Emma & Malcom Peabody

Chapter 10: Do or die part 1

Without even wanting it, Malcom gets into the chariot races... Would Emma and Mr. Peabody save him from his obvious death?

-Good morning, Augustus-greeted Julius Caesar greeting his son

The kid turned around and smiled.-Good Morning, da... your majesty-said the young kid trying to fix the big mistake of calling him "dad"

-Are you ready to see those races?-

-Of course!-

-Let's go, then-the king got into the cart in which he was traveling

Augustus smiled and followed him.-I still can't believe you did it! You came!-but once he got inside he found something a bit unexpected and disappointed.-Who is she?-the kid pointed to Emma

-She is... a friend-

-Have you paid another kid to play with me so I don't bother you?-he asked really disappointed.-Why do you always lie?-

-WHAT?-asked the king completely surprised.-I have never done that-

The prince folded his arms and sat on the cart.-You're lying now-

The blonde girl felt a bit sad for the prince. It must be really horrible to never be able to pass some time with your father. If Malcom were here perhaps he'll understand their dad a bit more. She has never understood what Malcom's problem with her father was!

Caesar sighed.-Augustus, look, I'm really busy almost all the time-

-I know...-the boy looked down.-It's ok... at least this time you are taking me to the races... and you will see the hole race with me, right?-

-Sure, son-he took out a book and started to read it.-Just stay a bit quite-

Mr. Peabody got into The Circus Maximus and started to search for the king. He was a hundred percent sure that Emma was with him... he only needed to find a moment in which the king will be absentminded. And that was pretty simple... Knowing Julius Caesar, he will come late and he will read a book instead of watching the race. The beagle was almost sure that he will have enough time to save his granddaughter, go for Malcom, go back home, make them sleep and finish some papers from his company.

-And here is with us! In this important day of chariot races... Julius Caesar!-presented someone standing in one part of that kind of "stadium" which seemed to be only for royal people, because it was in a part pretty away from the normal slaves and workers. It was a kind of stage with a balcony with a roof similar to a tent in which they were sitting surrounded by some ladies which carried food. It even had three chairs that seemed to be thrones made of gold.

The king came out greeting the village with his hand and a fake smile on his face, accompanied by his son and blonde girl.

-Emma!-screamed the genius dog happy to see that his granddaughter was perfectly fine

He started to walk between the people to the closest place to the part in which Emma was sat. There were a lot of people, but luckily, he was small enough to pass over them without even being noticed. Sometimes he had to duck or push some persons away, but he finally was getting closer to her.

-So dad, which team do you think it will win?-asked Augustus to his father, who was focused on his reading

-Yeah, yeah, that's nice, honey-

The boy sighed and folded his arms.-So, what's your name, slave?-he turned to face Emma

-I'm Emma and I'm not a slave, thank you-

-Yes, you are... If not, how come my father convinced you to be beside me?-

-Your father hasn't paid me to be here! I got lost and he decided to help me, because everyone is here and my parents will be able to see me-

-I see...-

He seemed to be really sad and Emma felt a bit guilty. She was a big excuse so Julius Caesar won't need to pay attention to his own son. That sounded so mean! He deserved to spend time with his father! Her parents had really busy jobs and they always had time for her!

-Which team do you think it will win?-she asked to him

-I don't know; the blue one?-

-I'll choose the red one-

He laughed.-Do you like color red?-

-Why do you ask?-

-You are wearing a red tie on your hair-

-Oh, yes, it was a gift from my grandfather! I really love this tie... perhaps because it remains me of him, perhaps because it makes me feel more emphasized... or I just like red-she decided laughing a bit

-How is your family like?-

-Well... it's strange and judged... but I wouldn't change it. They all love me and care about me, so I don't have anything to reclaim to them-

-Lucky you...-he muttered

-I've been able to notice that your relationship with your father isn't really good...-

-It's just that... he is all the time working! He never listens to me!-

-I'm really sorry about that, Augustus-

-But it's fine, he is a king, he is busy and...-

-No! It's completely wrong! He must be your father first of all, and of course he has time for you... he shouldn't be reading now for example!-

-And what do you expect me to do?-

-Talk to him! You have nothing to lose after all...-

He stared at her. He has always tried to talk to him, but all his family says that Caesar was only "too busy, but he loved him". And he was so sick and tired of that excuse! The girl was right; he was his father after all, wasn't he?

Augustus nodded his head and opened his eyes in determination.-You know what? You're right! I'm going to talk to him!-

Suddenly, some kinds of trumpets were heard. The race was about to start and everyone turned to see the trail, even Julius Caesar put down his book for the first time in that day.

A short man gave a breadth of cloth to Julius Caesar.-Your majesty, when you're ready, you can start the race-he said walking out with his head down

Julius stood up and went to the edge of the stage with a tired face. He obviously wasn't interested on the race.-Good afternoon, Rome people! We are here today to see our famous "chariot racing"!-he started

-Emma Peabody!-suddenly said someone with a familiar voice

The young girl stood up.-Grandfather?-she looked at the sides.-Where are you?-

-Look up-Emma, Augustus and Julius looked up to see the dog holding from a kind of rope in the roof.-You're in a lot of troubles, young lady-Mr. Peabody said dropping off the rope

-Sorry, it's just that I...-

-It's just that nothing! You can't walk alone through this time as if it isn't dangerous at all! You could have been killed-

She looked down regretting what she has done.-I'm really sorry!-

-Hold on!-screamed the king.-Is HE your grandfather?-

-He is my father's adoptive dad-she explained before facing the beagle again while the Caesars stayed at her confused

-Emma, we must leave right now, your brother is waiting for us in the WABAC-

-No! She can't leave! She will be my new inventor-opined Julius

-Inventor?-asked Mr. Peabody

-Yeah... she will make millions of those strange things called glasses that allows people to see better-

He looked at his granddaughter angrily.-Do you remember any WABAC rule?-

-I wasn't going to do it! But I was lost and I knew you were going to find me if I was beside the king!-she explained desperate

-What? You said you were going to do that!-Reclaimed Julius Caesar.-Liar!-

-Emma, we must leave right now-said Peabody taking her hand

-Watch out!-Screamed Augustus pointing the race.-There is a kid on the race!-

-Please don't... Please don't...-muttered Peabody to himself before watching at the race worried

-Let me go!-was screaming Malcom as he was forced to get into a kind of giant track.-You can't do that if I don't want to-

-Shut up, slave!-screamed the man

-I'm eight years old! You can't make a kid be on a race like this-

-Yes I can, and I will-he put the kid on a cart inside on a kind of room and went out

Malcom was starting to freak out. He didn't even know how to ride a horse! And even though he was tied up to the cart, he knew he was going to fall! And worse of all, he didn't even had any kind of knife to be free! He started to force himself out, but he wasn't able to.

A door suddenly opened and another cart with a person on it got into the room.

The red-haired boy looked at him. He wasn't really old, in fact, he was like a teenager. He was pretty muscular and had brown hair.

The teenager noticed the way in which Malcom was looking at him.-So, now there are kids on these races, huh?-

-Apparently yes-answered the kid trying not to look completely scared

The teenager smiled.-My name is Lucius. I'm a slave... but if I win this race, I will be able to buy my freedom. Why are you here?-

-I'm Malcom... And I have been put here by a big mistake! I'm not even a slave... I'm not even from this place-

-How come are you dressed up like that if you aren't a slave here?-

-I just can't explain that...-

-Well, if you can't... you're a slave or a thief who chose the wrong clothes to steal-

-You're right, I'm a thief-

-That explains a lot of things-

Malcom looked down as an idea was coming up.-This isn't your first race, right?-

-Of course not-

-In that case... any tip to survive?-

-Tip?-he laughed.-Well... we are from the same team after all, we are red-

-Exactly, and if you help me we can both win-

-Right... try to push the most persons from the other teams as possible-

-Isn't that trap?-

-Trap? Not in these races. It's "do or die"-

The kid gulped and started to shake his hands on fear. "Do or die"... he was dead, there was no doubt about it. He was starting to understand why his grandfather told him so many advices about the races. His only hope was that his grandfather appeared and helped him.

Another cart with a guy got into the room too. This time, Malcom wasn't able to see the driver's face because he had a really big helmet on.

Some trumpets suddenly were heard and one of the walls started to go up. The red-haired boy was doing his best to not scream. His was inside of the track! It was a bit similar to the ones on the horses' races from his times, but they were obviously more fatal. There were four teams: the red one, the white one, the blue one and the green one. Each of them had three carts with three drivers and two horses a cart. The kid didn't need to know a lot of math to realize that there wasn't enough space for all the carts on the track.

-MALCOM!-screamed Peabody and Emma at the same time

-Do you know the kid?-wondered Caesar

-What is he doing there? You said he was in the WABAC!-exclaimed Emma

-Well, he was some meters away from it! But anyway, he was still able to go to it with no problem!-

-What are we going to do now?-

The beagle turned to face Julius Caesar.-Your majesty, he is an eight years old kid, he can't be on the races, could you please stop this?-

-Is she going to make the glasses?-

-No! She can't do them!-answered the genius dog

-In that case, NO!-

-He is my brother! Help us!-shouted the girl

-No!-

The blonde girl looked down. She knew those chariot races were to "do or die", and Malcom didn't know anything about them! He was already dead. Perhaps she could save him... but no, she didn't know how to ride a horse either...

-Why not?-asked Augustus getting into the conversation.-Dad, help them! You can do that with only moving one finger!-

-Augustus! Don't treat me in that way! I'm your father!-

-Really? You never listen to me! And you're never my father!-

Emma sighed. Augustus decided to talk to his father when her brother was going to be killed. Great!

-I'm tired of this!-Julius went to the edge of the balcony.-LET'S START THE RACE!-he said moving the breadth of cloth

The girl gasped and looked at the king angrily. What a horrible person! She was starting to hate kings... she looked at the sides. There were many ropes which leaded to the place in which the persons were sat. And those places were REALLY closer to the track...

-I hate you!-screamed Augustus folding his arms

-We are leaving! Let's go, Emma...-he turned around.-Emma? Emma?-

Malcom started to breathe in and out every time faster. The race has started and he had no idea of what he was actually doing! He tried to ride the horses and take them to the right way but every time he tried, the horses were going faster and he was out of control.

-Good luck, Malcom!-screamed Lucius going away and faster than him. He obviously knew how to control the horses.

Malcom tried to follow him, but without even notice it, some other carts started to be closer to his one. The red-haired boy tried to ignore them, but the men seemed to be impossible to ignore, more when they started to hit Malcom's cart and were trying to push him out of the race.

-MALCOM!-screamed Peabody watching the scene completely desperate.-OH, MY!-he covered his eyes with his paws

-You are going to fall, little one!-screamed one of the drivers that was on his right

The young boy gulped. "Do or die" he thought. If he could only distract him!

-That's it!-he said having an idea.

He ducked and took one of his sandals and threw it to the driver's face. The sandal hit his face making Malcom laugh a bit.

-You'll pay for that!-he took his cart's reins and was completely decided to make Malcom crush

Suddenly, something jumped into the man's cart.

-Uh?-he asked watching to a little girl with a sword.-Ha! Is she one of your friends?-

-Emma?-asked her twin confused

-I'll kill you first!-said the driver putting off a knife that he had on his clothes

-What are you doing here?-questioned the boy again

-I?-the blonde girl said avoiding the drivers' attacks.-Why are YOU on this race?-she asked without even giving a lot of attention to the attacks

-Long story, a man found me, thought that I was a slave and brought me here!-

-How come...-she sighed.-Give me a second-with only two movements, the girl made the driver drop the knife off and she took It.-How come have you left him do that?!-

-He forced me to! Moreover he was with some soldiers! And what are you doing here?-

-I'm trying to save your life!-

-Aw! That means you care about me?-he asked presuming

The driver tried to take the knife but Emma hit his helmet with her sword and he finished unconscious.

-Don't presume so much-she jumped to the Malcom's cart.-I'm doing it because of our parents-

-Wow! I didn't know my sister knew karate!-

-Ha-ha!-she took one of the reins.-Could you focus? We must survive the seven rounds-

-Do you know how to ride this?-

-Not at all... but two are better than one, right?-

-Hey! Malcom is alive!-screamed Augustus to Mr. Peabody

He stopped covering his eyes.-Really?-

-Yes... but he is with...-

-EMMA!-

In the middle of the night, when the angels scream

I don't want to live a lie that I believe

Time to do or die

And the story goes on, on, on

That's how the story goes

Would Emma and Malcom survive the seven rounds without help? Will they win the race?

Find out on the next chapter...

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