Disclaimer: I am so sick of this, and it's only my 2nd Chapter! Anyhow, "I don't own the Underland Chronicles," says in a sing-song voice. There, happy?

A/N- Thanks to all of you who reviewed! You encouraged me to write this chapter, I wouldn't have without you guys! So, well, thanks. Also, please in your reviews include any suggestions that you think would make the story better. On with the chapter.

Chapter 2: The Truth

The scraping continued to get louder. Gregor ran to find Boots and Lizzie in the kitchen. Lizzie looked like she was a piece of art; she was standing perfectly still and, by the looks of it, had just been buttering a piece of toast for Boots.

" Gregor, do you know what that is?" she asked in a hushed, timid voice.

Gregor thought he knew exactly what that was. The rats, or, more likely, Ripred had sent some messengers. Which wouldn't turn out the way Gregor's mom wanted it too.

Lizzie knew what it was too. Gregor just nodded to confirm her thoughts. She let out a shaky breath, and then said, " I knew this would happen."

" Really, you knew the rats would start working their way through the walls?" Gregor said with a grin. Soon, though, his grin fell off his face. This wasn't the time to joke around. Lizzie might have visited the Underland now, but it still frightened her. Especially since this brought back memories of her days with their dad and grandma, alone. Knowing their mom had a deadly plague and that Gregor and Boots had gone after the cure.

Just then, Zack ran into the room dragging Shannon. Lizzie's hand flew to her mouth at the scene. Boots got a confused look on her face and asked, " What you doing, Zack?"

Zack ignored her and said, " Tell me what it is, you know." He had a harsh look on his face, as if he was about to murder someone. Boots started to cry. Shannon wiggled free from Zack's grip and came over to comfort Boots. Which annoyed Gregor even more. " Why does she comfort Boots and act so cruel around me?" he thought. Sure, he was a rager, but was he supposed to kill his cousin? He remembered Stellovet and how she wanted Luxa and Nerissa dead so she could become queen, or, at least, princess. No, he wasn't, his mom would be fuming, or she would lock him up, or, cry.

" What's up?" he asked . It must have irritated Zack because he answered, " The ceiling."

Gregor sighed, at least he tried to be nice to Shannon and him, he was always, though, outright outrageous!

Gregor's eyes bored into Zack's green ones. Zack responded to this by saying, this time more gruffly, " What do you know?"

Gregor hesitated; it was the one thing he shouldn't have done.

" Tell me," Zack said in a deadly tone. " This guy needs to go to an anger management class," Gregor thought. Man, Lizzie was probably scared to death! Boots, too! His parents really shouldn't have left.

Gregor glanced at Lizzie. It was apparent that she wanted him to tell Zack.

Slowly he said," There's a place called the Underland…"

A/N Please review! The next chapter will either be up later today or tomorrow. Thanks for reading this, it makes me happy ( there goes my horrible vocabulary).