Author's Note: Looks like Chapter 11 will be the last full chapter with respect to what the formatting looks like on my end. Chapter 12 will be the full versions of the songs penned throughout the story, and my final author's notes on the creation of the story - what inspired it, and that sort of thing. Feel free to read through it if you'd like.
The name of the song featured in this chapter is called "Fact in Fiction" - it's another of the original songs I penned for this story. You'll probably note it was one of the titles that was featured earlier. And you may note that the chapter titles are somehow linked to songs in some measure. I'll explain in my end notes more about it.
Chapter 10: Everybody Wants to Rule
the World
If the Hanti were once an elite group of soldiers known for their intimidating qualities, it didn't seem so much after The Chipmunks and Chipettes set traps through the chateau. Anywhere they wanted to go, the traps were prepared behind them . Some of the Hanti were caught under drape traps in which they unknowingly triggered by ropes beneath their heavy boots. Theodore happened to have a sack of marbles in his pajamas, so that came in handy for tripping up some of their pursuers. Alvin had a few rotten eggs to throw (to which Simon wondered why Alvin would have rotten eggs in his PJ pockets in the first place). The Chipettes would take turns luring them into various traps that were set with respect to the suits of armor, that would collapse one after another and fall like dominoes - either in the Hanti's path or on top of them.
About two floors above where they once were, Alvin finally sank to his knees in exhaustion, but he had a wide grin on his face.
"That was definitely awesome! Why don't we keep setting traps for them? That way they won't have a chance to invade the mortal world by the red moon tomorrow!"
"Nice try Alvin, but you're assuming that we'll be up here and able to hold them off for that long. And I don't think that's practically possible."
"According to you, Mr. Critical, nothing about this whole situation is practically possible." Alvin said smartly, and Simon frowned in response.
"You're right, and I still don't think it's possible, but we're in this mess regardless. Dave will wonder where we are if we don't show up tomorrow morning, not to mention we still have school and rehearsal to worry about." Simon looked at his watch after his statement, raising a brow at the recognition.
"We've been here about an hour according to the real world. It's like we're dreaming, but obviously not. Time passes by much more slowly in the real world than our brains can process it here. So it feels like we've been here longer. I'm wondering how we're going to get out of here and what we're supposed to be looking for."
Anilie rose to her feet abruptly, tugging Simon's sleeve while motioning to a nearby window. All of them followed Anilie's motion, and saw a dense fog covering a landscape of rolling hills, thick forests, and a long bridge that shined a distance away from the chateau. Stony gargoyles adorned the sides of the bridge, but they couldn't see what lie beyond the bridge in the smoky haze.
"So is that the bridge we're looking for? The bridge that's supposed to lead them to the mortal world?" Jeanette asked.
"Beats me. I really wanna go home right now. As cool as it was to give those jerks what was coming to them for being rude, I'm sleepy. " Brittany yawned.
"There are a lot of Gargoyles on that bridge...what if they come to life or something?" Theodore said worriedly.
"Relax, Theodore. I really doubt a bunch of old and cracked statues will start coming to life out of the blue. But I do see something interesting, even as far away as that bridge is. Or maybe I'm just imagining it."
"What is it, Simon?" Alvin asked.
"Well..." Simon hesitated, looking uncertain. "I'm pretty sure I've seen something like those gargoyle statues before - though I don't believe in it, it's definitely described as...well...deja vu. And it's not just around the chateau we've been running around for the past hour. I think I saw something like it at the Science museum at home. One of the old exhibits, but I can't put my finger on where it was..."
"If you saw something like it at the science museum, maybe that's where we need to be. Hey, wait a sec, didn't you say there was going to be a big event there?"
"For once you actually listen to me, Alvin. Yes, there are going to be people there...wait a sec! Now I get it - if the gargoyles are indeed the same, then the statue must be the artefact linking these two worlds together, and they have to be linked to the Hanti somehow. That means they know something about the gathering and are going to start taking souls right around that time!"
"I think you finally listened to me for once, too." Alvin gave Simon a sly grin. "So we can just say 'bye bye' to the gargoyle statue, and this will all be over - the Hanti won't be able to get to our world or do anything...right?"
"Theoretically, that's possible. Since when did you get so smart?"
"Maybe you're rubbing off on me."
"If I were actually rubbing off on you in the right ways, then I would consider that a compliment." Simon rolled his eyes and sighed.
"But that doesn't explain why they're after the ghosts and spirits here." Eleanor said. "I mean, I don't know about it as much as you two do, but Anilie's still in danger. So are the spirits that are already captured." Anilie seemed to sigh and nodded her head as she floated beside Eleanor.
"Anilie, do you know anything about where they are?" Jeanette asked.
Anilie hesitated for a moment, but then pointed downward.
"Great. They're downstairs with all those scary Hanti, while we just spent all our time trying to get upstairs away from them!" Brittany exhaled sharply in frustration, causing her bang to puff briefly in the air. "Well, I've had it! I want out of this place now! Come on girls, we're going home."
"No way Brittany, we're not leaving poor Anilie to fend for herself." Eleanor pointed out.
"She's right, Brittany. Plus, I don't think we can get home anyway without Anilie making another portal - and she looks like she's just as tired as we all are." Theodore added.
"Well, then, I guess I'll have to find my own way out - Whoa!" Brittany had leaned against a stray brick on the wall away from the windows, causing it to push in and open up a secret staircase leading down into the belly of the chateau. Anilie had caught Brittany before she could tumble through the doorway.
"Looks like you found us a shortcut." Alvin said smartly.
Brittany looked at Alvin with an annoyed expression, then looked up at Anilie, who floated to her side. "Okay, Anilie - I guess it's not worth fighting when you've had a rough night too. Lead the way."
All of them followed Anilie down the secret staircase.
***
"You mean to tell me that a measly group of mortals and one Ilreita were able to do this?!"
Master Grol was a being of very little patience, and to see his comrades and underlings reduced in such a way filled him with a passionate anger that boiled and overflowed in his formal voice. Whomever the intruders were, they had a very odd, but effective means of fighting back, enough to subdue those in his rank. And yet his mask of empty eyes and a snarl smile remained intact - fortified in the coldest steel color and reflecting the moonlight that streamed from the window. His advisor, Pell, had a mask that featured a tight line for a lip and thin slits for eyes, making him virtually unreadable even in his intonation.
"Sir, we're searching all along the quarters for them now. We believe we heard voices on the second floor."
"No matter, Pell. I know exactly where they're going. It's...convenient that they would show up just before the light of the Red Moon, but I can assure you they won't get far - not if I have anything to say about it. If none of you will handle such a group, then I shall."
He flung his grey cape over his shoulder, walking towards the stairwell that led to the basement dungeon. Pell followed close at his side. The chatter among the Hanti started to grow frustratingly clamourous, and they followed their leader with unrelenting dedication.
***
"As I'm looking down this big, old hall
I want you to look inside your crystal ball
See if my future's looking bright...
Lady Luck, please be kind
Please tell me what we'll find,
There's no telling what we'll see tonight...
Where can I find the fact in fiction?
Something's gotta ease this tension.
How will I ever understand?
Guess all I'll do is lend a hand
And hope that danger isn't too near..."***
"What are you singing, Theodore?" Jeanette asked as the group made their way down the staircase. "It sounds really good."
"Oh, just something in my head right now...I guess you could say singing makes me not as nervous."
"Well, if you really want to give away where we are, keep right on singing."
"Sorry, Simon." Theodore sighed and kept quiet for the rest of the way down.
"Aww, come on, Simon, lighten up. And don't worry Theodore, we'll go home as soon as we figure out a way to free the spirits trapped in here." Alvin looked down the staircase to see a doorway, with the light reflected on the stony wall and steady cackle of flames dancing in his ears.
As the Chipmunks and Chipettes entered the room, they couldn't believe the number of ghosts that they saw. In a large rectangular room - with stone walls, several old bookcases, and worn tables - a myriad of ghosts either wandered, sat talking to each other, or leaned against the wall in silence. The entire room seemed alert when they entered, and before Alvin could say anything he noticed that Anilie hadn't followed them.
"What's wrong, Anilie?"
Simon walked to the doorway, running his hands along the stony frame of the door, and rubbed his hand under his chin.
"This is definitely strange. We're able to walk through this door fine, but I don't think Anilie can. It must be some kind of barrier here. Which explains why the ghosts in this room can't get out either. Otherwise, they wouldn't just be standing around here"
Two of the ghosts took notice of the group, and the mention of Anilie's name, one so much that a female ghost, with long dark hair over her shoulders and a traditional, long garment, flew over to the door frame. Anilie jumped excitedly at seeing the female ghost, but they didn't touch either the door frame or just inside it.
The other ghosts seemed to take notice of the Chipmunks and Chipettes and their somber expressions instantly lifted, some of them actually taking the time to dance about, but none of them could speak. Alvin noticed that all of the spirits were quite human and didn't look scary at all.
"I know you guys are happy, but...how do we get you out of here?" Jeanette asked the ghost that had approached Anilie.
"You won't do such a thing, and even if you could from here, I would make sure you didn't have the opportunity." A voice startled all of them, and they saw Anilie being lifted into the arms of one of the Hanti. It was the same figure Alvin recognized at the meeting the evening before, speaking in front of all the Hanti. His grin looked menacing in the flickering lanterns lining the walls.
"And who exactly are you, daring to enter this place? I am Master Grol, proud leader of the Hanti. I did not expect visitors at such a late hour; I certainly did not invite you mortals."
"I'm Alvin, and we didn't ask your name!" Alvin said boldly.
"I know you didn't. After all, you are the ones who intruded upon our land, let alone our headquarters. Not only that, you're being rude to my guests."
"You call keeping these poor spirits in this cold and scary place your guests? You need to learn what it means to keep company." Brittany said snidely. Both Brittany and Alvin walked up to a few feet shy of the Hanti leader, but realized he wasn't alone as the Hanti soldiers started filing behind him. Captain Grol took several steps towards them, causing Alvin and Brittany to back away nervously. Anilie struggled against the grip of the leader holding her, but she couldn't wiggle free.
"I don't get it; if we can't even touch Anilie, then how is he able to hold her like that?"
"Since we are neither living nor dead," Master Grol answered Simon's question aloud, in a laughing voice, "we can hold those of mortal or spiritual capacity. It was nice of you to serve as an escort for this young spirit. Even bringing her to her family - with the rest of the Ilreita. How touching. She's someone I need for my extended plan, and you six are not involved. You see, we Hanti are immortal beings imprisoned by the Ilreita. They have stolen our souls, and have trapped us beneath the moral world for many centuries. This..."
"We already know the story; don't try to fool us. You are obviously the bad guys! Now let Anilie and the other spirits go! Or else..." Alvin demanded, but his voice trailed off.
"Or else you'll what?" Master Grol demanded, his mask coming within two inches of Alvin's face. Alvin laughed nervously.
"I'm still trying to think up that part..." Alvin grinned, but the Hanti's growled in response.
"Enough! If you think I'll let a group of children disrupt our plans for taking control of the mortal world and enacting our vengeance, this is where that thought will end!" Master Grol's voice bellowed, as he summoned a stream of magic erupted from his left hand, oriented towards the Chipmunks and Chipettes.
But Anilie took the opportunity to bite the Hanti leader's hand. The bite shocked him so much that he fell against a nearby wall, which caused the magic blast to ricochet off of one lantern, bounce off a stony brick, then break the magic barrier on the door and plow through the Hanti guardsmen.
"Wasn't that a really lucky break or a fluke?" Jeanette asked.
"Either way, I think we should get out of here!"
"You said it, Brittany." Alvin added.
The spirits wasted no time escaping, as they flew past the once magically barricaded door, and through the stairwell out past the windows of the chateau halls. They streamed like fireworks and comets in the night sky.
"After them! Don't let them escape!" Master Grol commanded. As he did so, he grabbed Anilie while she summoned a portal for the Chipmunks and Chipettes to go through. Alvin and Theodore witnessed it just as the Hanti leader abducted her, but after The Chipettes had already gone through, and Simon was close to going through the portal himself. One of the Hanti guardsmen also grabbed the lady ghost that had recognized Anilie from before.
"Hang on, Anilie!" Alvin started back, but Simon grabbed his arm. "We can't Alvin, the portal's about to close, and I don't think we'll be able to get back if we stop now."
"But what about Anilie and her friend? We can't just leave them here." Theodore pleaded.
Theodore saw Anilie nod to them and motion to the portal as Master Grol pulled her back.
"I think she wants us to go, and we don't have time to discuss it!" Simon pushed Theodore in, and grabbed Alvin's arm to pull him in as Simon jumped through the portal, just before it closed into nothingness.
***
"Anilie!" Alvin awoke with a start, breathing heavily for a moment until he realized where he was. In his own room, in his own bed, and the alarm clock rang at high volume. He quickly turned it off, realized it was morning and groaned. Theodore awoke about the same time, but both of them saw Simon had already gotten up.
As much as Alvin was glad, by fluke, they had freed the spirits held in the heart of the Hanti chateau, there were still two spirits they hadn't saved.
And as Alvin and Theodore met each other's glance, they knew those spirits still made all the difference, and that the night of the red moon would come sooner than they thought.