With my heart pounding, I looked up at Ratigan in fear, knowing all too well that he wouldn't hesitate to carry out his threat.

"So…" he continued, leaning in close to my face. "Which is it to be, Miss Amber?"

I knew I had to answer fast. I didn't want to lure Basil into certain danger, but I also didn't want to be ripped to shreds. But suddenly a plan formed in my mind. I was a bit risky, and I wasn't even sure it that it would work. But as the familiar saying goes: desperate times call for desperate measures.

"I'm waiting," Ratigan growled impatiently.

I glared back at him angrily. Using all that rage and frustration that had been slowly building up inside of me, I took a deep breath…

And screamed at the top of my lungs.

….

Keeping to the shadows to avoid being seen, I stealthily crept along the stone walls. At least I was finally free from that cold, dank dungeon. Looking about my new surroundings, I observed that Ratigan had filled his new home with the finest riches, just as he had horded away the crown jewels in the sewers. The question of how he survived the fall still lingered in the back in my mind, along with how he had come into possession of a castle. Whatever the case I knew it could only have been gained by criminal means.

My thoughts were interrupted as a loud shriek echoed throughout the castle. I froze, my blood running cold as a feeling of dread came over me.

No….oh, please, no…please…!

I instantly sprinted in the direction the sound had come from, the thought of Amber being in peril giving flight to my steps.

….

Thankfully, my sudden outburst had the desired effect. The Professor recoiled from me, gritting his teeth and groaning as he covered his sensitive ears with both hands. I took that opportunity to rush past him and sprint down the hall.

However, I didn't get very far. Once Ratigan had recovered, probably with his ears still ringing from my scream, he immediately took off after me. I gasped as he grabbed me by the wrist. Wrenching my hand from his grasp, I backed away in fear, afraid that I had only succeeded in making him more mad.

"G-Get away from me!" I stammered as he reached toward me with both hands, barring his teeth savagely. I backed away, my heart feeling like it was going to beat right out of my chest, until I bumped up against a small table underneath a stained glass window. The moonlight shining through throwed multicolored splotches of light on Ratigan's face, causing his features to appear even more grotesque as he growled dangerously.

Suddenly that furious anger I felt earlier returned to me as I found myself trapped again. I was tired of being the victim here; it was time to fight back. I cast about for anything to defend myself with, and seized the closest thing to me: a golden candlestick. Grabbing the candle from the table behind me, I held it in my hands like a baseball bat and swung it at the Professor's head with all my might.

I was rewarded with the sound of a loud clang! Ratigan just stood there for a moment, as if unable to process what had just happened. Seconds later, his eyes rolled back in his head, and with a groan, he crumbled to the floor in a heap.

I stood rooted to the spot in shock, my hands stinging from the impact of the candlestick colliding with the rat's skull. I dropped the makeshift weapon in horror as if it were a snake, having no idea that I possessed the strength to bring down someone three times my size. Finally snapping out of it, I cautiously edged around the Professor's fallen form. Remembering the set of keys that would free Basil, I slowly bent down next to the fallen rat and searched his inside coat pocket, holding my breath in anticipation and expecting him to jump up and grab me at any given moment. However, Ratigan remained perfectly still, knocked out cold. Wasting no more time, I quickly snatched the keys from his pocket and fled the scene as fast as my legs could carry me.

I continued to make my way through the castle, frequently glancing back over my shoulder as I was afraid of being recaptured. Soon I came to grand staircase which I hastily descended, pausing at the bottom to make sure the coast was clear. I wondered which way I should go. It was either continue straight ahead, or turn to the left or right.

But before I could come to a decision, I heard more guards coming down the hall towards me. Before I could run, suddenly a hand was clapped over my mouth and strong arms grabbed me from behind, dragging me backward under the staircase out of the sight of the guards as they passed by. With my back to the wall, I glanced up at my captor, who appeared to be one of Ratigan's guards. No, I won't be captured again! I thought as I began to fight, thrashing about wildly.

"No, no, no, calm down!" the mouse, who's face was shrouded in a hood, whispered urgently. But I ignored him, still frantically trying to get away. Finally he removed his hand from my mouth and quickly threw back his hood. "Amber, stop! It's me!"

I looked up at the mouse and instantly froze in place, hardly able to believe my eyes.

"B-Basil?" I whispered breathlessly.

He nodded and smiled, lessening his grip on me now that I had stopped thrashing about in his arms. With a soft cry of relief, I wrapped my arms around his torso as he pulled me into tight embrace. We stood there like that for several moments, just filled with relief that we were finally together. No locked doors separating us, no one to pull us apart.

Basil was the first to speak. "I'm sorry I startled you," he whispered, keeping his voice down so as not to alert anyone of our presence.

I laughed quietly. "No, I understand; you just didn't want to alert the guards." Resting my head against his chest as he stroked my hair softly, I could feel his heart beating rapidly. He had been running for his life after all, and must be exhausted. I looked up at him with concern. Ratigan had said no more harm would come to him, but I examined his face carefully for any more scratches or bruises. "Are you ok?" I asked concernedly.

"I'm alright, darling," he replied. "I'm just glad you're safe. I heard screaming, and I thought-" He placed a hand on my cheek and looked at me worriedly, examining me as if searching for any sign of injury. "Are you alright? Did that rat hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine, I promise," I assured him, taking his hands in mine. "He was… he was actually very nice for the most part. We had dinner, and he played the harp. He's… lonely. That's why he wanted me to join him."

"Well, kidnapping isn't exactly the best method to seek companionship," Basil remarked with a frown.

I nodded in agreement, though I did still feel a little pity for the Professor. To change the subject, I placed my hands on Basil's shoulders and looked up at him with a smile. "I knew you'd find some way to escape."

A warm smile broke out on his face, and I was delighted to see the old mischievous twinkle return to his eyes. "I actually have Fidget to thank for that," he said with a chuckle.

"Really?" I asked with a quiet laugh. "What happened?"

"I'll tell you on the way," Basil replied, casting a quick glance around. "Right now we need to keep moving." I nodded in understanding. The longer we stayed in one place, the more likely we would be discovered. Once he made sure that the coast was clear, Basil took me by the hand and quickly led me out from behind the staircase and down the hallway straight in front of us. As we walked, Basil told me how he managed to escape by distracting Fidget and using a pin to pick the locks. I smiled fondly; that mouse never ceased to amaze me.

"I'm sure Ratigan must be giving the poor bat a stern lecture for his mistake," Basil remarked.

I blushed embarrassedly. "Actually, Ratigan's probably taking a nap at the moment."

Basil looked at me in confusion, and I related to him how my sudden outburst had stunned Ratigan temporarily, and how when he chased me I had to resort to bashing him in the head with the candlestick. Basil got a kick out of that, trying his best not to burst out laughing. "Haha, it sounds like you had quite an adventure yourself!" he chuckled quietly. "I wish I had been there to see-" he froze suddenly, letting out a small gasp, and then pulled me to the side behind a large column. "Drat," he muttered under his breath.

I nervously peeked around his shoulder and saw just what had caused him alarm. Six guards were coming our way, then stopped and stood talking together. We couldn't return the way we came or remain hidden because they would be sure to see us, yet there was no alternative route to get around them. We certainly couldn't fight them.

"What do we do?" I whispered anxiously.

Basil surveyed the area carefully, racking his brain for a plan. "I'm out of bullets," he remarked, pulling a gun from his belt. "Though I could use it as a club… I could distract them long enough for you to get away-"

"No!" I hissed, latching onto his arm tight, afraid that he would dash off before I could stop him. "We've come this far, and there's no way I'm leaving without you!"

Basil looked helplessly from me to the guards, then back to me. Then an idea seemed to strike him. Taking my face in his hands, he looked me straight in the eyes. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course," I replied. A small smile appeared, and I saw that familiar sort of crazed look that came into his eyes whenever he had a particularly outrageous plan…

Author's Note: Finally, Chapter 10 is done! Haha so sorry for the long wait. (stupid writer's block) .

Yep, I got tired of being the damsel in distress. Poor Ratigan though... he's gonna have one heck of a headache XD

And at last, we're finally reunited. It's about freakin' time! I think that's the part that gave me the most trouble with this chapter. I was trying to make it a touching scene without it being sappy. I know, no kiss yet, but I wanted to save that for the end ^_^

I wonder what's ticking inside that crazy brain of Basil's? Well, I know of course, but you guys will just have to wait and see! Mwahahaha... Heh I'll try not to keep you waiting so long. I know I always say that, but I'll really try to update soon! =)