments on the front would make a safe cover for the alarms these shoes would set off. The heels were lined in a thin panel of lead, obscuring the blade from the x-ray's view.

Trying to remain inconspicuous, I looked toward the south entrance, seeing the doors at the far end of the building. Somehow, they would unlock for us in half an hour. I hoped we could make it there unscathed. In my mind, I had the entire building mapped out from the fire escapes to the emergency exits.

Security checks went just as Ava had planned. They inspected the shoes closely, determining the metal embellishments the source of the alarm. The security officers didn't seem to notice my sweating palms or shaking hands, a poor testament to their awareness in general.

Once I was through security, I took a deep breath, praying this plan wasn't my worst mistake or my last. I remembered Ava saying that if Kael ever got caught they would deny any ties with him. I wondered if the same held true for me.

I was led to a long room with rows of rectangular tables. The quiet hum of private conversations filled the space. I took a seat at the end of one of the tables, trying to keep away from others as much as possible. The guards knew who I was here to see, and one left to bring him.

Most of the prisoners in here met my expectations, scary looking characters with more tattoos than teeth. Attempting not to stare, I tried to look casual by folding my arms and looking down.

"Not your scene?"

Kael had approached the table without me noticing, my focus so intent on the strangeness of my surroundings.

"Not really," I acknowledged. "Sit."

I tried to read his thoughts and failed miserably. His face was blank. If I didn't know otherwise, I'd have thought he expected me.

Kael sat across from me. Leaning in he said, "You can't touch me but come here." I leaned forward to hear his low voice, "What possessed you to come in here?" His whispered statement illuminated his true thoughts. He was far from pleased.

"It's ok," I started, then paused to collect my thoughts. I tried to think of what to say next. Ava hadn't told me how many of the prison guards were in on our plan. There was a number of officers in the room. One was at the far end of our table and probably out of earshot, but I couldn't be too sure. I dropped my voice even lower than his, "I know you haven't had much time, but I'm taking you and Higg. They are bringing him in to visit five minutes after you."

"What?" Kael whispered back. He looked at me now as if I were mad. I couldn't blame him. He questioned me, "Us out? How?"

"Something in my heel," I said simply. I tried to convey meaning without saying the words. I looked intently at him and explained, "You'll have to take me, though."

"I don't like it." Kael leaned back, arms folded. The guard walked down to our end of the table, now able to hear everything we said. Kael leaned forward, head in hands. After a few moments of silence, the guard moved on to a middle aged couple at the next table working up a heated debate.

Kael watched them for a moment before turning to me.

"That's our cue," I whispered. Dropping my purse, I reached down. The blade came out from the back of my heel as easily as practiced. With the blade concealed in my palm, I placed my hand on the center of the table.

He shook his head. "I'm not doing this. A different plan," he muttered.

"Take my hand, Kael," I whispered back, frustrated.

"Hey, miss! No touching the prisoners!" The guard shouted.

I jumped. My hand with the blade fell back to my lap. "Sorry," I mumbled and tried to regain my composure.

I glared across the table at Kael. The guard was shouting at the other couple, "If you don't calm down, this visit is over!" This was our window, and it was rapidly vanishing. We either acted now or Garrett was dead, Gideon free. I dropped the blade onto the floor when the guard's back was turned. Using the tip of my shoe, I kicked it under the table toward Kael.

I leaned forward and urged him, "Get it! If you don't cooperate, Ava's leaving you here." I glanced to the back of the room to see that Higgins had been brought in at some time during our exchange and was watching us, waiting. He probably knew some of what was happening here. Ava and I were counting on him catching on quickly and joining us.

Kael reached down pretending to straighten his pants. When he sat up, his face was cold and hard. He nodded, indicating for me to lean in again as he did the same. I complied, afraid of what his next move would be.

The guard shouted something about proximity from the nearby table, but neither of us heeded his warning.

Kael's hand reached across the table with incredible speed. He took hold of my uninjured arm, tearing me off the bench as he jumped over the table. His assault happened so quickly, he left me gasping for air and shaking with adrenaline. He stood, keeping me pinned to him like a human shield with his arm across my chest and the blade firmly held at my throat. I had known this would be unpleasant, but the way his hold reminded me of Madeline's attack nauseated me.

Silence fell over the room as people recognized with horror what had happened. "Hey! You move, she dies!" Kael shouted, his voice almost manic. My shaking grew worse with his words. He didn't even sound like himself.

The guard's face drained of all color as he took a step toward us and pleaded, "Hey there now. Let the girl go..."

"I'm serious!" Kael gripped me tighter. His heart beat was palpable against my back as he threatened, "Back off!"

Judging by the gasps from the other occupants of the room, the scene achieved the desired affect. I shouted, "Please! Listen to him!" My voice came out in choked sobs, quite authentic.

Kael started to back us toward the door and smashed his free hand into the button to open it. He called out a warning, "If anyone follows us, I'll open her neck!"

Suddenly, Higgins was at our side. I had never seen him looking so pleased. Once outside the door, there were two more guards who moved toward us, but Kael's bluff worked once again.

We ducked down a side hall, just as alarms started blaring. Kael still held me against him, keeping everyone who moved toward us at bay.

Higgins came up beside us and said, "I'm coming with you. If you want to meet Gideon, this is the way to do it. I was supposed to meet with him tonight." He looked around desperately, then asked. "How do we get out of here? You've got a plan I assume?"

"South entrance," I breathed and watched with satisfaction as Higgin's face showed his surprise. He hadn't expected me to be orchestrating this, but there was no way to hide the fact. I prayed we were close. I couldn't be a hostage much longer. At that moment, a bullet whizzed past my ear. The three of us ducked against the wall.

"Scream," Kael whispered into my ear.

I let out a tortured, "No, please stop! Please!"

Kael called out into the hallway, "I told you, you are only making it worse for her!" He glanced out, keeping me behind him for a moment. "They're backing off. Good job," he whispered and reassumed his pose with the blade to my throat.

We started back down the hallway a moment later, heading, if my memory of the layout served me correctly, toward the south entrance.

We rushed through the halls. I was amazed at how well I was able to navigate having never been in here. Higgins panted beside us, struggling to keep up. Every advance by security was met by threats from Kael to my life. His crazed words worked every time.

"Once we get out there," Higgins panted, "what then?" We had ducked behind a doorway, our target in sight. The alarms continued to blare around us. I could hear the tread of reinforcements coming in behind us.

"There's a car," I whispered, "I had to pay off one of the guards, but we should make a clean exit."

"You are your father's daughter!" He laughed.

"Shut up!" Kael called at him. Another bullet ricocheted against the wall.

I feigned a yell of pain without having to be told to. We made a run for it with me in front and Higgins holding up the rear. I heard shots fired, but I kept my gaze locked on our portal to freedom.

When we pushed through the unlocked door, I could hardly believe our luck. The car sat a few feet away, under a large oak. Kael released me then, and we broke into a full run. Arriving at the car, we hurried into the vehicle and I started the engine. As we sped toward the exit, we quickly donned the three guard uniforms that had lain waiting in the back seat, pulling the jacket and slacks over our clothes.

The guard I had supposedly paid off at the gate was an Interpol agent. He checked our badges and asked a few questions before letting us through. As we pulled through the high fenced gate into the free world I glanced in my rear view mirror. Somehow, I had broken two prisoners out of a high security prison in less than an hour. Regardless, my achievements were less a testament to my efforts than Ava's. Her plan had been flawless.

*****

Harper didn't do too badly for an amateur, eh? They have escaped the prison but aren't close to safety yet. Will Higgins buy her story? Will she finally meet Gideon? Only a few updates left guys!

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