Chapter Text
Chapter Two
Harry managed to discreetly spread the news regarding his plan to save Allie. He talked to Gordie first and told him to tell the others who were undoubtedly Team Allie since Harry wasn’t sure if they would believe that his intentions were good if it came from him. Now they were all gathered at his house.
“Thanks for coming guys. I’ll just cut right to the chase..” Harry started.
“Can someone please tell me what’s going on? Grizz interrupted him in a panicky voice. “Why is Allie imprisoned at the school and what is everybody so upset about?”
“Allie is being locked up for, allegedly, trying to steal the mayoral elections. And one of the people who is involved in this allegation is standing here with us, claiming he wants to get Allie out. Sounds a little suspicious to me.” Becca replied before Harry could defend himself. “Why should we believe anything you’re saying?”
Everyone in the room was looking at Harry now, awaiting an explanation.
“It’s true.” Harry admitted.
“I was involved, but it wasn’t my plan that was executed. It was Campbell’s. And I only got dragged into this because Campbell found a way to make the idea appealing enough for me."
“But after the coup took place I realized how stupid it was to hear Campbell out in the first place. If we let him keep this power, things will become bad real fast and we can’t let that happen. That’s why we need to get Allie out so we can stabilize things. Stat.”
“How do we know this isn’t just you setting us up to fail?” Bean asked. “Get us to pledge allegiance to Allie right here, then go out there and rat us out before we can step out of this house?”
“I promise that’s not what I’m doing. But in case my word’s not enough, this is your chance to back out of the plan. I know you all care about Allie, but you have to care about her enough to believe that you’re getting her out with my help. I’m the best shot you have.”
He looked sternly at everyone in the room.
“That being said: anyone that objects to our collaboration, raise your hand.”
The room remained silent, all wordlessly pledging allegiance to Allie and expressing their trust in Harry.
“Great.” Harry nodded. “So this is the plan..”
*
Harry was walking down the street, combatting the cold indicating that winter is close. Suddenly Campbell caught up with him from behind.
“What’s up?” He said.
“Quite a lot actually.” Harry replied. “Stabilizing power is not a piece of cake.”
“I’m sure you and Lexie will find a way. After all, you already have the power. You can do anything you want now.”
He smirked.
“You’re welcome by the way.”
“Campbell, I have no fucking idea what I’m doing. It’s going to take a while before I get used to things and to working with Lexie. I imagine she’s going to be a real piece of work as co-mayor.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure something out. Just don’t do anything stupid or irrational.” He replied casually.
“Here’s a little something to help you out.” He said while swiftly putting a small bag filled with round pills in Harry’s hand before walking away in the direction he came from.
Harry just stared at the bag, his body already urging him to take the pills out, crush them and inhale them until he can’t feel this misery anymore.
He was about to give in to the temptation when Allie crossed his mind, wrongly accused in that tiny classroom and the whole town turned against her.
He shoved the pills in the pockets of his coat and got moving again. He can’t afford to lose focus now. He had more important things to worry about.
*
Harry managed to arrange visits from her friends every other day. However, conditions were that it can only be one person per visit, the rendezvous can only last for 45 minutes and the door has to be opened during the entire visit. This way the two people guarding her “cell” know that she’s not plotting her escape in there.
Allie feels like she just started dating and her parents don’t trust her alone in her room with the boy. She has established that this really sucks but at least she won’t go insane in here by lack of human interaction.
What also helped was her occasional contact with Harry. Even though he couldn’t stop by very often, Harry got creative and found various ways to communicate with Allie. It was usually in the form of a note.
He handed them to the visitor of the day or hid it on her tray of food since he’s responsible for checking if no one is trying to send her secret messages through it. The irony.
The notes ranged from funny to reassuring to random thoughts he had throughout the day. Like yesterday’s note for example: "I wonder if those poor animals in the field Grizz found know that we’re going to eat them someday and not just frolic around with them. Hope you’re hanging in there."
She had a good laugh reading that one. It was like she got a glimpse of what goes on inside the mind of Harry Bingham.
She often brushes it off when her friends asks about it and claims that it’s merely discussing escape-related issues.
But on the inside, she knew that he gave her an exclusive insight and she liked how that made her feel.
Regardless of how this looks or feels, one thing she’s sure about is that she’s not going to act on it for now. It would just be really inconsiderate towards Will, whom she rejected not too long ago.
Besides, Harry might not even feel the same way. Maybe he’s just doing all this out of mere guilt. Which could be the least he could do in her opinion if that was the case.
She got pulled out of her thoughts when she heard the door open to reveal her visitor of today: Grizz.
She smiled as he rushed over to give her a big bear hug.
“Are you alright?” Was the first thing that came out of his mouth.
“I’m fine. Really.” She reassured him.
“I’m glad you’re back. And that you found land. We needed some good news.”
“Tell me about it. I’m away for a few days and the second I return you get accused of rigging an election?” He stated in disbelief.
Allie nodded slowly, the situation still not completely sunken in yet.
“Damn, people are officially losing their minds if they’re believing that after all the things you’ve done to help them survive.”
“Yup.” She replied absentmindedly popping the p at the end of her sentence.
“This was exactly what I was afraid of. You can’t control what people say about you behind your back. We’re still a bunch of scared teenagers thrown into a survival quest. It makes you do insane things from lighting cars on fire to attaining power through a coup. It’s ridiculous.”
“Well you know we’ve got your back right? All of us. We’re not going to give up until your innocence is proven.” Grizz put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye.
“I know. Thank you.” Allie replied.
*
Before Grizz left he handed Allie a book about Catherine the Great. “For the encouragement. And to kill time.”
He gave her a wink and was on his way.
Allie smiled and turned the cover to start reading when a small piece of paper fell out, slowly pulled to the ground by gravity.
Allie bent over and saw that it had Harry’s handwriting on it.
There’s a problem at Town Hall.
Tomorrow. 2 pm.
Get ready.
-H
Allie put the note in her back pocket and exhaled a sigh of relief. This nightmare’s is about to end.