Chapter 11
Maybeck and Charlene had searched all the classrooms but didn't find anything significant.
"Well, this is either good or really bad" said Maybeck.
"What do you mean?" Charlene asked.
"Think about it. If we didn't find Maleficent that could mean this whole was no big deal."
"Ok…but what's the really bad part?" He could tell Charlene was not following.
"If we didn't find anything that could also mean the rest of them probably did…" a saddened Maybeck realized.
"Check your phone!" Charlene said as she got hers. "I don't have any messages, do you? Maybeck?"
Maybeck had gone into a trance. He was reading the two texts he had gotten from Finn and one from Philby that said
Philby: GYM NOW!
"We gotta go!" Maybeck ran out of the classroom, grabbing Charlene and dragging her with him.
"Whaaat isssss goinnnng onnn" Charlene stuttered as they ran down the flights of stairs.
"They got Amanda and Willa" Maybeck said, not slowing down his pace.
"WHAT? Wait…that means I'm next" Charlene said. Maybeck froze at the bottom of the stairs. Charlene was probably right, he thought.
"Not on my watch" he said.
They made it to the corner of the gym, breathless, where they saw their friends. Philby was pacing and slammed his hand on the table, while Finn, with looks that could break anyone's heart, sat in a chair with his head down. Charlene swore she saw him shed a tear.
"What happened" Maybeck said starting to feel angry.
Charlene decided to take a calmer approach. She sat beside Finn, put her hand on his shoulder and asked softly "Finn, what happened? Where's Amanda?" She waited patiently for an answer along with Maybeck.
"I don't know" said Finn in a voice that confirmed Charlene's comment about him crying.
"We'll find her ok? And Willa too" She said looking over at Philby who looked as if he had been through the war and by some miracle got out alive.
Philby and Finn took turns telling them what happened. After about five minutes of depression, Charlene stood up and said "Ok, that's enough. Yeah I know you two are miserable and all but what about Amanda and Willa?" Finn and Philby exchanged startled glanced. "Come one…get off your butt and let's figure out what were gonna do about it."
"She's right. Well first off, how did they become DHI's anyway?" asked Finn looking at Philby, who was leaning with his head against the wall.
"Honestly, it's very possible. There not stupid for one thing, but what I don't understand is how Captain Hook could do the "all clear"."
"Unless….maybe they didn't download it correctly. Maybe there's a glitch" Charlene said. For the millionth time that night, the remaining Keepers stared at her.
"Charlene, no offence but, how the heck are you so brilliant tonight?" Philby asked. "I mean, you're not by any means dumb but, I, the geek, wouldn't have ever said that."
"Maybe that's because you're too smart. I just blurt out the obvious" she said, not missing a beat.
"Wow" said Maybeck "She told you" putting his hand in hers.
"So Philby, what do we do?" Finn said, feeling completely useless.
"Well I just so happen to have my laptop in the car. Hold on." Philby ran out to his car and returned second later. "I can hack into their system like I do ours and shut them off or maybe figure something else out."
"I have another idea…" Charlene said. All eyes turned to her as she was the most put together of them all. "Is it possible to electrocute them?" The eyes switched over to Philby who was deep in thought.
"I'm not entirely sure. It's possible since they aren't correctly downloaded by the looks of it, thank you Charlie…" She nodded and smiled "but it's a long shot" he sighed.
"It's worth a try" a suddenly more alive Finn said. "I'd do anything for Amanda and you guys."
"We know" smiled Charlene. But his comment made her come up with another idea. I'm on a roll tonight, she thought. "Hey, maybe that's what their after!" She said excitedly.
"What are you talking about Charlie?" Philby asked.
"The Overtakers know we'll do anything for each other, but it's an even stronger bond when they stole Amanda and Willa. I mean, look at you guys" she said as she pointed to Finn and Philby. "You guys look awful. I wonder if they're trying to get under your skin by stealing your girlfriends."
"That makes sense!" Philby said looking over at Finn to see if he agreed.
Finn stood up and swayed a little. It does make sense which makes my decision easier, he thought.
"Where do we start looking? How do we know if there even here?" Maybeck said losing all confidence.
"Well, we could try the tracking screen" smiled Philby.
"You've got to be kidding me" said Finn coming out of his trance. He thought his brain was going to explode. His thoughts went back to Amanda and the way she screamed. Finn knew what he had to do, but how could he with the others watching? Nobody was going to talk him out of it. No one.