Rough times, part 2
(Day 20) (9:42 AM) (Sanctuary) (12 hours remaining)
Clyde was crying, how could he live like this? He could not keep this lie inside him any longer; he knew someone was going to find out sooner or later, especially Blu and when he does, it would not be pleasant and it could leave a lasting impression to everyone for a very long time. Heck, Blu might even try to kill him; so Clyde thought about leaving all together and never return but before he went with the idea, Blu flew down and landed to where Clyde was.
"Clyde…what's wrong" Blu asked, the Blue Macaw was calm now and he was curious at the Red-crested Cardinal for leaving so suddenly. He thought it was because Clyde had never seen him so angry before. Blu was out of control back there, never had he been so aggressive, especially towards his own friends.
"I don't think you should know, Blu, you wont…" Clyde said softly.
"I won't what?" Blu asked
"You wont like it" Clyde retorted
"You can tell me anything Clyde, you are my friend and you think what you might say is far worse than what I just found out?" Blu said, he had no idea who the bird in front of him really was.
"I knew you would say that…sit down Blu, I thought I would never have to tell you about this but"
(Song: Good Charlotte – Hold on)
"This is the story of a boy…who loved birds…he loved them so much that he drew them whenever he had the chance. His name was Andrew"
This world
This world is cold
But you don't
You don't have to go
"But his father took everything away from him and he was forced to hunt the very thing he loved the most. His father killed the boy's mother at a very young age."
You're feeling sad, you're feeling lonely, and no one seems to care
"Soon, both of them went to a rainforest together and caught a lot of birds, and there was one that got both of their interests. It was a rare Baby Blue Spix Macaw and the mother was no where to be found. So they both caught all the birds including the Blue Macaw and when the mother returned, Andrew was forced to shoot the mother."
Your Mother's gone and your father hits you
(Both Clyde and Blu's mother's) (Clyde's father beating on his son)
"Soon, they sold all the birds and Left Rio to live in Los Angeles, Andrew had changed dramatically as years went by that he to became the same way his father did."
This pain you cannot bear
But we all bleed the same way as you do
And we all have the same things to go through
"And Andrew forgot everything he used to like, he was taught to hate birds and mistreat them like trash"
Hold on, if you feel like letting go
Hold on, it gets better than you know
"So one day, Andrew went to school and he had a nightmare, he dreamed himself being the very thing he hated for so many years, a bird."
Blu was getting interested after Clyde talked about the dream.
Your days
You say they're way too long
And your nights
You can't sleep at all
Hold on…
"So Andrew began to remember how his life was before his dramatic change but his father revealed to his son that he killed his mother. Andrew ran away and wanted to find more answers, so he got a flight to Rio de Janeiro where he met a woman by the name Linda."
And you're not sure what you're waiting for, but
You don't want to know more
And you're not sure what you're looking for, but
You don't want to know more
"Linda took Andrew to the sanctuary, the sanctuary used to be where He and his father would exchange the animals to a man by the name Diego."
Blu remembered the man who was called Diego; he remembered how Diego was a taxidermist and how he stuffed some of the animals killed by most of the poachers. He also remembered his mother's corpse on top of the TV. Blu began to shed some tears but he wondered how Clyde knew about Diego, he thought Clyde knew about Andrew through Miller, who explained it a few minutes ago.
But we all bleed the same way as you do
And we all have the same things to go through
"Linda introduced Andrew to Tulio and showed him all the birds in the sanctuary, Andrew began to forget about finding answers and instead steal the Rare Blue Spix Macaw that was living there."
Hold on if you feel like letting go
Hold on it gets better than you know
Don't stop looking, you're one step closer
Don't stop searching, it's not over
Hold on…
"So Andrew figured out a plan to steal the Blue Macaw, he stole Tulio's house key and when it was late at night, Andrew got inside the Sanctuary with a cage and went to find something to lure the Macaw to the cage."
What are you looking for?
What are you waiting for?
Do you know what you're doing to me?
Go ahead… what are you waiting for?
"So Andrew found a recorder and played it to get the Macaw to where he was; his plan was working and he put the Macaw into a cage and locked it. One of the birds must have heard the Macaw's plea for help because a toucan was called to help."
Hold on if you feel like letting go
Hold on it gets better than you know
"Andrew alerted his presence to Linda and Tulio and he ran out the door with his prize but not before the toucan flew into his left leg, causing him to drop the cage and writhe in pain"
Don't stop looking, you're one step closer
Don't stop searching, it's not over
"And as the toucan was helping his friend, the human took out his pistol and aimed it at the toucan but the Macaw made him miss and they both got out of the weapons range in time"
Hold on if you feel like letting go
"But…the human was confronted by an unnatural force and was transformed into a Red-crested Cardinal"
Hold on it gets better than you know
"The cardinal was taken inside the house to be treated where he was confronted by the toucan and both formed a mutual hatred towards one another"
Blu's eyes suddenly shot out, was Clyde making this up? He couldn't have…every detail was so perfect! But Blu thought Clyde was accidently brought into the situation randomly. How could a human turn into an animal? It is just impossible, Clyde couldn't have been the killer, he was one of the least people expected to be
"So you see Blu, my name is not Clyde…I am Andrew"
Hold on…
(Song end)
"Andrew...?" Blu said
Clyde just turned his head slightly the other way, he knew that name made the Blue Macaw's heart hurt.
(Song: Indigo Prophecy: Main Theme)
"No...you can't be Andrew...you just cant be" Blu retorted
"Listen Blu, I was the one who killed your mother, I was indeed transformed into a bird and I am Andrew" Clyde tried to convince Blu but the Macaw had his doubts
"But how, there's no way" Blu was interrupted by Clyde
"You know Rafael hit Andrew's left leg right? Well, my left leg was injured in the same fashion as Andrew's was." Clyde answered
"That does not explain how you became a bird" Blu retorted
"i was transformed by Dionysus, God of nature; after i tried to shoot Rafael, he turned me into a bird, that was my punishment." Clyde explained
"That's just ridiculous; do you expect me to believe a human...can turn into a bird, it's just biologically impossible" Blu said to the Red -Crested Cardinal
Clyde then tried one final attempt to make the Blue Spix Macaw believe
"No Blu, I expect you to see, look into my eyes, what do you see?" Clyde asked Blu, the Macaw stepped closer and looked at the cardinal's eyes.
"I see the color brown?" Blu said
"Look closer, much closer Blu, do my eyes remind you of someone?" Clyde asked
Blu inspected and inspected until he realized, Clyde's eyes were exactly the same as Andrew's. He remembered how Andrew had those dark brown eyes, the eyes of a killer, the eyes of evil, and the eyes of contempt. He realized Clyde also had the same fashion this whole time. Clyde had the eyes of a killer. Blu took a step back; he became convinced that his friend was his mother's killer and his captor. His eyes widened with fear and his breathing accelerated.
"No…no…no…no…you can't be…." Blu said, taking a step back but the Cardinal also took a step towards him, Blu did not like this.
"I am Andrew, Blu, I am sorry" Clyde said softly
"But…all this time…I thought you were just…" Blu said, he kept taking steps back until his back was against a wall.
"Like everybody else?" Clyde said, cutting off Blu.
Blu just stood there motionless and he felt as though his heart had stopped for a few seconds and looking into the eyes of Clyde somehow felt worse than seeing Nigel's very own. Clyde took a few steps back to give Blu some air.
"If I could go back in time, I would have stop myself from killing your mother, Blu" Clyde said
"Were you thinking about that when I was teaching you how to fly?" Blu said, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks, He began to get dangerously close to the cardinal, he was angry now.
Nothing could stop Blu from keeping a short distance from Clyde but the Cardinal tried his best to assure Blu that he was a different person, but to no avail.
"I was thinking I deserved being what I hated most; it taught me so many things, how corrupt my mind was and how many people actually cared about me. I regret killing all those birds." Clyde said
Blu just stood there; it was quiet for a few seconds, the wind was setting up the climax of the mood.
"All…this time I thought you were one of us, why would you do such a thing, after all we have done for you!" Blu shouted
"Blu, I changed, inside and outside, you have to believe me" Clyde told Blu
"You MURDERED MY MOTHER, THEN TRIED TO KILL ME? all this time i thought you were just one of us!" Blu screamed
"No BlU! you don't understand, i wanted to sell you after i got you in the cage, but i can assure you this is" Clyde was cut off
"Your not my friend! your not welcomed here! Leave!" Blu finished
Clyde just stood there for a few seconds, Blu's anger was enough to convince him, Clyde took a few steps back and then walked to the nearby forest away from the 15 acre sanctuary . Blu made sure he kept walking, the Blue Macaw then returned to Jewel, tears swelled in his eyes.
Pedro and Nico heard everything, they themselves could not believe it but the evidence was so accurate from what had happened during the incident and what Mr. Miller had said. They followed Clyde and found that he did not hear their yells to stop.; Rafael found them and landed next to them.
"where is Clyde?" Rafael asked
"we don't know, he was here with Blu" Pedro said
"hes got to be around here" Rafael said to Pedro
"listen Rafael...I don't think your going to like this, cause we heard everything they said" Nico said to Rafael
"whats wrong?" Rafael asked
"well...Clyde is really Andrew..." Nico had said
"what, i don't understand Nico..." Rafael said
"we will explain on the way" Pedro said, trying to find Clyde.
Minutes later, Clyde found a cliff to sit on, he was crying also, he felt Blu's misery. He never thought animals had such a connection between their loved ones, he used to believe it only happened with humans. Soon, the three birds found him, Pedro did not know what to feel. He just found out, the bird he made friends with and taught how to dance was a cold blooded killer. Rafael had just found out himself, although he was not angry, he thought about the whole situation. He knew Clyde had changed so much in these past seventeen days. Clyde was Originally going to dance with Pedro and Nico at the party that was going to start very soon but he felt as thought it was time for him to leave, forever.
"Clyde!" Pedro yelled
"leave me alone guys, I'm not going to the party." Clyde said coldly.
"Clyde please...let us help you deal with this." Nico said
"I can deal with it myself" Clyde answered
"but Clyde, you need help if you are going to solve this problem of yours" Rafael said to the young Cardinal
"and how do you guys know about this?" Clyde asked
"we came looking for you and we heard you and Blu" Pedro said
A small silence followed what Pedro said, Clyde just stood there quietly; he turned around, opposite of everyone else and then said
"so you guys know i am the killer now, how can you possibly help me? I have caused enough pain as it is" Clyde said softly
"because everybody needs help sometime, you cant do this alone Clyde, you need friends to help you with this" Rafael said
"Why did you guys suddenly get involved in my problem?" Clyde retorted
"because we want to help you, we are your friends Clyde, we don't care what you used to do, the fact is, you changed; you aren't the human killer that tried to sell Blu a few weeks ago, you have learned so much these past few days, you grew a conscience." Rafael said
Clyde began walking back and forth
"But...killing all those birds, selling some to places where they would never see sunlight again, how could you all possibly still be friends with me?" Clyde said
"because we are a family, all of us; we take care of one another, we make sure everyone is happy the way they are supposed to be" Pedro answered
"I don't think i could ever be one of you...I have caused enough pain" Clyde said softly.
"oh Clyde, you still don't understand, everybody does stupid things, but that does not mean they can't start over again" Rafael said, the toucan walked over to Clyde and put a wing on the cardinal's shoulder.
"i understand enough! Surely not even Neptune's mighty oceans could clean my bloodstained hands, I have killed so many; Their is nothing you can do for me! leave me alone!" Clyde said shoving Rafael away. Rafael stood there, he was upset that Clyde became the arrogant human he was so suddenly but he knew Clyde couldn't do this alone
"come on Rafael, lets go" Nico said
"Rafael, he needs some time alone" Pedro told Rafael.
"Very well, lets go" Rafael agreed.
The three birds took flight but Pedro stayed behind for a moment and told clyde
"if there is anything you need help with, you know we are there to help..." Pedro said before returning to the others.
Clyde just sat on the cliff, he was thinking about what they had said to him, with all he had done, he had friends that still cared about him. Regardless of what he had done to all the birds in the past. It was not because they forgave him easily, it was because they loved him like a brother and no matter what he did, they would not think otherwise. They had given him a home, taught him so many things that opened his heart and mind. Even finding out he was the killer could not break their brotherly bond with him.
Clyde just sat there quietly thinking over and over what they had said
Meanwhile…
(Day 20) (10:23 AM) (The Montero Residence) (12 hours remaining)
"Guys! Hurry up! Im going to be late for my first game!" Fernando yelled while walking aimlessly across the front hall.
"You have everything you need?" Tulio asked
"Yup, come on, lets go" Fernando said
"I have a bad feeling about this" Linda said entering the front hall, she was suspicious about the whole conversation with Miller.
"About?" Tulio asked
"Leaving the animals alone, I am afraid something bad is going to happen again" Linda said
"Linda…not this again…Don't worry, nothing will happen to them" Tulio tried to convince her
"That was Miller, a man responsible for stealing and poaching, why woudlent he want to come here to steal all the bird's. I am sorry Tulio but I am not coming this time." Linda said
Tulio walked over to her, he wrapped his arms around her and then said
"Its okay, I understand, you can stay here with them but be careful, and I love you Linda" Tulio said before kissing her cheek, she gladly returned the kiss.
"I love you too, Tulio…" Linda said softly
"Be safe" Tulio said while following Fernando to the car
"Bye Linda" Fernando said leaving the front door.
They both left, leaving Linda alone with the birds. She went to the kitchen and got something to drink from the cabinet and sat down on the couch with a glass and drank slowly. She was relaxed; all her tense began to lift up little by little. She was already exhausted because she hardly slept these past few days. Her eyes began to close little by little until she could not have them open any longer and then, she drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile…
Miller was waiting with the cages for the all clear; he was in the bushes adjacent to the house. The moment he saw Tulio and Fernando leave; he set up the cages and waited for Linda to show up but she never did and Miller found this to be a problem for the mission, so he took out his cell phone and called Marcel.
Meanwhile…
(Day 20) (11:23 Am) (Soccer field) (11 hours remaining)
Marcel and Fernando were hidden in the crowd in the soon to begin soccer game. Most of the players were still getting ready for the game so Fernando had time to get ready himself before the game started.
"Are they there yet? Marcel?" Miller asked through the phone.
Marcel was about to respond until he saw a familiar vehicle enter the parkway, the engine stopped and the door opened to reveal Fernando and Tulio.
"Yes…I will tell you when we have Fernando" Marcel answered, he turned off his phone to see Fernando reunite with his team, Tulio went to the bleachers where he sat down and waited for the game to begin. Fernando and his team were discussing their gameplan. Meanwhile, a familiar Porsche 911 was parked nearby, in it contained the investigator known as Jorge Castillo. Having reviewed some evidence, Jorge came to the conclusion that it was indeed Fernando; fingerprint scan showed that it was the eight year old dark skinned boy who helped the smugglers out with the aid of Tulio and Linda. Now he silently waited for the game to end so he could catch them red handed.
The game started and the opposite team took the first turn with Fernando's team right behind them, Fernando jumped towards the aggressor but failed and he fell to the floor. The opposite team was the first to score, Fernando immediately became frustrated but his father yelled at him.
"Its only one score! Don't let one score ruin your fun!" Tulio shouted
"Right…gotta concentrate!" Fernando said
The boy was speeding now, the opposite team almost made it in again only to have it taken by Fernando. With the ball now in their possession, Fernando quickly went to the opposite teams goal post and scored and Cheers roared throughout the park.
90 minutes passed and the title went to Fernando's team, thanks to 4 points scored by Fernando himself, the opposite team only had one goal and left defeated. Fernando went to the nearby restroom to wash up from all the perspiration from the game. This gave Marcel, Armando and Jorge Castillo their chance to apprehend the boy. Jorge went first to Tulio though, who was still sitting while the crowds dispersed and took their kids home.
"Your son has potential, he is a very skilled soccer player" Jorge said to Tulio
"Oh…thank you Mr." Tulio stopped mid sentence to investigate the man and his sunglasses.
"Oh…forgive me; I am Jorge Castillo, the man who is investigating the case about the Polinter De Queimados prison incident, we met a few days ago, remember?" Jorge said to the tall, thin man.
"Oh yes, the fine gentlemen who…" Tulio was quickly cut off by Castillo
"Listen Mr. Montero, why did you free those smugglers?" Castillo asked he was calm; he wanted this to be easy for Tulio.
"What are you talking about, are you accusing me of breaking into a smelly jail?" Tulio retorted.
"Take a look at this Mr. Montero" Castillo said, he gave Tulio the papers indicating the matching finger prints with the ones at the jail.
"I don't understand" Tulio said
"Mr. Montero, you committed a Federal crime, but I want to know why, I am very curious why you bailed these smugglers out of this prison" Castillo asked
"okay I confess, please don't take me to jail, I am…truly very sorry for committing such a crime, we were not thinking straight but I can assure you we will find these smugglers for you and…" Tulio was again cut off
"Why" Castillo enforced his word this time, and you could see how desperate he was to know about the case.
"It was because of a rare toucan we had to rescue, it was going to be sold out, we had to save this creature, and we had no choice!" Tulio spit out
"Explain more, why this particular bird?" Castillo asked
"This man…he made a proposition to get his son out jail in exchange for the toucan but…something went wrong and the other two must have escaped also." Tulio explained
"So you broke out three dangerous criminals for a toucan?" Castillo said
"Listen its not what you think, this creature was endangered!" Tulio said
"What kind of Toucan was it Mr. Montero?" Castillo asked.
"A…Keel-billed toucan" Tulio answered
"Do you take me for a fool? Those birds are not endangered; you are coming with me to the station." Castillo finished as he took out his handcuffs.
Meanwhile…
Marcel and Armando were quietly entering the restroom; the sound of running water gave them some cover. Fernando was washing his face at the sink, when he raised his head and noticed his towel was not where he left it, he turned around to see…
"Oh hello, Fernando…is this your towel?" Marcel asked
Fernando gasped but was grabbed and quickly restrained and taken out of the restroom
The Investigator was about to cuff Tulio until the man shouted out
"Fernando!" Tulio said
"Is that your son?" Castillo said when he noticed the boy tied up and being taken to the back of a truck.
"Let me go! Those are the smugglers! I remember their faces!" Tulio said
(Song: Modern warfare 2 – Favela Theme)
"You stay here Mr. Montero, I will call backup so they come take you to the station" Castillo said, the investigator ran to his Porsche but forgot to handcuff Tulio. He turned on the ignition and noticed the thin man sitting next to him.
"I am coming with you" Tulio said with anger
"How did you…never mind, hang on" Castillo said
The truck was already hitting speeds of 60 miles per hour with the Porsche right behind them.
"uhh Marcel, I think someone is following us" Armando said
"Who?" Marcel asked
"I think it's that scientist guy and some cop!" Armando said
"Be sure that boy doesn't fall off the truck" Marcel said
Marcel accelerated and eventually it became a high speed chase that quickly involved a few accidents down the road, Marcel had his eyes set on the smaller roads, the smaller the road the harder it is to find them. Favelas usually were crowded in the smaller streets.
The Porsche was literally bumper to bumper with the truck, this impact forced Marcel to hit his head on the Steering wheel with some blood coming out of his forehead, nonetheless he continued his current course. The Porsche showed sighs of damage on the front; Castillo kept his speed and watched out for any pedestrians on the sidewalks.
But unfortunately, two people were in the middle of the street, two small boys.
"Shit kids! Move!" Marcel said honking the horn
But the kids could not hear it enough; the speed of which the truck was going made it seem like a second, Marcel turned the steering wheel and made the truck tip over. The boys heard this and with enough thinking, they ran out of harms way. The extent of damage on the truck was imminent, a fire sparked and soon, the truck would be a ticking time bomb.
"Get Fernando and follow me!" Marcel yelled getting out of the opposite door.
Armando grabbed Fernando and followed.
The Porsche had to stop, they had gone in an ally way and the extent of damage on the engine had taken its toll; the Porsche would never go on the road, again. Then, the truck had exploded in numerous shards, going everywhere and almost hitting Tulio, Castillo and Tulio took cover behind the now defunct Porsche.
"dammit, now what?" Tulio said
"Plan B, follow me" Castillo said, both them evaded some of the falling debris and found the pathway the smugglers took. he took out his m9 and had it on safety but threatened to shoot if these smugglers showed any sights of threat. Tulio followed, both were running at top speeds of 14 - 16 miles per hour. The smugglers knew they were still being followed but luckily, there was a huge crowd ahead.
"Excuse me! Excuse me!" Marcel said bumping into people
They kept bumping into people until it soon became impossible to even move, with Castillo and Tulio right behind them, the Smugglers only had one choice left. They entered what seemed to be someone's house and used their second floor to get to the rooftop and Castillo and Tulio followed.
"Excuse me! Sorry!" Tulio said almost running into the family's mealtime.
"Over here, you idiot!" Castillo said
Both got to the rooftop like the Smugglers and the breaking sunlight almost blinded both of them, it was searing hot on these metal platforms so tripping on one of these platforms would be a big mistake. Some of these platforms connected most houses to each other so it was fairly easy to traverse across the Favela. Marcel and Armando knew they were close to their hideout, Marcel left a second vehicle by the hideout so all they needed to do was leave Fernando and head back to the sanctuary. But it was still a bit far to get too so the chase would just intensify.
"Batente! Policia!" Castillo said in Portuguese.
"Stop! I demand you to stop! Give me back my son!" Tulio shouted
"Fat chance" Armando said, Fernando was struggling through Armando's grasp
"Shut up idiot and keep running" Marcel said
Then, the pathways eventually lead to a dead end
"What do we do now?" Armando asked
"Were here! Just jump!" Marcel said
"But But!" Armando hesitated
"You idiot! Jump now!" Marcel shouted
Armando jumped with Fernando still in his grasp, but he landed hard on the ground and dropped Fernando. Castillo stopped and saw them recovering from the fall.
"Come on! We can use the stairs" Castillo said
They got inside yet another person's home, who was playing wii fit, and forcefully got their way downstairs to where the rest of this family was watching International Soccer on their T.V.
"Sorry!" Tulio said
"There just around the corner!" Castillo said
When they turned right, Marcel and Armando, including Fernando, were gone; they had disappeared but unbeknown to them, they were just down the passageway. Marcel shut the hideout's door and Nigel immediately recognized Fernando, he hissed at the young boy.
"Quickly Nigel, follow me, with them looking for Fernando, we can go to the sanctuary and get all the birds" Marcel said
Armando left Fernando in the room that used to house all the stolen birds, Castillo and Tulio were just a couple of yards away.
(Song end)
The smugglers left through the opposite door and got into a second truck where they went to see Miller at the Sanctuary. Castillo Forced his way inside the old hideout but found no one there. But Tulio heard sounds of struggle and he checked the other room to see Fernando. He went to his son to take off the tape on his mouth. Tulio must of pulled on the tape a little too hard, Fernando cursed at Tulio's carelessness.
"ow...Tulio" Fernando said
"i am sorry Fernando" Tulio said
Castillo checked everywhere for the smugglers but they were nowhere to be found
"where did the smugglers go?" Castillo asked
Fernando tried to remember what Marcel said, then his eyes widened and he shouted
"They used me! they are on there way to the sanctuary as we speak!" Fernando said
"what do you mean?" Tulio said
"I was a distraction!" Fernando concluded
"why would they want to..." Castillo did not finished because he realized the smugglers true intentions.
"Guys! Marcel is planning to steal all the birds from the sanctuary! We have to go back!" Fernando said
"We don't have much time then, we need to find another vehicle" Castillo said
"There's an old car we can hot wire, down the street!" Fernando suggested.
"and how do you know about that?" Castillo asked Fernando
"i used to...work for them" Fernando said
"i see...then lets get a move on..." Castillo finished
There was not much time left, Linda did not know about the imminent danger that was heading her way, all the birds had started dancing and Miller sat quietly in the bushes outside; showing his mischievous smile. Sitting, waiting for when the time was right to claim all the birds for himself, all those birds would soon be his.