The large, imposing guards came towards the three escaped prisoners, arms extended, green biceps bulging (but not as much as their eyes.) They reached out to grab the escapees. Melissa and Officer Howler fought back, grappling and scratching and trying to push them away from the door they were pressed against. It was working, to an extent.

With one final big push away from the door it swung open, propelling them all to the floor. Expecting to see Eric Smythe’s leering face appear, Melissa crept backwards. All of a sudden, Rosemary leapt into action. With a cry of “I’ll be back for you my dears!” she swung her handbag, flooring the nearby security guard who was trying to get to his feet, grabbed the ID card Melissa had dropped on the floor and ambled as quickly as anyone had ever ambled before, straight out of the room.

“Come on out! You’re free!” they heard as she made her way down the corridor. The guards got back to their feet, opened the door and were instantly thrown backwards into the room by the stampede rushing out of the prison. They stood with Melissa and Officer Howler, no-one able to go anywhere near the door. The rush was fierce, accompanied by the customary laughs of hilarity, but every time they went near a fist was swung. Crawklings thought most things were funny, but clearly didn’t class prison and their guards in that category.

The melee died down, and the guards left the room, locking Melissa and Officer Howler in behind them. They wandered down the corridor, checking every cell. There was hardly anyone left. One or two people had obviously become casualties of the excitement and were lying prostrate on the floor. There was no sign of Rosemary. She was probably the least likely jail-breaker in history, but somehow, Jake’s Mom had escaped and let everybody out of the highest security prison in Crawk. Even if it was completely his fault, this would not go down well when their boss, Eric Smythe, found out.