Three years ago...

While she looked out the carriage window and at the distant lights from the mansion they were leaving behind, Alex could feel that Ned and Barto were assessing her curiously and suspiciously.

Not quite certain whether she could keep up her blank façade, she did not look at them eye to eye.

When his patience won over, Ned spoke. "What happened?"

Alex spared him a quick glance. "What d'ye mean?"

She stole Barto a glance as well. Her cousin's eyes were narrowed. "Ye disappeared fer long from the ballroom earlier," Barto said.

"Aye. Went te escape one of 'em Everards," she said, telling them the truth.

"Who?"

"One of 'em brothers," she said with a shrug. "Hid inside a bleedin' library," she lied this time.

"And?" Ned asked.

"What happened?" Barto insisted.

Alex's lips twitched into a secretive smile. "Nothin'."

*****

When Ralph and Durley finally arrived, they were both in haste.

"Ruin your clothes," Durley ordered. "And make haste."

Alex frowned. "Ruin me dress?" She turned to Ralph who explained. "We believe we found the passage."

Her eyes widened. "You did? Where?"

"An estate not far from here," Durley snapped in reply as he rushed to his bedchamber.

"But why do I have te ruin me clothes?" she asked Ralph.

"Because you are to be taken in as a slave, remember?" Durley cried from his room.

Ralph merely sighed as he looked at Alex. "We do not have much time, Alex."

"Oi, not all slaves wear ruined clothes," she pointedly said.

"Trust me, they do where we are going," Durley said, rushing from his room with his small bag. "Would you like me to ruin those instead?"

Alex growled. "How many bleedin' time do I have to dress up?" She shot Ralph a glance. "Next time, guv, I wanna to be a Guard."

Ralph shook his head with a sigh and led Alex to the bedroom. "Come, bandit, we do not have much time."

*****

"How did'ye figure it out?" Alex asked Ralph as they trudged through the rough path that led to the woods. She looked over her shoulder at the main road they came from. Distant sounds from the village cottages nearby were carried by the cold wind blowing through the night.

"We did not," Ralph said beside her. "We guessed."

Alex stopped and so did Ralph. Durley kept walking ahead, his steps digging into the ground.

She glared at Ralph. "Yer insane! Ye could be wrong!"

Ralph shook his head. "I am rarely wrong." He motioned with his arms. "Look around you, Alex, this is the perfect place to hide a passage." He pointed at the woods. "The estate beyond those woods is the entrance into the Dark Forest." He directed his finger down. "We are over the Dark Forest."

Alex looked around. She could not find any other place that could possibly hide a passage. But this all seemed too easy. Surely it should not be?

She looked at the woods ahead and moistened her lips. Durley was nearing the edge. He stopped and motioned for Alex and Ralph to move on.

"If tis truly the passage, guv," Alex sad, "there'll be men waitin' te kill us."

Durley grew impatient and walked back to them.

"Not before this man does," Ralph murmured, taking Alex by the arm to meet Durley.

"Are ye armed?" she hissed at him. "Just so ye know, guv, I hate usin' me teeth."

"We are armed, Alex," he wryly uttered.

Durley was scowling at them when they met him. He grabbed Alex by the arm and roughly pulled her toward him. When he noticed Ralph's reaction, he uttered, "Relax, Beechworth, she is a slave. Or did you forget?"

Alex sighed and allowed Durley to push her toward the forest. "Yer enjoyin' playin' the bad man," she said to Durley who showed her a short, menacing smile.

"I do, yes," he replied. He turned his head at Ralph and said, "Cease that look, Beechworth. No one is harming your woman. Should you keep looking like that, we will all be dead before we can step into the passage."

Alex heard Ralph's long intake of breath. He nodded, his expression turning blank.

Alex swallowed hard, her heart starting to thump loudly in her chest.

The woods were opening to them, slowly unveiling a large country estate that was flooded with lights. The path they had been walking on was slowly turning into a driveway.

A shadow was moving along one side of the estate walls. Its form was getting clearer as it walked nearer.

It was then that she realized it was a large man. And he was holding the same large weapon she saw from the Passage Guards aboveground. Merely a few moments later, the man was joined by another one with the same large weapon clutched in both hands.

"Bloody hell, Durley, what has Osegod been up to?" Ralph murmured beside them.

Durley did not offer a response but he did stop walking, tightening his grip around Alex's arm.

Alex swallowed hard again. She looked at Ralph who was looking more anxious by the second. Durley was calm, yet his hold around her arm told her he was apprehensive.

Her eyes landed on the weapons the two men were carrying.

Bloody hell.

Should a fight ensue, she was not certain her knuckles and teeth would be enough.

*****

"Gentlemen!" Durley called out as the two men neared.

None of them spoke for a while, their eyes hard on Durley, Ralph and Alex. "This is private property," one of them finally said in a deadpan voice.

"We are fully aware," Durley uttered, lifting his free hand to show that he was not holding a weapon while he dragged Alex forward. "I am here to deliver an important gift."

"We don't know what you are talking about, sir."

"Oh, I am sure you do."

"No, we don't. Step away from the property, please," one of the men said, repositioning his large weapon in his hand.

"I was tasked to deliver—"

"A new horse," Ralph interjected, stepping forward.

Alex was quite lost. Horse? Why would he say horse? But as she turned her attention back on the two men, she saw that they somehow understood Ralph's use of the word.

"You see, gentlemen," Ralph said with a dramatic sigh, stepping forward, "the road was quite difficult for the horse and we needed to change course, thus the absence of the truck. I believe this one is currently being paid for and is expected to be presented to the winning guest," he said, patting Alex's head. "Am I not correct, Lord Durley?"

At the mention of Durley's name, the two men snapped their heads. "You're Durley?"

"Yes," Durley said, pulling Alex beside him. "Here to personally deliver the horse Osegod is searching for."

The two men's eyes widened as they peered at Alex. "She is the one who—"

"Will help us find the one you incompetent bastards lost," Durley said, voice growing authoritative. "We need not discuss this matter further in a bloody open field. You men have been careless enough showing off those trucks to the villagers."

"But—"

"Osegod would not love to hear how this bloody estate has been taking too much of the villagers' attention," Durley interrupted, moving past the two men as he dragged Alex with him.

"My lord!" called out the two gentlemen. "You cannot enter without—"

"This is Osegod's personal horse, gentlemen! I have not scoured the entire Town hunting for her just to deposit her in your bloody incapable hands!" Durley shouted over his shoulder. "Now, is anyone willing to lead us back down?"

One of the men jumped and ran ahead to lead them into the estate. The other fell behind.

"We have done enough to secure the privacy of the estate, my lord," the man leading them kept explaining. "It is the villagers who are growing curious. But that is currently being managed. Lord Osegod need not know—"

"I shall be the judge of what Osegod should or should not be aware of as we are also here to investigate the inefficiency of this facility," Durley snapped.

The man stole Durley a look, looking fearful now.

Alex moistened her lips and kept her head bowed as they climbed up the stairs that led to the large entrance of the estate. Ralph was walking behind them, silent and alert.

The man seemed to grow even more anxious as he led them across the vast, bright hallway. The large lamp above gave the place the light it needed to help Alex assess every corner of the place. As they crossed the hallway, she noticed more closed doors, but the silence was almost deafening. The sound of the trees and the wind outside was suddenly gone as the doors behind them were closed.

They stopped outside a wooden double-door. The man hesitated, throwing Durley and Ralph a look of apprehension before he shook his head and pushed a button. A ding caused Alex to jump in surprise before the doors magically separated, sliding to both sides to reveal a very small boxed room.

"What is this?" Durley snapped at the man.

"A lift, my lord." The man blinked as Durley and Ralph continued to stare at him with confusion. "It is a small room attached to a strong cable. It can travel from here to belowground without the bother of a hike on foot."

Durley stared at the empty space before them. "A lift."

Alex swallowed. She knew what Durley and Ralph were thinking. Anything could happen inside that bloody small space. The man could be fooling them and they may be easy targets once they step inside.

Finally Durley made a decision.

He stepped forward, taking Alex with him.

*****

Ralph did not like that they had no other option.

But there was none. Durley had already taken Alex inside the lift and he had no choice but to follow.

"Leave your weapon behind," he said to the man who was about to join them inside. When the guard hesitated, Ralph strongly added, "Now."

Stealing Durley another anxious glance, the man slowly laid his weapon down to stand on the floor and against the wall. He joined them inside the lift and suddenly the power that had wrought alarm upon Ralph was gone.

The man reached out and pushed another button. The doors slid close and the tiny room started to move. Ralph felt like he was being slowly dropped down, his stomach wobbling at the odd motion. He looked at Alex who had her head bent. With the guard's back turned to them, Ralph grabbed Alex's hand and pulled her slightly closer toward him. Durley seemed not to notice, his face serious and impatient.

The man was here for his sister. And by his looks, Ralph could tell Durley had no other plans to delay a rescue.

Finally the tiny room made a sudden jolt and then it stopped. The doors opened, revealing yet another room but this time it was darker and gloomier.

There was no question. They were back in the Town.

*****

Two men rushed toward the lift, both looking alert and at the ready to fight when they realized their comrade was without a weapon.

"It is fine," said the man from aboveground. "Visitors," he explained the presence of his companions with merely one word.

"What the bloody hell is—"

"I am Lord Marcus Durley, gentlemen," Durley interjected, stepping forward, leaving Alex behind with Ralph. "Now, who amongst you let the wench escape?" he demanded of the two guards.

The men looked over Durley's shoulder at Alex. Their confusion grew further. One of them shook his head. "She was no prisoner here," he said. "The only prisoner who ever escaped was that Randolph wench. She was a red-haired bitch, my lord. You must be wrong—"

"I did not mean this prisoner. This one is the very one who shall tell us where to find Randolph. Now, who was in-charged when Randolph escaped?" Durley asked in a cold voice.

"I... well, there was... we did—"

"Who was the one guarding the place when Randolph escaped!" Durley cried out.

"I was the one on shift, my lord, but I did not—"

The man fell on the ground before he even finished his sentence. Smoke came out of Durley's pistol after taking a shot that surprised everyone, including Ralph and Alex.

"Bloody hell, Durley—" Ralph started, but Durley was no longer listening. He pointed his gun to the next armed guard, his eyes murderous. "Now that we had that settled, take the wench back to her cell."

The man looked down at the lifeless body on the floor.

Ralph felt Alex starting to shake and for a moment he forgot that Durley shot a man to death in front of him. Alex was the least person he could think of to shake seeing a man killed. When the other guard went for her, Ralph grabbed Alex by the arm before the man could lay his hand on her and said, "Lead the way."

The man nodded.

Durley's pistol was still pointed at the guard from aboveground who looked at it with fear in his eyes. Now that he had seen what Durley was capable of, he showed no sign of making a wrong move that might force him to eventually join the dead body on the ground. Durley returned his pistol inside the pocket of his coat and said, "We stay here until my companion returns. And then you shall show us the rest of the prisoners."

Ralph shot Durley a questioning look as he and Alex followed the guard. He could not very well be thinking of actually throwing Alex inside a bloody cell.

But Durley seemed too intent on his mission that he showed no sign of reassuring Ralph. In fact, his face showed nothing, not even regret or remorse for killing a man. It led Ralph started to believe that Durley had killed before.

And he started to fear that Durley might have other plans.

*****

The moment he saw it, he wanted to draw his own pistol and kill the guard for two reasons: First, the bloody cell was nothing he had ever seen before. It was the filthiest space his senses ever experienced. Second, killing the guard would mean less people to deal with the moment they made their escape.

But Ralph stopped himself for it was Alex who willingly stepped forward when the cell doors were opened. It was empty, save for a dirty cot lying at the corner of the dark cell. When she entered and turned around facing him, Ralph's jaw tightened. His eyes told her he shall be back. She did not say a word and waited until the guard locked the door, caging her inside the cell.

"Do be certain it is secure," Ralph said to the guard, keeping up with his pretense.

The man tried the door. It did not budge. He gave Ralph a questioning look for approval.

Ralph nodded and with one last glance at Alex, he turned to walk from her.

They did not walk past any cells to and from the one where Alex was held.

"Where are the others?" he asked the guard.

"The other end," was the reply.

Ralph cleared his throat, assessing his next question. "I believe the Randolph woman was held in the same space with her child and another woman." They must have been, he thought. Aurora would not have not mentioned another woman with her child otherwise.

"They have been transferred after the red-haired escaped," said the man. "Which makes me wonder—How will that woman help us find Randolph? I actually did believe she is dead by now—"

"We cannot question Durley's strategies," was all Ralph could say.

The guard looked at Ralph, his face filled with confusion.

"Go on, move along. We do not want that bastard to shoot either of us, do we?"

The man blinked and walked faster.

*****

Durley and the guard from aboveground were waiting for them, along with the lifeless body on the floor.

"Move along," Durley ordered the two guards, stepping over the dead man. "Give me the tour."

When both men hesitated, Ralph shook his head, showing them it was not the most opportune time to do so.

"Osegod awaits my reports, gentlemen, and I have a ball to attend to in Willowfair. His daughter promised me her first dance." Durley added as the two guards turned to the opposite wing. "And let us hope that what I find in this bloody tour will be enough to compensate for your incompetence last time."

The two guards chorused, "It shall be enough, my lord."

"Then bloody show me."

Ralph walked beside Durley, glaring at him with warning. Durley ignored him.

By the time they met the end of the corridor, a door greeted them. One of the two guards took out his keys and opened it. And as it swung open, the stench air engulfed Ralph's nostrils.

The murmurs and the scuffling sounds of chains being dragged against the floor followed. Someone from somewhere uttered, "hush", he noted, while his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

"Lights," Durley ordered. A click followed his word and the lights flickered from the ceiling.

They did not completely light the place, but it made Ralph realize that he was standing in the middle of a long corridor and each side was lined with cells. Behind each dark, greasy and filthy iron bars were people whose faces were covered with the same filth they were surrounded with. Their eyes were the only things that glowed in what remained of them.

Whoever they were in the past, wherever they may have come from, must be gone by now for no one would ever survive such horrid place without his soul and spirit consumed.

Ralph started to pray that Sophia was strong enough to withstand all these. He turned to look at Durley's reaction and he almost took a step back.

Durley's face had gone dark, his face tight with controlled fury.

"I want to see the colored wench from Wickhurst," Ralph heard him say.

"My lord?"

"The colored wench from Wickhurst!" Durley gritted out.

One of the guards pushed his companion forward. "You lead the way."

"But I do not know who—"

"The Everard bride!" hissed his companion.

Understanding came over the man's face and he looked at Durley. He swallowed and said, "She and the child are not for sale, my lord."

Durley turned his murderous eyes at the man. "Did I mention anything about procurement?"

Ralph, now certain that Sophia was here, suddenly grew impatient as well. "We were given orders by Osegod to make certain for ourselves that they are here. The woman is an Everard's wench, gentlemen. It is of utmost importance to us that she is where we want her to be."

The man nodded, giving Ralph a quizzical look before he averted his eyes and turned. "This way," he said, guiding them down the corridor.

"Please... please..." a woman begged as they passed, her arm stretched out through the iron bars of her cell. "Please..."

Ralph ignored her, making a mental promise to every slave they passed by. They shall soon be free—all of them.

The way down the corridor seemed endless and the light was starting to get dimmer. The smell was getting terrible, the temperature colder.

Finally the guard stopped outside the last cell to the right. Durley stiffly moved forward to stand beside him.

Ralph did as well while the other guard stood not far behind him.

Both he and Durley looked inside the almost-darkened cell.

At first glance it seemed empty, but the sudden movement in the shadows told them someone was inside.

"Step closer," the guard beside Durley ordered, kicking the iron bar with his foot. A small, terrified cry of a child erupted from inside the cell. "Step closer!" the guard shouted this time.

"Shh... shh..." a soft voice said, soothing the crying voice.

And before the guard could shout for the third time, the shadowed form rose from the ground and slowly stepped into the light.

Ralph's breath was caught in his throat. He felt Durley stiffen beside him as the woman walked closer, her eyes blank and blindly searching their faces.

He fought the triumphant smile that threatened to show.

They finally found his brother's missing bride.

Sophia was alive.