“ They found out she’s a witch…” Rosie’s voice was a shaky whisper and Marius enfolded her in his arms, her big brown eyes full of tears. “…I think…I think they’re going to burn her…!”
Mark shifted his weight from one foot to the other while he waited for the appointed guards to unlock and open the door. He had had to plead with the priest, Father Dominic to be allowed to visit his friend. He made his way past them and into the room. There was only a single candle burning and at first he thought he was alone. Until movement by the flame made him jump.
“ Mark…anyone would think you were nervous about something…” A familiar pair of eyes appeared in the gloom next to the candle.
“ Oh Jo…!” Mark dashed over and dropped to the floor next to her. Her face was pale and although she smiled at him, her eyes were shining with fear. He hugged her quickly and frowned when it wasn’t returned. It was then that he noticed that her hands had been bound behind her back. He looked at her and she raised an eyebrow.
“ Well…they don’t want me cursing anybody…turning people into frogs…” she shrugged, “ With a wicked witch like me on the loose…I guess it’s a good idea…don’t you agree?”
“ I didn’t believe it…when Rosie told me…I couldn’t…they didn’t hurt you did they?! Are you alright??!”
“ For someone’s who’s being burned at the stake come breakfast time…” Jo thought for a moment, “ I think I’m doing ok!” She laughed weakly and Mark saw the glistening of tears in her eyes. “ Anyway…” Jo blinked away the tears as she continued, “ None of that matters…’cos you’re here to rescue me…right?” Jo’s voice was all at once lighter and her tone even jovial but there was seriousness in her eyes and all Mark could do was shake his head. Sadly Jo sighed and leant back against the wall. “ No…I didn’t think you were…” she spoke half-heartedly, almost to herself.
“ Jo…surely you’re not just going to let this happen? You must have a plan…an idea…or something.” Mark was almost pleading, “ I mean…you’ve always got a plan…an idea…or something!” Jo smiled at her friend and then rolled her eyes.
“ Not…not this time. Tragically the one time when one of my hair-brained ideas might have come in useful is the one time…I haven’t got a clue.” She sighed. “ I think it’s all shocked me a bit…I mean…this isn’t exactly how I thought the holiday would end…for me anyway…” she laughed quietly. “ I’ve got until dawn anyway…I’m bound to think of something by then aren’t I?!”
“ Jo be serious please…” Mark squeezed her shoulder gently, “ Rosie and the others are trying to think of a way out but…Jo…you confessed…to the whole village that you’re a witch…it’s going to be hard to convince them otherwise…”
“ Something’ll happen…” Jo said to herself.
“ What…?”
“ Something…something always happens in a musical…I can’t die…” she looked at him, tears once again making her eyes bright. “…I’m a main character!” A tear rolled down her cheek as she tried to smile. “ Just think though…one day they might write a musical about us…I’ll have a great song, naturally, and then die a tragic death…like Fantine…or Eponine…or…”
“ Oh Jo…” Mark felt a lump rise in his throat as he hugged her tightly. Noise at the door made them separate, the door was now open and the guard was motioning for Mark to leave.
“ Well…it’s thankyou and goodnight I guess!” Jo joked.
“ I won’t leave you…” Mark started but Jo cut him off.
“ Take care of them for me…and tell them…tell them…” Fresh tears rolled down Jo’s cheeks. “…well…Tell Rosie and Marius to look after each other…tell Lucy she was right…she knew this wouldn’t end well! And tell her not to let go of Martin…Jenny, tell Jenny to keep her chin up…you…” Jo smiled, “ Don’t you let that Bertrande slip away, she’s a good girl…and tell Phillipe…” Jo closed her eyes for a second, “…tell him I’m sorry and…and that I love him…”
“ Jo please…” Mark begged, tears forming in his eyes. Jo’s face all at once became serious and her voice lower.
“ And promise me you’ll all leave…get out of here…tomorrow, before they turn on you too!”
“ We’re not going to abandon you…”
“ Promise me! You must get out of Artigat!” Jo said sternly.
“ I promise…” Mark whispered, gently wiping her tears away. Jo smiled.
“ Don’t worry…I’ll be fine! I’ve been in worse scrapes than this…well…can’t think of any right now…” She watched as the guards’ patience ran out and they came in and helped Mark to his feet and herded him to the door. He turned and Jo winked. “ See you sunshine…” her voice was breaking and weak. He opened his mouth to speak but the guards shoved him out of the door and slammed it behind them. The draft blew out the candle and Jo was left in darkness. As she leant back against the wall, tears streaming freely down her face she sighed deeply. What on earth was she going to do now?!?!
Lucy and Rosie paced up and down the length of the dining room at the Inn. Jenny, Martin, Marius and Bertrande exchanged worried looks as Phillipe stood staring out of the window. He hadn’t spoken a word since Jo had been dragged away from them. The door opened and Mark came in. His cheeks damp from the tears he had just shed and his eyes red. Bertrande quickly went over to him and embraced him. He hugged her back, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.
“ Well…” Rosie said hopefully, “ What did she say…?”
“ She…s-s-she…” Mark started, trying to blink away the fresh tears that had sprung into his eyes. “ Jo says she’s fine,” he shrugged tearfully, “ What else would she say?!” A faint laugh ran around the group. “ And…she wants us to leave…”
“ Great! So she has an escape plan then!” Lucy cheered, “ Oh good old Jo…you can always count on her to…” But Mark’s face stopped her.
“ She want’s us to leave…” Mark finished and a silence fell.
“ You mean…” Jenny spoke quietly, “ She want’s us to go…leave without her?!”
“ She thinks they’ll turn on us…after…” Mark’s voice was becoming increasingly hoarse and Bertrande squeezed his hand.
“ But how’s Jo going to escape…?” Marius asked innocently, Rosie went over to where he sat and put her hand on his shoulder. She shook her head sadly and tried to smile.
“ I don’t think she is sweetheart…” Rosie sighed and Marius’ eyes all at once became bright. He hugged her tightly and she buried her face against him so that the others couldn’t see her tears.
“ This is ridiculous!” Martin shouted, jumping to his feet, causing the others to turn and look at him. “ We can’t just sit here and wait for dawn…” He looked around at them. “ I know I don’t know you all very but I don’t think that Jo would want us to just sit here and do nothing…”
“ But she’s said she wants us to go without her…” Lucy tried to explain,
“ Yes I know! But why are we still sitting here if she wants us to leave.” The friends looked at him opened mouthed. “ Don’t misunderstand me…I don’t want…well, this to happen anymore than you do but Jo is right! If we stay…we probably won’t get very far! The village has had a problem with me for years…” He stole a glance at Bertrande and she nodded. He opened his mouth to continue but Rosie stopped him,
“ I know this will sound really really strange…” she sighed, “ But we know…trust me…we know all about it…”
“ But…how…I mean…” Martin fumbled,
“ I’ll explain later!” Lucy smiled taking his hand. “ I do see what Martin means though, if we’re going to run we need to do it sooner rather than later…get a head start before…well…you know…” The friends looked at each other, knowing that this was the sensible thing to do but not wanting to abandon Jo. However, someone wasn’t so indecisive.
“ Go then.” Phillipe spoke for the first time since it had happened. “ Go, get a head start…but I’m not leaving until I know that there’s nothing more I can do…” His voice was calm but as his eyes met theirs they noticed that his too were shining with tears.
“ But Jo wants…” Mark started.
“ Jo doesn’t want you to risk your lives for her…” He sighed, “ Which is true you shouldn’t…” He smiled, something he had done a lot more of since he met Jo he thought to himself. “ You all have your lives ahead of you…and well…I…I…” Lucy walked over to him and smiled gently.
“ We understand…but if you don’t mind…I’ll stay with you…” Martin’s mouth fell open,
“ But Lucy…Jo said she…I mean…” He frowned in confusion,
“ Well what Jo wants and what Jo gets…” Rosie grinned as she joined Lucy and Phillipe by the window, “ Are often two very different things!”
“ So…we’re not leaving…?” Marius raised a hopeful eyebrow.
“ We’ll leave at dawn…” Mark’s voice held a kind of certainty and authority that they often had heard in Jo’s voice. He smiled weakly, “ We’ll know one way or another by then…” He sighed and winked at Bertrande. “ So…between now and then I suggest we pack…we’ll have to leave the trunks behind so only what you can carry and…only what you need!” He said looking at the girls, who gasped in mock offence. He glanced out of the window, the world outside was still dark but the sky was getting unmistakably lighter. “ We’ll meet back here in an hour…”
Jo pushed as hard as she could against the wall, she had been trying to break through the rope that bound her hands for what seemed hours. She had found a nail sticking out of the wall and had been trying to snap the rope on it. So far all she had successfully managed was to give herself several cuts to her arms and knock over and break the table. There were no longer tears on her cheeks, just a look of pure determination. All she had to worry about now was getting out,
“ The others should be long gone by now…” she sighed to herself. She sank to her knees on the floor and looked up out of the window, the once midnight blue sky was now becoming lighter. She still a couple of hours but not long. She scolded herself for walking straight into an obvious trap. “ You and your big gob…one of these days you’re going to learn…’shut up’…it’s an easy enough skill…bit late now maybe to have such a life altering revelation but stranger things have happened…like that time…” Movement at the door stopped her mid monologue and she leapt to her feet.
“ Who’s there?” she demanded, trying to sound like her old self.
“ Talking to yourself again…” came the reply. Jo squinted in the darkness and a figure moved towards her. She backed away until she hit the wall and still the figure came closer.
“ Who are you?” she continued, panic starting to show in her voice, “ What do you want?!” The figure stopped less than a foot away from her and their face moved into the pale moonlight shining through the window. “ Guillaume!”
“ Good evening,” He smiled, his eyes sparkling even in the darkness. Jo could feel herself blushing in spite of herself.
“ What do you want…?” She tried to sound nonchalant but failed miserably. (Her tone reminding her of an excited thirteen year old girl!)
“ Well I came to see if you’re alright of course…” He shrugged, his eyes not leaving hers for a second.
“ Oh well naturally!” Jo scoffed, “ And just so you know, I’m fine thanks! Absolutely wonderful! Couldn’t be better! Never have I had a better time than right now! In fact…” Jo’s rant came to an abrupt end as Guillaume reached to her face. “ W-w-what are you doing…?” She mumbled.
“ I need to tell you something…” he spoke gently.
“ Y-y-yes…” Jo breathed.
“ But first I need to…I mean want to…” He started as he leant towards her and kissed her softly. He moved away and Jo stood, her eyes closed, shaking in spite of herself.
“ Oh my…” she sighed as she opened her eyes.
He cut the rope from her wrists and she hugged him quickly.
“ Now what was it you wanted to tell me…that you’ve come to rescue me?!” Jo grinned.
“ Well…yes…that and…” Guillaume stuttered.
“ What?” Jo beamed.
“ That I’m sorry…” he whispered. Jo’s brow furrowed.
“ Sorry? What for? You’ve just saved my life!”
“ Yes but I’m the one who nearly cost you your life…” Guillaume started, Jo opened her mouth to speak, her anger rising (as was her right fist) but she was cut off as he continued. “ I overheard you and Rosie talking. I thought you were going to leave Artigat with Phillipe…and I…well I didn’t want to lose you. So I told the Priest, I thought they’d just try to stop you leaving…try and get you to convert to Catholicism or something!” He sighed and kicked the wall. “ I never thought they’d try to…” He looked at her with tearful eyes and all anger melted from Jo. “ Jo. I’m so sorry. Please…forgive me…”
“ Of course I forgive you…” she smiled. “ And, will you come with us…?” Guillaume took her hand in his and his eyes met hers once more.
“ I’d follow you to the end of the earth,” Jo’s heart melted even more, “ I’d…”
“ Would you mind saving the romantic speech for another time…when my life’s not in imminent danger?!” Jo asked.
“ Oh yes, of course.” Guillaume smiled as his cheeks flushed. Jo rolled her eyes and led him out of the room. “ Where are we going…?” he asked.
“ Well I told the others to leave…go without me…so they’re probably still sat in the Inn, putting it off!”
“ Are we ready…?” Mark asked for the thirtieth time. The friends were stalling, waiting desperately for Jo to appear.
“ Just another minute…” begged Rosie.
“ I know it’s not easy but we really have to go…now!” He continued sadly, “ It’s too late…there’s nothing we can…”
He was stopped mid-speech as Jo burst through the doors, dragging Guillaume behind her. The group stood open mouthed for a second.
“ Well don’t just stand there!” Jo yelled, “ Let’s get out of here!”
They could hear the villagers gaining on them as they broke through the trees.
“ We’re never going to get away!” Rosie shouted to Jo as they ran.
“ Well I’m not giving up just yet!!” Jo grinned as they broke through some low bushes. “ Once we’re out of the trees we’ll be able to make a proper break for it!” The friends ran for their lives in and out of the trees, ducking low branches, trying to be as quiet as they could. Martin held tightly onto Lucy’s hand as they ran, smiling encouragingly at her every so often. Then Jo came to halt, causing the others to career into her.
“ JO! What are you doing?! This isn’t exactly the best time to stop to look at the scenery!” Mark snapped helping Bertrande up from where landed, after having ricocheted off Jo.
“ Listen…” Jo said quietly, they friends stood silently, the only noise they could here was the sound of the villagers.
“ Oddly enough all I hear…” Lucy tried to sound cheerful, “ Is the sound of approaching death!!” Jo frowned at her,
“ No! That sound…listen carefully…” All at once the friends could hear it too. It sounded like ,
“ A motorbike!” Jenny gasped.
“ A what?” Marius, Phillipe, Bertrande, Martin and Guillaume said in unison.
“ Never mind!” replied Jo, Rosie, Lucy, Jenny and Mark.
“ You don’t think it’s another…?” Mark said slowly but Jo had already dashed off in the direction of the sound.
“ Great…this is all we need now!” Lucy groaned as they chased after her. Jo broke through a large bush and stopped dead in her tracks once more. The others fell through behind her and stood open mouthed. Before them was a Gyratory. Just like the one that had transported them there but this one was light blue in colour, like the summer sky.
“ I’ve never seen one this close before…” gasped Marius.
“ Well…now what…?” Jenny breathed. Jo turned to look at them all, one eyebrow raised and a familiar expression on her face.
“ Oh no!” Lucy groaned. “ On no…not again…”
“ You can’t be serious…” Jenny started.
“ I think…” Mark sighed, “ …She is!”
“ You don’t want us to go through that thing do you?” Phillipe said in a voice must more nervous than it usually was.
“ What choice do we have?!” Jo said. “ There’s little back there for any of us and I for one am not going to find out what is!! Plus…” Her eyes shone with hope, something none of them had seen in a while, “…it might take us home!” The sounds of voices grew nearer and louder. Rosie’s heart began to pound loudly in her ears and she was sure she wasn’t the only one who was scared. Jo took a step nearer to the Gyratory, allowing her fingers to slip into the surprising warm blue mist. She looked back at them and her eyes met Guillaume’s.
“ It’s taken me a long time to find you…” he said as he walked up to her, “ …I’ve nearly lost you once already…” he took her hand in his, “ And I don’t intend to do it again!” He smiled warmly and despite the on-looking crowd Jo kissed him gently. She looked back at the others, her eyes shining, half sparkling from fear and half from excitement. Mark groaned as he and Bertrande joined Jo and Guillaume next to the Gyratory. Rosie and Marius looked at each other and they too walked up to the swirling column of pale blue mist. Martin winked at Lucy as he led her up to the others. Jenny and Phillipe stood looking at their friends and then back at the direction of the noise. Phillipe’s eyes met Jo’s and she smiled at him.
“ Please…” she said quietly, “ I need you you know!”
“ I know!” He smiled back as he joined them. Jenny stood for a moment before shaking her head and cursing under her breath as she walked up to them.
“ Well…don’t say I didn’t warn you last time!” She tried to sound scornful but nothing could hide the combination of relief and excitement in her voice. The friends linked arms and smiled at each other.
“ Hold on tight!” Jo yelled as the ten friends took a deep breath and stepped into the mist.
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