Macavity had set Cori on fixing all of the cars. Cori sighed as he examined an engine. He slowly looked to the side, seeing a hench-cat standing near him. It had been almost three weeks here, he was covered in a few cuts and bruises from speaking out or fighting, but other than that…he just wanted to go home. Cori slowly reached out, grabbing a tyre-iron. Cori quickly swung the tyre-iron around, catching the hench-cat around the knee. There was a loud crunch and the hench-cat screamed, falling to the ground. The other hench-cats converged on Cori. Cori swung the tyre-iron around, catching a few of the hench-cats sides, shattering ribs. He heard a click behind him and turned around. He froze, tyre-iron in air, as he was faced with the barrel of a gun. Macavity was holding it, his silver eyes furious as he pointed the gun in between Cori's eyes.
"Drop it," Macavity hissed. Cori did that and the tyre-iron fell to the ground with a loud clang. Cori was still staring at Macavity, his green eyes wide. Macavity finally lowered the gun. Macavity grabbed the front of Cori's shirt, yanking him forward.
"You fool," Macavity hissed before throwing him into the arms of waiting, and angry, hench-cats.
"Remember, I want him alive," Macavity said before leaving the room. Cori glanced around at the hench-cats and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of their furious faces. His eyes widened as a hench-cat moved to stand in front of him, the ones holding Cori laughed darkly.
Macavity walked down the hallway, hearing Coricopat's screams echo. Bombalurina was waiting for him by his office door. Her ear was twitching as she listened to the screams.
"What did he do?" Bomba asked as she followed Macavity into his office and collapsing into his lap.
"Shattered one of my hench-cat's knee, shattered a few ribs, with a tyre-iron," Macavity muttered darkly, running his paws up Bombalurina's sides. Bomba leaned down, kissing his lips. Macavity purred but pushed her off. Bombalurina frowned.
"Not now," He growled. Bombalurina settled herself down in his lap.
"What are you going to do now, babe?" Bomba purred.
"Ring Munkustrap," Macavity laughed. "We're ready for him now," Bomba nodded.
"How do you feel about seeing Munkustrap's daughter again?" Macavity asked, trailing his paw up Bomba's thigh.
"Why?"
"You pull her out of school, the school calls Munkustrap saying that she missed a class, Munkustrap will call her and find out where she is…and you give him a note from me," Macavity explained.
"Where am I supposed to take her?" Bomba asked. "For milkshakes or something?" Though that question was meant to be sarcastic, Macavity grinned and nodded.
"Exactly,"
Jemima frowned as she walked out of the school building at recess and saw Bombalurina standing by the gates, being hit on by some of the older Toms. Bombalurina saw Jemima and waved. Jemima looked at Electra, Etcetera, Vicky, Tumble and Pounce.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up," Jemima told them as they went to go to their spot. They nodded and walked off. Jemima walked down the path and towards Bomba.
"Bomba…what are you doing here?" Jemima asked. The older Toms looked at Jemima, shocked that she knew that gorgeous red queen.
"To get you, sweetie," Jemima took a step back.
"No, no, just to talk, baby girl, how about we go get a milkshake?" Bombalurina tried. Jemima gave a small nod. Maybe she could help Cori by going and talking to Bomba, maybe she could help her dad. She left with Bombalurina, leaving the drooling Toms behind. They walked to a café near the school. Bombalurina looked to Jemima.
"So, chocolate or strawberry?" She questioned. Jemima was slightly taken aback.
"Um, chocolate," Jemima said, embarrassed. Bombalurina smiled, turning to the cashier.
"Two large chocolate milkshakes, darl," Bomba ordered, making the tom cashier blush furiously. He quickly brought them over and Bomba and Jemima sat outside in the sun. Bombalurina looked at Jemima.
"So, how's school?" She asked.
"Okay," Jemima answered slowly. Bombalurina looked at Jemima questioningly.
"What's bothering you, darlin'?" Bomba asked, sipping her milkshake.
"What's happening to Coricopat?" Jemima asked simply. Bombalurina froze, resting the drink back down onto the table.
"N-Nothing, dear," Bombalurina said calmly, trying not to remember what Cori had looked like when they had dragged him through the hallways.
"He does what he's told then he's treated just fine," Bombalurina told her. Jemima nodded.
"Tantomile misses him," Jemima said softly, resting her drink down. "She can't stand to be left alone…Admetus has been staying with her," Bombalurina nodded. Jemima looked down as she heard her ring-tone coming from her bag. She dug around her back and pulled out her cell-phone, her face paling a little as she looked at the caller I.D. She looked at Bombalurina.
"It's my dad," She whispered. Bomba reached over, taking the phone from her.
"Munkus, how are you?" Bombalurina said cheerfully. Jemima watched, shocked as Bombalurina talked calmly to her dad.
"I just took her out for a milkshake, relax, Munkustrap," Bombalurina sighed. "At the café around the corner from her school…see you soon then," Bombalurina snapped Jemima's cell shut and handed it back to her. Jemima looked at it.
"What did he say?" Jemima whispered.
"He's on his way," Bombalurina yawned, stretching. Jemima grabbed her milkshake, drinking it. Bombalurina watched as the dark liquid made its way through the straw and into Jemima's mouth. Jemima was looking nervous.
"Oh, relax, kitten," Bombalurina told her. Jemima slowly lowered the drink, placing it down. Munkustrap soon arrived, walking up to the table. Jemima sunk down a little, looking at Munkustrap nervously with her large baby blue eyes. Munkustrap just stared at her.
"Dad…" Jemima tried.
"Go to the car," Munkustrap told her, handing her the keys. Jemima sighed, picking up her back and walking slowly and sadly back to Munkustrap's car. Munkustrap looked at Bombalurina, his eyes blazing.
"Don't be too harsh on her, Munkus," Bombalurina said. "She was just trying to help you," Munkustrap frowned.
"Sit down, Munk," Munkustrap did so.
"I'm guessing you told her that I'm with Macavity," Bombalurina said. Munkustrap nodded. "Then why would she willing walk with me?" Munkustrap frowned.
"She wants to help you by helping Cori," Bombalurina told him. Munkustrap sighed.
"Speaking of which," Bomba murmured, reaching into her handbag. She pulled out a photo and a note. She handed Munkustrap the photo first. It was of Coricopat…one taken a while ago, but there was fresh blood on the photo. Munkustrap's breath caught in his throat.
"H-His blood?" Munkustrap questioned. Bombalurina nodded. "From where?"
"Just above the elbow," Bombalurina shuddered, she remember Cori's cry of pain when Macavity had dug the tip of the knife into the arm just above the elbow…it wasn't necessary to open a new wound, seeing as Cori was covered with them from the hench-cats. Bombalurina coughed, bringing herself out of the mindset she had put herself in, and handed Munkustrap the note. Munkustrap's eyes took in the number written on the piece of paper.
"Macavity wants you to ring him," Bombalurina said. Munkustrap nodded.
"But, Munk," Bombalurina began. Munkustrap looked at her. "Is Demeter still out of town?" Munkustrap nodded, confused.
"Ring your brother and his boyfriend, see if they can take Jemima in," Munkustrap's eyes widened.
"Just a precaution," Bombalurina warned as she stood up. She grabbed the drink Jemima had left behind and pressed it into his paws.
"Let her finish that," Bombalurina laughed before walking off. Munkustrap sighed and walked back to the car.
He watched as Jemima packed her bags as he waited for Tugger and Misto to pick her up. Jemima finished and looked around at Munkustrap.
"Dad, I'm so sorry," Munkustrap gave a small smile, walking over and hugging her tightly.
"I know, Jemmy…but please, don't ever do that to me again," Munkustrap whispered against her head. Jemima nodded.
"Munnnkkkusssss," Munkustrap rolled his eyes.
"In here, Tugger," Munkustrap called. Tugger and Misto soon appeared in Jemima's doorway.
"Uncle Tugger!" Jemima squealed, running at her uncle. She threw her arms around his thin waist.
"Hey, kitten," Tugger grinned. Munkustrap looked around, smiling sadly at Tugger and Misto. Tugger picked Jemima up, slinging her over his shoulder, making her squeal in laughter. Misto looked over at Munkustrap.
"What's wrong, Munk?" Misto asked him softly, walking over. Munkustrap looked at the small Tom, whose face was still partly bruised from the attack.
"I…It's nothing," Munkustrap murmured. Misto's eyes narrowed as he looked at Munkustrap closely, scrutinizing him.
"Just remember Jemima needs you, Munk," Misto told him softly. Munkustrap looked at him, giving a small nod. Munkustrap picked up Jemima's back, slinging it over his shoulder. Tugger still had Jemima over his shoulder as he carried her towards the front door.
"Behave for Tugger and Misto," Munkustrap told her, picking up her chin from where it rested on Tugger's shoulder.
"Yes, Dad," Jemima told him sweetly. Munkustrap kissed her forehead and passed her bag to Misto. He waved as they drove off…but he couldn't help but feel sad as he watched them drive off…who knew when he would see his daughter next. Munkustrap walked back inside and grabbed the piece of paper Bombalurina had given him. He dialled the number and waited.
"Macavity," Munkustrap sighed.
Cori looked up from where he was lying on the cold tile floor, paws tied behind, ankles tied together. Cori gave a muffled growl from behind the gag they had forced into his mouth. Gilbert walked in, his brown eyes looking at Cori's battered and bloodied frame. The clothes Cori was wearing were ripped and bloodied, his face was bruised and cut, scratches and deep cuts were on his legs ands arms, a particular deep one on the flesh above his elbow.
"That was one stupid thing to do, kid," Gilbert told him, standing next to him. Cori rested his head back on the tile floor. His body hurt furiously…it hadn't hurt like this since, well, since he was younger. Macavity walked in, Gilbert looked back at Cori, seeing Cori's breathing had increased, his sides rising and falling rapidly. Macavity walked over, pulling Cori upright. Cori's cry of pain was muffled. Macavity grabbed Cori's chin, forcing his head up. He looked into Cori's bruised eyes and tilted his head.
"Well, aren't you looking a little worse for wear?" Macavity asked coldly. Cori hissed. Macavity backhanded him. Cori's head smacked against the wall. He groaned and shook his head, dazed.
"Lovely," Macavity laughed, pulling Cori up from the tile floor. Cori fell against Macavity's side. Macavity pushed him off, grabbing his upper arm and pulling him along. Cori was pretty much being dragged along the hallways by his upper arm, since his ankles were bound tightly together.
Cori's eyes widened when he was thrown into the back of a van. He sat up, shuffling back so his back was against a wall. Macavity was talking to his hench-cats just outside the van. Cori's eyes widened further and he began to get a sick feeling in his stomach when he watched hench-cats load guns, of all different makes, into the back of the van. Macavity climbed into the front while Gilbert climbed into the back, sitting near Cori. Cori whimpered as more hench-cats filled the back of the van. Macavity glanced over the back of the chair, grinning at the frightened look on Cori's face.
"You knew this day was coming, Coricopat," Macavity drawled. Cori trembled. He had no idea what was going to happen to him. He didn't know if he would survive…or if Macavity would kill him. The van began to drive and Cori's trembling increased. Gilbert rested a paw on Cori's shoulder, as though he was steadying him when really he was trying to comfort him. Cori's heart began to race as the van suddenly jolted to a stop. The hench-cats all jumped out. Gilbert grabbed Cori, throwing him over his shoulder and leaping from the back of the van. Cori looked around the abandoned building they had pulled into. Gilbert carried Cori to an office and put him on the floor.
"Sorry, kid," Gilbert murmured, grabbing a cloth and blindfolding Cori. Cori listened as he left, closing the door behind him. Everything was eerily silent and it was scaring Cori. Cori heard the door open and heard deep breathing. He began to tremble. Was he going to die?
Footsteps moved towards him and the sound of someone kneeling beside him. Tears filled Cori's eyes…he felt really bad about those bad things he did to Tantomile, squirting with the hose, embarrassing her in front of everyone…he never said sorry. The blindfold was suddenly pulled from Cori's eyes. Cori blinked and looked up. The gag was pulled from his mouth as well.
"Cori," Munkustrap murmured from where he knelt above Cori.
"Munk!" Cori whispered. Cori's heart dropped suddenly.
"Here, I believe this is yours," Munkustrap told him, cutting his wrists free and slipping the sky blue braided band back on Cori's wrist. Why would Macavity lead Munkustrap to Cori? Why?
"Munk…Munku, get out, it's a trap!" Cori whispered frantically, grabbing the front of Munkustrap's blue shirt.
"I think he already knew that," Munkustrap and Cori both looked around to see Macavity standing in the doorway to the office, flanked by his hench-cats.
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Oh noes! Hehehe, I'm far from finished just to tell you,
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