Well here it is... Chapter 2! Thank you to all those who read the first chapter, reviewed and will hopefully read the second instalment. It's great to know that people actually care and are there for support. So you know what to do after you've read this one.

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ENJOY!

Chapter 2

Otto's head snapped up as Ms Leon jumped onto his desk, her claws imbedding themselves into the woodwork with a thud.

"Am I boring you Mr Malpense?" She asked, her voice dangerously calm.

"No. I was mearly... erm..." Otto struggled, a yawn escaping his lips. Ms Leon's eyes narrowed and a soft growl emanated from her throat. "I mean I'm sorry. It'll never happen again." The boy quickly gabbled, pushing his chair backwards.

"It had better not." The cat tried to lift her paw so as to jab a sharpened claw in his direction and emphasise her point. But it wouldn't move.

"What...?" Ms Leon asked, struggling in vain to pull any of her paws from the wood of the desk. Just then the familiar bell rang, signalling the end of class. Otto snatched his bag from the floor and ran from the room, the rest of the class following closely behind. Out in the hallway they couldn't contain themselves any longer and the air was lit with the sounds of raucous laughter.

"Did you see the look on her face?" Shelby gasped, fits of giggling shaking her body.

"I am so dead," Otto said with a grin. "But it was definitely worth it."

"Someone should go help her." Laura said, trying not to smile, as they turned around the corner of the passageway.

"That wouldn't be wise," Wing replied, frowning. "She will not take kindly to being pulled from the desk."

"Well the least we could do is actually tell one of the other staff."

"Nah. Who in their right mind would want to go up against a cat?" Otto asked, stepping into their accommodation block.

"Will you be knowing where Ms Leon is being?" Franz said, running up to the group.

"Yeah actually," Shelby said, draping her arm around his shoulder. "She's in her usual room."

"Oh, thank you very much. I am having detention with her and I am not wanting to be late." And with that the ample figure of Franz, walked out of the atrium and down the corridor.

"Shouldn't we warn him?" Laura asked with a frown.

"No." Shelby and Otto said, simultaneously.

"Where would be the fun in that." The latter continued.

"You two are too cruel." Wing observed

"And that's why you love us so much." Shelby said, patting him on the cheek. "Now come on. Let's put our stuff away so that we can go get something to eat. I'm starving!" The two of them walked off in the direction of the stairs but Otto didn't move. A beeping was coming from his blackbox and he flicked it open to see Nero face, looking worried. Laura leaned over his shoulder to see who was calling.

"Yes sir?" Otto asked nervously.

"I need you to come down to my office after lessons. You're not in trouble in any way. I just need to have a little chat with you. Make sure you're not late." The screen turned black as the headmaster cut the transmission.

"Well that wasn't weird." Laura commented. "What do you think he wants you for?"

"I have no idea whatsoever. But it can't be good."

"What makes you say that?"

Otto sighed, slumping into a nearby seat. "I don't know. Just a feeling I've got."

"Want me to come with you after lessons?" Laura asked, looking away towards the waterfall at the far end. "You know. For support."

"Yeah. I don't see why not. Whatever he's gonna tell me, he can tell you too. Chances are I'd tell you guys later anyway."

Laura's blackbox suddenly began bleeping.

"Yes?" She asked, flicking it open. H.I.V.E. mind's face appeared on the little screen, looking anxious.

"Go to the hangar bay and climb onto the shroud that's being prepped for takeoff. Make sure Otto goes with you."

"Why?" Laura asked in alarm. "Is the school under attack?"

"No. But Otto needs to be on that shroud and I'd prefer it if you went with him. Don't worry about getting caught. The pilot thinks that Nero has consented to you leaving the island for today."

"But...? How...?"

"I believe that there will be an attack on a boy whom it is imperative is not hurt. The boy was going to be brought in today but Raven cannot make it back here in time. You two need to go and get him."

"And why would he be getting attacked? Why not tell Nero?" Otto asked over Laura's shoulder.

"Because those attacking him are from G.L.O.V.E. G.L.O.V.E. operatives who have mistaken him for you."

"You didn't answer my question. Why not tell Nero?" Otto said.

"Nero would send Francisco, who in turn would cause bloodshed that could be avoided. Much better if you two were to go in alone and bring him back without any fuss."

"Well you can count me in." Otto said with a smile.

"But you're supposed to go to Nero at the end of the day. And it'll be dangerous." Laura said.

"So? Nero can wait. And since when have we been a stranger to danger."

"Laura?" The A.I. inquired.

She looked up at the boy beside her who had stuck out his bottom lip and was trying to look sweet and innocent.

"If it means I get a holiday from this place then okay. When do we leave?" She said with a sigh.

"In five minutes."

An Hour Later

Nero walked into the communications centre and towards a technician who was sat at a nearby console.

"It's been over an hour and you still haven't contacted Raven?" He asked, a touch of impatience creeping into his voice. The other man frowned, a look of confusion on his face.

"We contacted Raven an hour ago exactly. She said she couldn't make it back here in time for today. H.I.V.E. mind was supposed to tell you."

Now it was Nero's turn to look confused. "I haven't been told anything. Get H.I.V.E. mind on screen."

The man tapped away at the keyboard in front of him for a moment and a few seconds later the monitor on the wall lit up with the A.I.'s blue wireframe face.

"What can I do for you Dr Nero?" He asked, smiling.

"Why didn't you tell me about Raven's call earlier?" Nero asked, anger evident in his tone.

"I was not aware that Raven had..."

"Don't play games with me! Just answer my question." Nero barked, pacing backwards and forwards across the communications centre.

H.I.V.E. mind looked down. "I wanted Otto to go and collect the boy."

"What!" Nero asked in surprise. He'd stopped pacing. Then suddenly a troublesome thought snapped him out of his astonishment. "Where is Otto?"

"He is in London if I am not mistaken." H.I.V.E. mind replied calmly.

"You didn't?" Nero asked in shock. "How the heck did you get him out of the school?"

"I simply told him that a boy needed saving. A boy who was going to be attacked and would die if they didn't go."

"And he just believed you!"

"I also said to him that if I told you Raven couldn't go, you would send Francisco instead and the boy would most definitely die. The pilot was a lot easier to convince. A little bit of hypnotic gas and he would do almost anything for me."

"Get Otto back here NOW!" Nero shouted. "Do you know what would happen if he found out about this?" A few of the technicians in the room looked up at their boss a little startled but he ignored them.

"He would know the truth." The A.I. said, genuinely confused.

"This could have severe repercussions. I want the boy back..." Nero suddenly stopped. Something H.I.V.E. mind had said was bothering him.

"You said the boy was going to get attacked." He whispered.

"I was lying." The A.I. replied.

"The disciples," Nero said. "If they find Otto now he's dead."

H.I.V.E. mind suddenly looked worried. "Maybe I did the wrong thing."

"That, I would say, is an understatement. Can you get Otto back here within the next half hour?"

"I fear that it may already be too late for that." H.I.V.E. mind said, his voice grave.

"Meaning?" Nero asked with sudden dread.

The A.I.'s face was suddenly replaced by a scene of destruction. What looked like several buildings had been completely obliterated. Bodies lay scattered across the rubble, burned and bloody. A fire raged among the ruins, searching for more fuel. Screams and cries could be heard emanating from the smoke that hung over the street.

"Please tell me Otto was nowhere near that." Nero whispered, sinking into a nearby chair.

"I'm afraid he was at the centre of it along with the boy and..."

"And...?" Nero snarled.

"And Laura. I've lost contact with them."