Poptart Notes: Yeah, this is mostly pointless exposition. And Candace! More Candace! Yaaaaaay!
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Chapter 8: Back into the Fires of Hell
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That was the key phrase that made Albert go ballistic. With one quick, sweeping motion, he whipped a kick into Arch's abdomen. Rage kept him from feeling pain when the spokes of Arch's device slipped into his kneecap instead of his chest when the man reeled backwards, then landing on the gentleman in white. As a final touch, Albert proceeded to scoop him back up from the ground and deck him in the face. When he dropped him again, Arch was as motionless as a dead man.
"Well..." Albert panted, "That sucked." He sighed for a moment before turning his attention back to Candace. "What are you doing out here so late?"
"ME?" Candace exclaimed. "What about YOU? What were you even doing out to start with while you left your brother home alone with that...jerk?"
"ME? What about YOU?" Albert mimicked. "What are you doing outside when your whole stinkin' family might be in trouble?"
"What are you even talking about anymore?"
"Look over East. Yeah, isn't it kinda cloudy? Big, grey, fast moving clouds?" Albert pointed in the general direction of downtown, while praying that he was correct in guessing that the clouds were present (for he still couldn't see). Thankfully, Candace nodded.
"That's SMOKE. All of downtown is a nice, toasty blaze!" He exclaimed.
"WHAT?" Candace stepped back.
"Yes. So, let's loop all the way back to square one-What are you doing out-"
"Pardon me." A low, silky voice suddenly spoke up. The two teens looked back to find that the pale man in white had stood up and, using an unexpected amount of strength, hoisted Arch over his shoulder.
"Aw, whaddaya want?" Candace groaned, seeming annoyed.
"If you've taken care of the situation, I'll be on my way." He shrugged and walked right past Candace and nearly over Albert when he attempted to block his path.
As the man slunk down the sidewalk and out of view, Candace and Albert watched his back. After he was no longer visible to either, Albert was the first to speak.
"Should I try to stop him or should I just go to bed?" He asked.
"You SHOULD go back into your house and calm your brother down, since he has likely pissed himself in the last fifteen minutes." Candace answered, glaring. Albert whistled a note.
"Yikes, quite the language, milady." He raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about Irving so much for?"
"The kid somehow got a hold of my cell number." Candace sighed. "He's been keeping me updated all night about his terror with dealing with Jerkmaster."
"What did he say was happening?" Albert asked abruptly.
"A lot of yelling downstairs. A couple of busted dishes." Candace answered. "I could hear it on my end."
"Where was he?"
"He kept himself locked in his room all night."
"What did he say happened last?" Albert looked angered by this point.
"He saw the jerk go outside and meet with jerk number two." Candace tried to sound apologetic.
"And you came out to look?"
"It's in front of my house!"
Albert grumbled, having more questions to ask. But when he got back in his house, he could get answers on his own. He patted around his back pocket for his house key, and then suddenly froze. He slowly searched again. Nope.
That key was gone.
Albert growled and kicked the ground. "COME ON!" He exclaimed, looking over his shoulder. Just his stupid luck.
"Where are you going?" Candace cried out as he darted down the sidewalk, going in the same direction as the man in white had.
"HE STOLE MY STUPID KEY!" Albert shouted back. Suddenly, he stopped short. "AND WHAT'D IRVING SAY ABOUT MY MOM?" He hollered.
"Sleeping." Candace yelled back. Albert nearly did a double take. He would've commented on it, but he didn't really have time for that at the moment, so he just resumed running.
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Candace entered her room, exhausted, just in time to hear her cell ringing. Sighing, she picked it up from the window seat where she'd left it and answered groggily.
"What is it this time?"
"Candace, I saw Albert running off. Where did he go?" Irving asked quietly, as if not to disturb anyone.
"Hell if I know, kid." Candace muttered.
"I have a name."
"Whatever. The point is, your brother just went off after his house key." Candace groaned as she laid herself back on her bed. "So tired..."
"And you just let him go?" Irving exclaimed as quietly as he could.
"Aw, geeze, what can I do? The jerk that took his keys doesn't look dangerous, and YOUR jerk is knocked out cold." Candace explained. As she did, she convinced herself within her mind that Albert would be able to take them down before they got anywhere near fire.
"But Candace-" Irving began.
"What? What can I be missing?"
"Arch can't get knocked out."
Candace sat upright.
"What do you mean?"
