AATC: Territory

Time – 17: 16 pm

Date – April 22, 2016

Well, it's a Friday evening and I guess it's time to type. I've been wandering around the fandom and from what I can see is that people seem to only tend to review when it's a heavily-laced romantic moment. I bet you all think I'm moving slow with the romance.

No I'm not. Rushed romances tend to be built on infatuations and that just doesn't work in real life, not to mention that this romance will remain intact for the rest of their lives, not ending after the thrills are over. While I may use infatuation to a slight extent, all I do is meticulously planned to every letter and punctuation mark.

Trust the plan. I'm not asking you to review presently. I'm merely asking if you find anything wrong, let me know. I don't want to be the guy who wrote a story with some titanic error and his own readers let it continue.

14.

"This is…" Alvin ripped the earphone out of his ear and virtually threw it back at Simon. "Utter bullshit!"

Simon was a bit startled at his brother's language but was a bit thankful it wasn't more candid. "Although that wouldn't be my choice of words, I couldn't agree more."

"What're we going to do?! Dave knew that something was wrong! He knows it! Let me see the picture of the map you took!" Alvin stretched his hand to his brother and Simon merely pulled up the image and showed it to him. "Look! He had all the areas we went had the states as white and nothing happened-"

"You nearly beat a guy to death in Richmond but all of Virginia was white," the blue Seville reminded.

"Besides that!" Alvin retorted. "Now that we're here in Florida which he clearly did not want to come to and all of sudden, Theodore gets poisoned! He knows!"

"How much does he really know?" Simon asked seriously. "He didn't specify a name, although the doctor acted like he might know. Maybe they're just too scared to talk who it is."

"Scared? Hah!" the red Seville scoffed. "They just didn't mention it. I've never seen Dave scared, and if he really was scared he wouldn't have come here!"

"It could be because he's concerned for us," Simon tried to defend their adoptive father, and was mildly successful as Alvin merely dropped off that case point for another.

"Even so, someone obviously believes that Florida belongs to them and that we should go." Alvin sounded uncharacteristically intelligent but Simon paid it no mind. "They tried to send us a message and they hurt Theodore! What if they hurt Brit?" He said carelessly.

"Why would you say Brittany in particular?" Simon inquired. "Why not say another specific name or even all of us in general?"

"Brittany doesn't deserve it, a'right?!" He yelled outright, almost to the point of sending stray spittle flying. "She's been through too much, and then this shit happens!"

"Ah, you mean her attempted kidnapping, I presume?"

"That's a big one, but there're other things…" Alvin said in a hesitant monotone and it thoroughly disturbed his younger brother.

"When Ms. Miller passed on? I know she took it the hardest. Jeanette told me last year that Brittany blamed herself for her untimely passing." 'Although I still think it could've been a murder. They were on their way home from a concert, maybe someone got jealous or something and tried to frighten them away from the business, but it went awry. Maybe even pre-meditated murder.'

"That played a huge part in it…" Alvin's eyes glazed over a bit as he became lost in thought. He quickly shook himself free, hoping to avoid the act of dredging up memories. "Other things too…"

"Like what?"

"I wasn't meant to know," Alvin answered mysteriously. "And if I told you, it might make matters worse. We can't tell the girls. It would just make them worry too much. They already have too much on their plates, especially with what happened to Theodore." 'Especially Brittany. I don't know why, but I keep getting the feeling that she's the worst off, and it's…it's my responsibility to make sure that nothing happens to her.' He thought the belief with utter conviction and to perfectly frank, it frightened him but he didn't let it show. He believed it though, and he needed neither outside nor an inside force, manipulation, presence, spirit or anything of the sort to tell him that, nor should they EVER to convince him otherwise.

Simon pondered what the secret to Brittany that Alvin was hiding. He was always one for a little espionage information but at least for now, he'd let it slide. "Alright. We won't tell them. But what about Theodore? He's in on this, and since he's already been a victim then he has a right to know what we do."

Alvin hemmed and hawed for a bit. "Yeah. We'll tell him. But we can't let anyone overhear, especially Dave. Maybe one of us will keep Dave occupied while the other talks to Theo."

"…"

"Si?"

"That sounds reasonable."

…

…

…

The two chipmunks were on the ball straightaway. To be perfectly clear, Alvin pretended to be his old inquisitive self while in Dave's space, touching this and that while asking irrelevant questions that was most certain to tick the man off while Blue told Green what was happening. When Alvin and Simon re-grouped in the chipette's suite, Alvin cut to the chase, but they were whispering. Fair enough.

"How'd he take the news?"

"I don't know how to describe it. With his current state of mind, he seemed to handle it pretty well. I have to admit, it is unlike him to be so moody and melancholic, and it appears that it has given him a lot of maturity with this sensitive information."

"And for some reason, I understood everything you just said, although I figure 'melancholic' to mean the same thing as 'moody',' Alvin answered sarcastically. "I'm worrying for him too. He hasn't been the same since we got him out of the hospital this morning. Come to think of it, Eleanor was the first to arrive and the doctor said on the recording that 'his current behavior is completely emotional'. Do think she did or said something to him?"

Simon paused to question this in thought. "Maybe. They weren't even acting like friends when we arrived. We'll have to worry about that later-"

"Worry about what?" A new voice asked.

Simon and Alvin nearly leapt out of their skins. "Holy crap! Don't sneak up on us like that! Why would you even think of trying something like that?!" Alvin all but yelled in 'righteous' anger.

Jeanette put her hands on her hips and Simon shivered discretely; there was a gesture that could possess the allure of a temptress or the disciplinary vibe of a stern mother but the chipette wore in a bit of a homely fashion. Although it was done innocently; in her own simple way, Jeanette was most exciting.

Simon quickly caught himself as he had seen her lips form words but he had heard no audible sound. "Excuse me?"

"Why were you two even in the closet?" She asked again in a curious-esque tone.

"Um…" Alvin trailed off. "Help me out, Simon."

"No good reason," the blue chipmunk responded straightforwardly, making his brother slap his own forehead in exasperation.

"I think I heard you say something along the lines about 'worrying about something later'. What's that all about?" Jeanette pressed. If there was one thing that Simon admired in the chipette, it was how unrelenting she was in diverse areas. Although it was completely unneeded at present.

"Oh, it's nothing you need to be concerned about." Simon grabbed his brother's arm. "Let's go." He led him away briskly as he waved to Jeanette. "Carry on as if this never happened."

The violet chipette could only shake her head in uncertainty as her crush left. 'Huh. Well, I need to do something for Simon. I think I'm getting through to him to appreciate natural things rather than those that are man-made. Hmm…maybe I could get him to write a poem with me. He has it in him to be linguistic in that fashion. Maybe I could even drop some hints that I like him…' A deep blush manifested itself on her face that hued it a new crimson. '…That I like him in that way.'

Suddenly, she snapped her fingers as she got a new idea. "I know, I'll run out to the park and get some pictures of some birds and such. I know that can work!"

=X=X=

"I think I should learn how to play guitar."

"Whatever."

"Sometimes I feel like singing along and just dancing isn't enough."

"Whatever."

"I want to contribute to the music instead of just being on show. I want to really be a part of it."

"Whatever."

"You know, like Alvin."

"Whatever."

Brittany lost her patience. "Are you even listening?"

"Whatever," Eleanor answered in a tone that reeked of humdrum.

"What's up with you?! Ever since you went to the hospital, you've been acting strange. You and Theodore, in fact! What happened with you two?!" The auburn-haired chipette demanded.

"Nothing." Eleanor got up. "Absolutely nothing."

Brittany face-palmed with an extremely audible slap. "Knowing those two, I bet that their favorite cooking show got canceled or something. Or…I wonder if this has to do about last night?" She half-bit a finger in deep thought. "Damn…maybe they talked about it this morning. Who knows? Maybe Ellie shot him down or something."

"What the- Brittany, come quick!"

She heard her name being called from next door and her guess told her that it was Alvin who did it. She promptly got up from her easy chair and was out of her suite and next door in under twenty seconds. There, she found everyone else congregated there, even Valerie.

"Whoa, what's going on?"

"The TV!" Eleanor hissed. Immediately, Brittany turned her attention to the large High-Def television set mounted the wall and Valerie turned up the volume.

"…the victim has been confirmed as one Salvatore Dumont of aforementioned address. The murder took place in Salvatore's apartment room at a confirmed 10:17 am earlier today. Salvatore, commonly known as 'Sal', was not killed in cold blood as earlier believed by residents who share the residential building, but instead, killed before he was able to defend himself. While there were no eyewitnesses, many admitted off-camera that they could hear what they believed it was in all actuality, a drug deal that went awry. Salvatore has had many assorted drug-related dealings in the past as indicated by his criminal records…"

A picture of Salvatore's face came up on the screen and both Theodore and Eleanor had to bite back a gasp. "Holy shit!" Eleanor exclaimed.

For once, Dave let it slide. "You know him?"

"I-I-It's t-the guy who sold me the coffee!" Theodore stammered, much to everyone's shock. The green chipette walked up to the set and covered the man's eyes with her hand, making Theodore even more certain that it were him. "It's r-r-really h-him!"

"Well, I for one feel like doing some cartwheels," Eleanor stated with a relieved tone. "The guy's kicked the bucket-"

"Shhh!" Simon shushed. "Listen!"

The news report continued as the reporter turned to interview one of the forensic leaders on the scene. "As you said earlier, the murder took place at 10:17 am, but that was merely when the first of the shots were fired. Some statements were taken by those who believed they could hear what was a payment for drugs, but the buyer was dissatisfied and killed Salvatore in reprisal. Salvatore would've been able to defend himself, but his own weapon went unfired, no doubt either he was taken by surprise or the weapon planted on his corpse in an effort to create false evidence. However, it is my belief that it's the former, because a man of Dumont's history is a near guarantee that he owns his own weapons. Salvatore suffered five shots to the chest, three of which took him in the heart and two in his left lung."

"Is there anything else you would like to say?" The reporter asked after the man's pause.

"I believe that this murder was premeditated or the killer is no one new to the crime of killing." The man answered. "The killer is even believed to have gotten away by leaving via the emergency exit and fire escape before leaving on a motorcycle, given from the sound of the engine. However, if anyone has any knowledge on the crime, the killer's identity or as to his whereabouts-"

The television was abruptly turned off and everyone's attention swerved to Dave, spying the remote in his hand. "I think that's that. Apparently, Salvatore's karma caught up with him."

"And how!" Eleanor exclaimed. "His drugging days are over! How's that make you feel, Theo?" She asked eagerly.

Theodore's face was shadowed mysteriously by his hair but he spoke unhindered and very plainly. "He got what was coming to him, big sis."

Time froze for everyone as he said this.

All around, everyone was thinking that Theodore sounded vengeful, the fact that he called Eleanor his 'big sister' and the fact that the chipmunk sounded like a dark emo. None of these things were agreeable, not even the 'big sis' part.

"I don't know what's scarier," Brittany spoke first and that was after two minutes of complete silence. "The fact that the guy that poisoned Theodore got gunned down the day after or Theodore himself."

Simon studied Dave's reactions to all that had transpired. Dave looked hopeful, skeptical and worried all at the same time and Simon couldn't tell which was the most prominent or as to which situation they belonged. "Well, I guess we'll call it a night. I want everyone to go to bed early tonight because tomorrow, we're going to start practicing. I have a feeling that we might do more than just one concert here." 'Maybe I was paranoid before. I guess it was just an isolated incident.'

…

…

…

Alvin finally signed off from his texting with Brittany only a minute before he fell asleep. Almost promptly, he began to dream a bittersweet memory that he would've liked to keep restricted to a private and isolated corner in his mind.

He couldn't help but admire her as she slept. It was perverse of him, he knew, but he couldn't stop himself from doing so. Oh, how he loved how the lissome contours of her form were etched by the spread of the pink sheets laid over her. The mellow rise and fall of her developing bosom as she unconsciously performed the task of what he could now describe as the sensuous art of breathing. Then there was her face. He kept trying to tear his eyes away from her face and every time he was 'successful', his eyes would return to it bare seconds later. Although free of all makeup, she possessed a stark natural beauty that made him breathe in shorts.

He became considerably alarmed as her attractive face contorted into a frown. Now worrying that she was having a nightmare, he didn't know what to do to stop it. All of a sudden, she was sniffling and a tear ran from her eye. He patted it away with his handkerchief, but more came. Finally, in a brief state of a lack-of-thought, he got up from his seat to lean over her before he gently kissed her on the forehead. Although he could say that he enjoyed performing the act, he was even more joyful that the act worked as she visibly calmed down from her high and her lips formed a peaceful smile.

He couldn't help but smile himself. He was about to sit down again when common sense told him to continue standing-…he had been sitting for a while and it would do him some good to stretch. After five minutes, one thing led to another and he was soon rooting through the drawer of her desk and came upon only two items. One of them was a folded note and the other, a kitchen knife; very little observation was necessary to see that it was practically razor-sharp.

After reading the note, he became horrified as his mind raced at thousands of miles a minute. 'Oh my God! She wants to commit suicide?!'

His head swiveled to the sleeping chipette. Hysterics had blurred the specifics from his focus, but he could place the key parts like 'no one cares', 'all my fault' 'Mom's dead because of me'. He even read his name in a paragraph told him that she 'cared for him' but that was it.

Another hour passed before he finally moved again. It was done to place the knife back downstairs where it belonged in the kitchen and to write his small addition to the note on the back.

I'll always be there for you, Brittany! I swear!

He signed his name next to it before placing the note back where he found it.

…

…

…

"You'll…wait…for me?"

"Uh huh," she answered. Within the next moment, she had her soft lips pressed against his cheek affectionately and during its entirety, it was all he could do to keep from blushing until he left the room, whereupon it flared up in an intense heat. Once outside the bedroom, however, he continued to ponder the implications of the kiss. He finally made it outside of the house and couldn't stop himself from looking up to her bedroom window. He saw her there and waved to her carefully and was thankful when he saw her mirror the gesture.

And he left, vowing that he would and keep to the oath he had made twice.

'I'll always be there for you, Brittany…'

It was thrice made and thrice as determined that he would never go back on his word.

=X=X=

Theodore didn't feel like sleeping. Certainly not after the day he's had. First, he gets shot down by the girl that possessed his dreams, second, he learns a startling truth about Miami from his brothers, third, he called Eleanor his 'big sister' and lastly, the man who poisoned him was getting ready for his final resting place.

No.

He watched his family sleep quite soundly and wondered how they took a full night's rest for granted. It had troubled him for so long, sleeping brokenly and now, it was all gone.

Clink!

"Hmm?" He sat up from his bed with a start. Looking all around, he wondered what the matter was and where the sound came from before he heard it again.

Clink!

"Wazzat?" Theodore got up and listened carefully. Although he no longer heard it, he determined that it had come from the hallway. Opening the door hesitantly, he saw someone fiddling with the card reader next to the chipette's suite door. Opening the door wider, he could only stare at the person slack-jawed and wondered what in the seven hells they were up to.

The person obviously sensed his presence before they stopped working. Carefully looking around to their observant, they saw the chipmunk gawking. Needless to say, a move akin to the speed of lightening had the green Seville reeling unconscious to the floor and a needled-syringe inserted into his neck.

With a final grunt of satisfaction, the attacker went back to work on the door. They had unfinished business here.

=X=X=

Jeanette woke up with a yawn of satisfaction and slightly smacked her lips while taking up her glasses from a nearby bedside table and putting it on to see in a more pristine vision. She noted the time on the far wall. It was seven am, and she leaned over the side to get off of the bed. Looking to her sisters, she silently observed how Brittany was sound asleep in a dead-set comparison to Eleanor, who appeared to be distressed. Given by her previous theories, she guessed that it could have been some measure of guilt that she had garnered by refusing Theodore his 'belief' in loving her. She could only imagine what her younger sister was dreaming. Brittany, on the other hand, slept somewhat quietly but mumbled a bit every now and again. Jeanette had no inclination to listen more closely. Reasons being that it was none of her business and she needed to respect her sister's privacy, and the second that she had other (and better) things to do.

Quickly getting dressed with a loose fitting violet blouse and a denim shin-length skirt and crepe-soles, she grabbed her camera and her cell phone on the way out, ready to carry out her selfless ambition. Selfless as in done in an effort to make someone appreciate surreal splendor over corporeal concrete, but other than that, she was merely trying to convert him to her way of thinking. That in itself was slightly selfish; who was she to impose her own ideals on another person who had this own way of thinking?

She pulled up a route to the nearest park on her navigation app that came with her smartphone and soon, she was on her way to the park with a bit of a bounce in her step. Gaiety was the mood of the hour and the second born Miller chipette deduced that she was halfway there.

To be completely honest, she didn't see it, hear it or feel it. She just had this…sense that something was too uniform about her journey to the park. The streets seemed to be leading in the right direction; she could even see the park in the distance. She was looking at her cell and it even had the perfect timing and distance right down to an accurate science; something was off.

She was walking on the left to face incoming traffic so that made it even more difficult. Perhaps what made it stand out was how much it was unnoticeable. The most recent 'edition' (2016) Honda Accord drove soundlessly on the right lane to the other side of the street. In the din of the early morning commute, its almost completely noiseless engine and traditional sedan design rendered it invisible, in the manner of everyone wearing the same thing, the one person in particular was difficult to find.

She still had no idea why she focused on that particular vehicle.

It was said that paranoia was not a 'real' feeling, but it has been dubbed as a sensation. The phenomenon held merit and credibility, for when you had it; you 'knew' that someone was watching/after you.

And the feeling was accurate 9,999 times out of 10,000.

In other words, she felt like she was practically being stared at by a person in that vehicle and not in the way a fan might. More like in the manner of a stalker. Come to think of it, didn't she see this vehicle not too long after she started out?

Worry set in most decidedly as she hurried now, cheerfulness evaporating from her walking gait like a puddle of water in the noonday sun. Whereas before she was practically skipping, she was now speed-walking.

And the vehicle's speed went up by a few miles or so.

She experimented by slowing down.

It mirrored the action.

'Well, I'm being followed, or this is a bizarre coincidence- Oh?' She observed it out of the corners of her eyes and saw it turn unto a side street into a parking garage. Now convinced that she had needlessly fretted for nothing, she went on her way to the park.

And yet somehow, she forgot the odds of how accurate paranoia was.

It was a pity. Truly a pity.

Well, you never know if I'm messing with you or if it's true. I seem to recall a moment when Eleanor thought Brittany was kidnapped. For shame! But is Jeanette REALLY safe?

Anyway, that's it. USA drives on the right? Well, let me tell you this, if you ever try that out here in Jamaica, they're going to be hosing you off the pavement.

This chapter was to reveal Alvin's 'closeness' to Brittany and his devotion to her. He read her planned suicidal note so he 'knows' that she doesn't hate him. But as we all know, he's having denial issues. Coupled along with that, it shows why he could stay with her for a whole summer and beat a mugger to the 30th of February, which we all know does not exist. Eleanor is having some slight guilt issues but everyone will be with everyone, don't you worry! Anyway, that's it. Now, I really mean it. By the by, it's only one update this time; I have other obligations.

Valete omnes,

MRAY 4TW.