To Run Away...

Chapter 2

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A church choir sang a festive hymn, singing their hearts out as Ivan looked at the water below him. His legs and jeans were drenched in the coldness that it was emitting. He then felt someone pat him on the back before the hand would clench onto his shoulder.

  "Ivan Bentley," He heard a voice of another middle aged man say in a mirthful tone. "Are you ready to be born again?!"

  "Yes." Ivan replied solemnly before glancing at a happy couple who were holding hands and smiling, releasing tears of joy due to his decision.

   Then, there was sound of thunder.

  "Are you ready to erase your past, cleanse your sins, and accept the lord Jesus as your savior?"

  "Yes." He faced the bald headed pastor, trying to hide his frown with a smirk.

  "That's all I needed to hear, my friend!"

   Ivan held onto his nose as well as his breath while the pastor prepared to dunk him in the water.

  "Now, I baptize Mister Ivan Bentley, in the name of Jesus, Amen!"

   He felt the pastor pull him back, making him look at the grey sky above him. The water's coldness began to overwhelm him. He then closed his eyes before his head would dive in as well. Now, all he could hear was the water flowing through his ears, as his breath stagnated. Then, his hand began to pull away from his nose, letting water rush into his nostrils.

"What?" Ivan thought.

   His hand would feel his other one as they met in his back. Then he felt something constrict his wrists. Not only there, but in his ankles.

"Impossible." He added in his head as he tried to break free from his restraints, squirming and prying to no avail.

   Whatever was on his ankles, it made him assume that it was connected to something heavy. Why? Because it was pulling him down into the deep. He felt the pastor's arms separate from him the more he descended. Suddenly, he managed to hear him say happily, "Thank god for this miraculous day!"

   It was then followed by clapping and cheering.

"No, don't thank him, I'm about to drown! HELP!" He cried in his mind, for he couldn't through his mouth.

   He couldn't hold on much longer. He was on the verge of letting more water come rushing through his mouth and into his lungs like a broken dam. But he also knew, that there was no point in holding on either. So he decided to open his mouth and let death come crashing in.

  "Ah'van?" He heard someone call. And just like that...

   ... His nightmare was over.

  "Wake up Ah'van."

   Ivan opened his eyes to find that Haystack was looking worryingly at him, his right hoof on his left shoulder.

  "Whoa!" Ivan was stunned at the unexpected sight, that he jolted the slightest to express that. "You scared me."

  "Sorry." He apologized before saying, "But you musta had one hell of a nightmare."

   Ivan sighed, admitting the truth. "How did you know?"

  "Well, you were movin' around a lot, and you even crah'd 'Help'!"

   Ivan decided not to say anything else since he felt embarrassed for yelling that out loud. He unbuckled himself and got up for some stretches, holding onto the package before sitting back down.

  "Hey, how long have you been up?" He asked.

  "'Ah don't know." The stallion shrugged as he sat on his haunches, feeling the cold floor underneath him. "B'ah the t'ahm 'ah woke up, the window have already closed."

  Ivan sighed. "Well, guess we're gonna have to wait until-"

   Suddenly, the metal surface rose up again before it would be illuminated by the projected light once more.

  "Until that pops up again?' Haystack asked.

  "Yep."

   This time, the opening slide said something different, It now read,

Another message from theDEAR LEADER(Recorded live on from National hall on May 13, 2008.)(Brought to you by the state production team and the DEAR LEADER himself.)

   Then it changed from a slide to an actual colored motion picture in a flash. It featured Roger Doofenshmirtz standing behind a wooden podium with the black hawk and yellow star in front. Behind him, was the country's flag. Which consisted of the state's seal over a red heater shield which was also over three blue lines in a white background.

  "And so I told the hypocrites in Washington, Cheyenne, Pierre, and Lincoln that my city, as well as many other cities in the tri state area, wanted to secede from the Union in pursuit of our own dreams." He stated in his iconic accent. "I told them that I wanted to create a utopian project. So, they accepted my request, but not without laughing at my face and saying that I was an idiot for creating such an idea.

  "But still, I proceeded with my plans despite the ridicule, not only because of my dream, but because of the people I want to help. And so, I unified all the cities in the area into one to commence my project for proving the beasts of America and the world wrong. Now, it's been five years since I made that decision, and we've reached our paradise, thanks to all of you."

   The crowd began to cheer as the camera cut to a full view of city hall.

  "That explains a lot about their territory." Ivan mumbled.

   Then Roger resumed his speech. "This is a nation that was brought to life by your efforts..."

   Suddenly, the walls (Excluding the one with the door) started to slide open, letting the morning light shine in.

  "... A nation where everyone is equal in the eyes of man! Where liberty burns down oppression, and where anarchy is non-existent..."

   When the lights extended even further, it would cause the two to cover their eyes for they were temporarily blinded by it.

  "... We are the beacon of hope for humanity..."

   That sentence reminded Haystack about how Equestria was the beacon of hope for ponykind as they lowered their arms from their eyes..

  "... Because this is Danville!"

   The crowd cheered before the clip was over in a snap. The metal surface would slide back down after the projector would turn itself off. It gave the duo a sign that they were able to observe the city from up above since they assumed that that's the reason why they opened the shutters.

   They looked down after they reached the glass and found something peculiar down below. On an intersection near the building they were on, there was police surrounding the area... heavily armed police. There were body bags scattered around them as well as fire that was burning on the building in front of them.

  "Huh, it appears that there's some crime going on around here... and it looks serious."

  "Ah'van, look." Haystack suggested as he pointed his hoof upward.

   Ivan looked in that direction to find another thing that felt odd. It was a banner that was hanging from the top of the building. It read on the top in clear white.

HEINZ DOOFENSHMIRTZ

   Beneath that was a portrait of an odd shaped man. He had a long nose that would make you think that you were holding onto a pike and dark hair with a head that your mind will say that it looks like a palm tree. He had a grim look on his face as an eye patch covered his left eye. Under it, it simply read.

HAIL TO THE TRUE CREATOR OF PARADISE!

  "It tells me that this country is under new management." Ivan assumed.

   Haystack looked to his left to revisit the crime scene below. "And that tells meh that some of the employees aren't too happy with it ah'ther."

  "We..." The chirpy feminine voice began to speak, stunning the two instantly. "... will be making our descent in ten seconds!"

   Once the two calmed down, Ivan said the first word. "Looks like this is it."

  "Yep."

   Ivan went back on his chair and so did Haystack. Ivan then placed the package on his lap before the announcer said. "Five, four, three, two, one..."

   Then they felt their feet jolt a little, and before they knew it, the pod was making its descent. Now, all they could see was brick as the shutters began to close again.

  "So how are we goin' to deliver this to 'Silver Fox'? Haystack asked worryingly, using his flexible hooves to quote the codename. "And better yet, how are we goin' to get the hell out of here once the mission is complete?"

  "I don't know, which is the obvious answer to your question. I mean, there's no address." Ivan replied, feeling the same way as Haystack until he answered his second question. "And two, it's easy. We're citizens for free. All we need is a permit in order to leave the country and we're done."

  "Oh. Wow, that's easy."

  "Yes it is."

  "Huh, wait, how did you know that?"

  "What?"

  "That we're now citizens for free."

  "Geography class. Find the gateway, live here for free."

  "Oh."

   Then the announcer came back on the air, but this time, no scares. "You'll be expecting a big buffet for you and your friend, spouse, relative, or sibling down below, in celebration of your citizenship. Happy eating!"

  "Huh, guess we're gonna have free breakfast as well." Ivan was pretty relieved of that. He hadn't eaten in hours and the rumbling of his stomach that has been nagging him for food throughout the time was proof of that.

  "Oh good, 'ah sure hope they have plenty ta eat." Haystack said excitedly.

  "Of course they do, it's a buffet."

   They continued to wait until they felt the pod hit something below.

  "Looks like we're here." said Ivan.

  "Bon Appetit, my friends, and bon sejour in your new life."

   The door quickly opened before the duo got up and exited with the package,

   But after doing so, they got the complete opposite of what they were expecting.

  "Ugh, I should've known." Ivan said as he and Haystack looked at what was in front of them.

   Everything was empty. Except for the only notable things that were the marble floors and the sheet that covered the glass doors and windows.

  "So 'Ah guess there's no buffet." Haystack frowned.

  "Pfft, like it even matters." Ivan said, ignoring the hunger he was feeling. "Let's just uncover the package's location, deliver it, and get the hell out of here, alright?"

  "Alr'aght."

   The two walked side by side before reaching the glass door. Ivan then grabbed the handle and pulled it back, opening the door.

   Then after walking in between the two sheets, they found themselves on the sidewalk. And on the street, they found out that heavily armed police were behind their squad cars and pointing their pistols, SMGs, and assault rifles, waiting for them. This horrified the two.

   And with that, Ivan would remind Haystack. "And I should've seen this coming as well."