Anne awoke to a bright and sunny morning but she wasn't drawn from sleep by anything pleasant.

There was a guard in their cell banging on their metal beds with his cane, telling them all to get up and come upstairs to the hall for breakfast. The enforcer stomped out and slammed the door shut, leaving it unlocked for their exit to the hal.

Anne sat up, shaken from the noise. She ached, she hadn't slept well. Her dreams had been dark and sad. Anne had forgotten for a split second when she awoke where she was, before it crashed down on her again. She was in prison. The reality felt like a heavy, damp cloud sinking down on top of her, suffocatingly sad. Anne swallowed hard, looking around the room as she tried to come to terms with the reality all over again.

"Rise and shine, buttercup." January sung sardonically as she stood and dressed. The older girl had seen Anne's expression and she sympathised.

"Breakfast is in five minutes. You can sit on our bench in the hall," Kes told Anne, climbing down from his bunk. He pushed his red hair out of his eyes. His bright eyes twinkled. "We sit together because we dorm together, that's how it works."

Peggy looked more tired than yesterday, her mousy hair drawn back in a hasty bun. She looked at Anne and Anne smiled warmly. Peggy blushed slightly and looked away, but Anne thought she almost caught a smile creeping onto her lips. The girl was sweet. Contrastingly - Margaret's sullen face was moodier than usual, which Anne considered to be a result of the early rise.

They all dressed quickly and Anne followed the others out of the door like a lost puppy. They walked in straight lines down the corridor which was cold, grey stone, lined with dozens of identical cell doors bearing barred windows. There were numbers on each door, the only way to differentiate them. Anne saw other inmates exiting their stone cells and joining the line which lead up the creaky wooden stairs to the ground floor. Their cells were set on a lower level of the prison.

The hall where they ate was large and cold too, with high-set barred windows and many wooden benches positioned in neat, spaced-out lines. At the top of the hall stood around ten enforcers, watching with eagle eyes. Dozens more patrolled the outside of the hall and kept the line in order as they moved along. Anne felt nervous and intimidated being somewhere so large, unfamiliar and unwelcoming. The guards were all men, all of them tall and broad and Anne was again reminded of Mr Hammond. She shuddered.

As Anne entered the hall behind January she watched the tall girl take a wooden bowl from a table and January was dished up two ladelfuls of an ominous-looking grey porridge. Anne followed suit and carried her bowl of porridge to January's bench where she sat with her cell mates. Looking around the hall Anne saw the vast differences in all of the inmates... tall, short, skinny, plump, some were older almost adults and some were barely six years of age. Anne wondered how they'd all got here and what they'd done. She saw one girl with blonde hair who was staring right at her.

"Don't make eye contact with them," January elbowed Anne, jolting her from her daze. Anne turned to meet January's almond eyes. "They'll target you. You're already new so that's bad enough as it is."

Anne hastily dropped her eyes and her head down and focused on her food, spooning it in hungrily. She was so starved it took several large spoonfuls before she noticed the taste and gagged. It was disgusting, she retched. Her stomach grumbled in desperation, begging her to continue eating. Anne blanched and looked wordlessly at her bench companions in horror.

Margaret laughed cruelly.

Kes chuckled. "This food is poison, that's for sure." He nodded.

"Where did you get that bread from last night?" Anne said eagerly in hushed tones. "It wasn't so bad as this."

"Rye bread is only dished out once a week," Kes said. "I'm afraid I gave you my last piece from my secret stash."

Kes put his finger to his lips. Anne understood. It was not the type of stash ordinary people got to dip into, only the selected few. On some level, beneath the fear and anxiety, at the back of her mind Anne felt honoured.

"I haven't had fresh bread in months." January said glumly, poking her spoon at her porridge.

"People said my older sister, Rosalie, baked the best bread in Karleton." Peggy murmured quietly.

Anne had not heard her speak much, she was intrigued to hear the shy girl open up about anything especially her past and family. Peggy wasn't looking at anyone, she was too busy lost in her thoughts, her gaze wistful as she gazed up at the ceiling.

"Your sister lives in Karleton?" Kes said, eyes widening. "That ain't far, Pegs. Only a few towns over."

"She has a farm." Peggy told them softly, fiddling with the patch of material she always held. "I stayed there for a while."

"If I were you I'd have escaped long ago and run away to your sister's farm." January whispered. "It's far away enough that they won't search every town but it's near enough to make it there before they catch you. If you found a horse, that is."

Peggy suddenly looked at January with a funny look in her eyes. "The guards have horses," She said slowly. "They keep them on the grounds by the wagon yard."

Kes grinned wryly, showing his dimples. "You've got the best ideas when you ain't quiet. You're sly, everyone thinks you're so innocent but that ain't the whole truth of it."

Peggy frowned. "I am innocent."

"It's a compliment, doll." January laughed.

"Escaping? You're crazy." Margaret said, shaking her head at them. She rolled her pretty blue eyes.

"Rosalie always said I could stay there if I needed to." Peggy sighed, ignoring Margaret.

"If you're going then I'm coming." January smiled slightly.

Peggy looked at Kes expectantly. Anne had noticed that Peggy looked to Kes and January for reassurance often. They must have really looked out for her since she arrived. Anne felt lucky she'd fallen in with them.

"I'll come, don't worry Pegs." Kes said.

Anne thought it was strange of them to talk about this plan like it was something that was possible or even realistic. They were in prison, serving their time, soon to be moved to a correctional facility... they couldn't really run away to this farm.

"You could come too, Red." Kes said conspirationally. "We could all stay on Rosalie's farm, until things clear up and we find somewhere else. We could have fresh bread every day."

Anne felt an ache in her heart. She would never taste Marilla's fresh loaves again. She missed Green Gables, all the animals and even the chores. Farm life was hard but she would die to be home again... Anne was missing all the little things, the spring lambs and the early summer flowers braving the final frosts, poking out of the ground. She'd never get to ride Belle in the meadows again or tease Jerry as he worked. She'd never get to help Marilla cook or spar with Matthew in the warm evenings in the barn.

"You've upset her." January scolded Kes, who looked apologetic. "We'll get out one day, Anne. We just have to find a way."

"I think you're all mad. There's no ways out of here anymore, they're wise on them all." Margaret dismissed them.

"Anymore?" Anne frowned.

"Well, there's a bunch of rumours of a stone tunnel which was laid years before this place became a prison," January explained, leaning forward. "It used to be a house and there were connecting tunnels made when they were laying the plumbing. The tunnels linked up all of the rooms so they say, even leading out of the grounds into the local stream where the spring is. These tunnels are long forgotten and apparently they were blocked up a long time ago anyway."

"All of them?" Anne's imagination was blooming an exciting idea of a daring escape via old tunnels.

"There were links through the vents all over but they were covered up and forgotten about. That's what people say." January said. "Nobody looks for them because the rumour is they're all closed up."

"Well I'd be game for an escape if any of you stumble across an open vent." Kes grinned mischievously.

"You're all mad." Margaret sniggered. "Absolutely mad."

"There's no harm in having some hope." Peggy murmured, her big eyes heavy with memories.

"That's right." January ruffled Peggy's hair.

Anne begin to speak softly, the words almost taking her over. The others watched and listened, enthralled despite themselves...

"The real world is wide and a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements awaits those who have the courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst it's perils..." Anne's eyes swam, thinking of home.

Everyone gazed at her, surprised.

"I like that a lot." Kes smiled. He looked younger then, more of a boy.

"Let's promise now that if one of us finds a way out, we all go." January said in an almost-whisper. "Nobody gets left behind."

Peggy nodded. She looked at Anne and smiled a shy smile. Anne felt her heart grow warm.

"I promise." Anne said.

"You can go with your crazy scheme, I want no part in it." Margaret said.

"Nobody gets left behind." January repeated.

"Why don't we break the whole prison out then?" Margaret sneered.

"That's not--" Anne began.

"Uh oh, incoming." Margaret sniggered, looking over Anne's shoulder.

They all looked up, to see a large girl with short blonde hair approaching. She looked older than them, maybe seventeen years old. It was the girl Anne saw earlier. She was looking straight at Anne and it was clear that her intentions were anything but good. Anne froze suddenly and a moment later the girl reached them, instantly grabbed Anne by the shoulders and pulled her off the bench. The girl threw Anne onto the floor and began kicking her.

The hall erupted into shouts, laughter and cries. January stood up and pushed the bully away, while Kes stood up to help and Peggy shrunk back in fear. Margaret just watched, laughing. The guards descended upon the group and before Anne knew what was happening she'd been dragged from the room.

The noisy, chaotic hall faded away behind them as Anne was pulled along a drafty corridor and down a flight of stairs by a guard. They landed at the bottom and walked along a dark hallway. There were more cells here, a different sort with black doors and after a few more minutes of walking Anne was turfed inside one, the door slammed and locked behind her.

Anne stumbled before turning and banging against the door.

"I didn't do anything!" She yelled breathlessly. "It was that blonde girl, she pushed me down!"

Anne could just about see out of the barred cell window and she watched as the blonde bully girl was dragged past too and thrown into a cell. The voice of that horrible man named Mr Carl echoed deeply down the corridor as he warned them,

"Fighting equals a day in solitary confinement."

Anne slumped down onto the floor and groaned. What an incredible waste of time. How would this teach her any lesson? She had done nothing wrong and if she was truly a bully like that blonde girl then sitting alone would only make her more wretchedly angry and aggressive. The justice system was severely questionable at best.

Anne's stitches felt tighter than normal with her laboured breathing. Anne clutched at her waist, holding her wound tightly. She needed to clean it soon or would get infected. She remembered the night Gilbert had sewn her back together and all of the things he'd told her. Anne tried to ignore the dull, aching pain. She chewed on her lip, closing her eyes to think.

There was sadly an enormous lack of scope for the imagination in the cell but Anne's mind was powerful and in desperate times, in the depths of the pit of despair it managed miracles and could conjour up wonderful daydreams. It was how Anne had survived the orphanage and the time in care with various dysfunctional families...

Anne stared at the four walls of her cell for two hours, not seeing the walls but lost in her mind imagining herself in a beautiful meadow full of summer flowers... The birds were singing the sweetest song and Anne wore a power blue dress with puffed sleeves which contrasted wonderfully with her hair which had turned dark auburn. Anne pictured Matthew and Marilla there, Diana and Ruby and even Jerry. They were having a picnic in the warm green grass. There was vanilla cake, sandwiches and fresh, sweet fruit from an orchard and even ice cream. Oh how Anne longed to try ice cream... She imagined it tasted of sweet dreams spun by fairies.

There was a call which rang down from the top of the meadow's hill and Anne walked up the slope, gathering colourful flowers as she went. At the very top of the summer hill there was a view beyond Anne's dreams. Blue skies for miles, lush fields and woods. It was lush. Anne also found a boy. It was Gilbert. He held something in his hand. Anne walked over, smiling. She was so relieved to see him, she felt like crying but she was too happy in her blissful dream. Anne pictured Gilbert wrapping his arms around her, she remembered the feeling of warmth and safety.

"I miss you." Gilbert said. His voice sounded far away.

"I'm right here." Anne said in her dream.

"I miss you, Anne." Gilbert told her again.

Then Gilbert held out his hand to show her what he held. It was a key. He put it into her hand and closed her fingers tightly around it. He looked up into her eyes, his dark hazel ones shining with longing. Anne bit her lip.

"Come on, Anne." He spoke in her daydream. "Come to me, you can figure it out. I know you can."

Anne was drawn from her dream by a cold draft. She opened her eyes and she ached for her dream to be real. Anne wished she had told Gilbert how she really felt, the enormity of it and how it matched what he'd said to her.

Anne had wasted so much time being cross with Gilbert then they'd finally made up and she was stuck in prison, unable to see him for years... By the time she got out she was sure Gilbert would have forgotten her, moved on to another girl and found somebody who would certainly be a better wife.

Anne felt tears in her eyes. Anne was crying over a boy, oh how younger Anne would have gotten exasperated with herself. But younger Anne didn't understand what it felt like to care so deeply about a boy.

To miss a boy so much.

Anne stood up and began to pace the room, dragging her fingers along the wall in boredom. She felt she would surely go insane if she spent seven years in a reformatory like they'd said. She would have to escape, by any means necessary and she would run away... Not that she'd be safe to go home, not with Joseph on the loose and the police after her. A life on the run was better than a life behind bars, Anne decided. Some time on the farm sounded nice, but not forever. Perhaps she'd stowe aboard a ship like she'd read about in books. She'd travel to some distant land and meet fantastical people, learn and have wonderful adventures.

Anne realised tears were slowly falling down her face. Those plans had been made with Gilbert... He wanted to do all of those things, with her. He'd offered her time, he'd asked her to think of it and Anne wished she'd said yes.

Suddenly Anne's fingers caught on a loose brick in the wall. Anne froze. She bent down and felt along the wall. It was so dark it was hard to see but she felt along until her fingers slid behind the section of loose bricks. Heart racing, Anne pulled. The bricks came out and there was a large rectangle of missing bricks, behind which was a stone tunnel.

No way, Anne thought.

Could this be her way out?

...

James Riley passed out from blood loss moments after his arrival in the hall.

Instantly there was chaos. Gilbert felt time slow, he watched as his friend dropped to the floor, the townspeople jump up and begin to shout. James' words rung in his ears, echoing like they came from far away. It didn't seem real. Joseph was dead? It simply couldn't be true.

The screams snapped Gilbert back to reality a second later, falling to his knees beside James and ripping off his scarf. He wrapped it into a wad which he pressed onto his friend James' shoulder, applying pressure. The doctor was found and James was taken away to have the bullet removed. It was quickly assessed that James had been shot in the shoulder, and the wound was fresh. The gun he'd thrown down had been recovered by Detective Ellwyn, who had just sent out search parties to recover Joseph's body.

"You are to check all of the roads leading this way. Mr Riley was obviously in a fight and Joseph Bines shot him. As the bullet in his shoulder was clearly put there very recently the fight couldn't have happened far away. Joseph's body is close." Gilbert had heard the detective telling his officers.

Gilbert met Marilla's gaze. She looked afraid. She knew what Gilbert was thinking. Before she could speak, the headstrong boy slipped out of the hall. Diana had seen the whole scene unfold from up in the eaves. She climbed down quickly and pushed open the back door, running around to find Gilbert mounting his horse. Diana ran to him.

"Gilbert! Wait!"

Gilbert looked down, saw his friend and paused. "Diana, are you alright?" He asked.

"No, Anne's been arrested of course I'm not alright. She's at Wolfsden Prison, Gilbert - we have to get her out." Diana was breathless. She knew from Gilbert's shouting in the meeting that he felt her same indignation and desperation to help Anne.

"I know, Diana. And Joseph's dead." Gilbert pulled on his reins as his horse paced in circles.

"Can you believe it?" Diana looked unconvinced.

"I trust James, but it honestly seems too good to be true." Gilbert said gruffly.

"What are you doing now?" Diana asked. "James is being operated on, the detective sent out search parties but nobody has organised anything for Anne."

"It doesn't matter. I'm going to Wolfsden Prison, I'm bringing Anne home." Gilbert clenched his jaw.

"But Gilbert, they're likely going to review the case and get her out... Shouldn't we wait? You don't have a warrant, they won't let Anne out--" Diana flustered.

"Wait? Diana, she's going to die in there if we wait. That place is full of thieves and murderers just like the one we've tried so hard to save Anne from - I can't leave her a moment longer in there, not now that I know where she is."

Diana stared at Gilbert, deliberating in her mind for a moment. She was afraid. She would get in so much trouble if she went all the way to Caipsetown to break Anne out of Wolfsden Prison with Gilbert. It was several towns over, a whole day's ride and she knew they had no plan when they got there. How could they guarantee Anne's release upon arrival? What if they went all that way for them only to be turned away and Anne stayed trapped behind bars.

"Alright, then I'm coming with you." Diana said. "We're making a stop on the way though - we have to call in on somebody first."

...

Mr Barry was swarmed with concerned and scared townsfolk as soon as James Riley collapsed. After James had been taken away and the detective had left with his officers Mr Barry called the meeting to a finish and adjourned until the following morning. He told people not to panic and assured them that the police had the situation under control. On Detective Ellwyn's advice Mr Barry told them all to come back the following morning with a testimony to Anne's good nature to initiate her release.

As the people began to slowly filter from the hall into the afternoon sunshine Mrs Barry approached her husband. She watched him with sympathetic eyes, as he rubbed his brow from stress.

"You did your best, William." Mrs Barry said softly. "Everything will clear up after a few days, I assure you. Now that this terrible Bines fellow is gone we can start to piece things back together and rebuild."

"Are you sure that we can?" Mr Barry looked up at her with worry. "With all our losses... unless we find our missing goods and gold we will be in deep money troubles. On top if that if we don't find everybody else's missing items we will surely get the blame."

"Richer or poorer, William. I support you no matter what happens." She soothed.

"I never dreamed something like this could happen in Avonlea." Mr Barry sighed again. "What will become of Diana? I'm certain she will be changed after this... Minnie May is not as unaware of the situation as she pretends to be either."

"They're both strong, they'll work through this. A lot of bad things have happened to us, to this town... but there's nothing we can't move past and grow stronger from," Mrs Barry spoke gently. "I truly believe that."

There was a pause. The optimistic and hopeful words had reminded Mr Barry of a certain redhead.

"Anne Cuthbert is innocent after all," Mr Barry said. "Something good came from today. But the Cuthberts will never forgive me for hiring Detective Ellwyn. Neither will Diana."

Mrs Barry didn't say a word. She didn't know what to say, she couldn't comfort him because she thought the exact same thing.

...

Marilla had watched across the chaotic hall as the detective left.

She had wanted to catch him before he went quickly in the midst of all the fuss over the man coming in and collapsing from his wound. Marilla didn't recognise the poor fellow. Gilbert had gone not long after the injured man collapsed, slipping from the hall while chaos reigned. Marilla knew he was going to do something rash but she didn't have the energy to stop him, she only wished she could help. She knew he cared for Anne and it made her very fond of the brave boy who was so much like his late father in so many ways that he didn't even know.

When everybody had left the hall Marilla approached the only other person besides the Detective who she thought could possibly do something about Anne's situation... Mr Barry. He was standing by the empty council table speaking quietly to his wife. They suddenly noticed Marilla coming and looked up.

"Mr and Mrs Barry," Marilla could barely keep the anger from her voice. "It wasn't made clear in your meeting, what are you going to do concerning Anne? I believe I am not mistaken that it was you who hired Detective Ellwyn who sent Anne away, so it is your responsibility to bring her back."

Mr Barry flandered. "Well, I have organised a second town hall meeting tomorrow morning where everybody can give their testimony for Anne's case. If she has enough positive testimonies then she will be released."

"Testimonies? Another day in that hell?" Marilla was furious, her eyes shining. "I'll get Anne out if it's the last thing I do, and don't think I'll forget this. It would never have happened if you'd had faith in our Anne and took her work against the word of that blasted Detective."

"Marilla, please--" Mrs Barry stepped forward in a consoling manner.

Marilla put her hand up. "I'll see you in the morning. You can be sure of my testimony."

She stormed out of the building and slammed the door, the bang echoing in the empty hall. The Barrys stood there, watching the dust dance in the sunbeams which showered through the windows. The meeting was meant to have sorted everything out, instead it set everything up in the air again. It would be a while before it settled.

...

Diana directed Gilbert to a house not far out of the main town.

It was fairly sized, with a neatly-kept garden and a small barn. Diana dismounted and ignored Gilbert's questioning looks. She walked up to the gate and pushed it open, following the path to the front door and knocking. Behind her, Gil watched from where he sat on his horse. He was impatient. Diana had not told him who they were going to see and he felt that time was of the essence. They didn't have time for house calls while Anne was in prison.

"Di, I trust you but what are we doing here?" Gilbert sighed.

Diana looked at him. "I'm here to call in a favour with an old friend... Our mother's came to Avonlea together from London, they were friends at boarding school. I grew up with my mother's friend's son. He's a little older than me, he recently began working for the police. He's going to help us get Anne out."

Gilbert straightened up, intrigued and almost excited. It was a promising idea. At that moment the door opened to a woman in her mid-to-late thirties, she was blonde and wore tailored clothes. She recognised Diana instantly and smiled warmly.

"Oh Diana, it's lovely to see you my darling. How can I help you?" The lady said indulgingly.

"That is awfully kind of you but well," Diana said graciously. "I actually need to see Wilson - I hope that's not terribly intruding of me... Is he home?"

"He's out in the barn getting ready, he's about to go to work. Everyone's been called in for some search of the town." The lady sighed slightly. "He's working ever so hard lately, I fear they're pushing him too far. I don't want my poor boy to crumble... it is tough work."

"He's strong, he'll keep up I'm certain. Wilson was never one to give up, as I remember from our chess games..." Diana chuckled and the lady smiled fondly. "Things will get better, they always do. I'm sure Wilson will catch a break soon enough."

"I just know that Wills would love to see you, Diana. You're always a joy in our home, you're welcome any time."

"Thank you, Mrs Brook." Diana flashed her dimples. "That is so dreadfully kind of you."

The lady bade Diana goodbye and closed the door. Diana turned to Gilbert again.

"I'll just be a moment. Wait here." She went down to the barn and slipped inside.

Diana found her old friend Wilson in the far end of the tidy barn, behind his woodwork bench. There were tools neatly organised and several projects unfinished on the bench. There was a small stable stool on one side of the barn. Diana remembered the barn well from coming over as a child for tea and riding with her friend. Wilson was buttoning up his uniform jacket when he heard Diana come in. Looking up, he smiled slightly to see his childhood friend. She was a welcome sight, despite the circumstances.

"Diana, what a surprise. After all that's happened of late you're the last face I expected to see." Wilson said somewhat grimly.

"I won't dilly with small talk, we're too good of friends for that." Diana said briskly. "I heard it was you who found the evidence which damned Anne Shirley in my father's case... You didn't know Anne so I won't hold it against you for doing so, as it is your job and you swore in God's name to uphold the law. Now, I'm not asking you to break that oath, I'm asking you to uphold it. Anne is not guilty, as you've surely learnt this morning - she was wrongfully imprisoned and she is in danger every day that she sits in that prison... I simply have to get her out of there and that awful detective has no plans to do so. I need your help to get Anne out. She is my best friend, Wills and as my oldest friend you owe me your help at the very least if your conscience is not enough to act upon."

Wilson had been settled with heavy, uneasy guilt and uncertainty ever since the day he handed over the evidence he'd found in Anne's room. There was something which felt off, wrong, inexplicably so... Wilson was so relieved to hear that Anne was innocent, as he'd known it deep down on some level. But he was still unable to throw off the supreme guilt for handing over the evidence which resulted in her arrest. He could have kept what he'd found to himself but instead he gave it to Detective Ellwyn and Anne had been imprisoned.

This was his chance to redeem himself, to make things right by the innocent Anne girl and to settle his conscience.

"Alright, Diana. I'll help you." Wilson said, meeting her gaze.

"I'm glad to hear that. I didn't want to have to result in bribery."

Wilson laughed. He'd missed Diana and her always unpredictable sense of humour.

"We're going to Wolfsden Prison," Diana said, sobering. "You, me and my good ftiend Gilbert Blythe. Oh, and it's up to you but Gilbert out there is very touchy about Anne's arrest so it's not an entirely great idea to tell him it was you who found the evidence."

Wilson looked dejected. "Honesty is the best policy, Diana... You know I hate lying."

"Lying is a dreadful thing. I just now Gilbert will be very angry with you," Diana shrugged. "Besides, you don't have to lie - you just don't have to tell him. At least not yet."

"Well, alright then. I'll keep it to myself for the time being." Wilson nodded.

After taking his horse from the pen in the barn, Wilson and Diana joined an impatient Gilbert outside. Wilson snuck his head in the front door to call to his mother that he might be home late that day, possibly the next morning. Diana climbed onto Gilbert's horse horse and Wilson mounted his own.

"This is my friend Wilson, Wilson meet Gilbert." Diana said. "Wilson is going to help us get Anne out of prison."

"A pleasure to meet you, Gilbert." Wilson nodded.

Gilbert nodded too, but not nearly so amicably. He wanted to get going. Enough time had been wasted as it was. He eyed the blond boy's uniforn with mistrust. How could they be sure the boy would really help them and not turn them in to Detective Ellwyn for their plan?

"Does anyone actually know the way to Wolfsden Prison?" Diana asked.

"I just know it's in Caipsetown." Gilbert said. He didn't care, he would search every street in the whole town until he found Anne.

"Well, I do. I was on a convoy to accompany a prisoner there once, I'm sure I can remember the way." Wilson said.

Gilbert frowned at him. "Is that why you're coming? Diana hasn't completely enlightened me to the point of you joining us? You being a member of the force somehow gives you the ability to break a girl out of prison..."

Diana rolled her eyes. Gilbert was moody when he missed Anne.

"No, I'm coming because I have this," Wilson pulled out his police badge. "I can get in and speak to them, explain that Anne has been cleared."

"Even though she hasn't yet technically?" Gilbert looked sceptical.

"That's right. I'm not leaving Caipestown until she's out and you have my word on that."

"Well, in that case... You're very welcome to join us." Gilbert started the ride down the road, Wilson following closely on his tails.

...

Anne knew that her punishment for the hall incident was a whole day in solitary confinement, so she decided that she'd easily have plenty of time to follow the tunnel along and if it turned out to be a dead-end then she could turn back. If it wasn't a dead-end, she'd face whatever she came across when she got to it.

Anne bent low and crawled into the small tunnel, wincing at the tug of her stitches. She took it slowly, determined not to tear them again. The tunnel was cramped and she felt slightly claustrophobic as she moved along through the cold space. Her bruised, scratched knees felt sore as she crawled. Anne wondered where the tunnel would end up. Anne imagined that many great escapes had been executed in this passage long ago. Anne could picture hundreds of people loosening the bricks in the cell over the course of several years, working away at it until it fell away to reveal the tunnel.

The stone tunnel smelt damp and old but Anne felt a breeze blowing gently down it onto her pale face. That was promising, it meant fresh air.

After crawling along for about fifteen, perhaps twenty minutes Anne was getting tired. The tunnel had turned slowly to the right and it was getting darker and darker. Anne panted, half wishing she'd stayed in the cell. It was cramped and the claustrophobia was growing. What if the tunnel never ended? What if it went on for hours and she ran out of energy and collapsed in the tunnel? What if the tunnel collapsed?

Anne was panicking. She was getting herself worked up. She lay down and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths as she tried to calm down. Her heart was beating fast. She tried to think of something calm and safe, something to take her mind somewhere happy. Gilbert was the first thing which appeared in her mind's eye. Anne saw his smile in her head, the squint of his eyes as he smiled that small, shy smile that she adored.

Anne felt her heartbeat thrum gently and her breathing evened out. She had to keep going, to make it out. Anne tried not to think about the fact that she'd never see Gilbert again, that would only make her panic all over again. She pushed that thought from her head and opened her eyes. Anne continued crawling and soon after that a light appeared up ahead, before she came across a bend in the tunnel to the left. Following it, Anne found a crossway. There was a vent looking up into a brightly lit room and the tunnel continued past it. Anne peered inside the vent.

It was the main hall. Anne realised that she'd crawled the underground tunnels beneath the whole prison, perhaps even through some of the grounds and back to the main building. Anne saw that the hall was empty and breakfast had long since finished. Anne continued past it and there was another vent not a long way along. She looked inside and she realised that the vent was on the wall beneath a bed. It was a cell room. She didn't recognise any of it's occupants so she continued crawling on, passing dozens of cell rooms who's occupants she didn't know. Eventually Anne found the one she had been looking for. She heard voices. It was Kes talking to January. Margaret wasn't there.

"--So unfair." January said quietly. Anne had not heard her speak.

"I know, that Anne girl didn't do anything wrong."

"I don't see why I didn't get put away too, I pushed that blonde girl. Anne did nothing." January spoke up from across the room.

"I didn't do anything." Peggy was saying regretfully.

"Oh, Pegs. You couldn't have done anything." January soothed.

"Psssst." Anne knocked lightly on the vent. "Hey, I'm down here."

"What was that?" Kes frowned. "Did you hear that knocking?"

"Under the bed." Anne hissed through the vents. She was cautious to avoided shouting and raising the guard's suspicion.

"It's coming from under your bed, Peggy." January said suddenly.

There was movement as they scrambled across the room and crouched down hesitantly. Peggy was smallest, she looked under first. Her pale face appeared, her mousy hair tumbling into her eyes. When she saw Anne looking through the vent she actually laughed. It was a small laugh but it was one of surprise, relief and even a dash of excitement.

"I found the tunnels," Anne grinned. It was the first real smile that had graced her face since she'd been with Gilbert. "You three still game for an escape to Rosalie's farm? I guess they didn't block up all the tunnels after all..."

Kes, Peggy and January grinned at each other before smiling at Anne.

"Well that's a turn up," January smirked. "Come on, what have we got to lose? Let's get out of this dump."