Chapter 11: Going After Him

Penelope

Before we could really react, the Hearthside Girls and Perry's old governess shoved Heinz, Baljeet, Buford, and I into a secret room. It was small and cramped, but there was a small sliver of light through which I could still see into the room. Soldiers had come into the house… and they were looking for us.

They left after a little while and we were let out. I shoved ahead of the others and asked, "Where's Perry?"

"He wasn't captured by the soldiers, if that's what you're worried about," replied Perry's old governess.

"Then, where is he?"

She was quiet about this. When I did not get an answer from her, one of the Hearthside girls replied, "U.W.C.A. captured him."

"The Underground Without a Cool Acronym? What do they want with Perry?" I asked.

"It is likely that his debt to them has finally caught up with him," replied the governess.

"What debt? What will they do to him?" I asked. Silence.

"Miss Australis, it might be best if we get going while we still can. Perry can take care of himself," said Heinz.

"They're going to kill him, aren't they?" I asked.

He hung his head and said, "They might not, but if they don't, they have something much worse in mind."

"They know what he is afraid of and those people always use others' fears against them," replied the governess.

"Then, we have to go after him," I said.

Heinz grabbed my shoulder and said, "We can't. It's not safe. They outnumber us."

"Why are you so insistent on keeping me from helping? I am fully capable," I said.

"Perry asked me to get you to safety."

"Wh- why would he ask that?" I paused. "Never mind. I don't want the answer." I turned away, my eyes welling up with tears. I felt like a mess. I quickly recovered and turned back to Heinz. "I am going after him and you can't stop me."

Heinz then grabbed me, hoisted me into the air, and got me into a chokehold position. I had both of my hands on his arm, trying to free myself, but he also had a knife to my head. It might have been a meager weapon for killing humans, but it was certainly an ideal one for killing a small animal like me. My eyes widened in fear and Buford and Baljeet pulled out their weapons. They were ready to attack, if needs be. I put my hand out, gesturing them to stay back.

"Listen, you. You need to stay away," said Heinz.

I punched the man in the jaw and he let me go. He claimed to have bit his tongue when I punched him, but I could not bring myself to really sympathize with him at that moment. I did not stay long enough for him to catch me again. I went straight out the door and started running down the street.

"Hey! Stop!" called Heinz behind me. He was running towards me, but Buford and Baljeet were also there. They ran ahead of him.

"U.W.C.A. is not safe, Penelope! Please, come back!" called Baljeet.

"No!" I called back. I darted down an alley and made my way through the small passageways. I came out into another street and found a sewer cover. I knew I could not lift it by myself, but I also knew that the U.W.C.A. would be down there in the filth. Thankfully, there was an open grate nearby. A man was cleaning there. I hurried past him and slid down into the muck below.

I was scarcely in the water for a few seconds before I flailed out and onto the walkway. I bent over and felt my body heave, as if to throw up. Now is not the time, I thought. I took a few deep breaths and, upon hearing the boys still behind me, I started running once more.

The only bad part in this whole plan of mine is that I had no idea where I was going. I knew, generally, where they would be, but I did not know anything for certain. I had only heard about U.W.C.A. through rumors in the papers. I scarcely thought them to be real and I certainly never had the opportunity to interact with them.

I was alerted to where they were by the sounds of shouts. Noises of victory rang across the walls and another kind of call chilled me to the bone: a cry of terror. I never heard Perry scream before now, but I was certain it was him. I felt faint, both from the smell and from the idea that he was in danger. I felt my magic run through my blood and I felt a little stronger… and a little angrier. I gritted my teeth and ran until I met the group of underground men… or animals, rather. They were all around me and glared at me. I was afraid… but Perry's screams were getting more desperate. So, I did what I had to do.


Perry

When I awoke from the drug-induced stupor, I was chained inside a coffin. It was my size, I realized, and I tried to shake out of the chains. I knew what they meant to do to me… and I was not looking forward to it.

"Thought you could pull a fast one on us, eh? Mr. King?" It was Laban, the albino lizard. He was one of the leaders of U.W.C.A., especially since he had been taken from his home as a young kid. He and I were never on the best of terms when I was doing a good job, let alone now when I had been avoiding any more encounters with them. I had forgotten the consequences of that until they showed up.

"Laban. It is good to see you again, my friend," I replied.

He laughed. "Friend?! I am no friend to a LIAR!" he screamed.

"Yes, I lied to you. Where were we going with this?" I asked.

"You have been shirking your duties to us. You have been avoiding us. You have been playing on both sides of the fence, but no more!" I felt the coffin jerk downwards. I looked and realized the coffin was attached to chains. Laban pushed the coffin back with his foot and I yelped involuntarily when I realized I was over a hole.

I tried to put on a neutral face or even a façade of bravery, but I still had a quiver in my voice when I asked, "What do you intend to do to me?"

"Simple. We intend to bury you alive!" he and the others were laughing and calling out in cries of victory. I felt my heart trying to beat out of my chest and I struggled harder against the chains. It was no use. They were too strong.

The chains holding the coffin up let go and I was dropped into the hole. It was only a few feet deep, but it was certainly too deep for me to jump out of if I were free. My breathing picked up as my fear started to take over me.

I remembered the cave-in with Heinz. I remembered how helpless I was, how slow death had been coming to me. I must be fated for a slow death. I saw creatures above me shoveling dirt into the hole. I started thrashing and screaming as loud as I could. I did not care how cowardly I seemed, because, when it came to this… I could not be anything else.

The dirt was coming in fast. My fear made the hole seem deeper, the walls were closing in, and the chains keeping me down felt heavier. I noticed tears coming down my cheeks as I continued to thrash helplessly against the chains. It was no use. All I could do was keep my head up for as long as I could until… they stopped.

I looked up and saw them putting something heavy over the hole. "No! Please!" I cried. I was sealed in. My breaths were coming shorter. I would die here, wouldn't I? I would suffocate or hyperventilate, whichever came first.

This was it, wasn't it? I looked up and all around in the darkness. I heard them above, vaguely. I felt my tears coming stronger now. "I'm sorry. I am so sorry," I sobbed. Perhaps I should have focused more on escaping or on my anger or fear. Instead, my thoughts went to my regrets. "I am sorry I have been so blind. I am sorry I ignored people for so long. I am sorry that this is the road I felt I needed to take." I laughed bitterly. "Yes, stopping evil with more evil… well, it sounded like a good plan at the time." More tears rolled down my cheeks. "I am especially sorry that I am going to die without ever telling Penelope the truth." I sniffed. I felt weak from my struggles. I noticed it was quiet above me. "Yes, go on! Leave me to die," I muttered quietly. I let my body slouch into the soil. It slowly came around me to consume me. Then, something happened…


Cliffhanger! I'll try to get the next chapter done as soon as I can, but keep in mind that I will also be posting for my other stories as well. I don't want to post for one story and neglect the others. They all deserve a chance. So, please keep reading and reviewing, thanks :)