Chapter 20
Redd glanced around the hallway. "I need rope," he mumbled irritably. He shook his head from side to side, searching the barren hall for something he could use to lower himself into the oubliette. He nearly leapt out of his fur when Harriet tapped him on the shoulder.
"Over there, shug," she grinned, pointing the wall on his left. Redd zeroed in on what seemed to be a large lever. "Good eye," he commended. Without a moment's hesitation, he hustled over to the lever. Placing both paws around the handle, he began to pull it downward. It was a Herculean task, one that required the assistance of his partner. Redd shot Harriet a glance and she was almost immediately by his side. Together they pulled down on the rusty lever. Inch by excruciating inch the lever began to fall, until finally they had managed to pull it to its full downward position. At first nothing happened. All that was heard throughout the hall was the pair's labored breath. Suddenly a loud metallic groan erupted beneath them. They spun 180 degrees, once again facing the opening to the oubliette. The loud noise was obviously coming from the dungeon below. They raced over and, much to their surprise, watched as a flight of metal stairs slowly began to rise before them. The stairs had been hidden beneath the ground and the lever clearly acted as a mechanism to allow the guards to move in and out of the oubliette.
"Oh thank goodness!" they heard a voice cry out. "I'm down here!"
"That's gotta be Katrina," Redd said to Harriet.
Harriet nodded in reply. "We'd best go down and get her. She must be terrified!"
Redd placed one paw on the handle of his (well, Copper's) sheathed rapier. He was prepared for a confrontation. In the other hand he held the flashlight. He and Harriet began to slowly descend the steps. With each stair they hazarded a glance behind them to ensure that they weren't being followed. The metal creaked beneath their feet, causing Redd to question their sturdiness. Finally they reached the bottom. Both Redd and Harriet spun in a complete circle and took in their surroundings. The oubliette was like something out of a nightmare. Redd's flashlight slid over the interior of the dungeon. The cement walls were completely bare, save for their only adornment: metal restraints that hung in two meter increments. The floor beneath them was cracked and black mold had begun to spring up within the small niches. Redd shook his head in bewilderment. How could anyone be made to suffer down here? he thought. Can Nook be that evil? A shrill voice snapped him from his contemplation.
"Hurry please!" cried out Katrina. "The keys are over there, hanging on the wall."
Redd nodded and dashed over to the keys. He returned to Katrina's cell and began to fumble with the old fashioned lock. She watched with growing anticipation as the fox at last slid the proper key into the hole. He turned it in the lock. A loud click echoed through the dungeon and Katrina's door swung open. She collapsed into Redd's arms, weak from days of starvation and exhaustion. He slung her arm over his shoulders and led her toward the stairs.
"Wait!" Katrina cried. "We have to free him too!"
"Who?" Redd asked, glancing behind the feline and the cell adjacent to hers.
"I believe she's referring to me," a raspy yet slightly high pitched voice replied.
Harriet stepped over to Redd and took Katrina into her arms, allowing the cat to lean on her for support. Meanwhile, Redd wandered over to the cell that housed the unknown prisoner, his flashlight shining into the surrounding area. The prisoner sat in the corner of his cell, his head lowered and turned away from the light.
"And just who are you?" Redd asked. "You might actually deserve to be down here."
"I can't stand the light," the prisoner rasped. "After so many years of darkness, my eyes can't take it." A brown furry paw came up, shielding the prisoner's eyes. Redd pointed the flashlight toward the ground.
"Okay then," Redd muttered. "Who are you, and why should we let you go?"
"I might be of some use to you," came the prisoner's reply. "In fact, I know I'll be of use."
"And just what makes you so darn useful?" Redd snapped.
"My pretty face," the prisoner sneered, though Redd couldn't see the expression, he could hear it in his voice.
"Your face?" Redd frowned. "What's so great about your face?"
Redd heard the prisoner stand and scurry over to him. Redd inhaled sharply when he realized that within seconds the creepy prisoner had managed to close the gap between them. The hand holding his flashlight began to shake as he felt this unknown creature's hot, fetid breath against his face. "Why don't you take a closer look?" the prisoner challenged. Red swallowed audibly and slowly brought up the flashlight. The beam traced the round curve of the prisoner's belly, pausing momentarily on the tail. At that sight Redd's heart nearly leapt into his throat. No way! he thought. At last the beam lit up the prisoner's face. Coal eyes gleamed at Redd as the realization of this prisoner's identity dawned on him. Redd's mind was sent reeling.
"How can this be?" Redd whispered incredulously.
***
"How can this be?" Labelle hissed. "You let them escape?"
Tommy's head hung in shame. Small rivulets of crimson dripped from his fur. "I'm sorry my queen, the human took me by surprise."
"That's no excuse!" she snapped. "Must I do everything myself?" Labelle began to pace the length of Sabel's bed chamber where she's found an unconscious Tommy. She ran a paw through her well kept quills and contemplated her next course of action. An idea came to her and a slow smile crept upon her lips. "All is not lost," she murmured. "It's quite obvious that the three of them will be looking for me, and no doubt that filthy fox is trying to rescue the fortune teller. All I need to do is lure Sabel, Timmy and the human to the oubliette. Once there, we can find a way of locking them all in and leave them there to rot. I'm through playing these games. I'll go to my bedchambers and pretend to surrender. I'll then reveal to them where Katrina is. I need you to lay in wait. Once we all arrive you must find a way of getting them all into the oubliette. You cannot fail this time! Oh, and one more thing. Bring our…friend with you."
Tommy nodded, "I won't let you down again!" he promised. "They will pay for the trouble that they've caused. Especially Timmy. I intend to make him suffer the most."
***
"How long do we have to wait here?" Adam whispered.
"However long it takes for Labelle to show up," Sabel hissed. "Now be quiet, she might hear you!"
"My leg is falling asleep," Timmy groaned. The three of them were hidden in Labelle's chambers behind her lavish bed. They were crouched low to the ground, ready to pounce the moment she entered.
"It won't be much longer," Sabel whispered. "Once she realizes that Tommy messed up, she'll probably come running in here to hide." Sabel's breath hitched when she heard the knob to the chamber door begin to turn. She nodded to both Adam and Timmy, signaling them to ready themselves for attack. The door swung open and Labelle swept in. As she turned to close the door behind her, Adam leapt from his hiding spot. In just three quick strides he was upon her. He placed a hand over her mouth to keep her from crying out for help. With his free hand he held her arms behind her back. "Don't move," he hissed into her ear.
Sabel and Timmy ran to Adam's side. Sabel tied Labelle's paws together. Adam removed his hand from Labelle's mouth. "Where is Katrina?" Sabel demanded.
"I'll tell you, but please don't hurt me!" Labelle pleaded.
"If you cooperate, I promise that no harm will befall you. At least not yet." Sabel replied.
Labelle let out a sigh of relief. "Very well, follow me…" She turned and led them from her bed chambers. The three heroes were not able to see the malevolent grin tugging at the corners of her lips.
Redd took a step back from the cell, his typically narrowed eyes were wide with surprise.
"Nook?! What on Earth are you doing down here?" he choked out.
Tom Nook stood in the miniscule prison cell. His fur was matted with grime, and his normally robust frame was considerably smaller from malnourishment. He held out a grizzled paw, circling one of the bars of his cell. "I've been down here since Tortimer passed away," he rasped. "In the dead of the night I was kidnapped from my home and taken to this wretched place,"
"But how is this even possible?" Redd sputtered. "You've been ruling Requiem ever since Tortimer died."
"That's not really Nook," Katrina piped in. "It has to be an imposter."
Harriet's head shook back and forth. "This is all just too much, shug."
Redd frowned. "How do we know he's telling the truth? This could all be a trap!"
"Look at me!" Nook snapped. "I look like I've been attacked by a swarm of mole crickets! When was the last time you saw the other "Nook"? How could I manage such a big change in such a short time? And for what purpose?"
Redd sighed. He couldn't in good conscience leave the raccoon behind. He unlocked the cell. Nook nodded gratefully. "Now let's get out of here!"
The four climbed the stairs of the oubliette. When they reached the top they were greeted by Sabel, Timmy and Adam with Labelle in tow.
"Sabel! Adam! Timmy! You're all alright!" Harriet exclaimed. She rushed forward, throwing her arms around Sabel's shoulders.
Redd shot a glance in Labelle's direction. "I think maybe she deserves to go down there," he said, pointing to the entrance of the oubliette.
Labelle chuckled. "I don't think so. Tommy! Nookie! Where are you?"
A pair of arms appeared from seemingly out of nowhere, pulling Katrina into a viselike grip. She let out a mewl of surprise. "What - "
Redd turned to find the fortune teller securely held in the arms of Tom Nook. However, this was not the Nook he had freed from the oubliette. This Nook was the king he was accustomed to seeing day in and day out. The considerably scruffier Nook was being restrained by Tommy. "Let them go!" Redd shouted. He unsheathed his rapier, holding it out menacingly.
"First you must release Lady Labelle," Tommy ordered. "If you don't, we'll toss both Katrina and the ugly raccoon down into the oubliette; and I doubt they'd survive the fall."
Redd clenched his jaw angrily. He motioned toward Adam, who shoved Labelle forward. Redd clamped his paw around Labelle's arm. "Alright, when I count to three, we release them. One…two…three!" Redd relinquished his grip on Labelle, who immediately shot forward. Tommy and the Nook imposter did not make good on their promise. They continued to hold both Katrina and Nook captive.
"Fools," Labelle spat, wriggling free of the ropes that restrained her wrists. "Did you actually expect us to comply? Now make your way into the oubliette, or we really will toss these two in."
Adam and Timmy glanced at each other in defeat. They took a step toward the pit. Just then, Tommy let loose a yowl of pain. The emaciated Nook had stomped down hard on his nephew's foot. The young raccoon fell backward onto his rear, clutching his hind paw.
"You idiot!" Labelle snapped. She grabbed Katrina from the imposter's grasp. "Get him!" she commanded. The imposter nodded and leapt forward. Just as he was about to descend upon the frail Nook, Redd stepped between the two, his rapier extended. The fox swung the sword in an upward arch, making direct contact with his assailant. The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the hall. The imposter fell to the ground, sparks flying from his chest. "Nooooo!" Labelle screamed. She fell to the ground next to the motionless imposter, cradling her face in her hands. Redd stood above them, his paw clutched the sword hanging by his side.
"He was a robot?" Harriet asked bewilderedly.
Timmy and Adam rushed forward. They grabbed Tommy, who continued to clutch his wounded paw.
Sabel wandered over to Redd. They watched as Labelle rocked back and forth, weeping. "My creation…" she whispered. "I spent so long….I made you…You were perfect…"
Redd tossed the rapier aside and knelt down. He gingerly lifted Labelle and carried her to a nearby cell. She made no move to fight him. She simply continued to mumble incoherently.