Weeks had turned into months as Penelope awaited a lawyer slowly counting each and every day etching the days messily along the cinderblock wall. Three months she had counted perfectly before blowing her candle out for bed. The Rain had poured non-stop that night with her glassless barred window allowing the rain to flood through encasing the floor in water. The wind blew harshly making the drops of water splash down rapidly onto Penelope's bed. Awaking her from her slumber. She screamed thunderously out to the guards as the rain picked up speed. "Help!" she cried as the guards chuckled harshly without care. Swiftly the rain brushed through like a wave into Penelope's cell. The wind began to pick up with a rapid pace carrying the strength of ten men prying the barred window open with a rock allowing it to spread wider. With water up to her neck, she began to swim through the opening as her slim body made it out through the waterfall on the other side of the wall. She had fallen into a bush as water dripped into her eyes, she realized that she was free. She hoisted herself up with her damp nightgown dripping about. she gazed out into the trees pondering her next move awaiting a sign from God that she should go. Moments later loud footsteps appeared to be getting closer to her as she decided to hide within the bushes. The hooves of a large horse stopped in front of the bush as the person who sat on it jumped off. They walked slowly towards the bush calling out towards Penelope "do you need help?" it called out, a soft dainty voice asked. Penelope rose from the bush to find that it was no guard it was Marie dressed in dark black boots and trousers. "Marie?" Penelope asked bewildered "where did you get that horse?" "I stole it from a guard." "and are those trousers." "you can't wear a dress on a horse can you?" "I guess not." "We best get going now I'm quite sick of this place aren't you?" without another word being exchanged, Penelope
decided to hop on as it was slowly becoming day. The sounds of irate guards call their names in the distance as they rode into the arid forest.
***
Weeks after the interrogation Detective Campbell couldn't help himself from thinking about Marie and how she treated him. The Police station was empty that morning as he walked swiftly towards his office to give Peter Mustard a call. "Hello, sir?" "Hi Peter, I've got an assignment for you." "what might that be sir?" "go down to the penitentiary today and talk to Marie, they caught her a few weeks ago." "what would you like me to say?" "I want you to make her confess the murder of Judge Claud she just needs one more offense to get on death row." "yes, sir" upon hanging up the phone Detective Campbell opens Marie's case file and gazes at her booking photograph. He smiles softly while gliding his hands over the photo. Then closes it back again. As the door to his office swings open. "What is the meaning of this!" Campbell screams. "My apologies sir, but I think you better come see this." A note posted on the front door of the police station gathers a crowd of officers as the big black letters state an extremely displeasing message: "We regret to inform you that this station will be shut down" with the words thirty days and a phone number underneath. Quickly Campbell rushed to his office to dial the number. "Hello, this is the eviction office Gallow ingenious speaking how may I help you?" "What is the meaning of the note posted outside my police station?" "oh yes, you all haven't captured anyone in less than three years, you must vacate the premises." "that is absurd! We have served for 45 years and caught some of the worst criminals!" "yes, but that was your father wasn't it, you've never done anything noteworthy." "I beg your pardon!" "we caught Marie!" "Why is Marie running around freely without a leash!" "what do you mean!" "you have thirty days to catch her or you are through!" a sudden silence ends the conversation as a meeting is called to order.
"I need you all to call your wives, tell them that you will be working overtime until we find Marie!" "What shall we do once we find her sir?" "we'll kill her."
***
The birds sang blissfully in the trees as the up and down movement of the horse carried us through the woods. Marie's light brown hair glistened in the sun beaming through the tree's canopy. Whilst I sat behind her gazing at the tall lengthy trees. "Where are we going?" I asked Marie. "My home," she said assuring grabbing the reigns of the horse commanding it to move faster. "Won't they find us there, the police?" "of course not." a moment of silence peaked through before inquiring about something else. "Why did you come and help me last night, you barely know me?" she chuckles before replying, "I noticed you at my party." "Yes but there were quite a few people at the party." "yes but I noticed you, and I remember being like you when I was younger." "what do you mean?" "I don't mean very much by it I just know how difficult it can be to be a young woman in this world." "I suppose, that's quite thoughtful of you Marie." "don't thank me just yet, my thoughtfulness could end us both." "I don't mind as long as it's for a worthy cause." A sudden halt leads Marie to jump off the horse as I follow her towards a tall mountain. "This isn't the Jamboree house?" "no, It's my home." she begins to walk up the mountain holding the horse's reign tightly along the steep incline. "You said you would die for a worthy cause?" Marie asks optimistically "well of course, but it all depends on the cause." while still continuing to climb she looks back at me with a smile "would you like to help me, with a mission?" "another murder mission." "of sorts." "What does that intell?" upon arriving at the opening of the cave she peers at me intently "to be frank it is a murder mission, I know that the parker police station is after me, I can feel it deep within my bones and I need them out my way so I can continue my much more important mission, If you could help me it would be much
appreciated, I can't promise you a large sum of money but you can become my apprentice allowing a host of opportunities for you" "I don't wish for money, and I haven't got much to lose so yes, of course!" The deal was sealed with a handshake as Penelope and Marie entered the cave to generate a plan to conquer the parker police station.