Finally, TGG is here! I've been so busy with exams but now it's summer so i'll have plenty of time to update! :) ENJOY!

Chapter One: Hotel Denouement

I stared out at the horizon where I could see the shapes of mountains, the mist making them appear almost as though I were dreaming it. I wished I was dreaming and not stuck in Olaf's clutches once more. I wished that I was with the Baudelaires, Quigley Quagmire, and Melissa Sampson instead. They had disappeared down the waterfall after almost being caught as well. I helped them escape, though there wasn't enough room on the toboggan for me to go with them.

"Pack the car at once you miserable girl!" Olaf demanded, storming over to me and interrupting my thoughts. "We're leaving to go to the last safe place. We'll be waiting in the car now be quick!"

He threw the car keys at me and I caught them before they could hit me in the face. Olaf snickered and then got inside the car along with Esmé and Carmelita.

I gazed out at the waterfall that was now gushing with fresh water. False Spring had made the temperatures rise and the ice had melted away. I sighed. Olaf and Esmé assumed it meant that the Baudelaires, Quigley Quagmire, and Melissa Sampson had perished. Of course, I couldn't know for sure whether that was true or not, but I knew by now that I couldn't let it get to me. I'd spent the past few days believing Klaus and Violet were dead only for them to show up with a rescue plan. I had to have faith in them. They've survived many things and I had faith that they would be okay this time too. That didn't mean I wasn't missing them terribly though. Now even Sunny was gone and I was alone once again in Olaf's clutches. I guess I should be glad that the others are at least safe from his filthy hands.

I had finished taking down the tents and loading the bags in the car when Olaf began to honk his horn repeatedly. He rolled down his window.

"Hurry up!" he called, "You're almost as slow as the baby brat!"

I sighed, slamming the trunk closed and getting in the backseat. The one good thing was that I didn't have to curl up in my usual spot on the floor of the car. Now there was enough room that I could have a seat to myself. However, I probably would rather be forced to sit on the floor again than beside Carmelita. She was already giving me that look that I knew meant she was going to make my life as miserable as possible again.

Olaf started the car and began to drive. Except, instead of moving in the usual fashion, the car seemed to be sinking on one side, making the drive feel awkwardly bumpy. Olaf brought it to a stop.

"What was that?" Olaf said as he got out of the car and inspected the wheels. He scowled. "It's a flat tire."

"Drat," Esmé said, "now we'll be behind."

"Fortunately," Olaf said, "there's a spare in the trunk." Olaf looked at me as I expected and I leaned back in my seat, wishing I could become invisible. "Blondie, go fix the tire. The spare is in the trunk and an air pump."

I got out as Carmelita made snickering noises at me.

"Jane the maid," Carmelita sing-songed.

I tried to ignore Carmelita as she called me by one of the many nicknames I received. Now Count Olaf and Esmé were laughing at me too. I just knew the moment Carmelita walked back into my life that I would be forced to relive every dreadful moment of my time at the Ontario Boarding School for Girls. It was bad enough that I was in the clutches of terrible villains and now the girl who had been nasty to me since the day we met was teaming up with them. It was like my worst nightmare come true.

I carried the spare tire from the trunk. It was flat now and I had to try pumping air into it until it was inflated. I just hoped it wouldn't burst. The worst part about it though was that I had to figure out how to take the flat tire off and then lift the inflated tire into place. In fact, I couldn't lift it more than an inch off of the ground.

With a grumble about how pathetic I was, Olaf finally got out, snatched the tire from me, and replaced it himself.

"Of course you couldn't do it," Olaf growled at me when he was done. "You're far too weak. You're too weak to escape me for long and too weak to save your boyfriend. Now get in the car, Blondie."

"Why does Jane have to come with us?" Carmelita complained as I got in. "She's the ultimate cakesniffer! We should throw her off the mountain instead."

"Believe me, Carmelita," I muttered, "if I had a choice, I wouldn't be here at all."

"We can't kill the orphan yet, darling," Esmé said, "We still have to get her fortune. I promise to buy you all sorts of in clothes with all that money."

Carmelita snickered at me. "I get to have all of your money," she bragged. "Just like the time I stole all the money you saved in that shoebox. What were you trying to do? Buy some parents?"

"I knew that was you," I muttered, "and no. I was saving up to buy earplugs so I could drown out all of your loud snoring."

Carmelita glared at me. "I don't snore," she said.

"That's right," Esmé said, "Don't listen to my stupid niece Carmelita. You're the loveliest girl I've ever laid my eyes on!"

Carmelita gave me a triumphant grin.

The car started again and this time there wasn't a problem with the wheels. Olaf drove the car down the mountain, going a little too fast for my preference. I was glad to be going away from the Mortmain Mountains that were filled with so much dread now. It made me sad to think that I might never see the mountains in their full glory.

"It's so much better not having to travel in a car full of your associates," Esmé said, "it's not nearly as crowded or noisy."

"You enjoy having me in the car, right?" Carmelita said.

"Of course, you adorable little girl," Esmé said, "in fact, when we get out, I'll let you wear any of my fashionable clothes that your little heart desires. I have a dress that looks like a carousel that would look gorgeous on you."

"You should definitely wear it," I said, hoping Carmelita might be lured into wearing Esmé's fashionable outfits so I wouldn't have to. "I did, but I'm sure it will look better on you."

"Of course it will," Esmé said.

Carmelita looked triumphant again and continued talking about how adorable she was. I wasn't happy with Count Olaf and Esmé for recruiting Carmelita of all people. But I knew that it would only be a matter of days before Count Olaf blows up at Carmelita.

I leaned over to Carmelita and said in a quiet voice. "You should give Count Olaf a nickname," I said.

"I guess Count Olaf is a cakesniffing name," Carmelita said. "I'll call him Countie!" She raised her voice. "Oh, Countie! Don't you think I'm the most adorable girl you've ever seen?"

I had to cover my mouth to hide my giggles at Count Olaf's irritated expression.

"Of course," he said, "Call me Count Olaf."

"That's a cakesniffing name," Carmelita said, "I'm going to call you Countie."

Olaf grumbled something that was too low for any of us to hear.

Finished with my meddling plans for now, I gazed out the window. We were no longer in the mountains and now the land had transformed into the ruins of the Hinterlands from the fire at Caligari Carnival. Wind caused debris to stir and be blown in every direction by the wind. I gazed mournfully at the site, feeling as if the entire world was going to go up in flames. It made me think of all those children caught in that net as Olaf's new recruits. The sinister duo had said that they would take part in burning down all of their homes. To think of all those children becoming orphans gave me a sinking feeling. Would I ever escape from Olaf's clutches? Would I ever be able to live in peace with the Baudelaires and our other friends? Would I ever have the chance to send Olaf to jail with all the evidence I've collected?

"Do you know who else has a cakesniffing name?" Carmelita chimed after a moment of silence. I was beginning to wish I really did have earplugs.

"Who?" Count Olaf said with a sigh.

"Jane Rumary," she sneered at me. "I've been telling you for years how awful your name is. It's way too boring."

"I agree," Count Olaf said with a wicked smile in my direction. "Jane Rumary is a horrible name."

"Well it's not my real name." I said.

"What are you talking about, cakesniffer?" Carmelita said, "Of course Jane is your name."

"Not anymore," I said, "I found out that my real name is Jamie Murray."

Carmelita gave me an odd look. "That's a cakesniffing name too," she said, "You probably had cakesniffing parents."

"My parents were—" I faltered. I had been meaning to say something to defend my parents, perhaps that they were good people. But I never knew them so I couldn't be sure. "Well, I don't know what they were. But they certainly weren't cakesniffers…"

"How can you know that?" Carmelita said. "They died before you even knew their names. And you didn't even know your real name until now."

Feeling suddenly uncomfortable, I turned my gaze away from Carmelita, taking to looking at the view. Carmelita looked pleased that she had made me feel awful about myself once again. She was right though. I barely knew who I was. Even before, I was never really sure of my purpose.

"What are we going to do once we reach the hotel?" Esmé asked Olaf, changing the subject.

"Our comrades should arrive there before we do," Olaf said, "and so we'll be able to boss the recruits around as much as we want to. We'll make them slaves!"

Esmé laughed. "That sounds smashing!" she said, "I was hoping to go shopping for some fashionable outfits for Carmelita."

"We'll get there with plenty of time to spare," Olaf said, "though unfortunately, the poor Baudelaires won't be able to make it."

"Let's celebrate," Esmé said, "when we get to the hotel we should all go out to dinner at the innest restaurant and drink the innest wine!"

"All of my plans are finally coming together," Olaf said. "In no time, the last safe place will be turned to ashes. Announcing my triumph over the volunteers!"

I sighed and tried to drown out the rest of their conversation. The car ride was quite long, as we had to drive through the Hinterlands again. I laid my head back against the back of my seat and tried to get comfortable enough to sleep.

I woke to someone shaking me roughly, and nearly jumped at the sight of Olaf's face in front of my vision. I gasped.

"Wake up, orphan!" he growled even though my eyes were already open and shivers ran down my spine from being surprised like that. "We're here!"

"I-I'm u-up," I said, wishing he would stop shaking me.

He stopped shaking me, but grabbed my arm to pull me out of…the car. I was still trying to remember where I was. My neck ached from sleeping in that awkward position.

I squinted in the sunlight. The sun was setting, casting long shadows on a grassy lawn. Esmé and Carmelita were already out of the car and taking in the sight of the hotel. The hotel was slanted slightly and the sign on the hotel read HOTEL DENOUEMENT except that it was backwards as if I was looking at it through a mirror. The entire hotel was designed to look like a reflection and I didn't understand why until I saw the enormous pond on the lawn. Everything when reflected in the pond appeared to be readable. It was a strange way of designing the hotel but there were so many mysteries surrounding this organization that I wasn't that surprised.

A man came up to us, dressed in a uniform with one of those luggage carts. "May I assist you with your luggage?" he asked.

"Orphan, get the luggage out of the trunk," Olaf ordered and pushed me towards the trunk. I was still recovering from being shaken awake and I nearly tripped. I was in one of those states where you're awake but in a slight daze. I sighed and pulled the luggage out of the trunk. The bellboy looked like he wanted to help me, though he was probably afraid of getting under Olaf's wrath.

I carried the bags over to the bellboy who placed them on the cart. He began wheeling the cart towards the entrance.

"Follow me," he said.

"No," Olaf said, "You follow me."

The bellboy nodded, letting Olaf go first.

"Let's go," Olaf said grabbing me by the earlobe and dragging me along with them as we traipsed to the entrance. The lawn along the edge of the walkway was nicely groomed. It seemed like a nice spot to sit with a good book or have a picnic.

I followed Olaf and his companions as they entered the hotel. Carmelita was skipping and Esmé was fawning over how adorable she was.

The lobby was crowded as guests waited in line at the enormous reception desk with the number 101 printed on the wall above it. Employees including more bellboys and some bellgirls rolled carts of luggage in the direction of the elevators with the above mark of the number 118. Waiters and waitresses served groups of people sitting on benches and chairs. I saw a few dogs going outside for walks while taxi drivers were bringing guests inside the lobby. I noticed some children playing while some adults studied maps. Some staff members were polishing the green wooden floors with the number 123 carved into it. One corner hosted a gigantic fountain, the water splashing onto the number 131 engraved on a smooth wall. However my favorite sight was the grand piano where a man wearing a tuxedo was playing the most amazing tune. The piano was branded with the number 152 and I found myself wanting to go over there to listen or play.

I felt a sharp tug on my ear and realized I had stopped walking to look around. I winced in pain and hurried so I wouldn't get hurt again as I trailed behind the villains. We approached one of the lines and began the miserable wait. It was worse that I was with Count Olaf who wouldn't stop talking about the Baudelaires being dead or committing crimes. Meanwhile, Carmelita said the tiniest comment and Esmé would act as if she just won a medal. The only good part was that Olaf stopped pulling on my ear for the moment. I just hoped that the Baudelaires would arrive soon. Could they have already arrived? Though se it might take a little longer depending on where that stream took them. I wondered if they even knew how to get here. I sighed. I couldn't let myself worry like that. I had to trust that the Baudelaires, Quigley, and Melissa were all on their way.

I could sense the letter inside my snowsuit. That strange message that kept coming everywhere I went. It must be urgent. So I would have to find a moment alone to look at it. If I could just escape the villains for a moment, I might be able to discover what it said.

"I'm just going to go listen to that pianist," I said, attempting to slip away when Olaf grabbed my wrist roughly.

"No you won't, Blondie," he growled. "You're not leaving my sight while we're in this crowded lobby."

"Why would you want to listen to that pianist?" Carmelita said, "He's as cakesniffing as the song he's playing."

"What do you know about music?" I muttered. "You don't even play an instrument."

"I do too," Carmelita argued, "I can play the guitar."

"Since when?" I said.

"Since I said so, cakesniffer," Carmelita said, "whatever I say goes."

"I'm sure you're smashing at playing the guitar," Esmé said to Carmelita and she sneered at me. "Carmelita's the most adorable girl in the world and you're nothing but a servant."

I averted my eyes as Carmelita, Esmé, and Count Olaf all laughed at me again. Was this constant humiliation ever going to end? Usually, I wouldn't let the insults get to me but it was different this time. Carmelita was provoking them as usual.

I was silent for the rest of the time we waited to get rooms. Then Olaf was pushing me in the direction of the elevators as the bellboy followed with the luggage.

We rode up the elevator to the eighth floor and I followed the villains down a hall with rooms on either side. Finally, Olaf paused at a door labeled 748.

"We'll be staying in this room," he said to Esmé, "and Carmelita will stay in that room." He gestured to the room next door, room 746.

"Where will I go?" I asked.

Olaf glanced at me. "I almost forgot you were here," he said. "You'll be staying with Carmelita."

"No way," we both said at the exact same time and then scowled at each other.

"I don't want to stay with Jane, Countie," Carmelita whined. "She's the biggest cakesniffer in the world."

"I lived with Carmelita for eight years," I said, "and I'm not going through that again."

"Perhaps there's a way that this adorable girl can stay with us," Esmé said.

"And Blondie gets a room to herself?" he said.

"Exactly," I said, eagerly.

Olaf scowled at me. "Nice try," he said, "but you're not getting any fancy treatment from me. You're a prisoner and I order you to share a room with Carmelita."

"Can I make Jane do anything I say?" Carmelita asked.

"Jamie will do anything you say, you darling little girl," Esmé said while I said "No way!" again.

Carmelita gave me a nasty look. "You have to do whatever I say or Countie will give you trouble, right?"

"That's right," Olaf said, giving me a wicked grin.

I sighed, grabbed my suitcase, and followed Carmelita reluctantly into the room we were being forced to share. There was a door on one of the walls of the room that connected to our room to the villains'. That made me a bit uneasy. How would I ever find time alone to open my letter? There was a bathroom to my right and a closet beside it. In front of the beds was a large shelf with a television perched inside a big, gapping portion. Beside the television was a small desk with a lamp and a wooden chair. I have never been to a hotel this fancy. I did stay at a motel when I was being transferred from Ontario, Canada to New York via plane though it wasn't nearly the same.

"I call the bed closest to the window," Carmelita announced and plopped onto the bed farthest from the door as if she was afraid I would steal it. The window was covered in ugly, thick curtains that let practically no light into the room. I went over to open them and observed the view. I could see the pond directly below and I stared into its dark, mysterious depths.

There were two relatively good-sized beds in here, fully made. Each bed had chocolates on the pillow that I suppose were served to make the guest feel welcome. I reached for mine a little greedily. I've only had chocolate once in my life well except in ice cream. Still, I loved it from the moment I first tried it and ever since I've been hoping to have more.

"Are those chocolates?" Carmelita asked.

I hid them behind my back. "Yes," I said, "but they have that orange stuff in the center that you don't like. There's some on your pillow."

Carmelita picked up the three pieces of chocolate and I thought I was safe until she got off of her bed.

"I want those chocolates too," she said, "give them to me at once, you cakesniffer."

"No," I said, "You have your own."

"You're just a servant," Carmelita said, "so they don't belong to you. Besides, you have to do everything I say so give them to me."

"No," I said fiercely. "It's not fair. I don't care what Count Olaf says. You're not the boss of me."

"I'd think twice before saying that, Blondie," a scratchy voice said and I jumped. Olaf stood in the doorway of the connector door-thing. He glowered at me and I gave him a sheepish look in return. "Carmelita," he said, "why don't you go see Esmé, I want to speak with the cakesniffer alone."

"Will you make her give me those chocolates?" Carmelita asked, trying to look sweet.

"Fine," Olaf grumbled as if he could care less about the chocolates.

Carmelita looked pleased and skipped past Olaf into the room where Esmé was. Count Olaf stepped further inside the room and closed the door.

"Am I in trouble?" I said, nervously.

"Not yet," Olaf said, "now sit down and be quiet so I can talk."

I sat down on the bed and closed my mouth. I couldn't help feel a little uneasy. What could he want? Did he know about the owl figurine? Or was this about my notebook? What other secret could he possibly want to discuss?

"Now, listen you," he began, "I don't want any funny business while we're here. You're not getting in the way of my plans again."

"I—" I began but Olaf cut me off.

"I'm talking orphan," he said curtly. "My associates will be lurking around every corner of this hotel and they know to bring you to me if you happen to sneak off anywhere. And if I do catch you causing any trouble, I'll lock you in this room until I'm through with my plans. Is that clear?"

I nodded.

"Speaking of my associates," he continued, "they're all villains of course. People who you probably have never met before but each one of them won't hesitate to snatch a little girl such as yourself. Especially, if they know who you are. So from this moment on, you're Jane Rumary again. Never tell anyone your real name unless you want to find yourself in your worst nightmare."

"Why?" I asked. "I still don't understand why my name is so important. Or why people want to hurt me because of it."

"I'm not here to answer your ridiculous questions about your parents," Olaf grumbled. "But I will tell you that your name is a magnet for danger. Of course it is, or your mother would never have changed it when she had the chance. Not everyone knows you're alive but you still shouldn't trust anyone. You never know who's pretending."

"And why should I listen to you?" I asked.

"You're lucky that I discovered you before anyone else did," Olaf growled. "Because if it had been anyone else, you would have been killed. So you'll listen to me because you're in my clutches and your little life depends on it."

"Well, what do I do if someone grabs me?" I said. "Scream?"

"It doesn't matter," Olaf said, "you get out of there or you die. Got it?"

This conversation was making me nervous. I thought the only villains I had to worry about were Count Olaf, Esmé, and Carmelita, and of course Olaf's associates. Now I had to worry about a hotel full of them.
"How can I tell whether they're a volunteer or a villain?" I asked.

"You're also not allowed to associate with any volunteers," Olaf said, not answering my question. "Especially not Monty Kensicle. Is he at the hotel, Blondie?"

"How would I know?" I said, which was true. I suppose he might be here but if he were, it would be hard to track him down. After all, he wouldn't be using his own name and now I had to tell him the name Monty Kensicle was no longer safe either. "I haven't seen him in ages, unless, those letters are from Monty Kensicle. I mean I don't know anyone else who would send me a letter."

"They're not from any volunteer," Olaf said as if it were obvious. "But it shouldn't matter because you're never going to read any of those letters. I'll be watching very carefully in case any more come."

I sighed. "Well, if they're not from a volunteer, then why can't I read it?" I asked.

"Enough of your irritating questions," Olaf growled. "The point is, you're going to be with Esmé or me a lot. I already spoke to Esmé about not letting you leave our sights while we're here. So there won't be any opportunity for wandering off on your own unless you have a death wish. Understand?"

I nodded. "But I don't want to be bossed around by Carmelita," I said, "it's already bad enough that I'm stuck here."

"I don't care about that," Olaf said, "You'll do it because Esmé tells you to do it. Now hand over those chocolates or I'll make you."

I sighed and placed them in his filthy hand. "You're going to regret making Carmelita your…child or whatever," I said, "you don't know her like I do. She'll drive you crazy if you let her get what she wants."

"She's not my child," Olaf grumbled, clearly still bothered by that. "And it won't be so bad if you're life is a nightmare because of that adorable little girl."

"Well soon she'll be your worst nightmare too," I said, "it's already happening. You may think she's adorable now but soon she'll get to you. She's one of those people who will do pretty much anything for attention."

"I don't care what you think," Olaf said, "We're going out to dinner, Blondie. So you're coming because I have nowhere else to put you. But you'd better not ruin it. Tonight we're celebrating the deaths of your poor friends."

"How do you know they're dead?" I said.

"Do you really think they could survive their ride down that waterfall?" Olaf said, "They probably drowned or died of starvation." He laughed wickedly. "Though I admit, it would've been much less disappointing if your friends were alive. Besides, I was hoping to finish them off myself. It's a good thing I'll be getting all those fortunes from my new recruits and of course you. By the way, you better behave, or I'll send you to do hard labor with the rest of my employees. Now get ready, we're leaving soon."

He opened the door and went back inside his room. I thought I might finally have a chance to be alone but Carmelita came in right after, grinning from ear to ear as she stuffed her face with chocolates. It reminded me of one of my favorite books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I kind of hoped Carmelita would turn into a giant blueberry or something. She still had a pile of chocolates beside her and I eyed one, a plan forming in my mind.

Using my new skills, I made one of the chocolates float in thin air. Carmelita stared at it as if it were a ghost.

"What the—" she started and reached for the chocolate. I made it move out of her reach, above her head. She began reaching for it and then I made the other two chocolates float too. Carmelita looked at the chocolates in confusion and then she looked at me.

"What are you doing to my chocolates, cakesniffer?" she said. "They're floating!"

"I'm not doing anything," I said, "How could I make those chocolates float in midair? I'm not magical."

Carmelita huffed, knowing there was no real way to prove I did it. she tried to grab one of the chocolates but I made it fly over to my bed. I caught it and popped it into my mouth. Mission accomplished. Carmelita fumed at me.

"I know it's you," she said, "and I'm going to tell Esmé."

"Tell me what, darling?" Esmé asked from the doorway. She noticed the chocolates floating and her eyes narrowed at me. I let them drop, trying to look innocent.

"Those chocolates were floating because of Jane," Carmelita said, "she did it and she ate one."

"I know it was Jamie," Esmé said, stepping further inside and still glared at me. She held a shopping bag in one hand. "Because Jamie is a little freak." Carmelita and Esmé snickered at me.

"She's such a freak," Carmelita said, "that she's still wearing that ridiculous snow suit." They snickered.

"I brought you a fashionable outfit to wear to dinner," Esmé said to Carmelita. She pulled out a yellow dress with white daisies decorating every inch. "This will look adorable on you!"

Carmelita eagerly put the dress on and beamed. "Does it make me look like the most adorable girl in the whole wide world?"

"You look like the most adorable girl in the entire universe!" Esmé exclaimed.

"What should I wear?" I asked.

Carmelita and Esmé looked at me with matching glares. "You can't wear that to dinner," she said, "No one would wear a snowsuit to a dinner at an in restaurant."

"Fine," I said, "I'll wear something from my own clothes."

Esmé shook her head. "All of your clothes are old and not nice enough for a fancy restaurant," she said, "haven't you ever been to a fancy restaurant?"

"No," I replied. "I haven't exactly had the money for it."

"That's because she's a cakesniffer!" Carmelita exclaimed.

"I got you an outfit," Esmé said, "but I want it back." She pulled out one of her wacky outfits. I took the outfit from her and went to the bathroom to change.

I took the snowsuit off and put on the outfit that was far too big for me. The letter was still in my snowsuit and I pulled it out. Finally, I had my chance.

"Orphan!" Olaf's scratchy voice called. "Hurry up and get ready! Our reservations are for eight and you're not going to make us late!"

The doorknob began to turn and I quickly stuffed the letter back inside the snowsuit before he could see it. Olaf stood in the doorway, glaring at me.

"I'm coming," I said, picking up the snowsuit and walking past him. I put the snowsuit inside my suitcase. I tagged along with the villains as they went out the door and into the hall.

The restaurant we went to was a little ways away from the hotel. Esmé wanted to dine somewhere inner and the restaurant certainly looked stylish. We were right in the city now and that was the only thing that pleased me. I've never really been in this part of the city at night when all the lights shined and the streets were busy with activity. The restaurant was huge and crowded with customers dressed in suits or dresses of all kinds. Customers sat at round tables with white table cloths draped over them, looking like marshmallows with bouquets as centerpieces. There was a small staircase that led to a more elevated section and near the front was a bar, nearly full of people.

A waiter led us over to a table up the stairs where it was more secluded but just as elegant. Olaf sat down at the head and Esmé sat beside him and Carmelita beside her. The only empty chair was in between Olaf and Carmelita. I got in the seat, wishing I could blend in with the background. I was uncomfortable in such a place. I didn't feel like I belonged here but then again, I'd never felt that way about any place.

Carmelita began poking me with her fork, which had been a habit she picked up while we were at school.

"You're lucky you won't have to scrub the floors again," Carmelita said, "Remember that?" she snickered.

Of course I remembered. It felt like everywhere I went, I was treated like a maid. "Will you quit poking me?" I said, when she jabbed me hard in the ribs.

"Shut up, orphan," Olaf growled. "You're ruining our celebration of your friends' tragic deaths."

Carmelita grinned wickedly and poked me again, knowing I would get in trouble if I complained.

"Let's order the best bottle of wine," Olaf said, "and get on with our celebration."

The waiter took orders for drinks and Olaf ordered some really fancy kind of wine. I was forced to stick with water, of course.

"Once all our plans succeed," Esmé said, "we'll be able to dine at fancy restaurants every evening."

"And we'll be able to drink the most expensive wine every night," Olaf said as he eagerly poured himself a glass and drank.

Carmelita was looking at her menu eagerly. She smirked at me and I prepared for more humiliation coming my way.

"Remember that time when I dared you to eat salmon?" Carmelita said, jabbing at me with her fork again. "You ate it but every one could tell you hated every bite."

I grimaced. "I remember," I muttered and looked away.

"What can I have?" Carmelita asked the villains.

Esmé smiled and patted her head endearingly. I bit my lip and my eyes flickered to the table.

"You can have anything that your adorable heart desires," Esmé said.

"I'll have—" I started.

"You're not going to decide what you'll have," Olaf interrupted me with a sneer. "You can have a small cup of soup. I'll get my pay back when I have your fortune."

I sighed and looked away but the only other sights were of wealthy looking restaurant goers. This place wasn't very pleasant and it made me wish even more that I could be with the Baudelaires. I'd trade this all for cold, alphabet soup with Klaus again. I tried to comfort myself with the way we last left off. Nothing much had changed. I didn't tell him how I felt because there wasn't much time to do so. Though I had kissed him on the cheek a few times. Of course, that didn't mean anything but at least I got to see my best friend. I missed the Baudelaires far too much and this dinner to celebrate their deaths only made me feel worse.

After spending a miserable time at dinner with Count Olaf, Esmé, and Carmelita, I was relieved to be going back to the hotel. I walked with the villains up the street lined with shops and more restaurants. They turned down a side street that opened onto a broad street surrounded on either side by dazzling lights from billboards and stores. Some of the billboards were advertisements for Broadway shows and as we came closer to the wide street, I realized where I was.

They walked over the crosswalk along with billions of other people making their way to the very heart of New York; Times Square. I knew that Times Square also meant Broadway and I stopped in my tracks, mesmerized. I looked around at the place so foreign to me yet those lights seemed so welcoming. Broadway was like my version of paradise. I could just imagine standing on one of those stages, performing for millions of people. Finally, people wouldn't point and laugh at me for being an orphan, because in those moments when I imagined myself performing, I was someone else. Losing myself in a character that was far from the miserable, poor orphan whose name was a magnet for trouble.

"What in the world are you doing?" Esmé cried in exasperation as she clunked over to me in her heels.

I guess I had been so lost in my dreams that I forgot about whom I was with.

"I've never been here," I said, "I was only looking at the view because it's amazing. Far better in real life."

"Yes, yes," Esmé grumbled, "I'm sure you must think it's wonderful but we're not going to wait around while you look at a bunch of lights. Let's go."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me to where Count Olaf and Carmelita were waiting. Count Olaf looked agitated and Carmelita was too busy admiring her reflection in the window of Forever 21.

"Where was she?" Olaf started to growl. "I thought I told you not to wander off!"

"I found her staring at the lights," Esmé said.

"See," I said to Count Olaf, "I wasn't wandering, I just got distracted. It is the center of all Broadway."

"Well, I'm adding that to the list of things I'm forbidding you to do," Olaf grumbled. "No more observing things. You can look at the lights from the taxi window."

I sighed and tried not to 'observe things' again as I got inside the taxi Olaf had signaled.

At last, I had managed to trail Count Olaf, Esmé, and Carmelita up to the hotel room without collapsing from exhaustion. The one thing that I was actually sort of looking forward to was sleeping in that comfortable looking bed. I couldn't remember the last time I had somewhere comfortable to rest my head at night and I couldn't wait to get underneath those covers, perhaps really sleeping for the first time in ages.

Everything seemed to be fine until we reached the rooms. Standing not too far from us were two people I hoped I would never see again.

The sinister duo turned at the sound of our footsteps and their mouths turned up in smiles that made me want to bolt through that door and hide under the covers. I had been near the point of sleepwalking before they had appeared, but now I was wide awake. I could sense the noodles from the soup I ate this evening turning over in my stomach.

"Hello, Olaf," the woman with hair but no beard greeted him in her voice as low as a horn.

Count Olaf, Esmé, and Carmelita hadn't noticed them until the woman spoke and I saw Olaf and Esmé nearly jump out of their skin at the sound. Carmelita was a little surprised, but I don't think she understood that they were evil yet.

Olaf uttered a sound that was a cross between a cough and a nervous laugh. "I didn't see you there," he said with a nervous laugh. "It's good to see that you've made it to the hotel and that we happened to run into each other."

"We have the prisoners with us as planned," the man with a beard but no hair said in his hoarse voice. "And a few of your associates as well."

"Oh, right," Olaf said, "well you can let them go and send them to my room at once so I can give them orders. As for my new recruits, I'm sure I'll find a use for them in the near future."

"We're keeping them in the basement," the woman said quietly. "There's a room in there that's full of opportunities for children to do hard labor."

"You could send the Murray girl down there," the man suggested, frowning at me. I suppose they still hadn't gotten over how I made a rash break out on their skin.

"That won't be necessary," Olaf said, "besides, she'll probably create more trouble than she'll do any real labor."

"Not so different from her mother," the man went on. I dared myself to sneak a peek at his face and flinched under his dark eyes, like stones. Something about the man triggered something in my mind as if a switch had been turned on.

A memory flooded into my brain. I was lying in my crib as a baby, I suppose, when I was woken up by a strange creaking noise. I remembered the room being as dark as the night sky outside my window. But through the darkness, my eyes could spot a shady figure climbing into my room, through the window. The figure loomed in the small distance between my crib and the window. It advanced slowly, leaning over my crib greedily as if I were a box of chocolates, rather than a baby. I couldn't make out who this invader was but I met a pair of dark eyes like stones. That was when I had burst into cries for help.

I was brought out of my short snippet of memory as I returned to reality and those strange eyes that I may have seen many years ago. Though the memory had seemed so blurry that I couldn't be sure if it was only a dream.

"So are all of the recruits here?" Esmé asked. "Including the ones from the other destinations we planned."

The woman nodded. "We've already been collecting children from all the places that have been burned down. We have children from Prufrock Prepatory School, the New York Boarding School, and the Ontario Boarding School for Girls." She looked pointedly at me on the last name, in time to see my gasp.

"That's right little Jamie," she said, "Though I can't imagine why you would be so upset since those kids did you so much harm. I would assume you would want them to suffer the way you did all those years."

I dropped my gaze so I didn't have to look at her right in the eyes. The truth was, even after everything I've been through, maybe I resented those kids for bullying me but that didn't mean that I wanted them to lose their parents too. And of course, I had friends at the New York Boarding School and I never wanted them to suffer. I glanced at Carmelita who didn't seem bothered at all by the announcement.

"They're all cakesniffers anyways," Carmelita said, instead. I couldn't help but glare at her. She had friends from those schools as well. And now, when her friends were in danger, all she did was call them cakesniffers. Some friend she was.

The villains continued their conversation about the recruits and finally the sinister duo left. I followed Carmelita inside our room and went to bed for once. Though after the sinister duo appeared and I had that flashback, I was no longer in any mood for sleeping.

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