Hey,dear readers.

Sorry for the late update - I've been wound up in a few things,and it's distracted me.

Also,I have a small favour to ask; if you do read this fan fiction (and you did the previous one),could you leave a review? I mean,I have no problem with XxSlimShadyxX being the only one who reviews,but it would be nice to know other people read my stories as well. Thank you.


"Hey,guys,Fuzzy's been arres-" Vern began,opening the hatch to the tree-house,but stopped mid-way when he realized that Teddy was only one there. He was sat next to the window - the spot where Gordie usually sat.

"Teddy,what's up?" Vern asked,climbing into the tree-house,and noticing the solid expression on Teddy's face. He then noticed a piece of paper in Teddy's hand."What's that?" Vern asked.

Teddy sighed and looked over at Vern."They've gone." He stated simply,before passing the note to Vern and looking out the window again.

Vern took the note with a slight frown before reading it outloud:

Hey,guys.

By the time you read this,me and Gord will be gone already. We were found out by Eyeball,and we had to leave straight away,because we know he'll tell Ace.

Sorry for cutting everything short. We've had awesome adventures together,and we may even get to hang out again if you want to come visit. We don't know where we're heading,but we'll be sure to send you a letter,or postcard,or something, to you both.

After you've read this note - burn it. I don't want anybody discovering it. If Gord's parent interrogate you,just tell them that you don't know where he is,or where I am. Because I know they'll blame me for Gord's disappearance.

You got to understand the situation we're in. I don't want Gord getting hurt by Ace,or the other hoods,so this was the only way of keeping him safe. You both know that I love him,and I'll do anything to protect him - so,I hope you two understand. You'd do anything for somebody you cared for,right?

Teddy,man. There's no hard feelings between us,alright? You can be cool when you want to,and I'm sorry for hitting you. Hopefully I'm forgiven,and I hope you manage to get into the army. Keep your chin up,soldier,and start marching.

Vern - stay as you are. Don't take any shit from other kids because you eat more snacks than they do,and your unhealthy obsession with Cherry flavoured Pez. You've been cool as well.

- Chris and Gord.

P.S. Goofy IS a dog.

"Is this for real?" Vern asked,after finishing reading.

"Yeah,Vern-O." Teddy replied,solemly.

"Goofy's a dog." Vern added,having not caught on just yet. But,it was when Teddy looked at him again with a sincere expression that Vern understood.

"Vern-O." Teddy began."Chris and Gordie aren't coming back. They're gone. Disappeared. Poof." He explained,sighing and looking down at his shoes.

Vern didn't answer,but sat opposite to Teddy."We can visit them. They said so!" He retorted,frowning,but Teddy shook his head.

"We can't." Teddy continued to shake his head slowly."We can't get to wherever they are without a car. And asking for a lift into another town will raise suspicion. And then they'll ask questions,and we can't answer them,because they'll catch Chris and Gordie,and it'll be all our fault. Vern,we gotta stay here,man." He concluded,taking the note back from Vern and scrunching it up,before placing it in his pocket.

"..oh." Vern replied,quietly. That was all he said as he slumped his shoulders and looked down at his hands. This sucked.

And then Teddy had an idea where the two may be,without raising suspicion - which he didn't know it would work,but it was worth a shot.


Chris had brought a radio amongst other items,and he was now listening to it outside the tent,whilst Gordie was asleep. He turned it down slightly,just to hear the sound of Gordie sleeping.

The broadcaster on the radio was describing a new band,and then they played the latest song by them. It wasn't much to Chris's taste,so he turned the dial on the radio and heard as the signal crackled slightly.

"...escaped from Motton Police Station...Merrill.." Chris was about to change the station,but stopped when he heard the word 'Merrill'. Correcting the signal,he listened to the broadcast.

"The man has short,blonde hair and blue eyes. He has a long face,and was last wearing jeans along with a white shirt,and printed shirt over the top. The police are certain he is heading towards Castle Rock,where he was last picked up to head towards Motton Police Station. Police are urging that if anyone has information,or have spotted him,that they contact the police instantly and issue a report. And now to the weather..."

Chris stared at the radio,his body stiff as he took in the information. Ace Merrill's escaped,and is heading towards Castle Rock.

"Chris?" Gordie said as he crawled out from the tent and noticed Chris sat on the ground,listening to the pointless weather. Chris would usually tune into music,or something more interesting.

"The Royal River is near here." Chris began,ignoring Gordie's questioning tone."We'll get washed,and then we're going." He explained,turning off the radio and placing it in his own bag. He would have to bring it along to tune into the same station for any more updates on the escaping Merrill.

"Why?" Gordie asked

Chris didn't want to panic Gordie,but he didn't want to lie either. He looked at Gordie for a moment."Trust me,Gord." He simply said,before putting on his jeans and shirt from last night.

Gordie frowned lightly,but copied Chris's actions by putting on his own clothes from yesterday. He didn't want to argue back,but now he was starting to panic. Chris noticed and placed a hand on his shoulder."Trust me." He repeated,before holding Gordie's hand and guiding him into the forest towards the Royal River.


Once there,they were stripped again and ran straight into the cold water. Chris had already planned things in his head; he knew this river didn't contain any leeches,or any other unwanted river monsters. And he knew that nobody could see them if they bathed under the bridge,near where the iron foundations stood. Neither anybody walking on the path would spot them.

Gordie stayed near the shallow part of the river,near the bank. He could swim,but he didn't want to risk it - especially knowing that if he wound up drowned,that he'd be pulled to the bank completely naked,and he didn't want that.

"You can't stay near the bank all the time." Chris called,having swam to the centre point of the river where it was deep. He flashed a grin,before dunking his head under the water.

Gordie watched Chris disappear,staying where he was. No amount of persuasion could get him to the deep end. "Chris?" He asked,when Chris hadn't appeared again.

Gordie searched the water with his eyes,trying to pick up a shadow. There was none,and Gordie was starting to get worried."Chris?" He called out again,swimming forward towards the deep centre of the GS&WM tracks were above his head,and he could see how old the foundations really were; the iron was turning a putrid brown and green,and there were plants growing out from the gaps in the treads.

"See,that wasn't so difficult now,was it?" Chris said from besides Gordie,making him yell out in surprise and jolt,causing a few waves of water to disperse and flick in the air.

Gordie realized that Chris had tricked him."No,it wasn't." He said,keeping his cool as he smiled at Chris. Then,without Chris expecting it,Gordie lunged forward and dunked Chris's head into the water.

Chris came back up again,and spat out some water."Oi,Lachance!" He commented,chuckling,before splashing Gordie in the face before dunking his head as well.

They did that back-and-forth,until they became exhuasted and simply decided to float in the water.

"Thought I'd find you both here!" A voice from the bank said,causing the two to look over there with wide-eyes. Chris instantly went to Gordie's side,whilst Gordie stared in shock,his heart hammering.

But,they both let out held breaths when they realized it was Teddy,followed by Vern,stumbling out of the bushes."Don't shit yourselves." Teddy commented,before walking on the bank nearer to where the two were."Eeee-eee-eee!" His laugh started as he saw the pile of clothes near the foundations of the bridge."Having fun,Chambers?" He asked,earning a solid glare from said male.

"How did you find us,Teddy?" Gordie asked,dismissing the indication from him.

"I smelled you all the way from the tree-house." Teddy replied,snorting before starting his laugh again.

"I'm being serious." Gordie added, Teddy and Vern were able to find them this quickly - who knew how long it would take for the hoods to find them?

Teddy stopped laughing as soon as he heard the seriousness in Gordie's tone. He walked closer to the river - as though there were spies listening in - before speaking."I kinda guessed that you two would go to the first,safe place you know. And we always follow the GS&WM rails,and the Royal River,so.." Teddy shrugged,finishing his sentence.

"We tried our best not to be seen,so I don't think any of Ace's friends followed." Vern chipped in.

Chris was about to blurt out that Ace had escaped and was heading towards Castle Rock,but if Gordie found out,he would panic even more and Chris needed a level-headed Gordie for them to be able to escape successfully.

"Pass me my clothes." Chris said,climbing out of the river and grabbing the clothes Vern was holding. He put them on,and turned to Gordie."You alright staying in there for a bit?" He asked.

"Where are you going?" Gordie asked,swimming over to the shallow end of the river.

"Just need to tell these two something." Chris replied,smiling reassuringly,before turning his attention to Teddy and Vern who both looked interested,yet confused at the same time.

"Why can't Gordie hear?" Vern said,but quietened down when Chris shook his head and gave him eye daggers.

Gordie bit his lower lip,before swimming away from the bank and under the bridge.

Chris guided the two away from the bank and near the opening where they came from. He looked back at Gordie,who was disappearing under the water,then reappearing again.

"You heard?" Chris whispered,as he huddled them together in a small circle.

"Heard what?" Vern asked."All I hear is Gordie splashing in the river." He added,making Teddy smack his palm against his own forehead and sigh.

"He means news,you wet end." Teddy said,rolling his eyes,before turning to Chris."We haven't heard any news since you stole the radio!" He near shouted,making Gordie look over at them.

Chris couldn't help but smirk."We need music and news on our escape."

"Yeah,yeah." Teddy replied."Well,what's going on? Must be important since ol' Gordo isn't allowed to hear." Then Teddy added in a serious,yet humorous tone."Are you having trouble with your 'gun',Chambers?" Earning a smack round the head from Chris.

"No." Chris hissed."It's Ace. He's escaped,and he's heading back towards Castle Rock."

"Chris." Vern interrupted."Eh...you said Gordie's not allowed to hear,right?"

"Yeah." Chris replied,nodding his head."I don't want him panicking,because he won't think straight and I want him to be calm on our escape." He explained."You're not going to tell him,are you,Vern?" He added,sternly.

"Well,you've told him." Vern replied,earning a puzzled look from Chris.

"What do you mean,Vern? Why would I tell him when I didn't want to in the first place?" Chris said.

Teddy then said,quickly: "He's standing behind you!"

Chris instantly turned around,and Teddy was right. Gordie had come out the river,got dressed and wandered over because his curiosity got the better of him - and anger,since Chris was hiding something from him.

Gordie stared at Chris for a few moments,before frowning and walking off back towards the pick-up,which was a way from the Royal River since they crossed the field and walked along the GS&WM tracks to get here.

"Why didn't you mention he was there earlier?" Chris hissed at Vern.

Vern didn't reply,and watched as Chris walked past them both to follow after Gordie.


"Gordie!" Chris called out,trying his best to catch up to the brown-haired male who was walking quickly out front. Knowing he couldn't walk to him quick enough,Chris changed into a run until he caught up to Gordie.

"Please,I'm sorry." Chris began,placing a hand on Gordie's arm. He was relieved when Gordie stopped and looked at him,even if the expression he wore was solid."I didn't want to worry you. I don't want your mind on Ace all the time,and how he could be near. You understand my reasoning ,right,Gord?" Chris asked.

Gordie looked down at the ground,and Chris thought he was going to run off again,but instead,he turned to Chris and hugged him tightly."I'm scared,Chris." Chris heard Gordie whisper against his chest.

"I know,Gord." Chris replied,placing his arms around him and hugging him back."But,he doesn't know where we are,and neither does my brother,so we have a lead." He reassured,watching as Teddy and Vern emerged a few minutes later.

"Gordo,you alright?" Teddy asked,once he got close enough.

Vern caught up."Besides,Chris can beat up anyone." He added,placing a hand on Gordie's shoulder briefly.

Gordie removed himself from Chris,and smiled warily."Yeah." He said,and felt Chris grasp his hand."He probably won't be here ye-"

A gunshot suddenly rang out in the air,and the four boys jolted,crouching slightly like a rabbit would if it was alert of a sound nearby.

"Holy shit!" Teddy shouted.