Matthew took a deep breath and tried one more time to push the trap door open. It still would not do so but he felt it give a little this time. There was obviously something heavy on top of it but he did not know how he could shift it. Suddenly he thought about the Lock opener; maybe this would move it. He got it out and tried it. But it was no good: it was obviously only designed for locks. He rested on the ladder, thinking about what he could do.
Then he remembered how he had wedged up the stone entrance to the tunnel. He quickly went down the ladder, and ran back down the tunnel. He was in such a hurry that he stumbled on the wet stone floor. The pain in his arms as he hit the cold and wet stone floor made him feel even worse in his frustrated state. He got up and a short while later he then climbed the ladder back to the tunnel’s entrance and went in search of a strong branch. He was in a panic and felt his old useless self but he knew he could not give up now. He found one a few minutes later after frantically searching near the entrance to the tunnel while looking at the Castle and bridge in case he was seen.
He got back at the ladder leading to the trap door in what seemed like a lifetime later. Then he got to the top of the ladder and heaved his shoulder upwards against the door. It again budged a little and after a few efforts he managed to insert the branch in the space in between. He then exerted all his strength into pushing the stick further into the space. He got it half way in and then rested a little, out of breath.
He wondered what time it was and how long he had been doing this. He knew he had to hurry before daylight came and began to panic again. He then pushed down the end of the stick in the tunnel. It was hard but he felt the door begin to open more and whatever was on it begin to shift to one side. Finally, there was a noise, which alarmed Matthew, and the door was now easy to open. But Matthew froze with fear in case someone had heard the noise.
He waited for what seemed like ages, his heart beating, his ears listening to every sound in case he had been discovered. It was hell. Eventually, he forced himself to push the door open and moved up the ladder. He was scared but knew he had to go through with his plan. It was completely dark in the store room but he felt the thing that had been on the door, a barrel of something. He then walked forwards slowly until he reached the wall. He felt along it until he came to the door. He tried to open it but it was again locked. He got out the Lock Opener and tapped it on the lock three times, this time confident it would work.
He heard the click and opened the door, carefully, but with each creak of its old hinge, his body felt tighter and tighter with fear. Outside, he could see the corridor with its lit torches was empty. He then waited a few minutes to make sure, crouched down in the doorway. He could hear his heart beating. This is the bravest or stupidest thing I have done in my life, he thought to himself. He then left the storeroom and closed its door quickly, for it creaked less this way. He felt the Travelling Stones in the pocket of his hoodie, in case he had to make a quick getaway.
He moved quickly keeping to one side of the walls. He soon came to the first meeting of corridors. He looked around each corner before rushing onwards. He then came to the second one leading down to the dungeon. Here, he hesitated again in case there were any more drunken soldiers coming up like before. But all he could hear was the snoring of someone down below, presumably the jailer, he thought. He then went down the stairs as quickly and as quietly as he could.
At the bottom, he could see the bandaged head of the jailer asleep again on the table. He watched him, then satisfied he was deep in slumber, went over to the dungeon door. He tapped its lock three times and heard the familiar click. He looked over at the jailer to see if he heard it as well but he carried on snoring.
Matthew entered the dungeon and went straight over to the cell where Hannah was. He was still nervous but now excited at the thought of seeing her again. He tapped the lock to the cell with the Lock Opener and opened the door. He then ducked just in time as he heard the swish of air above his head when someone tried to punch him. He whispered as loudly as he could, ‘Stop, it’s me, Matthew I’m here to rescue you,’ as the person grabbed hold of his throat and pushed him out of the cell into the corridor.
‘Curt, let him go. It’s Matthew,’ pleaded an excited Hannah, who also tried but failed to be quiet.
‘The boy? What are you doing here? Are you alone?’ Curt said to Matthew as he let go of him and looked around him.
‘As I said,’ said Matthew trying to regain his composure and feeling his throat. ‘I’m here to help you escape. Come on. We’ve got to hurry before it gets light.’
Hannah quickly hugged Matthew ‘I must admit I had my doubts about you but I’m SO happy to see you.’ She then went back to the cell where the others were now coming out or rousing themselves from sleep. Curt told them all to be quiet, as he left the dungeon to where the Jailer was. Matthew heard a little bang and then Curt returned with a sword, some torches, and the keys to the other cells. He gave Matthew a funny look.
He began to open the other cells. Then Matthew saw Tobias with Hannah and her grandfather. The cell block quickly filled up but this time there was not so much noise. There were not as many as last time, and now they understood the value of silence. Curt then turned to Matthew ‘Did they discover the tunnel, Matthew?’ he asked.
‘No, it’s how I came into the Castle again,’ said Matthew who noticed that Curt seemed to treat him differently than before, with more respect.
Curt then turned back to the others. ‘Right, it’s the same escape route as before. Let’s go before we’re discovered.’ He then led them out of the dungeon. Matthew found himself next to Tobias. He touched Matthew on the shoulder.
‘Well done, lad,’ he said. ‘You’ve shown much bravery in coming back to help us.’ Matthew felt happy at this and was less nervous now that he was with such capable people. He then saw Hannah’s grandfather who said nothing to him and just gave him a dirty look. Oh well, Matthew thought. You can’t please everybody.
As they left the dungeon, Matthew saw that the jailer was no longer snoring and that his bandaged head was now bloody. He looked around him and counted about thirty of them in total. He also noticed Hannah looking at him with a smile. But he soon returned to the real world when Curt motioned everyone to be silent from the top of the stairs. Matthew then heard the voices of soldiers heading down the corridor on the right in their direction. Here we go again, he thought.