Chapter Twenty: A Rude Awakening

Penelope just lied there, cold on the sandy bed. Carmelita was watching the whole thing, what Isabella did was a little too extreme. The Fox was speechless, her eyes in shock as she saw the raccoon take the life out of Penelope. Isabella was shaking as she turned over to Carmelita.

"I don't know what came over me..."

Isabella paced over to her and cut the rope tied around Carmelita's wrists with the cane. The cane met with the rope around Carmelita's ankles and the raccoon freed her mouth. "I feel so bad for doing that... in a way..."

"Don't worry." Carmelita assured. "Check on Bentley and Murray..."

Isabella nodded as she ran towards the cracked turtle shell. Her eye peeked through the hole where Bentley's head goes out.

"Hey little buddy... you alive in there?".

She hears nothing, making her shake the shell.

"Agh my head! Stop! I'm waking up okay?"

Isabella carefully placed Bentley on the ground, having both her eyebrows raised. The turtle's legs found its way out the shell and his head peeked out the other side with broken glasses on his face. He looked up at the raccoon.

"Can you please get that wheelchair for me?"

As Isabella reached for the wheelchair, Bentley spoke again. "Was it just a dream?"

She glanced at the turtle with confused eyes. "What?"

"Penelope... she showed the past of you right? How you were a Cooper! I saw the whole thing! Is that true?"

Isabella smirked, blushing a little. "Yeah... It actually happened."

Bentley smiled as well. "Wow! How extraordinary! Sly must be excited to have some his family left! Wait... I recall seeing him being thrown! Where is he?! Is he okay?! And what about Penelope?!"

The raccoon frowned. "Uh... Penelope is... let's just say..." Isabella paused for a moment. "How should I say it..."

"Is that... her?"

Bentley pointed at the direction near the van. He slowly pushed the wheels on the wheelchair, getting closer to the mouse. He felt his heart ache at the sight.

"What... what happened to her?!"

"I-I'm s-sorry Bentley..."

The turtle went over to pick up the lifeless hand. He held it tight, close to his heart. "It looked like her bones were crushed... She was crushed. It was probably easy to do, since she was smaller than me... I can't see her like this... I can't. I can't lose her, no matter what she's done..."

Bentley frowned as he felt no pulse. He quickly dropped her hand and carried on with his statement.

"We need to go back in time to stop her from consulting with the Pharaoh. Maybe somehow keep her from messing with the Cooper History WITHOUT killing her!"

Bentley had a serious face whilst looking at Isabella. "In this gang, we do not kill! We steal, maybe knock out bad dudes if necessary but not kill."

Isabella nodded. "I'm sorry..."

"We're going to change the future anyway... where's Murray?"

"Same place where we found him..."

Bentley moved his wheelchair towards the pink hippo. He sadly glanced to Penelope, but continued to move.

The wheels of the wheelchair glided through the soft sand as Isabella followed.

The sky grew darker, and the breeze grew colder. The sky is full of glistening stars that was keeping the full bright moon company. The sand looked gray and dull with no sunlight hitting it. The village houses were barely seen as the area seemed very quiet.

Bentley approached Murray, placing his hands on the hippo's arm as the turtle shakes it. He tries to awaken the hippo from deep sleep. He turns to Isabella, grinning.

"You did well putting everyone to sleep. I watched you, until I fell asleep myself! Your talent is amazing! Although music won't wake this big guy up. I know what will though."

Bentley shook Murray again. "Murray! Wake up!"

The hippo turned to his side, his back facing the two. Murray itched his leg, yawned, and fell back asleep.

"Murray! Wake up now!"

Murray mumbled lazily. "I don't wanna..."

The turtle smiled again as he replied. "I've got a secret stash of cookies in the van, you want some? You'll have to-"

The hippo's eyes shot open and immediately sat up, looking back to Bentley. "OKAY I'M UP!"

"Shhh! You might wake the guards!"

Murray whispered. "Oh... right. Sorry."

"Now, we need to prevent Penelope from ending the Cooper family. Now where is-"

"Wait, Penelope did this?! But how?!" Murray interrupted.

"You didn't see anything, did you?"

The hippo continued. "I only remember hearing voices behind the van after you guys left. I was a little scared but I had to protect her! I couldn't lose her again Bentley! So when I checked, I was being... shocked! Then like, SEVEN GUYS dog-piled on me! I tried to put up a fight but I was paralyzed. I was knocked out and that's it."

A smile appeared on his face, having a joyful tone. "Then I dreamed about having UNLIMITED PILES OF PIZZA AND ICECREAM! IT WAS AWESOME! THEN I SWAM IN-"

"Okay you're getting loud again!"

Isabella giggled as she looked to her left, seeing Carmelita talking to Sly as she held him in her arms. Isabella walked towards the couple, but the closer she got, the more detail she seen.

The fox had tears in her eyes as her fingers went through his hair. Sly's eyes remained closed as his tail's tip was disappearing. Sly's hat was laying on the fox's lap. Carmelita, eyes still locked on Sly, spoke with a croaky voice. "He told me... he would never... leave me again."

Her lip was shaking as she bit her lip, releasing a tear.

*Uh-oh... Is it what you think it is? How badly would this affect everyone... Thank you for reading so far! Sorry these are short but they'll get longer. Way longer... So next chapter is up, will Sly continue to disappear and if he does, will he be gone... forever?*