"How would you figure they would listen?" William asked with a bit of a bite. Doris wanted to roll her eyes at him. He was insufferable whenever he was mad at her-or anyone, for that matter. She wondered how Patrick had stuck around with him for as long as he did.
"Because, we lead them back to Enzo's camp where Sir Antony is. He will at least make them see reasoning and give you a chance to speak." Doris explained as if she was talking to a child. It only made him more angry which is exactly what she wanted. She wanted to poke the bear inside him like he did to her.
"Sir Antony won't want to help me, Doris. You heard him yourself-he thinks this is something I have to do on my own." William said bitterly.
"I think he would help us if we brought them back there. It might force his hand, but I think he would still be willing." Doris crossed her arms over her chest. "Isn't that why you came here? To get them on your side?"
"Yes, but this has become something bigger than any of us can handle." Patrick cut in. "We don't have enough men to take them on. It would be a suicide mission to try and toy with them."
"It's not toying with them-we just need to lead them back to Enzo's camp and I think it will work if we do. It's worth a try." Doris said a little quieter.
William rolled his eyes to the sky as if he might be able to find the answer to their problems-or perhaps he was only irritated by her suggestions. It wouldn't have been the first time-and it certainly wouldn't be the last. "I suppose we can try and hash a plan, but first we have to figure out how we're going to get Enzo out of there."
"They have cells that run under ground that they put me in. But first, we can check the old room I was first set in. It had a small window that Enzo visited me by-"
William snapped his head towards her. Doris clamped her lips shut on her own words, she'd forgotten that she wasn't supposed to mention it. "What do you mean Enzo visited you? When did he visit you?"
"When I was held in the room, Enzo had stopped by to visit me." Doris said lightly. William parted his lips to ask more, but she interrupted him. "As I was saying. I know where the window is at. We can check there first before we try the lower cells."
"How would you think we could get to those cells?" Patrick asked. "It doesn't seem as simple as you're making it out to be."
"I remember how to get there. I can sneak in by myself and try to get the keys to release him." Doris offered.
"There's no way I'm allowing you to go into the belly of the beast. You'll be killed if any of them catch you." William said instantly.
"You can't allow or not allow me to do anything, we're not at the palace. I'm the only one that knows how to get in and out of that place so I think I would be the only option." Doris hissed. William looked away from her but she knew he wanted to strangle her just from the look on his face.
"Fine. I'll go in with you and we can get him out." He finally said. Doris wanted to object, but it would be useless. He would never let her go in there without him.
"Perfect." Doris grumbled. "We'll get him out and figure out how to lead all the rogues to his camp after he's safe. I'm sure he might have some sort of idea."
Patrick looked between them as if they were some part of his amusement. He snorted and turned to glance at his men.
"Alright. We will be close by on watch in case things go wrong." Patrick glanced at Doris. "You understand that we must rescue the prince over you, don't you?"
Doris lifted her chin and nodded. William shifted beside her.
"You'd be wiser to go for Doris first." Was all he said before he climbed a small hill that overlooked Life Pharmacy. Doris quickly followed him before he decided to leave without her. He peered down at the building as if it was a puzzle he was destined to solve.
"When should we leave?" Doris whispered. She hoped he still heard her over the growing wind.
"They wouldn't expect us during the day." He said without looking at her. Doris tried to spot any sort of guard that might have been patrolling the grounds but she hadn't seen anyone yet. "They have more men on patrol at night. I noticed the last time we were here."
"Then it's the perfect time to go?" Doris asked. Her eyes flickered over him and noticed how tense he stood. Was he nervous about this? Or was she imagining it?
"Take me to the small window, then we can discuss if we go in yet." He said quietly. Doris nodded and started to head down a side path that was covered with trees. There was less of a chance that someone from Life Pharmacy would see them rather than heading straight for it.
She crouched low to the ground when they reached one of the fences. Doris waited by the trees for what felt like hours before she built up enough courage to hurry across the clearing and over the short gate. William's heavier footsteps were close behind her own, for a moment she'd almost forgotten he was near.
They hid behind every object big enough to hide them until they scaled the wall. Three guards passed by them as they hid in the shadows and didn't turn their way once as they slipped by. Doris followed the line of the wall and looked away when she saw the clearing where Joseph had asked her to dance. As romantic as it was, it wasn't a real memory to her.
The small window was near the corner of the side of the building. William gripped her arm and held her against him when two guards popped out around the corner. She could feel his warm breath against the back of her neck, his hand covered her mouth and pressed her back against his chest as they passed.
"...I wasn't told about his new..."
The voices faded away after a few moments. Doris watched as their shadows disappeared around the corner before she went towards the small window again. She knew it was the one for the room she had been in. It was white, the rest of them looked brown or black but there was only one white one.
Doris pointed to the small window and William bent over to force it open with little to no effort. Doris dropped to her knees to peer into the small window, but it was completely dark. It smelled exactly the same as it did when she left and there didn't seem to be any sort of life left in the place. She quickly stood and dusted off her pants before she shook her head at William. Of course it wouldn't be that easy.
William motioned for her to stay quiet as he gripped her hand and led her back around the building. He paused when they came in view of the back door Joseph had led her out through. She silently motioned that the door would be locked, but he didn't seem bothered in the least.
A few minutes passed without a word from William. He just stayed still and listened. Doris wrapped her arms around herself when the anticipation started to fade and the cold crept back in.
A pair of guards came around the corner with their heads bent in a deep conversation. William leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I'll take the bigger one." He said. Doris widened her eyes and went to grab him, but he was already up and behind them.
Doris scrambled to get up and help. He leaned down to grab a rock and placed it in her hand without taking his eyes off the men. Doris knew exactly what he wanted her to do-and she wanted to object and yell at him for even suggesting it. But William didn't even glanced at her. As if he knew she would object if he did.
William lifted his rock and smashed it against the back of the larger guy's head. Doris quickly did the same to the shorter guy before he could turn and sound the alarm. Blood gushed from their wounds, William turned them over before any could soil their outfits.
She eyes him curiously. He stood and brushed himself off.
"Help me pull them into the bushes, we're going to need their clothes."