Cori looked up wearily as he heard yelling.
"Well, it's not my fault the engine decided to cark it!" A voice yelled. Cori's ear twitched. Gilbert, who was sitting at the table, noticed it. There were some more yells, followed by pained cries and yells before Macavity stormed in.
"Pathetic…pathetic!" He hissed, throwing a plate in the direction of Cori's head. Cori ducked and the plate burst into thousands against the wall behind his head.
"What's wrong, boss?" Gilbert dared to ask. Macavity snarled.
"The damn idiots broke the car!" Macavity yelled. Gilbert's brown eyes slowly travelled to land on Cori. Macavity's eyes followed Gilbert's gaze and landed on Cori as well. Cori gulped as Macavity tilted his head.
"That's right," Macavity breathed, his eyes strangely alight. "You're the mechanic, aren't you?" Cori hesitated before giving a small nod. Macavity's lips stretched into a large maniacal grin.
"Gilbert, bring him!" Macavity ordered before stalking from the room. Gilbert walked over, uncuffing Cori and pulling him from the room. Gilbert led him to what, Cori presumed, used to be a large factory floor…where all the machines were, but now it was filled with cars and vans. Cori blinked as he was pulled along to a certain sleek black car. Macavity stood by it, by the open hood. Cori rubbed his wrists as the handcuffs were taken off completely.
"You fix it, Coricopat, and you will be rewarded," Macavity told him. Cori gave a reluctant nod. He looked to one of the hench-cats, who was leaning by the driver's side door.
"Can you turn it over?" Cori asked. The hench-cat looked at Macavity, who nodded, his silvery eyes fixed firmly on Cori. The hench-cat turned it on. Cori listened closely to the rattling noise the engine was making. Cori nodded to the hench-cat who turned the car off. Cori looked at the engine, reaching in and tweaking a few things.
"Again," Cori said. The hench-cat did it, a loud scraping noise sounded. Macavity hissed.
"You're supposed to be fixing it!" He yelled. Cori looked at Macavity calmly.
"It's what I'm doing…but there's several things wrong with this car," Cori said calmly. Cori grabbed a spanner and looked back at the engine, once again tweaking at it. He asked for it to be turned on again before fixing something else…this happened several more times before Cori finally pulled out.
"Once more," Cori said. The hench-cat turned it on…and it turned on without difficultly, the engine purring smoothly. Cori smiled. Macavity nodded, impressed.
"Now what fun did I miss now?" Bomba asked as she swayed back in. Macavity wrapped his arm around her waist, kissing her fiercely. Cori looked away.
"Coricopat just fixed the engine," Macavity purred as he pulled away from Bomba.
"How was Jemima's concert?" Macavity asked, his silvery eyes flickering to Cori.
"She's a talented singer," Bombalurina said seriously. "Gorgeous voice," Cori gave a small smile. Macavity nodded.
"Cori's earned himself a shower," Macavity laughed. Cori looked down at himself. He was covered in car grease. Bombalurina nodded.
"Come on, doll," Bombalurina said, looking at Cori. Cori looked back at Macavity, who seemed a little displeased with Bomba calling Cori 'Doll'. Bombalurina looked back at Macavity, hitching her leg up so it was resting on his side. Macavity grabbed her leg, looking at her. She whispered something in his ear, which made him chuckle darkly.
"Yes, Bomba, baby," Macavity laughed, looking at her hungrily. Bomba grabbed Cori's arm and led him away. Before Cori went into the bathroom to shower, she handed him a new set of clothes.
"Give me those ones when you're done showering," Bomba told him. Cori nodded and walked into the bathroom. When he had finished, he walked out wearing a new pair of three-quarter black jeans, a short sleeve, close fitting, black shirt. He rubbed the towel over his head-fur, trying to dry it off. Bomba gave a giggle as he took the towel away, revealing his sticking up head-fur. Cori quickly flattened back down. Bomba took the towel and the dirty clothes away, throwing it into the wicker basket. Bomba nodded towards her couch, which now had a thick red blanket over it with white pillows.
"You're sleeping there tonight," Cori looked at her, shocked.
"It's your reward from Macavity…somewhere comfortable to sleep," Cori nodded, looking at his paws.
"You barely speak anymore…that's starting to annoy me,"
"Sorry," Cori whispered. Bombalurina smiled sweetly. Cori sat down on the couch, rubbing his eyes. A hench-cat walked into the room an hour later, holding two plates. He handed one to Cori, throwing him a glare as he did. Cori slowly picked at his dinner as Bombalurina ate hers quickly. She rested her plate aside and looked at Cori, who was still picking at his.
"Eat it," She told him firmly. Cori nodded, not looking at her. Cori finished and Bombalurina walked over, taking the plate from him. She called for a hench-cat and he walked in, taking the plates from her and taking them away. Cori curled up on the couch, his green eyes watching as Bombalurina paced around the room. His body burned with pain, his muscles sore from sitting in a certain way, from leaning against the pole, for so many hours for so many days. Bombalurina looked over to him, before walking over and pulling the blanket over him, tucking it in around him. She watched as he looked down at the pillow his head was resting on, his green eyes filling up with tears. She sat beside him, running her paw over his head.
"Aw, what's wrong, doll?" She asked him.
"W-Why me?" He whispered, burying his head in the pillow. Bomba watched as his shoulders heaved. She rubbed his shoulders.
"It's alright, doll," She murmured to him. He shook his head, sitting up. He rubbed his eyes, shaking his head still.
"Why are you being nice to me, Bombalurina?" Cori asked quietly. "Aren't I just here to get revenge on Munkustrap?" Bombalurina sighed as she rubbed his shoulders still.
"You're just a kid, Cori," Bomba sighed. "Just a kid," Cori looked up as Macavity walked in. He barely looked at Cori as he walked into the bathroom. Bombalurina stood up, walking into her walk-in wardrobe and emerging moments later wearing a short silky black nightgown. She winked at Cori before lying on her bed. Macavity walked out of the bathroom. Cori quickly buried his head in the pillow when he saw that Macavity had nothing on. He heard Macavity's laugh and his cheeks went bright red.
"Ha, it's safe to look, Cori," Bomba laughed a few minutes later. Cori reluctantly turned his head sideways, seeing Macavity walk from the wardrobe wearing black pyjama pants. Cori curled up on the couch, his green eyes watching as Macavity got into bed, turning his back to Bombalurina and Cori. Bomba shrugged as she settled down, yawning largely. She reached over, turning off the lamp and encasing the room in darkness. Cori remained awake. Macavity was just over there…but Cori knew he couldn't kill him, even if he did manage to, if the hench-cats saw him then he was as good as dead. He wanted to go home…he wanted this nightmare to end. Cori's eyes slowly closed and he fell asleep.
Munkustrap was getting the mail when he noticed a black car pull up in front of Tantomile's and Cori's. Tantomile didn't want to be in her house without Cori, she didn't want to be left alone…but she also didn't want to leave, just in case Cori managed to escape and called her, but she was terrified to be alone, so Admetus had been staying with her. Munkustrap walked over as a thin dark gray cat got out of the car. He was wearing black pants, black leather shoes, a white shirt and a thin black tie. Munkustrap walked over to him.
"Can I help you with something?" Munkustrap asked cautiously. The cat turned to face him, he took a step back when he saw Munkustrap, when he saw how tall Munkustrap was…and the muscles showing on Munkustrap's arms under the short sleeve dark blue shirt he was wearing.
"Um…actually I was looking for Coricopat," The cat stammered, pushing up the glasses on the bridge of his nose. Munkustrap's eyes narrowed.
"H-He hasn't turned up to my classes for two weeks!" Munkustrap relaxed.
"Professor?" Munkustrap and the cat both looked towards the source of the voice. Tantomile was standing near the car, Admetus hovering by her side.
"Tantomile, dear," The tom sighed, glancing back wearily at Munkustrap. Tantomile was looking terrible. Her clothes were ruffled and wrinkled, she looked tired, and looked like she had forgotten to eat occasionally. Admetus looked at Munkustrap sadly.
"Where is Coricopat?" The Tom asked. "Is he okay?" Tantomile flinched, giving a small shake of his head.
"Cori was abducted two weeks ago," Munkustrap murmured from behind the Tom. The professor turned around to look at Munkustrap, eyes wide.
"B-But who would want to kidnap a quiet Tom like Cori?" He stammered.
"Macavity," Admetus spoke up. The court knew it was Macavity that was responsible for Cori being abducted…Munkustrap had shown them the letters.
"H-How do you know?"
"Letters," Munkustrap answered. The professor frowned.
"Signed?" He asked. Munkustrap shook his head.
"Then how do you know it was actually that lunatic that took him?" The professor wasn't trying to tell Munkustrap that he was lying…he just didn't want to think that Cori had been taken by Macavity, who was well known for torturing and murdering.
"T-There was a DVD," Munkustrap mumbled. Tantomile and Admetus looked at him in shock.
"Macavity was standing behind Cori," The professor shook his head sadly.
"Oh dear, oh dear," He murmured. Admetus started talking to the professor as Tantomile walked over to Munkustrap.
"A DVD, Munk?" Tantomile asked quietly. Munkustrap nodded.
"Four days after Cori was abducted, I was given it," Munkustrap sighed.
"C-Can I see it?" Tantomile asked. Munkustrap shook his head.
"No," He said firmly.
"Munkus…I can handle seeing my brother being hurt," Tantomile pleaded. "I-I just want to see if he's alive!"
"He is, Tant," Munkustrap told her. "And I know you could probably handle it…but there was some other things that Macavity…revealed, that he made Cori relive…hearing about it just made me sick," Munkustrap muttered. Tantomile looked confused.
"W-What did he talk about?" Tantomile questioned.
"Your father abusing Cori," Munkustrap told her. "The list of hospital visits, list of injuries…and even that your father forced beer down his throat when he was 16," Tantomile lowered her head, crying. Munkustrap pulled her against his strong chest, holding her as she cried.
"N-No, poor Cori," Tantomile whispered. "H-He didn't need to relive that, he really didn't," Munkustrap rubbed her back.
"C-Cori took most of the abuse for me," Tantomile mumbled against Munkustrap's shoulder. Munkustrap looked at her.
"I always went out…and left him there, but even when I was home, and Dad was drunk, Cori would get Dad to focus on him instead of me," Tantomile sniffed.
"Dad always called Cori weak, said he wasn't a man," Tantomile kept crying, just getting this all out. "He said that's why he was picked on at school because he was weak…but it wasn't true, Cori wasn't picked on, just because he was quiet and read and didn't prefer sports," Tantomile murmured in Munkustrap's shirt. "Dad would always hit him and when Cori pleaded with him to stop, he'd hit him harder, telling it to take it like a man," Munkustrap tightened his hold on Tantomile, shocked.
"There was so many nights when I'd come home from work, my friends or the library and find Cori curled up either where Dad had beaten him or curled up in the corner of our room…he used to be so bloodied, his clothes ripped, his face and body bruised," Tantomile shivered in Munkustrap's arms.
"He used to look up at me and smile," Tantomile sighed. "Before he'd burst out crying," Munkustrap rested his head on top of Tantomile's, squeezing his eyes shut tight so he didn't cry.
"Dad would sober up and then take him to the hospital," Tantomile whispered, "And make some stupid excuse that the doctors believed,"
"Why did Cori tell the doctors what was actually happening?" Munkustrap asked quietly.
"Dad threatened him…he said if he told then Dad would take me away and Cori would never see me again, and then he'd return for Cori, kidnap him, and beat the living crap out of him," Tantomile sobbed softly. Munkustrap tightened his hold on Tantomile, feeling her shaking. Tantomile buried her face into Munkustrap's shoulder, wrapping her arms around him as she cried. She knew Munkustrap cared, which is why she was telling him all this.
"I-I was so scared," Tantomile whispered. "When Cori was 17, and I came home from school…Dad had kept him home so he could beat him," Munkustrap held back the angry snarl.
"Cori was doubled over in the lounge-room, his clothes torn, his face bloody and scratched…and he was throwing up blood." Tantomile whispered. Munkustrap's eyes widened. "Dad was kicking him, telling him to stop making a mess…Cori was crying, begging him to take him to the hospital while he was throwing up," Tantomile rested her head against Munkustrap's shoulder.
"Dad finally took him and Cori was rushed into surgery…the surgeon said he had a pierced lung and a ruptured kidney, the surgeon said if we had come in ten minutes later, Cori would have had no chance of surviving," Tantomile pulled away, rubbing her eyes and sniffing.
"You'll get Cori back, won't you, Munkustrap?" Tantomile asked softly. Munkustrap nodded.
"I'll do everything I can to get him back home safe," Munkustrap promised her. Tantomile rested her head back against his shoulder.
"Thank you," Tantomile whispered. "Thank you,"
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I have orientation next week, sigh, so updates may get a little slower…not that much slower, just a little bit!
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far!
Please read and review…and I'll love you forever :D
Luv HGP!