"Where's Alec?" Max asked. "Is Magnus with him?"

Jace looked over his shoulder at the men and women surrounding them. He had to make a run to the butcher's to drop off some knives and this gave him an opportunity to see his little brother. "I don't, little guy. He's probably still out on a run. He'll be fine. He's a pro, remember?"

Max didn't look too convinced but he said nothing else as he tried to skin part of a deer. "I don't know what I'm doing, Jace. I've never skinned a deer before."

One of the butchers yelled from the back of the small shed. Max flinched but kept on doing what he was doing (or at least trying to do). Jace glanced over his shoulders to see if anyone was looking and skillfully started skinning the deer.

"You're lucky our dad took your older siblings on hunting trips back in the day," Jace whispered. "Otherwise you'd be here all day trying to get the skin off."

Max giggled as Jace winked at him. "This job really sucks. I wanna go on scavenges like Alec and Magnus. I'd be really good at it. I know I would."

"Oh yeah? What makes you say that?" Jace quickly threw the skin off to the side and moved on to another part of the deer.

"I'm small. I can fit into tight places that grown ups can't fit. Plus I'm fast and really quiet. Like a ninja."

Jace chuckled as Max struck a ninja pose. "I don't doubt that for a second. Maybe one day you'll go on a run with us-"

"Hey! This ain't a part of your job description!" The head butcher spat at Jace from across the room. He stomped over to where Jace stood and hauled Max backwards. "Go on! Get back to your job!"

"My brother doesn't know how to do any of this. I was just helping him," Jace growled through a clenched jaw.

"This kid's your brother?" The butcher laughed. "He's useless. He can't do a damn thing I ask of him-"

"Because he's just a kid!" Jace yelled and threw the knife he was holding in his hand at the butcher. It missed his head by a hair and embedded itself in the wall at the back of the shed.

The head butcher looked impressed and angry at the same time. "You've got a good arm, young man. If the armory doesn't work out for you, you're always welcome here. Better you than the little worm over here."

Max said nothing as the head butcher left them alone. "I hate his place, Jace. I wanna go home. Or find a home and stay there."

Jace jumped over the wooden table and hugged his little brother. "I know, kiddo. Alec will get us out of this mess. I'm sure he's got a plan of some sort-"

The front gates opened and the vehicles that went with the runners earlier that morning came revving in. The townspeople had started to gather around them as they piled out of the vehicles one by one. Jace and Max gathered around as well to see if Magnus and Alec were there.

"You know where this stuff goes, people. Bring it there and don't even think about stealing," warned Raphael. He began to hand out their findings that day to the people gathered around.

"Do you see Alec?" Max asked.

Jace scanned the vehicles for any sign of their brother. "No. I see Magnus though. Let's go ask him if he's seen Alec."

They approached Magnus just as he was returning his weapon. His face looked solemn as if something happened while they were out there.

"Oh god," croaked Jace. "Don't tell me....Alec?"

Magnus shook his head. "He's fine, Jace. Raphael made him walk back to town. He could be a while-"

"Walk back? Is he insane? Does he at least have a weapon?!"

Magnus put a hand on Jace's mouth to silence him and dragged him into an alleyway where they were concealed from the rest of the town. "Keep your voice down. Yes, he does have a weapon. A crowbar. Not exactly the best weapon but at least he's armed."

Max stomped a foot on the ground. He was clearly angry at Raphael for what he did to his brother. "This isn't fair! This is so....this is so fucking unfair!"

Jace and Magnus both looked down at Max in surprise. Magnus spoke first. "It is unfair, Max. Alec was the one who found all that medicine we brought back today. And this is the thanks he gets?"

Jace scoffed. "I'm not sticking around here any longer than I have to, Magnus. I have a plan." He pointed across the road towards a wall. "I watched that fence last night. At 11:50 the guards take a fifteen minute break. No one's guarding the wall during that period of time."

"That's a short window of opportunity," Magnus breathed. "We'll have to get everyone together at least an hour before. I know where the girls are so getting them won't be a problem."

Jace cocked his head. "How do you know where they are?"

Magnus bit his lip. "Two beautiful women like them? Where do you think they went, Jace?"

Jace looked confused for a moment but when the realization hit him, it hit him hard. "You've got to be kidding me. They can't be....you know. With him?"

Max tugged on Jace's sleeve. "Where's Izzy, Jace? And Clary?"

Without answering Max, Jace shook his head. "Do what you have to do and get them out. We'll meet here at 11:00 tonight. Make sure everyone's here before we escape."

"Jace! Where's our sister?!" Max repeated only this time his voice was more pleading.

Hesitantly, Jace knelt down to Max's height and rubbed his brother's shoulder. "Izzy's with Valentine. Same with Clary. Magnus is going to get them out before something happens to them, okay? Right Magnus?"

Magnus nodded. "Don't worry, kid. I'll make sure they're safe."

Max nodded. "We can't leave without Alec, though. He'll be back before tonight?"

Magnus looked up at the gate, which had just opened again, and smiled broadly. "I think he'll be back much sooner than you think."

Max turned to see what he was smiling at and a smile of his own broke out on his face. "Alec! Alec!"

Alec, covered in Forsaken blood, turned to see who was calling his name. He dropped to his knees immediately and opened his arms to let Max run towards him and hug him. "Max. You're okay. You're okay...."

Max held Alec tight. "I'm okay. Jace helped me skin a deer earlier. You smell really bad."

Alec laughed. "Forsaken blood. Thought I'd try coming back Walking Dead style. It actually worked too. Now you're covered in it."

The brothers laughed as Raphael stormed over to where they stood enveloped in a hug.

"How the fuck did you get back here so fast?!" He spat. A vein pulsed in his neck as he yelled.

Alec stood up. "The same way we got there in the first place except I walked. Covered myself in guts as you can see," he addressed his grimy clothes with a smile. "The Forsaken didn't even notice I was walking with them. That's how I got back so fast. I didn't have to deal with any of them."

Raphael looked so red in the face with anger that Alec thought his head was going to explode. "Get back outside the fence, new guy. You're to stay out there until I say you're allowed back in."

Max stepped in between them. "Leave my brother alone!"

Raphael shoved Max to the ground and Alec reacted with a yell. Soon a crowd gathered around and everyone was yelling "brawl!" as Alec punched Raphael in the face and the two began to fight. Magnus tried to haul Alec away from the fight but got punched in the face himself. He then joined the fight too-

A gunshot echoed across the town. The crowd immediately dispersed with a scream. Valentine stood at beside the butcher shop, gun raised in the air with smoke coming from the barrel.

"People! What's going on out here?" He demanded. "You know the penalty of fighting, right?"

Alec blinked through blurry eyes. He could see two figures standing on either side of Valentine but couldn't quite pick them out.

"Izzy? Clary? Are you two okay?" Jace asked, his voice barely audible.

Eyes finally cleared, Alec could now see his sister and Clary standing with Valentine. They looked extremely uncomfortable and he didn't blame them. They wore skintight dresses that barely covered them mid-thigh and covered their chest. The heels they wore had a five inch heel and it made it really difficult for them to follow behind Valentine.

"Don't talk to my girls please and thank you. They're not supposed to talk," Valentine purred and ran a finger down Isabelle's arm. Alec clenched his jaw and made a fist but restrained himself from jumping Valentine.

"Boss," Raphael spoke. He had blood running down his left eyebrow where Alec kicked him in the face. "The new guy. I told him he had to walk back to town and he came back right behind us covered in....this."

Valentine inspected Alec. "You covered yourself in Forsaken blood?"

Alec stared straight ahead and nodded. "Yes, sir. I did."

"And they didn't bother you once?"

Alec shook his head.

Valentine chuckled and pat Alec on the back. "Clever boy. You're a lot smarter than I gave you credit for. Raphael! Bring our young man here a clean set of clothes and offer him a hot shower. He deserves it."

Raphael made a squeaky sound. "But Boss-"

"Did you not hear what I just said? Don't make me repeat myself. I'm having a good day so far and I'd hate for someone like you to go and ruin it for me," Valentine said in a calm voice that gave Alec the chills.

Raphael caved and nodded. "Yes, sir. Fresh set of clothes and a hot shower for the new guy."

As he walked away, Alec took a moment to glance at Isabelle and Clary. Normally Isabelle would've enjoyed being able to wear dresses like this. Now the look on her face screamed that she was scared and uncomfortable; it was obvious that Clary felt the same way. They couldn't even look at Valentine without quickly looking at the ground.

"I hope you'll enjoy the special treatment today, Alec. I'm promoting you to my right hand man. Sorry other new guy," Valentine apologized to Magnus.

"No worries. I'm good with where I am now," Magnus gave him a thumbs up while ducking his head to avoid having Valentine look directly at him.

Valentine put his gun into his belt before turning to look at Alec. "I hope I'll see you at dinner tonight in my home. We'll discuss your promotion more then."

Alec stared coldly as Valentine turned and signalled the girls to follow him. He wanted to reach out to Isabelle and hold her hand to reassure her that everything was going to be okay but Isabelle just shook her head curtly and followed behind Valentine.

Max tugged on Alec's sleeve. "Are we going to escape tonight?" He whispered.

Alec clenched his jaw as he continued to watch Valentine walk away. "We leave tonight. The entire group."

----------

Night fell and the community had their lamps lit for the night. Magnus watched as the guards took their position at the eastern wall from his new room before slipping out of bed and out onto the now quiet streets. To avoid the lamps, he took the back roads in order to get where the armoury workers slept.

Jace was already outside hidden away when Magnus arrived. He put a finger to his lips. "Do you know where Max is sleeping?"

"It's not far from here. Is Alec inside with Valentine?" Magnus ducked behind a trash bin as a pair guards walked by. They were armed to the teeth with weapons.

"I think so. They're discussing his promotion or something. What about Izzy and Clary? They're in there too?"

Magnus nodded and zipped his lips, signalling Jace to keep quiet from here on out.

The butcher's was only lit with one lamp out front. The back was dark enough for Magnus to slip inside and grab Max without being seen or heard. Jace kept watch outside as his brother was being rescued, keeping an eye on the building where Alec was being held. He wondered what Alec had planned in order to get the girls and escape....

"Jace!" Max whispered. He hugged his older brother tightly. "Alec's going to be here soon, right? Izzy and Clary too?"

"Yes. Now shush. The place is crawling with guards. The last thing we need is your loud voice getting us all caught." Jace shoved Max in front of him as Magnus peered around the butcher's building. "Anything?"

"Two guards at the escape point. Armed. Three more guards on the western wall. Also armed. Good thing I swiped some knives while I was in there."

He handed a knife to Jace and Max. Jace stared down at it in obvious disgust. "We were literally at the armoury five minutes ago. We couldn't get a more effective weapon then? This is literally bringing a knife to a gunfight."

Magnus glared at him, though it was too dark for Jace to fully see him. "Look. Do you want to make noise and wake up the entire town? Knives are quieter. Stealthier. So don't question me."

The three of them moved quickly over to Valentine's building and leaned against the brick wall. One of the windows were open so Jace hoisted Max on his shoulders so that he could take a look inside.

"What do you see?" He asked his little brother.

"Hold still. You're moving around-it's Alec! I see Alec!"

"What's he doing?" Magnus hissed. He wanted to see what was going on too.

"He's eating. Valentine is talking to him but I can't hear what they're saying. He doesn't look too interested though."

Jace grunted as he shook out his sore arm. "Who's not interested? Alec?"

"Yeah. He looks mad. He pointing at Izzy and Clary-"

"The girls are there too?!" Jace said a bit too loudly. Magnus slapped a hand over his mouth to quiet him down.

"He's yelling now. Valentine just took out a knife-Alec threw a silver jug at him! He's covering his eyes in pain! He just grabbed the girls!"

They heard the front door burst open. Yelling came from inside the house and Alec raced past them with the girls close behind. Magnus let go of Jace and caught Max as the boy jumped from his brother's shoulders and they weren't long following close behind the rest of the group. Simon had somehow appeared next to Clary, bickering about something along the lines of being forgotten but no one was listening. Their main focus was to get out alive.

Alec led the group to a dark alley and waited for a pair of guards to pass. He turned to his group, speaking as low as possible. "What time is it?"

Jace checked his watch. "11:15. No point in waiting for their break. They know you escaped with the girls. No one's at the wall now. See?"

Everyone looked in the direction Jace was pointing in. He was right. Where the two guards used to be, there was now no one there. Getting there looked easy enough but the entire town was now on high alert for them. Magnus swore he could hear Alec's heart hammering in his chest as they sat in silence.

"When I say go, you make a run for the wall, okay? I can see an opening from here." Alec took Max and gripped his little brother's shoulders tight. "You run as fast as you can and don't look back, okay? Stay with Jace and Izzy."

Max sniffed back tears. "What about you?"

"I'll be right behind you to make sure you all get out okay. Trust me," he kissed Max on the forehead quickly before ushering them forward. "Go. It's clear."

The group ran on ahead but gunshots echoed across the town. Panicked, Alec scanned the area to see where it came from. He saw the shooter from the balcony of a building, using a sniper rifle to take them out.

"Max!" Isabelle cried out. Alec whipped his head around to see that Max had tripped and fell to the ground just as the sniper was gearing up to take another shot.

Alec had never moved so fast in his life as he ran towards his baby brother. He reached him just in time as he held Max to his chest to cover him when another shot rang out. Everything suddenly became a world of pain as Alec stumbled backwards, Max still held tight to his chest.

It was Magnus and Jace who pulled him to his feet and carried him past the hole in the wall. They could hear angered cries and Valentine swearing at his men to go after them just as a part of the northern wall exploded. The group stared at it in surprise as flames rose high above the walls and the buildings.

"Was that any of you?" Isabelle asked.

"Wasn't me," denied Jace. "Magnus?"

"Wasn't me but I know exactly who it was. It was Catarina. She always did have a thing for explosives. This must've been her way of helping us escape."

Alec let out a low moan of pain. Jace and Magnus set him down beside a trash bin and he gasped. "My-my shoulder. I got hit."

Clary, who was also a nurse back when Alicante was still standing, gently pulled down the collar of Alec's shirt to get a better look at his wound. "Your shoulder's been hit. Lean forward so I can see if there's an exit wound."

Alec leaned forward, crying out at the movement. "So? Is there one?"

"No," Clary said. "The bullet is still lodged under your skin. We have to get it out and stop the bleeding before you get an infection."

"You want to do this right now? Right when Valentine's men are searching for us?" Simon squeaked.

"Let's get him someplace safe first. Then we'll scrounge around for what we need. I know a place where we can stay. No one will know we're there," Magnus said as he lift Alec to his feet, earning a yell of pain into his ear.

Isabelle stood behind her wounded brother in case he fell backwards. "How do you know about all these places anyway?"

Magnus shrugged. "I've been out here a long time. You see things. You learn things."

"That sounds eerily vague but okay," Jace grumbled as they walked. When Alec groaned in pain he looked back, his face filled with worry. "Seriously Alec. Had to play the hero again, didn't you?"

Alec weakly gave him the finger. "Next time I'll let Max get shot then. How does that sound?"

They began to argue when Max yelled at them to stop. "Guys! Come on! We can argue later. Right now we need to get Alec to a safe place and get the bullet out. That's our main priority."

Everyone looked at the 9 year old who just took charge and sighed, realizing how stupid they were acting.

"Kid is starting to sound like you," Jace said teasingly to Alec.

"Good. One of Lightwoods got to have their heads screwed on tight," Alec chuckled, wincing as the laughter brought a wave of pain through his body. "Shouldn't laugh. It hurts too much."

"Don't worry," Magnus told him. "We're almost there. It's a bit closer to the town than I'd like it to be but no one will know about us. Trust me."

Alec looked at Magnus through pain blurred eyes. "I don't know why I trust you. But I do. Why are you even helping us? You could've escaped on your own without us."

Magnus stared straight ahead as he spoke. "Trust makes you do strange things."

Alec said nothing more.