PANCAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry I am feeling really random right now. I finished my project yesterday and we have no school tomorrow because of snow. Yay!

10

The two broke out into a sprint.

They started panting and looking for places to hide.

When they found nothing Brooke brought out her cell phone.

"What! You have a cell phone? Why didn't you think of that sooner?" Dan shouted over his fear.

Brooke obviously was ignoring the comment. She beeped in the numbers faster than you could say butterscotch.

She held the device up to her ear. After a moment Dan heard a voice say, "Hello?"

"Alistair! We need help! We are being chased by the madrigals and to make matters worse…" she hushed her voice a bit when they rounded the corner and over the road to Costco, "we have an original and a half-original with us."

"Oh dear, I'll tell the others as soon as possible! Do you still have your watch your watch?"

Huh, Dan thought.

"Yes I do. I will keep it on."

"No, keep it off or dispose of it. It has a tracker that the Madrigals can hack. Alright you guys hang tight."

Brooke shut her phone. Dan started to wheeze and had short breath though he didn't say anything. He noticed that Brooke too was wheezing.

"Are you okay?" he asked as they entered Costco.

"Yeah," her voice was high. "Never *cough* better."

They slowed down a bit and hid themselves behind the glasses section.

"You have asthma don't you?"

Her breathing calmed a bit and she sighed, "Yes, I hate it. Though I hadn't had an attack since I was, like five. I always have my inhaler, but I left it in my purse and I don't think my medicine will last long."

Dan felt sorry for her.

"I have asthma too," he admitted quietly. "I don't tell anybody though."

There was silence which made the footsteps and their hearts sound louder than ever.

They stayed perfectly still for what seemed like an hour until they heard the steps go away. Brooke peeked to see if the coast was clear before leaving.

They silently, but casually walked to the exit and then outside. No sign of the Madrigals, they left.

Then out of nowhere, Dan was whisked away and he screamed.

Brooke turned around only to be in the middle of a circle of Madrigals.

"Oh, boy," she muttered. They started closing in and Brooke started to show off her Tomas side.

She did a roundhouse kick at one in a ski cap, she punched one in the nose, and punched a guy in the stomach and then knee-ed him in the place-that-shall-not-be-named.

With only her she was growing weaker and weaker. Dan was being gagged, but saw the whole thing.

Not long after, Brooke took a horrible punch to the nose and went down.

"Brooke!" Dan screamed but it came out like, "Bowa!"

Groaning, Brooke tried to get up, but was kicked over to her back. Next, the man stomped down on her chest knocking the breath out of her and she moved no more. Her nose was still bleeding. The man was about to go for more when they heard, "Madrigals!"

All eyes turned to the voice of Ian Kabra and next to him were Natalie and Amy Cahill.

"Well," the man that was beating Brooke, probably the leader, said, "if it isn't the other rat!"

"Leave them alone," he said. His voice was shaky but cold.

Surprisingly, they did what he said. Dan rushed over to Brooke. He removed his gag and silently talked to her saying get up and thing of that nature.

"Well, looks like we have fresh meat. Ah, if it isn't the Original Amy Cahill, we've been waiting for this."

Ian gulped and stepped protectively in front of her.

"You'll never take her!"

"Fine, then I guess we will have to settle with the old package."

Ian was about to step forward when they heard a groan. Brooke started to move. Her nose had stopped bleeding but was still smashed and she had a black eye.

Dan helped her up. She had a limp but was fine.

With her arm around Dan for support, she looked at the faces of Ian, Natalie, and Amy.

"Come on Lucian. Hurry before we change our minds and take the originals."

Ian turned to Amy. Tears were in her eyes.

"Listen, Amy, I am about to go and I might never see you again, but… I just want you to know that I have and always will love you. Remember me, please."

Sadly and woefully, she nodded. Ian cupped her chin in his hand and gently pressed his lips to hers and Amy deepened the kiss and put her arms around him as did he around her.

While that love fest was going on, the leader said, "You too, Ekaterina."

Ian and Amy parted and looked surprised.

"No!" Dan said.

Brooke looked into his eyes, "Dan, it's okay. I shall go too. If it is the only way to keep you safe then it will be done."

"No," Dan chocked. His emotions were swelling up inside of him and he was acting different then he would have. He cared for her. He cared for her about as much as Ian and Amy did for each other. Tears were swelling up in his eyes as was Brooke's, "I won't let them."

Brooke looked so heartbreaking, "I know that, but… It's for the best. I can't put your lives in more danger then I already have," she put his hand on his cheek. It was soft and warm from the blood pumping through it since her punches, "You deserve better."

She leaned in and kissed his cheek and gave him one last hug. Dan hugged her tight and never wanted to let her go.

"Ugh, will you hurry it up now!" the Madrigals were becoming impatient.

Brooke parted and Ian gave Amy one last hug kissed the top of her head. The two then walked behind the Madrigals to their SUV. They turned around for one last time. Natalie was trying hard not to cry; Amy's face as streaked with tears; and Dan, Dan was crying just like his sister.

The two turned back around and clambered into the car. The doors slammed closed and drove down the road noisily.

For the remaining three, life would never be the same again.

Nor would it be for the two in the car.

This is just so sad I even teared up a bit.