"You have done good, little prodigy." Reed said to Chartara. "Someday you will take over my business when I am gone."

Chartara gave a cold smile. She didn't want to take over the business of crime and evil. Ever since Macavity had died and Reed took over the business, Reed had taken her under his paw, and she learned to hunt and fend for herself. She learned how to steal and kill cats.

She was still a kitten.

She knew that Reed was not related to her in any way. Reed had told her that her parents abandoned her. When she was brought to Reed, she had high hopes of her family coming to find her, but after two long months, the hope faded. Chartara had come back from stealing some priceless jewels from a rich person. Reed had given her praise, and that meant she would be allowed dinner. Reed had taught her to live off of not eating for a while, whenever she got into trouble.

"Now, my prodigy, it is late, and you have done well. Get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow." Chartara bowed and exited the room. Tomorrow was when she had to prove her worthiness to her boss.

As Chartara lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, she remembered when she used to dream about her family. She remembered the happy times, her parents, and her friends. Whenever she and Reed had went out to collect food, she saw happy families everywhere, and she used to get jealous. She pushed the memories away angrily.

How could her family give her up? What had she done to make them do this? These questions were always left unanswered. She angrily wiped at a tear and closed her eyes.

Morning came and Chartara exited the room. Reed briefly looked up from his paperwork as the queen walked down the hall, passing his room.

"Morning Lon," Chartara said as she grabbed herself a mouse from the fridge. In the months she had been here, she had grown close to the Scottish Fold. Lon hated Reed for what he did to the young queen, but never said anything. He went along with whatever he was ordered to do.

"Morning," came the reply. Lon looked at Chartara with sad eyes.

Chartara paused eating her mouse. "Lon, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"What do you know about my family?" Lon cringed and quickly looked around.

"Look, Tara, Reed would kill me if he found I told you anything about them."

Chartara sighed.

"Sorry."

Looking at Chartara's sad face, he decided to make things right. He finished his breakfast, said goodbye to the little kitten, and bolted out the door.


Lon didn't stop running until he reached the junkyard. He kept running until he was inside the Jellicle tribe's perimeters. Cats turned to stare at the intruder.

"Tugger and Aliyah. I need to speak with them." Was all the cat could manage. Tugger walked out of his house and froze when he saw the breathless Scottish Fold.

"Who are you?"

"That doesn't matter. I'm here to tell you about Chartara."

Tugger growled. "She's dead. We get it! Now go away and leave us alone!" Tugger turned away from Lon.

"That's the thing: she's not dead!" Tugger swung back around and glared at Lon.

"I don't need you walking in here and telling lies. My family is already devastated, and I don't need you bringing our emotions any lower."

"Tugger, you have to believe me!" Lon dropped to his knees, pleading with the Maine Coon. "She is not dead! Chartara is alive and perfectly healthy!"

"Tugger?" They turned to see me walking outside. "What's going on?"

"Just information on Chartara."

"Tugger, you need to bring her back home. She asks about you. Reed tells her lies! Lies about that you abandoned her and didn't love her. He's teaching Chartara to be evil like him. He wants your daughter to take over the business. Please, I'm begging you: Chartara has lost all faith and hope of you coming to rescue her."

"She…she remembers us?" I asked.

"She and I became close. She talked about you all the time whenever Reed wasn't around. Her eyes lit up every time she spoke of you. She was so sure that you would come for her. But I watched as the light in her eyes dim over the months. Please, Tugger. Bring her home away from us." By then, everyone had gathered around.

"You swear on your life that she is alive and healthy?"

"Positive." Tugger turned to me. He motioned for me to follow him. We ran with Lon to the warehouse where I killed my father.


"NO!" Chartara and the other henchcats jumped as Reed howled. She stood up and shakily took her bowl to the sink. Reed stormed out of his office and headed towards Chartara, looking furious.

"Great," Chartara thought. "What did I do this time?"

Reed stormed up to Chartara and grabbed her wrist in a death grip. "Come with me."

"Ow! Reed! What did I do?"

Reed did not answer, but threw the queen in her cell, and bolted the door shut. Chartara examined her paw that Reed had grabbed. It had big bruises and it was sore, but it wasn't broken. All was quiet in the headquarters, but suddenly a huge commotion broke the silence. Chartara pressed her ear to the door and strained to listen to what was happening.

"Release her Reed!" She heard a male cat demand. It sounded oddly familiar.

"What makes you think I have her?" Reed replied smoothly.

"We can smell her scent, and we heard it from someone." The cat did not say who it was. By then, all the henchcats had run away, not wanting to be a part of the fight.

"Might you tell me who?"

"Me," Lon spoke up.

"No, Lon, no!" Chartara silently screamed in her mind. "Don't tell him! Now he'll kill you!"

"Give us our daughter," a female spoke up. Chartara perked her ears up. The cat had said 'daughter'. Could this possibly be her mommy?

"Tugger – " Aha! That was her daddy's name! Her hopes and faith had finally come back. Maybe her mommy and daddy really did love her after all! "I'm warning you. You take one more step and I will try to kill you!"

"Not if I kill you first!" The male voice said.

"We'll see about that!" Reed roared. Suddenly the headquarters erupted with hissing and growling and the sound of breaking furniture. Chartara had to cover her ears because it got so loud.

Suddenly she heard a squeak, and she looked over to see her door moving. Someone was trying to unbolt the door. Chartara back up and coward into the corner, hoping it wasn't Reed. The door finally broke free and opened up.