[two]

Elijah had every intention of leaving this place.

Ironically, he was sick of being there and would do just about anything to get out. For the past year of being admitted to Saint Bornnorth Hospital, he has been labelled as the residents' devil, he'll admit to doing a few harmless pranks. Just last week, he changed some of the room hand sanitisers with shaving cream, the nurses are still finding the odd shaving cream in some of them. Usually, the nurses didn't mind the pranks because it made the kids laugh but when he decided to jump out of the hospital window from the second floor and run off, that was an entirely different story.

The nurses, who were usually quite nice, threatened to tie him to his bed if he tried to leave like that again but, of course, he tried again the very next day. That time he sprained his ankle because he thought that he could jump from the third-floor window to another rooftop building, parkour style but instead he ended up in a cast. It took a good week for his ankle to fully recover before he tried yet another attempt to at escaping but this time, he stole some nurses' scrubs and managed to get to a bus stop opposite the hospital, but he managed to get caught by an off-duty nurse, waiting for her bus home.

For the past few weeks, Elijah has remained quiet, he hadn't given up on trying to get out, but he lacked to find any opportunity. All the windows, which he could fit himself into and all the nursing scrubs were now locked with a master key. He has tried to find it, searched every room, even broke into some doctors' offices but nothing. Elijah was beginning to lose hope in leaving until he finally saw it.

Finally, he was staring at opportunity and it looked exactly like Indiana.

"I won."

"You cheated," she accused pointing her finger at him.

"How did I?"

"You hit the floor and the ceiling," she pointed from the floor to the ceiling in disbelief.

"I wasn't told I couldn't do that."

Indiana wanted to argue but she didn't know what to say to that because there weren't any rules, only to throw the damn basketball into the box and he did that.

"You know we can't leave, right?"

She promised Maggie that she would stay, she couldn't break her aunts' heart again. Elijah crossed his arms over his chest and raise an eyebrow.

"So," he said, raising his voice slightly, catching he kids attention, "you're saying it's okay to break promises?"

She knew exactly what he was doing, and she couldn't quite believe the nerve of this guy.

"I didn't promise anything," Indiana defended, trying to smile at the kids but they just shook their heads at her and glared. They already turned against her.

"We had a deal."

"But we are volunteers."

"Kids?"

They all said "yes" in union, these little kids did worship him. Indiana didn't stand a chance.

"Do you mind if we leave for a bit?"

"No."

It was rather hard to believe how they literally were cheering and high fiving her a few minutes ago, the little traitors.

"Only for a bit?" Indiana asked, staring warily at him but he smiled and eagerly nodded.

"Fine," she relented with a sigh.

Indiana reassured herself that they would be gone for just a bit and that there was no harm in going out for lunch.

"Take off your jumper," he suddenly said, and Indiana took an involuntary step back.

"Why?"

"I'm cold."

"That wasn't part of the deal."

"I will give it back to you as soon as we're out," he was practically begging now.

She stared at him and then her eyes fell onto the kids, they were all giving her puppy dog eyes. These kids were going to kill her, she sighed but took off her jumper. Luckily, she had worn a plain tee underneath and threw it at him. He caught it with ease but didn't wear it, instead he put the hood on top of his head, which completely covered his hair and tied the sleeves around his neck, strategically covering his face.

"I thought you said you were cold?"

"I am," he grabbed her wrist, opened the door and they ran out.

"Why are we running?"

"I'm hungry."

She shook her head, shrugged his hand off her but easily caught up with his long strides down the hallway. They quickly walked down the hallway, his strides were long but determined while she cautiously followed, confused with his mood swings. He went from teasing to practically running down the hallway because he felt hungry, this did not settle well for Indiana, she felt that something was off. Just as she was about to question him, he suddenly covered her mouth and grabbed onto her arm. Elijah turned her and pulled her back until it hit his chest while his back hit the wall.

"One second," he whispered, his eyes darted to a nurse around the corner. Despite his face being somewhat covered, thanks to Indiana's jumper, he knew that nurse would catch him out. She practically had eyes in the back of her head with how many times she caught him in the past. Silently, he prayed that she wouldn't walk this way.

Indiana struggled against his hold, but he held onto her tighter, she practically was his only shield.

"Please," he begged.

Indiana bit her bottom lip but stopped struggling. She could feel a ticklish sensation from her neck with every breath he took, a slight blush was starting form on her cheeks.

"Okay," he whispered, watching as the nurse ran off to another direction, clearing the exit, "ready?"

Elijah already slipped away from her, fast walking his way to the exit. He looked ridiculous, with her jumper sleeve wrapped around his head. The jumper managed to cover his whole head and it surprised her how he still managed to see. Just as he was about to reach the exit door handle, he bumped into Sarah, who was walking in.

"Sorry..."

Her apology died when she noticed the state of Elijah, sweating and avoiding any eye contact. Indiana quickly caught up and shot Sarah a quick smile.

"We are heading for lunch."

"Oh," Sarah slowly nodded, eyeing the jumper on Elijah and moving out the way. He randomly bowed at her, causing the sleeves of the jumper slip off but before it fell, he rushed out.

"He's really hungry," Indiana shrugged.

Sarah just shook her head, let out a little baffled laugh and walked back to her desk. After she left, Indiana set out to follow Elijah, who was already halfway across the parking lot.

"Do you drive?" He asked over his shoulder.

"I don't have my car."

"Damn."

She followed him trying to catch up, but he was practically running now, he only stopped at the bus stop. Even then, he couldn't stop fidgeting and looking at the bus timetables.

"You okay there?"

Indiana was sat on the bus stop bench and stared at him questioningly, but he simply waved off the question, fully focused on the bus timetable.

"I'm hungry," he muttered but even to Indiana's ears, it sounded like an excuse.

"What was that back there?" She nodded at the hospital, referring to when he grabbed her and what had happened with Sarah.

"What was what?"

"Never mind."

Indiana had decided that she couldn't be bothered to find out what his issue was, instead she settled on watching him pace back and forth. Occasionally, he would anxiously be looking back at the bus timetable and mutter at how the bus was too slow. He did that for a good five more minutes before he finally sat down beside her, the jumper looked ridiculous on him and she could see the beads of sweat from his forehead.

"It's cold right?" She nodded at the sweat on his forehead, to which he used her jumper sleeves to wipe.

"Disgusting."

He chuckled but it turned into a strangled cough.

"You alright?" Indiana patted his back thinking that would help but it only made him cough harder.

"Yeah," he choked out, "some jumper fluff."

Indiana nodded, eyed him to see if he was okay but he nodded and gave her a quick smile before hiding back into her jumper. She stared at him a second longer, before shaking her head and settled back into her seat with her arms crossed but a few moment later, the bus arrived. Elijah was the first to shoot to his feet.

"Finally," he jumped off the bench and right into the bus, she warily followed behind him.

He nodded at her to tap her phone at the machine, he didn't have any money. She rolled her eyes and shook head as she paid for him and herself. Elijah took the first seat at the back, with the most ridiculous, toothy smile on his face, it almost looked adorable if the jumper hadn't made him look crazy. She sat next to him and he shuffled in his seat to make more room for her.

"Here," he offered her jumper, which he had just moments ago wiped his sweat with it.

"Consider it a gift," she stared at it with disgust while he shrugged and let it rest on his lap.

They sat in comfortable silence, he couldn't take his eyes off the window. Elijah hadn't been outside the hospital in a year, he was finally seeing the sea port, beyond the confinement of his hospital bed and boy did he miss it.

"Where are we heading?"

"The next stop is ours," he absently replied, he was far too fascinated with how far the ocean went on the horizon. Before he was hospitalised, he used to go parasailing and he was pretty good at it too. Now he finally had the chance to try it out again, but he just had one stop to make.

"Hey," she poked his side as she got off the seat, "this is our stop?"

He quickly nodded before running out, barely managing to say thank you to the driver, she quickly followed him out. They stood in front of a pub.

The Great Knight

"We are eating here?" Indiana asked dumbfounded, she was forced all the way out to a pub.

Elijah didn't reply, instead he walked up to the door, his hand hesitated at the door handle, but he took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. He turned to open it, but it wouldn't budge.

"Dude," Indiana called out, he turned to see her pointing at a sign, it wasn't open.

"How about we eat somewhere else?" She offered, but he instead fished out his wallet from his pocket and found a key. Indiana stared in disbelief, that couldn't possibly be the key for this place. He silently prayed as he put the key in and turned, a click and it was unlocked.

He opened the door but turned around at the doorframe, "Coming?"

Indiana hesitated for half a second before following him, as soon as she was in, she felt instant regret. It wasn't that the pub was dirty, it was quite spacious and clean, it was the fact that Elijah instantly jumped behind the bar and started looking through the cash register.

"What are you doing?" Indiana hissed, scared that someone would catch them.

"Borrowing something."

"Money?"

"Want to split it?" He started to fan himself with twenties and tens.

Indiana couldn't quite believe that she had followed this idiot all the way here and gotten herself into this situation.

"You're unbelievable," she walked over to him, and reached out over the counter for the money, intending to put it back but he moved his hand out of reach with a toothy grin, "and a thief."

"Hey," he yelled in mock anger, "I can't exactly steal from myself."

"You own this place?" Indiana asked in disbelief.

"Well not exactly," he muttered before quickly adding, "I know the owner."

"So, let me get this straight," she pushed herself up onto a barstool, "you have a key and can borrow money because you know the owner?"

"Exactly," he beamed to which she just shook her head.

"Don't say my name when the police question you."

"Don't worry," he had the nerve to give her a wink, "the cameras already have a good look at you."

Indiana jumped off the bar stool and instantly noticed two flashing read cameras either side, while Elijah laughed, not bothered the slightest.

"I'm leaving."

Indiana turned to leave and made it to the doorway before she heard Elijah calling out for her, she stopped even though her mind was yelling at her to run.

"Are you sure you don't want any money?"

Indiana knew better than to turn around. He was baiting her and even though every part of her was begging her to walk away, she stormed back to the counter.

"You dragged me all the way here," she waved wildly around the bar, "for money?"

He nodded without hesitation.

"You idiot!"

Just as she was about to turn to leave, they both heard footsteps walking downstairs the stairs, which were directly behind Elijah. Their eyes briefly met before Indiana ducked while Elijah jumped over the counter.

"Follow me," he whispered, she didn't argue when he took her into the opposite direction of the door or when he shoved her underneath a table. They both stayed hidden, she could barely see the two men but from what she could make out, they both were rather tall with tattoos and in all honesty, quite scary looking.

"Sal," the one with a ginger beard asked the other man, who had a snake tattoo on his arm, "you heard something?"

"I thought I did," the snake covered arm man, who they presumed was Sal, replied warily while scratching his head.

"You said," Indiana whispered, "you were friends with the owner,"

Elijah shushed her and then scrambled to find something on the floor. She watched him with her eyebrows knitted, what on earth was he doing?

"What are-"

He must have found it because whatever he did, managed to remove the wall behind them and she ended up falling backwards. Indiana would have screamed if Elijah hadn't not only covered her mouth but also caught her arm before she fell.

"Follow me," he whispered again, pulled her up and then crawled in the hole. She silently followed, the door closed behind them and they were in complete darkness.

"Don't worry," he attempted to reassure her.

"Just move," she snapped.

Indiana followed him, until finally they reached the end to what she had presumed to be some sort of basement.

"Welcome to the secret cellar," he opened his arms with, what some would say, a breath-taking smile but Indiana was half tempted to punch that smile off his face.

"How do I get out of here?"

"About that," he looked away, suddenly interested in a wine bottle of the shelf.

"Elijah," she could feel her anger boiling, "tell me."

"The only way out is up," she gave a curt nodded, "and those men are up there," another nod, "but we can't do that."

"Because they will catch us," she finished with a groan.

"Exactly," Elijah beamed at her and was about to walk up to her, to help her out of the hole but he faltered when he noticed her glare.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Of course," he quickly grabbed her hand, so she could get out of the hole, but she slapped it away and managed to get herself out.

"So," Indiana asked impatiently, "what is it?"

"Stay here until this place opens."

"The place gets filled up," Indiana knew that it wouldn't take long for crowds to come in, especially on a Saturday.

"Exactly," he clapped his hands together, "then we sneak back up and leave."

"Alright," she nodded, impressed with the idea but she was hellbent on not showing it, "what do we do until then?"

Elijah grabbed two random bottles of wine, with a smile that was screaming at her to run as far as she possibly could.

[sorry by mali-koa]

footnote 150719:

i know this story is a slow burner but please be patient and hang in there. i don't want to rush it, i want it to unfold naturally and well, be realistic (?) sounds insane considering how unrealistic it is but please hang in there.

feedback is always welcome and appreciated