A Close Call!

Valkyrie Cain was running full speed through the damp dark streets of Haggard at midnight on a Friday in cold January towards one of her nearest hideouts she had discovered around town for situations like these, situations that became quite irritable and occurred with outstanding regularity.

Her pursuer was a despicable man named Dugrae Vile, arrested and still wanted for murder, robbery and numerous kidnappings. The only thing on his mind this evening, from Valkyrie's point of view, was to add another felony to his ever increasing list.

She pushed all pessimistic, though probably realistic, thoughts out of her head and carried on running. If it wasn't for her super-fast reflexes she would have crashed into the green grime covered walls by now, which were producing bullet holes fairly quickly. They were being shot from the old fashioned revolver in Dugrae's hand which looked similar to skulduggery's very own.

Actually, were is Skulduggery? Valkyrie thought as she turned a sharp corner, nearly falling over a stray brick and coming face-to-face with....

A dead-end.

She cursed under her breath and quickly turned as Dugrae stood facing her pointing the gun at her head.

"There's nowhere to run Miss Cain. I have you right were I want you!" Dugrae said, as he took a step closer towards Valkyrie, his gun unwavering.

Valkyrie mirrored his movements and took a step back. She put her hands out behind her and they connected with a wall. She mentally cursed but tried to keep Dugrae talking long enough for her to devise a cunning plan.

"Really? What makes you say that?" she asked, a bit too smugly for Dugrae's liking.

"Well, you little brat, your stuck up against a wall in a dark alley way, with no help, your all alone. Oh, and your only way out is guarded by a man with a not-so-nice-looking gun. I think it's safe to say I do have you right were I want you." Replied Dugrae, taking another confident step forward.

"Why is it Dugrae," Valkyrie began, "that you all seem to think that just because I'm alone when you find me that I'm completely without help?"

"What do you mean by that, I mean be careful what you say there, I know your true name and I can use it at any time I want."

As he said that Valkyrie froze. Only she knew her true name and she didn't like it what-so-ever, but still, no-one knew her name, so how did he know?

"How the hell do you know my true name Dugrae?" she squeaked out, not being able to control the turn her voice had taken.

"Ah, ah, ah," he said, while waving his index finger towards her, "you still haven't answered my question yet!"

"Ok then, I will."

She raised her arm and pointed to something behind Dugrae. Dugrae slowly turned to find, leaning casually against a flickering lamppost, was the one and only, Skulduggery Pleasant!

So that's were you are! Thought Valkyrie as she waved at skulduggery frantically from behind Dugrae.

"Well then I hope this answered your question," called skulduggery as he made his way gradually towards Dugrae. "I think it would be wise to answer Valkyrie's question now, don't you?"

Dugrae mumbled something intelligible and turned back to Valkyrie.

"Well?" She asked, getting rather impatient.

"Let's put it this way, not that many people are related to the author Gordon Edgley, are there?"

Valkyrie mentally kicked herself.

For god sake Gordon, why did you have to be a famous author? I'll be having words with you later...

"Now that we've had this little discussion, can I carry on kidnapping Miss Cain here? We have an important appointment with my employer that I really can't afford to miss." Said Dugrae, disturbing Valkyrie's thoughts.

"And who might that be?" asked Skulduggery.

"That's between me and Miss Cain, sorry," replied Dugrae, condescendingly.

He was sending a menacing glare Valkyrie's way and she simply stuck her tongue out at him. Skulduggery chuckled and it made Dugrae spin around to look at him. He hadn't realised how close Skulduggery had gotten and he jumped back in shock. Skulduggery threw a straight punch at Dugrae's face and a kick to the shins. Dugrae fell down clutching his leg and whimpering pathetically.

He's worse than Scapegrace. Maybe they're bothers? Thought Valkyrie.

Unfortunately, the gun in Dugrae's hand was still aimed at Valkyrie and she hadn't noticed it as a patronizing laugh escaped her lips. She quickly regretted it as Skulduggery drove his knee into Dugrae's head and the gun went off!

Everybody froze.

Skulduggery looked up from Dugrae to find Valkyrie gone. She was nowhere to be seen.

"VALKYRIE?" Skulduggery called into the empty alleyway.

"VALKYRIE?"

Skulduggery's gaze drifted down to find Dugrae knocked out on the dirty pavement. The gun was still in his hand so Skulduggery picked it up and threw across the street. Skulduggery cautiously walked down the alleyway and looked round.

"VALKYRIE?"

Where the hell have you gone? Skulduggery thought.

Suddenly his phone started to ring. He fished it out of his jacket pocket to find Valkyrie's name flashing on the screen so he quickly answered it.

"Where the hell did you go? Where are you? Are you okay?" he was frantically throwing questions down the phone at her when unexpectedly; Fletcher Renn's voice came flooding through the speakers.

"Chill Skulduggery! Valkyrie is safe and sound with me. Just before the gun went off I teleported her safely out of there and back to Gordon's. If you want to talk to Valkyrie, she's right here."

There was a clicking sound and some muffled talking, then Valkyrie began explaining.

"Hiya Skulduggery. I'm fine. Like Fletcher said, he came just before the gun went off. I'm fine honestly. Fletcher's gonna teleport me back now so I'll see you in a minute."

The line went dead, and then Valkyrie and Fletcher appeared in front of Skulduggery. Valkyrie jumped back as she realised were she had landed – right next to Dugrae Vile's now awakening body. Dugrae moaned slightly and Fletcher kicked him in the face. There was blood all over the place and Dugrae's two front teeth had been knocked out. He moaned a bit louder but didn't move again.

"Fletcher, how did you know I was here?" asked Valkyrie, still shocked from nearly being shot.

"I don't really know. I was just thinking...about...errrmm...stuff.... and I appeared in front of you. I turned around and saw the gun pointing at you, so I grabbed you and teleported to the first place I could think of." Fletcher looked slightly shifty, like he was trying to hide what he really wanted to say so Valkyrie made a mental note to ask why later.

"Well thanks Fletcher. I'm glad you were thinking about.....errrmm...stuff!" Valkyrie replied.

Sensing an awkward atmosphere, Skulduggery tried to lighten the mood;

"Good god that was a close call! Sometimes it's good to be friends with teleporter, don't you think?" everybody laughed and then Valkyrie added:

"Especially one with surprisingly ridiculous hair!" she reached up to ruffle Fletcher's hair.

"Eh!" he said while pushing Valkyrie's hand away with a huge grin on his face, "Do you know how long it takes to make it look this good in a morning?" Fletcher couldn't help but laugh and Valkyrie joined in. Skulduggery coughed loudly, bringing Valkyrie and Fletcher back down to earth.

"If we could possibly postpone this conversation of ours until later, we should really get out of here. With Dugrae being controlled by a mysterious employer who wants you for some unknown reason, and somehow he knows your true name...I think we need to get him back to the sanctuary for a little chat, don't you agree?" said Skulduggery, while making his way towards the Bentley.

"Sounds like fun, I love interrogations!" replied Valkyrie, happily. She had a mischievous smile on her face and she winked at Fletcher. He replied by winking back and taking her hand in his.

"We'll meet you there!" he called over to Skulduggery. Skulduggery turned to answer but just found empty spaces were Valkyrie and Fletcher were previously stood.

"I guess I will meet you there then." He said to himself and got inside the Bentley. The engine roared to life and disappeared down the road as it made its way to the Sanctuary.

Hope you liked it! I know the ending was reeeeeeaaaallly cheesy tehe

Please review coz the more reviews I get the more chapters I add! I'm going to update soon so don't get worried!

Valkyrie/Fletcher in the next chapter! Also spoilers from book four!

I've also like to give a big thanks to It was all a puzzle for pointing out a major mistake that I have now fixed :)

Love Renesme Smile xxx