Mmm, may I say this chapter was very entertaining to write and I hope that you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it. Please, enjoy!
Not in the mood to entertain, Zak sat down at the table his parents usually used for conferences. The villagers sat down around the table as well, sitting close by one another. Wadi sat next to Zak, but did not talk to him. Instead, she directed her attention to Alima, the girl sitting on the other side of her.
Zak leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. Valuable time was passing, and it was being wasted. Fisk pulled out the chair next to Zak and sat, waiting for dinner to be brought out. The group only had to wait a couple more minutes before Doc and Drew entered the room, each skillfully carrying a couple trays apiece. The two carefully placed them on the table, making sure not to accidentally knock over any of the already-placed silverware.
Drew sat down next to Fisk and, before sitting, Doc motioned for everyone to help themselves to whatever they liked. Zak, knowing the world of trouble he would be in if he didn't, waited until their guests were done filling their plates. He then proceeded to take a couple slices of meat loaf, some spoonfuls of steaming mashed potatoes, and ladle gravy over them.
As he began to eat his mashed potatoes, Drew spoke.
"We wanted to have this dinner not only to get to know everyone here a bit better, but to also discuss our infiltration of Weird World."
"Last time we went, we weren't discreet in the slightest. However, this time around, we want to use stealth to our advantage," Doc explained.
"So should we split up?" Emir asked eagerly.
"NO!" Doc and Drew shouted together.
Their guests looked taken aback by the sudden outburst. They stared at Doc and Drew in shock, waiting to be filled in.
Doc was the one to answer everyone's question as Drew placed a steady hand on top of his. "In our first visit to Weird World, we had forty-eight others with us. It was my idea to split up, and because of my stupidity, only seven of us made it out, including Drew and myself."
Zak continued eating, but he stared down at the table, not wishing to meet anyone's eyes. He had heard the story before, and each time, he had always heard that slight hint of remorse and sorrow in his father's voice. Doc blamed himself for the deaths of forty-three people. Zak knew that he could never fault his father for something that couldn't have been helped.
Drew cleared her throat and continued the planning, "We will stick together in that horrible mansion. Now, there's an underground entrance close by, so we can use that to sneak in undetected."
The villagers around the table nodded their agreement. No one had anything to argue about, so they remained silent, waiting for either Doc or Drew to continue. Neither had anything to say.
"That's it?" Emir asked quite suddenly. "That's all you have to tell us? You expect us to go into a madhouse where people have died?"
"We warned you of the risk, Emir. I told you that people have died," Doc said, keeping his calm demeanor. He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but he didn't add on.
Basie shot a warning glance at her cousin before she spoke up, "I think what he's trying to ask is what 'will we be up against'?"
"Argost's house doesn't have a set thing to watch out for. We've faced things from Flashlight Frogs to Jinshin-Mushi. Argost even has a Peluda wandering around," Drew explained. Everyone except the Saturdays looked clueless. Upon their expressions, Drew added, "The point is, we don't exactly know what we're up against."
Zak felt Wadi shift nervously in her seat. She wasn't one to show fear easily, but Zak felt the need to protect her… to make sure that Argost didn't hurt her…
He didn't quite understand this feeling. Zak had felt it before. Any time he was around Wadi and they had to do something dangerous, the need to protect her from everything always sprang up, but it was always slight. They hadn't even infiltrated Weird World and the feeling had reared itself up, stronger than ever. What did it mean?
Doc and Drew were talking to everyone again, but Zak didn't listen. He wanted to know what this feeling was and why it had sprung up all of a sudden. Once he finished his mashed potatoes, he set his fork down and feigned listening to the plans. They were practically the same as the last time the family had went into Weird World.
This waiting was driving Zak insane. Why did they have to stay the night? Who knew what Argost was doing to Doyle? Zak began to subconsciously drum his fingers on the table in his anticipation. No one seemed to notice except Basie, who quickly looked at him and gave him a sort of knowing smile. Zak didn't know what she was trying to convey to him, but he was in no mood to hear of how he should just be patient. He hoped this waiting was driving his parents crazy too; he hoped they felt the way he did.
In what seemed like hours, but was really only about twenty minutes, the people around the table all started to stand up and head to their rooms to rest up for the next day. Doc and Drew bustled back and forth between the conference table and the kitchen, carrying plates and utensils. Zak, feeling more and more worried by the second, stood up from his chair and walked towards his bedroom. If he got to sleep now, the time from now until morning would hopefully pass quickly. For the first time since they left Doyle, Zak wanted the time to pass quickly.
Zak headed down the hallway to get to his bedroom, only to find Basie waiting. Thinking that she was waiting for someone to come out of the bathroom, he was surprised when she stopped him.
"Zak, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked in her usual cheery tone.
Astonished, Zak stopped and said, "Sure, Basie." He didn't know much about Basie, but she was obviously comfortable around anyone, no matter how awkward the other person felt.
"Whenever Wadi had come to the village and told everyone what happened, Emir and I could not just let you leave without any help. Of course my brother and sister and Emir's sister had to come along too, since they felt the same way."
Completely puzzled, Zak didn't respond. He could only listen as Basie went on.
"We all want to help. We promise that we will get your uncle back safe and sound," Basie smiled reassuringly at Zak.
Despite himself, he couldn't help but smile back. "Thanks Basie. Could you tell everyone else how much it means to us?"
"No problem," Basie smiled again. "Get some rest. From what your mom and dad said, you'll need it."
Zak watched Basie walk the way he had just came. He stood rooted to the spot, unsure of what had just happened. Finally, he turned towards his bedroom door and went inside, only to find somebody else to talk to.
"I was starting to wonder if you were going to go to sleep at all tonight."
Zak flicked the nearby light switch on, brightening the room. Wadi was sitting on his bed again, apparently waiting for him to sit by her. Zak didn't answer her, so she stared concernedly at him. "Zak, are you alright? You haven't said one word to me since this afternoon."
Wadi's caring face broke Zak's silence. "I'm sorry Wadi, I've just been worried all day. Argost is a madman who's willing to do anything. I'm scared for my uncle."
"You heard Basie. We will get your uncle back."
"How can you be so sure?"
Wadi sighed. It wasn't in disgust, but it seemed to be in sympathy. "It was about five years ago when our village was battling another. The enemy snuck in during the night when everyone was sleeping. We tried to rebound and fight back, but several of ours… It was too late for them."
Zak looked down at his feet, feeling slightly embarrassed. Wadi hardly talked about sensitive topics like this, but she seemed at ease now.
"In that attack, Basie, Alima, and Coman as well as Emir and Ain lost their parents. Basie and Emir have been taking care of their siblings ever since and the two of them will do everything they can to help others avoid pain and suffering."
"That's terrible," Zak said softly. From the way Basie and Emir acted, he would've never guessed what they had been through.
"So that is how I can be so sure, Zak Saturday." She paused for a moment to simply stare at Zak's face. "And I want to give you my own promise that we will get your uncle back, safe and sound."
Slowly and unexpectedly, she leaned in towards Zak and before either knew what was happening, their lips met. Fireworks exploded inside Zak's chest, all thoughts had fled from his mind, and the only thing he knew was that this was the most wonderful thing he had felt.
Wadi, wanting to gauge Zak's reaction, broke the kiss, only to find their lips together once more as Zak returned the affection.
The two sat there, locked together for seconds, minutes, hours, days. Finally, they broke apart, each slightly out of breath. "I'm keeping you to that promise," Zak whispered.
"I knew you would."
So... heh... What did you guys think? I'm feeling rather... mischievous after that. Please, share your thoughts in a review and thanks for reading!
Also, just a quick thanks to those that have favorited and added this to their alert lists as well as those that have reviewed! We've hit the 1,000 mark for reads! It wouldn't have been possible without all of you!