Run As Fast As You Can

"... because you can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man! Wait... wrong scene. My bad."

"W-What?" Amy asked, completely taken back. Vikram Kabra was offering to help Amy and Dan escape… how could this be?

"I will help," he replies, rolling his eyes like a true Kabra.

"But why?" Dan asked, suspicious. He's seen enough TV shows to know where this is going: them getting chopped into pieces and never being seen again.

"Simply because I never approved of having you stay in the first place," he stated formally.

Well, that's nice, Amy thought sarcastically.

"So, if you do not mind, I think you two should hurry. I would like to get you two out of here before the others awaken or even notice." And with that, he left the room.

"Should we trust him?" Amy asked quietly, after hearing him leave down the stairs.

"No," Dan said incredulously. "How could you even ask? It's Vikram Kabra, Amy! Of course he can't be trusted."

"But…" Amy couldn't help but wonder if his words, for once, were actually true. Maybe Vikram did want to help them.

"Don't you even dare think about it!" Dan argued. "We're not trusting him. For all we know, he could be taking us to an abandoned shack down the road to kill us!"

"Oh, don't be so dramatic," Amy sighed.

"Well, it's possible," Dan muttered.

"Listen, we have to get out of here," Amy told him. "It-It's not safe here."

"How?" Dan snapped.

"Be-Because… well…" she didn't know how to explain everything that Ian had told her to her brother.

"Well?" Dan waited.

"I can't tell you," she huffed, crossing her arms. "But just trust me on this, Dan. It's not safe."

"I don't know what these Cobras are telling you, but it's obviously making you loopy. Besides, it's safer here than with Vikram." He shuddered as he said his name.

"Pack up, Dan. No more arguing; we're leaving." With a deep breath, she walked off to pack.

"Well, Miss Bossy," he muttered, walking off to pack as well.

They packed up the belongings they brought – which wasn't much – and walked downstairs.

"Ah, took you long enough," Mr. Kabra muttered. "I was ready to come up there and drag you both down here."

"S-Sorry," Amy murmured. "W-W were j-just t-talking-g…"

"I bet so…" he muttered, rolling his eyes. "Now hurry it along! Natalie is always awake first, and it's around that time. So chop-chop! Limo's parked in the front."

Dan started muttering under his breath as he followed Mr. Kabra outside, and Amy slowly trailed behind them. As the driver threw their stuff into the trunk, she glanced around the estate.

It's so gorgeous, and yet I'm leaving it, she thought. I would stay, if it didn't belong to people so… ruthless. She smiled sadly and was about to step into the limo when she heard chirping.

She turned around, and on the shrub nearby was C.H. Amy smiled at the familiar face.

"Where've you been?" she asked, walking over to it.

It chirped in response.

She laughed softly. "Man, I'm going to miss you. You're unlike any other bird I've seen in New York… or wherever I am."

It didn't respond.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye. Stay away from those Kabras," she said in a final goodbye. "I hope you aren't their latest edition for food." She petted it softly and walked back to the limo.

Meanwhile, Ian just woke up. Someone was knocking on his door.

Drowsily, he stood up and answered it.

"What?" he asked, scratching his head sleepily.

"Why didn't you tell me the Cahills were leaving? I could've planned a celebration party, and picked out a lovely outfit for this," Natalie said, glaring at her brother.

"What?!" Ian exclaimed, his eyes bulging. Quickly, he stormed out of his room, past Natalie and down the stairs.

He reached the driveway, where Amy was just about to get into the car.

"Amy!" he yelled, running over to her.

Startled, she looked at him. She then blushed and looked down, then shyly peeked over at him.

"Oh, stop drooling," Dan scowled. Then, he peeked over his sister and rolled his eyes. "And put on a shirt, Ian! Before my sister drowns of her own saliva."

Ian looked down and remembered that he forgot to put a shirt on before leaving his room. That would explain Amy's look… even though she's already seen him shirtless when they were swimming. Or maybe it was because he was only in his boxers…

He shook his head and tossed away any embarrassing thoughts of himself.

"You're not leaving, are you?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

She didn't reply, but didn't move either. She was stuck; one foot in the limo and the other on the pavement.

"Yeah!" Dan replied for her, taking out his comic book from his backpack. "Apparently, it's not 'safe' here." He rolled his eyes and flipped the page.

Ian frowned. Maybe it was a mistake to tell her…

Then, before he could respond, his father stepped out from the other side of the limo, an aggravated look on his face.

"Ian, just let our guests leave. They are, after all, our guests, and they may come and go as they like. At this particular time, however, they find it best to go. So, let us be. I am only to drop them off at the airport," Mr. Kabra said, sending a reassuring look at his son. But Ian knew better.

While Mr. Kabra spoke, Amy couldn't help but wonder what he meant by 'airport'. Didn't we drive here? she asked herself. She softly bit on her lip, wondering why he would say that. But maybe it'd be faster if we took a plane… yeah, that's probably why.

Meanwhile, Ian scowled at his father.

Don't lie to me. I know that you're not taking them to the airport, he argued mentally.

Oh, really? How so? Mr. Kabra said, his thoughts holding some kind of lethal poison.

Because we drove them here, and we both know that there are no airports within this area. We own all of this. Besides, why don't you just let them use our private jet? It'd be faster, and as you said, they are our guests.

Do not argue with me Ian. I am your father, so listen to my words and think of them truthfully. Don't you dare defy me now – especially for the Cahill girl!

Ian didn't reply. He heard heels tapping on the tiles behind him… Jasmine.

"What's going on?" she asked, grabbing onto Ian's arms lovingly.

He scowled but answered, "Nothing. Just… go get Natalie for me."

"But-" she tried objecting.

"Please," he said stiffly, his jaw clenched.

She let out a huff and walked off, her heels clicking hardly against the tiles.

He looked back at Amy, and she caught his glance. Blushing, she finally stepped into the limo and almost shut the door. But before she did, quietly, she murmured, "Goodbye…"

"Amy-"

But before he could finish, Mr. Kabra quickly stepped into the limo and ordered the driver to leave.

His eyebrows furrowed and he tried yelling, but it was too late. They were driving out of the estate…

-

Maybe this isn't a good idea, Amy thought to herself, quietly playing with her fingers. I still don't know where we're going. I look out the window and what do I see? Dark forest surrounding us. How can there be an airport nearby all of this?

She glanced over at her brother, who had finished his comic books and was also staring out the window. He looked annoyed and frustrated, probably at her for making them leave, but also… scared. As if he could sense some kind of deception, just like Amy.

Taking in a deep breath, she finally decided to ask Mr. Kabra how much longer.

His reply didn't help at all.

"Oh, much, much longer, children. So just sit tight… and try not to look out the window too much."

Amy and Dan gulped involuntarily.

-

Back at the estate, Ian was pacing around his room. After he had showered and changed, he still couldn't stop thinking of Amy.

Why did she have to leave? And with my father, nonetheless? Why would she trust him? Was she that desperate to get away from us? She's so much smarter than to trust him… of course she was desperate.

"Knock, knock!" he heard his mother say from outside their room. And because she was not born a Kabra, she could not hear her son's thoughts about a girl that was his fiancée, or even rich.

"Not now mother," he said with a loud sigh.

She entered anyway. "Oh, hurry up! In two hours, yours and Jasmine's dinner rehearsal will take place in the backyard." She stopped and examined Ian. "Should I send in a hairdresser? I'm sure he could something better, rather than simply gel your hair."

"It's fine, mother," he replied, shaking his head.

"Oh, stop being so dark and gloomy! Hurry up and come downstairs!" The only thing that didn't make Isabel Kabra act, well, like a Kabra was the fact that her eldest, and only, son was about to get married. If only she knew that Ian didn't feel the same about the situation. Before she left, she paused and added, "Have you see your father around, by the way? Natalie hasn't a clue where she's gone."

Suddenly stiff, he answered coldly, "No."

Ignoring the stale atmosphere, Isabel left.

Ian let out a groan and walked over to his window, pushing back the curtains and pulling the frame to let in some air. He took in a deep breath and leaned over his window.

As he closed his eyes, he heard chirping. He ignored it for some time, until it just wouldn't stop. His eyes fluttered open, annoyed at the bird for disturbing his moment of peace.

And there stood, right beside him, a white and black bird.

"What do you want?" he snapped.

For you to follow me…

"Oh, hurrah. Hearing animal's thoughts tell me what to do always brightens up my day," he muttered, ignoring it.

I can tell you where the girl with the jade necklace went.

He blinked and looked at the bird. "A-Amy?" He noticed his short stutter and cursed himself.

If that is her name.

He looked around to see if anyone could see him, then back at the bird. "Take me." He jumped out the window and landed on the grass below. Slyly, he grabbed the keys for one of the motorcycles and jumped onto the nearest motorcycles.

Keep up with me.

Ian rolled his eyes and the bird's challenge and revved the motor. "It won't be hard, birdie."

It's Clouded Harmony.

"You have a name?" Ian asked, dumbfounded.

The one you called Amy gave it to me.

"Well, leave it up to her to give you such a long name," he sighed. "Well, let's go?"

The bird started flying off, and Ian followed after it.

-

It was getting dark, the Cahills noticed. And still no sight of civilization. They were getting worried about what Vikram's true means were.

"Um, h-how m-much-ch l-longer n-n-now?" Amy stuttered. And truth be told, she was afraid of the answer.

"Oh, not much," Vikram said, playing with his phone and not even glancing at them.

Neither of them replied.

Instead, they looked at each other and their eyes said the same:

Help.

A/N: Okay, it's longer and has the bird in it, but is that considered a cliffhanger? I don't know… because I don't know how to end a chapter without one xD It's sad. Well I guess I do, but… eh, sometimes.

The surprise is in the works. So yeah, ecstatic I am. :)

UM, okay, I have this CRAZY goal for me (and you). I want to get to 200 reviews by… this chapter. I'm crazy, and yes, I realize this. Why?????? I like challenges. But even if I DON'T get to the 200 review mark by this chapter, I will… not update. So don't disappoint me! *said in a menacing, evil voice*

… NAH! JUST KIDDING! In all seriousness, I will update whether or not I get to that mark. This is just for fun, because… I like challenges, as I said before. And if I take a long time, DON'T FREAK OUT! It's just because, well, the next chapter is going to be EXTREME! So, it might take some time. ACTION, ROMANCE, DRAMA... and PIE in the next chapter! Well, I'm iffy about the pie, but the rest should be there :)

Anyway, besides that, hope you enjoyed! I really do appreciate you guys for all the support :D

… Man, was that quote right thar cliché or what?

But really, THANKS A TON :)

"I'm at the happiest place in the world and I'm emo."
- Another Artist

P.S. Also, I just got a review from an anonymous person to instead of focusing on the running away, to celebrate Amy's 17th birthday? Um, first of all, she's already 17…. Second of all, that would be completely random and would not go along with the plot. I know you probably wanted more Ian/Amy in a birthday scene, but… yeah, that would make no sense at all. But maybe I'll throw in a birthday later, just not now. But thanks for the suggestion... or command, or whatever. It was a good idea.

P.S.S. Sorry, this is a long A/N. But, this is a RAW version - unbetaed. So, sorry for any mistakes.