Ready Or Not

Chapter 4

Kitsune

XOXOXOXOXO

Author's Note: Nearly done with this story! Have to say, I had a lot of fun writing this.

Please enjoy!

XOXOXOXOXO

No one was allowed to leave the group. No matter what the circumstances, they all agreed to stick together. If they came across that thing again, they were going to all hide together. There would be no more heroes.

"Alright, let's move on. Maybe Simon's still out there somewhere, waiting," Alvin offered, hoping to cheer himself and the others up a little. They all looked down at their hands, uncertain. He cleared his throat and began to walk again. "Come on. It's not safe to stay in one spot, either way."

"Simon..." Jeanette sniffled, weakly following the other three. Brittany looped an arm around her numb sister. "I hope he's okay."

"I'm sure he is, Jeanette," Brittany said hoarsely. She took Theodore's hand as well. "Come on, Alvin's right. We have to keep moving."

Theodore nodded, silent. His heart was beating so fast, he could barely bring himself to keep moving. That familiar pang of guilt returned. It felt like that was all he could feel recently. Alvin was carrying all the blame on his shoulders, when it really should have been him. Alvin was only doing what Theodore wanted. He was the one who pleaded with the others to go off on their own and search for Eleanor. Because of him, Simon was gone. How could he ever live with himself, knowing that it was his fault they were gone from their lives?

Boom. Boom. Boom...

The four chipmunks swirled back around, eyes wide. Jeanette's and Theodore's faces paled.

"O-Oh God, no! It's that thing again! It's coming back!" Jeanette whispered.

Two red eyes peered through the fog again. Brittany and Alvin nearly dropped their flashlights in response, but quickly composed themselves. If they didn't think fast, they would share the same fate as Simon.

"W-What do we do?" Theodore asked, clasping Alvin's arm in a vice grip. "We can't outrun it!"

Alvin looked around wildly for anything they could take refuge in. He was relieved to see a large building with its heavy doors wide open. It looked secure enough for them to hide in.

"Follow me! Come on!" Alvin said, grabbing Theodore's hand and rushing towards the building as fast as he could. Brittany wasted no time in grabbing Jeanette's hand and running closely behind them. "In there!"

The large canine-like beast immediately gave chase again, steadily gaining on his targets. Theodore looked back and nearly tripped when he saw his own terrified reflection in it's large ruby eyes. It was coming closer every moment. Soon, it would be upon them!

Alvin yanked Theodore forward and pushed him inside the building ahead of him. He braced his hands against the heavy iron door, watching intently as Brittany and Jeanette rushed inside shortly after. Brittany let go of Jeanette's hand and wasted no time in helping Alvin push the doors closed. They barely got the door to slam shut when the beast barreled into it, knocking the lead singers backwards. They quickly backed away as the beast continually slammed its hide against the heavy doors, barking madly.

"It's going to break the doors down!" Brittany squeaked. She looked over at Alvin, worry evident in her eyes. "Alvin, what do we do?"

"We'll just have to run deeper into this building if that happens," Alvin said quickly. What choice did they have?

Suddenly, the area outside was flooded in a green light as electricity coursed through the doors, frying the howling beast outside. It growled, trying again, only to get zapped violently a second time. It whimpered slightly before growling and giving up. However, they could still hear it prowling the area outside. It would wait for them.

"W-What just happened?" Theodore asked, baffled. "It didn't shock us when we came in."

"I don't know," Jeanette whispered, shakily standing up again. "Either way, I think we're safe from that demon in here."

"What the heck was that thing?" Alvin asked, shaking slightly under his loose black shirt. He used the collar to wipe off some sweat from his glistening face. "What in the world is going on around here? How come no one knows about this crazy town, or it's giant monsters? Where is everyone, anyway?"

"I don't know..." Brittany panted, retying her ponytail. "Maybe it's because... because no one's made it out of here alive?"

The comment was a chilling one. Theodore covered his ears and shook his head violently.

"Shut up! Just stop it!" he snapped. He refused to believe it. Someone had to be here, there was a whole city! "We're going to make it out of here. We just have to."

Jeanette sobbed softly, rubbing her arm. Brittany sighed deeply and looked down at her feet, spent. Alvin was scared too. He wondered how they were going to make it out of there in one piece. He shook his head. No, there was no time to give up. He wasn't raised a quitter.

"Theo's right. We are going to get out of here. All six of us," Alvin said, patting Theodore back. Theodore smiled up at him gratefully. "We just have to avoid ugly out there."

Theodore, Brittany and Jeanette laughed. It was nice to laugh, despite the situation.

"You're right, Alvin," Brittany smiled, holding his hand. "Together."

"Me included, I hope!"

They froze. The voice almost sounded foreign, almost unrecognizable. They slowly turned around and gasped collectively. There, standing on the other side of the spacious warehouse-like room, was none other than Simon. While he looked a bit tired and worn out, he was otherwise unscathed. He walked out into the light, giving them all a weak smile.

"Simon!" Jeanette gasped, quickly forgetting about her fatigue and running into his arms. Simon smiled and hugged her tightly. She smiled back, wiping away her tears. "I'm so happy to see you again! We were so worried!"

The others ran over to him, relieved and elated to have their nerd back.

"Thank God," Alvin said, sighing as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "You nearly gave us a heart attack, bro!"

"Don't you ever worry us like that again!" Brittany chastised, hands on her hips. "You could have been killed!"

Theodore hugged Simon's arm, sniffling happily. "All that matters is that you're okay, Si! How did you get away?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you that. That thing nearly caught me, but I stumbled across this warehouse, same as you guys," Simon explained. He sighed, ruffling his jet-black hair. "I'm just glad I ran in here in time. I'm sorry I didn't come back for the rest of you. I was just so scared."

"Don't sweat it, we understand," Alvin said, smacking Simon on the back. "Man, I've never been so happy to see you in all my life! It would've been awkward explaining this to the old man."

Simon smirked at him. "You really should have more faith in me, Theodore."

They all grew silent. Simon raised a brow and looked around, confused.

Alvin took a step back. "What?"

"Simon, I'm Theodore. That's Alvin. Don't you remember?" Theodore said slowly.

"Maybe you're suffering from some kind of amnesia?" Jeanette asked, holding his hand and looking him over with concern.

"O-Of course I remember my own brothers, Theodore and Alvin!" Simon said nervously. "Why wouldn't I? Just a slip of the tongue, is all."

"Really, now? Then what's my name? And hers?" Brittany asked, pointing to herself and Jeanette. "You know us too, right?"

Simon's smile disappeared and something dangerous flickered in his dark blue eyes. He then sneered at her. "What does it matter? You're not leaving."

"Jeanette, come here!" Alvin said, trying to pull her back. Simon glared at him and snatched Jeanette back, making her scream in surprise. "Let her go! You're not Simon!"

Simon's eyes flickered again. The whites of his eyes started to turn black, his irises turning a deep red. His smile grew wider and wider, splitting his face in a disturbing grin, not unlike the monster they encountered before...

Jeanette screamed in terror and tried to pull away. The imposter was quick and pulled her back to him, clasping a slightly clawed hand over her mouth to silence her. Her green eyes welled up in terrified tears, praying her nightmare would end.

"Let her go!" Brittany screamed, chucking her flashlight at it's head. It simply shrugged off the feeble attempt. "Jeanette!"

Alvin and Theodore grabbed her arm and tried to pull her back, but the thing held fast to the whimpering girl. The shadows behind him fluctuated and knocked the two boys back and into the wall nearby. He narrowed his eyes in glee.

"Don't worry, children. I'll take good care of your friend," it said cryptically, voice slick. He began to step back with Jeanette in tow, too quick for the others to react. He melted into the shadows, bringing a screaming Jeanette down with him. The others screamed for it to let her go, for it to come back. But it was too late.

It, and Jeanette, was gone.

"Jeanette! Jeanette, where are you? Say something! Anything!" Brittany screamed, looking around for any sign of her sister. She got no reply. She broke down, screaming in grief and frustration. "Nooo! Bring them back!"

This couldn't be happening to her. This just couldn't be happening. There was no way she could lose both of her sisters! First it was her sweet little sister, Eleanor. Then, right before her eyes, some demon had stolen Jeanette in the guise of Simon, who was also still missing. What the heck did these monsters want with them? What was this stupid city doing here, in the middle of a forest right around the corner from their homes?

I swear, if anything happened to my sisters, I'll... I'll...

"W-Why am I so useless?" Brittany sobbed, gasping to catch her breath. Her chest felt like it was going to burst from the pain. "I couldn't protect either of them! And now they're gone!"

"B-Brittany, don't... don't cry," Alvin said softly, sitting down next to her and bringing her into his arms. He cradled her gently, letting her cry into his chest. "We'll get them back. We'll make it through this."

"That's what you said about Simon and Eleanor, Alvin! And now, look!" Brittany wildly waved her arm to the spot Jeanette was taken. Theodore flinched, biting his lip. "Jeanette's gone! Face it, Alvin. We don't know how to get them back! We... we don't even know if they're alive–"

"Don't say that! Just don't say that," Theodore pleaded. "Just... don't."

Brittany rolled her wet eyes at him. "Get real, Theodore. We're never going to make it out of here."

"Britt, stop. Don't say that, you're just upset," Alvin said gently, moving a lock of hair out of her face. "Brittany, none of us saw that coming. I-I thought that was really Simon. What was I supposed to think? I'm sorry."

"Alvin, you are always sorry," Brittany said bitterly, glaring at him. She sniffled. "Sorry's not going to bring my sisters back. Or your brother."

Theodore couldn't take it anymore. Their resolve was crumbling every second they stayed here. Alvin and Brittany loved each other, but it looked like this was going to break them apart for good. They needed each other. Especially now. He needed them as well. They needed to stick together, no matter what happened.

He came forward and took both of their hands in his. He looked at the two of them. They pointedly looked away from the other.

"Brittany, don't get angry at Alvin. It's not his fault," Theodore said pleadingly. "All he wanted to do was help find Ellie, remember? All of us just wanted to find her. It's no one's fault," he said, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "Don't hate my brother for something that was out of everyone's hands. I lost the one I loved. Don't push away the one you do, okay? We have to stay together. For their sake."

Brittany and Alvin looked up at Theodore. Theodore smiled brightly at the two of them. Alvin and Brittany giggled, smiling at each other.

"I-I'm sorry, Alvin. I didn't mean to get mad. I just... I just want to go home and have things go back to normal again," Brittany said. She sounded so tired, and it hurt Alvin to know he couldn't do much to help her. "I want to go home with everyone. You know?"

Alvin brought both Theodore and Brittany in a tight hug. He rubbed Theodore's dirty blonde hair and kissed Brittany's forehead. He didn't know what to expect, but he would continue to do his best to get them all out of there alive.

They would see this to the end.

XOXOXOXOXO

Author's Note: Noo! Not Jeanette too! D:

Poor things. They need to keep on the move!