Here's a new chapter!
And summary for TSS:
The Baudelaires and Jane face more misfortune as they find themselves separated. With Sunny and Jane in Olaf's clutches and Violet and Klaus plummeting to their death in a caravan, could anything get worse? With the arrival of several villains and a group of Snow Scouts will the children be able to unravel the mystery that surrounds them? Will they at last discover the whereabouts of the survivor of the Baudelaire fire? Will Violet and Klaus rescue Sunny and Jane before it's too late?
Enjoy!
Chapter One: Disaster
The car jerked and rolled over another bump in the path. The car traveled over the rocky earth as tears streamed down my face. All I could think about was the Baudelaires growing farther and farther away to fall off the mountain. Only Sunny wasn't with them. Sunny, instead, was in the front seat on Esmé's lap. The beard she had wrapped around herself as part of her disguise as Chabo had been tossed in the backseat. Violet and Klaus were probably still in their disguise as Beverly and Elliot, the two-headed freak. Except it was useless now that Olaf had seen through their disguises and cut the rope that attached them to the car. Now they were hurtling down the mountain to meet their doom. I couldn't believe it was happening. Olaf finally succeeded and now we were all doomed. But I knew that the person to blame for everything was myself. Count Olaf had stolen my notebook, which contained every detail of the Baudelaires' plan to disguise theirselves as carnival freaks. They were nearly thrown into a pit full of lions but they used mob psychology to escape. But it was no use because now they were still going to meet a gruesome end. I couldn't stand knowing that I was the reason. All my life I've been searching for people like the Baudelaires who cared about me. Now I finally found what I had been missing and I blew it.
I burst into sobs again, and wept brokenly into my hands.
"I wish the orphans would stop their irritating crying," Count Olaf said, furrowing his one eyebrow, "Nothing spoils a nice car trip like whiny children."
"I'm pinching the baby brat as often as I can," Esmé Squalor said, pinching Sunny again, "but she still won't shut up. If I could reach back there, I would try pinching Jamie too."
"Listen, toothy," Olaf said taking his eyes off the road to glare at Sunny. "If you don't stop crying, I'll give you something to cry about. That goes for you too, Blondie."
Sunny gave a little whimper. I wiped my eyes and glared out the window. The filthy stream flowed down the mountain in the opposite direction. I had to squint against the glare of the setting sun. Seeing it made me think of Klaus and how we had spent that evening together at Heimlich Hospital. Then later we watched the sunrise while Klaus recited that poem. By Robert Frost about how nothing gold can stay. I remembered how the poem went and recited it to myself in a hushed whisper:
"Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
A tear escaped my eye and rolled down my cheek. It made me terribly sad to think that I might never enjoy watching another sunrise with Klaus again. The first time in my life, something wonderful happens and then it's snatched away from me. I glanced at Sunny who gazed gloomily out of her window. I wished there were something I could do to cheer her up.
"What are you muttering about?" the hook-handed man sneered, "It's almost as annoying as your whining."
I told myself to ignore him and turned back to the filthy window.
"You're just upset because your poor boyfriend is crushed underneath that caravan somewhere," Olaf said with another laugh.
"Klaus isn't my boyfriend," I said, my voice breaking at the end. I couldn't help the tears that fell from my eyes. I never got the chance to tell him how I felt. Though I wasn't really certain of how I felt. I liked Klaus, of course. But I wasn't too sure about much else. Surely, I wasn't in love with Klaus. It was just a crush…a really big crush. But somehow that made losing Klaus hurt even more.
"You mean he wasn't," Olaf corrected, "Thanks to you, I learned everything I needed to know about their plan to fool me with disguises. Your notebook has finally become quite useful and I intend to read every bit until I know all of your secrets."
"You know all of my secrets," I said, "even the reason why I was forced to leave my boarding school. There's nothing left for you to know."
"We'll see about that," Olaf said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out my notebook. "Look at this, it's from when you escaped from my clutches to find the Baudelaires: 'Klaus and I shivered, moving closer together. Our hands brushed, but instead of pulling it away like I normally would've, I closed my hand around his. We didn't close our eyes, we just stared at each other again. I wondered what he was thinking.'" Olaf smirked and his troupe laughed mockingly.
"That's private," I said, trying not to cry as I recalled that night we spent in the unfinished half of Heimlich Hospital.
"Not anymore," Count Olaf said and flipped the pages back to another spot. "And this is from when the Baudebrats tried to rescue you and the Quagmires from the In Auction: 'I stretched out my hand and met his. His hand was warm, like the color of his eyes, which I was now lost in. And at his touch, I didn't need any further explanations because I knew he was here. I was safe. From Olaf, from Esmé, from everyone who'd ever tried to hurt me. Now that I was holding the hand of my best friend.'"
They started to laugh once more and I sank into my seat, glowering at the floor. Now all of these terrible villains knew all that I wanted to keep hidden.
"How touching!" Olaf said mockingly, "And now your poor little boyfriend has perished along with his sister. Neither of you are 'safe' now. So now you're truly alone. Well, except for the baby brat, of course."
He gave me a nasty smile. I kept staring at the floor bitterly and then gazed out the window again.
Olaf reading my notebook aloud only reminded me of everything that I'd lost and that it was my entire fault. I hated myself for what I did. I had sworn to myself that I'd try to protect the Baudelaires from Count Olaf. That was why I went willing into his clutches in the first place. Except I failed them...This time there was no way to bring them back. They were dead. The only family that I ever considered my own was gone. Just like that. Now it was only Sunny and I.
"No pinch," I heard Sunny say to Esmé.
"When she's not crying," Esmé said, continuing on the earlier subject, "the baby talks in some foreign language. I can't understand a thing she's saying."
"Kidnapped children are never any fun," the hook-handed man said and then glanced in my direction with a scowl. "For one thing, Blondie has always caused us so much trouble and foiled all our plans. And remember when we had the Quagmires in our clutches, boss? They did nothing but complain. They complained when we put them in a cage. They complained when we locked Blondie in that bedroom. They complained when we trapped them inside a fountain. Complain, complain, complain—I was so sick of them I was almost glad when they escaped from our clutches."
"Glad?" Count Olaf said with a snarl. "We worked hard to steal the Quagmire fortune, and we didn't get a single sapphire. That was a real waste of time." Olaf turned to glare at me. Apparently, I was to blame for all of Olaf's failed plans.
"Don't blame yourself, Olaf," one of the white-faced women said, "Everybody makes mistakes."
"I don't blame myself," Olaf said, "It was Blondie's fault, of course. I knew I should've left you behind." He glared at me again. "But it won't happen this time." He said as more of a warning to me. "With the two orphans squashed someplace underneath a crashed caravan, the baby orphan on your lap, and Blondie in the backseat, the Baudelaire fortune and the Murray fortune are mine."
"You mean ours," Esmé corrected.
Olaf gave her one of his fake smiles. "Of course, darling." Then, he went on. "And once we reach the Valley of Four Drafts and find the headquarters, all our worries will be over."
"Why?" Hugo asked.
"Yes, please explain," Kevin said. "Remember, boss, we're new to the troupe, so we don't always know what's going on."
"I remember when I first joined Olaf's troupe," the other white-faced woman said, "I'd never even heard of the Snicket file."
"Working for me is a hands-on learning experience," Olaf said, "You can't rely on me to explain everything to you. I'm a very busy man."
"I'll explain it, boss," the hook-handed man said, "Count Olaf, like any good businessman, has committed a wide variety of crimes."
"But these stupid volunteers have gathered all sorts of evidence and filed it away," Esmé said, "I tried to explain that crime is very in right now, but apparently they weren't interested."
Sunny and I exchanged glances. Neither of us had the patience to listen to another one of Esmé's nonsense about what was considered in and what was out. I was still wearing the lion outfit Esmé forced me to wear for the lion show.
"We need to destroy those files, or Count Olaf could be arrested," the hook-handed man said. "We have reason to believe that some of the files are at V.F.D. headquarters."
"What does V.F.D. stand for?" Colette asked from her spot on the floor that had formerly belonged to me.
"That's top-secret information!" Olaf growled and Sunny looked disappointed. I reminded myself to tell Sunny later what it stood for. It was about time she knew. Even if it was too late for Violet and Klaus… "I used to be a member of the organization myself. But then again so were Esmé and Abigail. But soon I found it more fun to be an individual practitioner." He exchanged a glance with Esmé and something was hinted in both of their eyes.
"What does that mean?" the hook-handed man asked.
"It means a life of crime," Esmé replied, "It's very in right now."
"Wrong def." Sunny said, speaking what was on my mind too. I wasn't as good of a researcher as Klaus had been, but I did know what individual practitioner meant. It meant 'someone who works alone' and it has no relation to 'a life of crime'.
"There you go, babbling away," Esmé said, "This is why I never want to have children. Except as servants, of course."
"She means that the definition of individual practitioner was incorrect," I said, "and I agree. The phrase has nothing to do with pursuing a life of crime."
"Quiet," Olaf said, "you're starting to sound like that bookworm."
I sighed. The sun was lower in the sky now and soon it would be dusk.
"Who's Abigail?" Hugo asked.
"She was—" The hook-handed man began but Olaf interrupted him.
"She was the blonde brat's mother before her tragic death."
"You mean murder," I muttered and then clamped my mouth shut. I hadn't meant to say it aloud.
"Murder?" Olaf repeated turning to glare at me, "Who ever said she was murdered? I thought she perished in a fire."
I frowned to myself. I wasn't sure what to believe. It was all so confusing. The file didn't explain anything having to do with my parents' death. On one hand, it said my mother perished in a fire, however; somehow I ended up at a boarding school some distance away from the place where the fire occurred. Something didn't add up and nothing seemed to be able to fill all the holes. I knew that my father was murdered and that probably meant that the fire might not have been an accident. I knew some of what happened but I didn't understand why. Why would someone go to such great lengths to harm my parents? What was so dangerous that my parents tried to protect me from?
"Let's not dwell on the past," Esmé said quickly, "It's spoiling our success."
"You're right." Olaf said and then turned his attention back to the road. "This journey is easier than I thought," Olaf said, changing the subject, "The map says we just have to pass a few more caves."
"Is there an in hotel near the headquarters?" Esmé asked.
"I'm afraid not, sweetheart," the villain replied, "but I have two tents in the trunk of the car. We'll be camping on Mount Fraught, the summit of the Mortmain Mountains."
"The summit?' Esmé said, "It'll be cold at the highest peak."
"It's true," Olaf admitted, "but False Spring is on its way, so before long it'll be a bit warmer."
"But what about tonight?" Esmé Squalor said, "It is definitely not in for me to set up tents in the freezing cold."
Count Olaf looked at Esmé and began to laugh nastily. "Don't be silly," the villain said finally. "You're not going to set up the tents, Esmé. You're going to stay nice and toasty in the car. The bucktoothed baby and Blondie will set up the tents for us."
The entire troupe began to laugh now. Sunny looked away towards her window and I knew she was crying again. I wished Sunny could ride back here with me so I could comfort her, rather than on Esmé's lap. I felt tears rolling down my cheeks again as I thought about poor Violet and Klaus who were probably dead somewhere. Oh, Klaus…It hurt my heart to think something terrible happened to him. Seeing Sunny crying and the villain's cruel laughter further reminded me that this was all my doing.
"How long will we stay on Mount Fraught?" Hugo asked.
"Until I say so, of course," Count Olaf replied.
"You'll soon find out that much of this job requires a lot of waiting around," the hook-handed said, "I usually keep something around to help pass the time, like a deck of cards or a large rock."
"It can be dull," one of the white-faced women confessed, "and it can be dangerous. We received concussions once." The white-faced glanced at me and glowered, "and several of our comrades have recently suffered terrible fates."
"It was worth it," Count Olaf said nonchalantly. "Sometimes a few people need to die in fires or get eaten by lions, if it's all for the greater good. Besides, baldy nearly lost me a fortune." Olaf glanced at me. "I'm almost glad you pushed him in."
"I didn't push him in there," I said, shocked that I would be accused of such a horrible thing. "He tried to push me in and I dodged it, naturally. I tried to help him."
Olaf laughed. "You tried to help baldy?" Olaf said, "And how do you expect me to believe that? Weren't you also responsible for arson?"
Olaf's troupe gasped, obviously not expecting that.
"You know that's not true," I said, "Carmelita set that fire to try and kill me. How could I have set a fire when I was locked inside a shed? In fact, if you read my notebook, the entire story is there. The truth."
Olaf frowned and didn't look convinced. But he went on. "Some people have to die if it's all for the greater good."
"What's the greater good?" Colette asked.
"Money!" Esmé exclaimed. "Money, revenge, and personal satisfaction, and we're going to get all of those things out of this whimpering baby on my lap and my niece in the backseat! Once we have our hands on the Baudelaire and Murray fortune, we'll have enough money to live a life of luxury and plan several more treacherous schemes!"
They all cheered as Count Olaf gave Sunny and I a filthy grin. Nothing more was said as the car sped up a hill and came to a stop as the sun sank below the horizon with finality.
"We're here at last," Count Olaf said and then tossed the car keys to me. "You two get out. Unload everything from the trunk and set up the tents."
"And bring us a bag of potato chips," Esmé said, "So we'll have something to eat while we wait."
Esmé opened the passenger door and placed Sunny outside on the ground. The white-faced women shoved me out the back door and I stepped out onto the snowy ground.
It was so cold that the tears in my eyes froze in a matter of seconds. I wrapped my arms around myself trying to keep warm. Suddenly, I was a little glad that this lion outfit had fur lining the cuffs. I hurried over to Sunny who shivered uncontrollably. Sunny rose to her feet.
"What should we do?" I said as we walked to the back of the car, "Should we try to escape while Olaf is waiting in the car? I've done it many times before so it shouldn't be too hard. Besides, we'll have a good head start. We have the car keys."
For a moment, Sunny looked as though she agreed but then she shook her head.
"Not safe," she managed, trying her best to use words that I would understand better. I knew by that she meant something along the lines of, "it's not safe for the two of us to wander off by ourselves. We don't have any food, water, and there are bears."
I frowned, but nodded. "You're right," I said, gloomily, "I just hate the thought of staying in Olaf's clutches."
Sunny leaned forward and bit my hand gently.
"Thanks," I said.
We were silent as we gazed around the mountain. The summit was a small, flat square with four edges. Three of the four edges displayed the misty peaks of the snowy mountains. The black stream wound its way along the mountains and I could see the bumpy trail we had traveled along to get here.
"Slopa," Sunny said pointing to the fourth edge of the peak. By that she meant, "That must be the source of the Stricken Stream." I followed her gaze, peering at the glittering white strip. Sunny was right, it must be a waterfall during the warmer seasons.
"Dicol," Sunny said. I knew she was wondering why the frozen waterfall wasn't as dark as the stream.
"Maybe the stream has been polluted," I said, "Those poor fish are probably dying." I felt sorry for those poor fish. It wasn't fair that they had to suffer.
Sunny noticed a few tears slide down my cheeks again and patted my hand gently. "I don't know why it makes me so upset," I said, "I guess it's because I know how they feel. But then again, so do you and you're not blubbering like a baby…no offense."
There was an abrupt blast from Olaf's horn that made us both jump and remember our chore. I unlocked the trunk and it flung open. Sunny grabbed the bag of potato chips and we brought it back to the car.
"That took a while," Olaf said, "now go set up the tents, one for Esmé and me and one for my troupe, so we can get some sleep."
"Where are the orphans going to stay?" the hook-handed man said, "I don't want either one of them in my tent. I don't like Blondie. And I hear that babies can creep up and steal your breath while your sleeping."
It was odd to see a villain such as the hook-handed man look so terrified about something so irrational. Afterall, he had hooks for hands. Clearly, he didn't realize that it wasn't possible for a baby to 'steal' your breath.
"Well, they're certainly not sleeping with me," Esmé said. "It's not in to have a baby in your tent. Also, I just heard that having an orphaned niece is out unless you're trying to steal the orphan's inheritance, of course."
"Blondie will have to stay in the tent with you," Olaf said to the hook-handed man who frowned. "For one thing, I don't trust her and someone needs to watch her at all times. As for the baby, she isn't going to sleep in any tent," Olaf decided, "There's a large covered casserole dish in the trunk. The baby can sleep in there."
"A casserole dish?" I said incredulously, "She'll freeze to death."
"I hate to agree with my unfashionable niece," Esmé said, "but will the baby brat be safe in the casserole dish? Remember, Olaf honey, if she dies then we can't get our hands on the fortune."
"There are a few holes in the top so she can breathe," Count Olaf said, "and the cover will protect her from freezing to death and the snow gnats."
"Snow gnats?" Hugo asked.
"Snow gnats are well-organized, ill-tempered insects," Count Olaf explained, "who live in cold mountain areas and enjoy stinging people for no reason whatsoever. I've always been fond of them."
"Nonat," Sunny said, which meant, "I didn't notice any such insects outside."
However, none of Olaf's troupe paid much attention.
"Won't she run away if no one's watching her?" Kevin asked.
"She wouldn't dare," Olaf said and glared at me, "that's why I'm keeping Blondie under strict surveillance. She always has a knack for escaping. And even if they tried to survive on their own, we would know where they went. That's why we're staying at the summit. We'll know if the brats escape, or if anyone's coming after us, because we can see everyone for miles and miles."
"Eureka," Sunny said meaning "I've just realized something."
"Stop your babbling and get busy, you fanged brat!" Esmé Squalor said.
"Sticks and stones," I whispered to myself so I wouldn't get into more trouble by defending Sunny which would only lead to more disaster. Esmé slammed the door shut and Sunny and I could hear the troupe's roaring laughter as we walked back to the trunk. I waited until we had gathered the tent materials and were piecing them together before I asked:
"What did you realize, Sunny?"
She smiled. "Milsite," she said which meant something along the lines of "if we can see everything and everyone from Mount Fraught, that also means that my siblings will be able to see us."
I stared at Sunny as she dug her tooth into the ground and stuck in the pegs while I attached the cloth to the right spots. Could she be right? Were Violet and Klaus really coming? But how could she be so sure? I glanced behind me in the direction that the sun had been moments earlier and now the golden light had been extinguished until morning. The moon hung in the sky now circled by thousands of twinkling stars. The thing was, I wanted to believe that what Sunny said is true. However, I knew by now that with my luck, I would lose them. Just like I lost my godfather, Jacques. Just like I lost my parents.
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Next chapter will be Klaus' POV :)