Note: Tests and assignments. That's what has been keeping me so busy, but I finally got the time to write this.

"What exactly do you mean by 'not friendly?" Keith asked making quotation marks with his fingers.

"I think someone's been following us," Zoey clarified.

"Wait, someone tailed us and you didn't even bother to let me know?"

"I was worried you'd overreact," she said simply.

Keith opened his mouth to respond, but stopped when he heard Lexy whimpering. "Lexy, are you okay?"

"W-what if it's him? What if he finally came to get me!?" she said in a panicked voice.

"Calm down," Carrie said.

"No! I'm never going back, not without a fight," she said with a sense of determination.

"I'm not sure what's going on, but we got your back," Zoey reassured Lexy and placed a paw on her shoulder.

They heard more movement coming from downstairs which made them all turn their heads to the staircase.

"Might I suggest coming up with a plan before this whatever reaches us," Keith said and pointed a thumb towards the staircase.

"Agreed. Carrie, this is your house, so what's a good spot for an ambush?" Zoey asked.

"He'll probably be coming up here, so just by the top of the staircase should be good,"

"We're going to need more than just our tiny little arms to bring him down," Lexy noted.

"Alright, everyone grab what you can and get to a hiding spot. Carrie since you can teleport you'll take him from behind,"

"Will do," Carrie said and teleported away with a flash.

"Do you still have that rope from earlier?" Keith asked.

"Darn, I left it in that room. I'll go get it," Zoey said and ran off in the direction she and Keith had come from.

Before Keith and Lexy could do anything they heard the sound of someone coming up the stairs. The movements were slow and each footstep caused a loud creek.

"Come on Lexy we can do this. Lexy?" Keith looked behind him and saw Lexy standing in place, frozen in fear.

"I-I can't."

"Yes you can."

"No, you don't understand. P-please don't let him take me again," Lexy said as tears formed in her eyes. She was terrified of who was coming.

Keith might not have been entirely sure of what was going on, but he had no doubt about the fear he could so clearly see in Lexy's eyes. He wanted to end it, but he's still just a kid and had no idea what he was up against. He swallowed hard and moved to the painting he had dropped earlier.

"Mind doing me a favor and placing back on the wall where you found me," the painting of the old man said kindly.

Keith picked it up. "Any advice?"

"Take your lady friend by the hand and make a break for it, boy."

They then heard the footsteps come even closer and then stop.

"K-Keith," Lexy called out.

The lynx turn his head to face her and noticed that she was looking at something in front of him. Keith took a deep breath, lowered the painting and looked at the person standing several feet away. It was a tall humanoid figure completely covered in a brown cloak.

"Where is he?" he said in a thick voice.

"Who do you mean?" Keith said, shaking a little and trying to stand his ground.

"My son. I have forgotten, but now I remember, even if it is only a vague memory."

"Huh?"

Keith raised an eyebrow in confusion, but before he could ask any more questions Carrie came up from behind holding a broom over her head ready to hit the humanoid with it. "Take this."

He dodge, ripped the broom from her hands and then swiped it at her. Carrie held up her arms in defense, however it turned out to be unnecessary as the broom went right through her.

"Oh yeah, I forgot I could do that."

Keith held the painting over his head.

"Hold on there, boy. There is no need to bring me into this," The painting tried to reason with him.

"Sorry dude," Keith threw the painting and it hit the humanoid on the head causing him to hold it in pain.

Keith ran in the opposite direction and grabbed Lexy's paw, dragging her along with him. The humanoid grunted and ran after them. Carrie grabbed onto his coat and tried to pull him back, but it had no effect. Keith and Lexy ran up to the attic, closed the door and Keith pushed a few old boxes over the door. It was banged into a few times as the humanoid tried to break through the barrier.

Carrie came up through the floor. "I can't stop him, he's too strong."

"Any chance of teleporting us out of here?" Lexy said shivering in fear.

"Wait, we can't just leave Zoey behind and even if we do get out he'll just keep coming after us," Keith said.

"So what do you suggest we do?" Carrie said holding out her arms somewhat frustrated.

"Teleport us down to the living room, if we work together we can take him down," Keith said determined to stop the humanoid.

"I don't like it, but OK," Carrie floated behind the two grabbed them by the collars and teleported out with a flash.

Just then the humanoid broke through sending the boxes flying across the room. "Huh? Where did they go?"

Another flashing accompanied by a cracking sound came in the living room and the trio appeared. Keith and Lexy felt a little light headed from the teleportation and took a moment to regain their senses. Several loud thuds and a few crashing noises came from upstairs. Zoey soon came into view and descended the stairs as fast as she could.

"He's right behind me!"

The humanoid appeared as well and jumped over the railing, landing right in front of them.

"Tell me where he is and we can end this," he demanded.

"Who are you talking about? What have I ever done to you? Why did you take me?" Lexy cried out as tears rolled down her eyes.

He growled and charged the kids who scattered in response. Zoey held the rope tightly around her arm and followed him as he chased after Lexy.

"Hey Keith, Catch." she called out and threw one end of the rope to him which he caught. "Lexy, come this way."

Lexy looked behind her and saw the humanoid still chasing after her. She was terrified and could feel her adrenaline kicking in again. Just as he was about to grab her she took a sharp turn to the left, jumped against the wall and used her feet to push herself forward. Lexy landed on all fours and started running towards the others. The humanoid stopped and ran after her again. She went passed Keith and Zeoy who were hiding behind the couch and a wall with the rope in between them. When the humanoid came close enough they pulled tight and he tripped over it, however the force was so strong that it pulled Keith and Zoey along with him.

He lifted his head and groaned in pain. As he tried to get up though, he saw Carrie floating above him holding a large pot in her hands.

"Lights out, buddy."

The humanoid slowly opened his eyes and saw the four kids standing in front of him. He tried to move, but then discovered that he was tied to a chair. "Let me go."

"No way. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to move you? You're really heavy," Keith said massaging his shoulders.

"Now that we have your undivided attention it's time you start answer our questions," Zoey said with an intimidating scowl.

"Who are you and what do you want with Lexy?" Carrie asked.

The humanoid looked at the four kids for a moment and sighed. "All I wanted was for my son to be safe. One day I came across this ugly green witch who needed money and asked if she could tell me my future for a small fee. I had some spare change and decided 'why not'."

"What did she tell you?" Carrie said curiously.

"She was shocked by what she discovered and looked at me with concern. She told me that one day a feline child with the last name of Watterson would cause my son great pain and loss. I would be faced with a choice that she warned me not to even concider."

"It was to kidnap me, wasn't it?" Lexy said trying to hold back her emotional pain and anger.

"You have no idea what some parents would be willing to do to save their children. At first I refused to believe her and thought she was crazy, but then I saw you in the mall that one day. It was by mere chance that our paths crossed and I knew that it would probably be my only chance to act, so without giving it much thought I did. My intention was never to harm you, I just needed to keep you away from him."

Lexy clenched her teeth and balled her fists. "So why did you let me go after twelve years?"

"I forgot. I somehow forgot ever having a son. It must sound preposterous to you, but it's as if he never existed in the first place. I no longer had any reason to keep you and therefore let you go, but recently I've started getting a vague memory of him. Bits and pieces as if he has returned into existence."

"So it was all for nothing huh? All those twelve years you took from me and it still happened. You still lost your son and I lost most of my childhood!" Lexy cried out, her eyes filled with hate.

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? Sorry!?"

"Calm down Lexy." Keith said and placed a paw on her shoulder.

She pushed it off. "No I won't. I'm calling the police and I hope they put you away for double the amount of years you stole from me."

"Wait before you do I want to know. Who is your son?" Zoey asked.

"His n-name. It's it's… Rob."

Note:... What!?