A/N: Seriously you guys, you are AMAZING! 25 reviews! I hope everyone who celebrated the holidays enjoyed them!
Enjoy! =D
Rocky was pulling her down one street and up another for about 15 minutes. She was beginning to wonder if she should start taking control of where they went, when the dog suddenly stopped. He was facing an alley suspiciously.
Alex took in her surroundings and found that they weren't too far from their school.
Rocky started sniffing around the alley entrance, looking as if he was searching for something. Alex watched him in bewilderment. He then barked, which possessed Alex to walk over and see what he was barking over, even though it could have easily been a rat or something equally as gross.
But it was a mere cell-phone, but as she looked at it closely it looked like Justin's.
She picked the phone up, and went to turn it on, hoping it wasn't broken. When the welcoming screen turned on, she saw all her missed calls and texts from herself. This was definitely his phone.
She went to delete them, seeing that they served no purpose now, since Justin didn't have his phone and the fact that he ran away from her. However, when she was nearing the end of her texts, she saw an unsent one from Justin. She clicked on it. It was meant to be sent to her, but it seemed like he never got the chance to send it.
Weird.
'Might be a little late. Rocky really took me for a walk today. Lol. He just ran off into this alley & he's not coming out. Just to give you a heads up so you're not worried. '
Alex furrowed her brows in confusion. That didn't sound like a text coming from someone who was running away. And an alley? Alex looked up into the gloomy alley in front of her. Was this the alley? Alex took a step frontwards into the long dark way, but she heard Rocky whimper besides her.
"I have to, boy," She told the dog. "What if Justin is here and needs my help? Or what if there are other clues?" The dog looked up at her sadly, and he tugged at the hem of her jeans, trying to persuade her in his puppy language to not go.
As much as the alley freaked her out, not having Justin was torture as well. So did Justin really run away, or did something happen to him? The unsent text said one thing, but the letter from this morning said another. Alex was so confused, but in her gut she felt like she had to go down this alley. Try to see what might have gone down the day before.
She walked slowly down the pavement, the light from the opening getting dimmer and dimmer. Rocky was walking cautiously besides her, so she felt a tad safer. She could hear the dripping of water coming from somewhere overhead, and the place started to reek more and more of garbage as she continued to venture further and further.
Suddenly a blast of light came out from a door farther up the alley. Alex quickly scrambled behind a dumpster, trying to not think too much about the scent and more about her safety. From her position she couldn't see anything, but she did hear footsteps and the bang of the door slamming against the bricks of the building.
"Why is everyone an imbecile?" She heard a voice holler. She knew that voice. She felt like she heard it one too many times for her liking, but for the life of her she couldn't place who it was.
She heard a small group of men grumble an apology. "I don't want to hear you're lame ass excuses. The plan is going down soon, maybe even tonight. And if you think I have power now, just wait until later and then I'll show you just how much pain I can cause you," The main person informed the group.
Alex was so tempted to sneak a peak, but didn't want to get caught. She was too close to the scene as it was, and she didn't want whoever this person and their henchmen to be after her. Though the voice was getting more familiar by the second, she still couldn't put a face to the voice.
The voice started spitting orders at the group, demanding several things for the "big night", but never going into too much detail. Alex thought maybe she had gotten herself in the middle of some mob meeting. That was, until one of the henchmen said something about Volcano Land. But Volcano Land was only known by wizards.
"I have that whole bit covered," The voice said. And Alex could almost feel the smugness of the comment. "We won't be going to Volcano Land, but, more or less, it will be coming to us."
Alex was very confused. This wasn't just some mob thing. Whoever this person was, was a wizard. An evil wizard to be exact and it sounded like they were planning on draining someone's powers.
She heard footsteps reenter the building, and the door close shut. She sneaked a glance and saw the alley deserted like nothing happened. She let out a relieved breath she hadn't know she was holding, and her fear was starting to subside.
Some wizard was in trouble, and with the weird disappearance of Justin, this was not helping her. Was Justin the wizard that was in trouble?
Justin or not, something bad was about to happen to a wizard. Alex had to get home and tell her father.
…
Alex ran as fast as she could and while she was running almost breathless, she silently wished she actually participated in P.E. all these years.
She opened the substation doors in a huff, and immediately her mother's arms were encircled around her frame tightly. Her mother was wailing loudly. "Don't you ever scare us like that again," Theresa shrieked at Alex, pulling Alex closer to her, as if she were to be set free she would suddenly disappear.
"We thought you had runaway too," Jerry admitted, coming over and hugging Alex from behind, so that she was now sandwiched between her parents.
"Runaway? Too?" Alex questioned.
"Didn't you read the note left on the counter this morning?" Her mother questioned her, pulling from her embrace slightly to view her daughter's face.
Alex scrunched her face in confusion, and shook her head. The only letter she had seen that morning was the one left on her bed.
Her dad walked over to one of the tables and retrieved a paper. He passed the paper to Alex. It looked vaguely similar to the one Alex had seen earlier, but it this one was addressed to the whole family, saying that Justin needed to leave and gather his thoughts.
Alex looked at her parents' crestfallen faces as she finished reading the letter.
"We thought you might have ran off to search for him," Theresa told her, hugging her tightly again.
"I'm so sorry, Alex," A voice from the opposite side of the room spoke. Alex turned her head at the voice, and for the first time noticed Mason was there. He took fast strides to her side and looked at her sympathetically. "I know how much your brother means to you. I'm sure he'll be back in no time."
Rocky began violently barking at Mason, but all Alex could do was to stare at Mason numbly. Her emotions were building up all inside her, but she was refusing to cry in front of everyone. "You have no idea," Alex whispered. She almost ran up the stairs to become a hermit in her room, when she remembered why she rushed home in the first place. "Dad, I really need to tell you something important. It was something I heard when I was walking Rocky."
Jerry turned his attention towards his daughter, nodding his head for her to continue.
But before Alex could speak any further, Mason spoke. "Excuse me, but speaking of Rocky, I wanted to let you guys know that he just expressed a deep pain he has been feeling. I think he needs to see a Vet."
Jerry then looked over at Mason, now expressing concern for the dog they all have grown to love. "What's wrong?" Jerry asked with much worry.
"It seems to be something wrong with his leg. No worries though, I know a great Vet not too far from here that is pretty cheap," Mason told Jerry. Alex silently laughed to herself, of course he would know a great vet.
"Cheap?" Jerry asked, smiling at one of his favorite words. Mason nodded and told Jerry that it would be in the best interest if they took the dog as soon as possible. Jerry nodded. "Yeah, I wouldn't want to see Rocky hurting for too long."
"Wait, Dad! I still need to tell you about what I heard," Alex hollered as she saw her parents grabbing their jackets to leave.
"This shouldn't take too long. Right, Mason?" Jerry said, and looked at Mason for confirmation.
Mason nodded his head. "It shouldn't take too much time at all and how about you come along Max," Mason said gesturing to the younger boy. "I know this really cool store right near the Vet. I think you will like it." Max got excited at the news and got his jacket as well.
"I guess I'll come then," Alex said begrudgingly, ready to go with the rest of them.
"Oh that isn't necessary, Alex," Mason told her. "This all should be over in a little bit. Just relax and when I come back we can talk about everything." He gave her a small smile, and squeezed both her shoulders in a reassuring way.
Mason went through the substation doors with Max trailing right behind him. Her parents turned to her, reminding her not to burn down the restaurant or create another black hole while they were gone. She rolled her eyes at her parents. You do one thing once and then they never let you live it down.
They took Rocky away from Alex, and started walking out the doors themselves. However, right before Rocky went through the doors, he casted a distraught glance back at Alex. His green-gray eyes felt like they were boring through her skull. It was a very odd sensation, and then her whole family was out of her sight.
Alex went to walk up the stairs to do what she did best, lie on the couch and look at the pictures in her magazines, when she stopped dead in her tracks on the first step. Remembering back on the weird exchange between her and Rocky moments ago, something seemed to click in her brain. "Wait a minute…"
…
"It is right here," Mason said, motioning to a building up ahead as the three Russo's and the dog followed him.
They all entered the small building. The office was pretty plain. All the walls were white, and the walls were mainly bare accept for one or two portraits of dogs and other animals.
The family sat down in the seats as Mason went up to the secretary. "Hello, I would like to have my dog looked at. Seems to be having some pains in the leg," Mason told the lady, who just looked up at him with disinterest.
She motioned for someone to bring the dog forward, and when Jerry gave over the dog to the secretary, Rocky was immediately put into a cage. Jerry went to question, but her voice was cruel and she looked like she wasn't a pleasant woman to argue with. She told the family to move to the other side of the room, where someone would be with them shortly.
As Jerry, Theresa, and Max headed to the spot they were told to be, everything happened at once. Out of nowhere they were consumed in a cage. The secretary had vanished and the walls seemed to be melting from their white color to one of grimy stone.
Max tried to use his magic but it was useless. The cage was made of plastic. Magic's one weakness.
"Mason, help us!" The Russo clan cried out to Mason, who was standing just a few feet away.
Mason looked sadly at the family. "I'm sorry," He told them. "But I can't."
And then a booming laugh was heard echoing off the walls of this unknown place. "So my assistant finally does something right," The voice notes. "About damn time!"
A/N: So Mason is the assistant! XD You guys were just way too smart from the start with thinking it was him. And for you Mason lovers out there, don't worry I'm not going to make him look like such a bad guy. So how was this chapter? PLEASE REVIEW!
Next Chapter: We find out who the mysterious person is…and this is the huge moment and a lot of things happen in the next chapter. Lots of questions will be answered! Maybe even the truth about Justin and Alex's relationship? You'll have to wait and see… =) So, give me your one last guess about who the main bad guy is?
REVIEW REPLY:
Sienna hearts Disney Couples: Awww thanks! And I'm glad you like the story so far! I honestly don't mind Mason/Alex too much, it's just that I wish it wasn't so rushed, but don't worry I'm not gonna kill Mason's character. I'm gonna try to make him look redeemable. :) Thanks for reviewing!
Animefan101: Thanks so much! I'm really glad you like it too. But poor iPod battery haha! Thanks for reviewing!
Xxvannyazz: I know, no Jalex interaction in the last chapter… :( I didn't even notice that until you pointed it out! XD Thanks for reviewing!
SamPrincessPuckett: Well I'm glad you really like it! Were your questions for the most part answered in this chapter? Haha! Thanks for reviewing!
CaughtThyself: Aww I'm sorry :( I didn't mean to break anyone's heart. If this chapter didn't help, then the next might since it'll give you an explanation to Justin's disappearance. :D Plus for some reason I just love the name you have haha! Anyways…thanks for reviewing!
Prettylittleliar47: You will find out all the answers to your questions next chapter! ;) Thanks for reviewing!
xxBlueGemxx: You'll just have to wait and see…thanks for reviewing!
Jalexfan1923910: LMAO! XD No, Mason didn't eat Justin, I can tell you that much. Thanks for reviewing!
PLL-TwiSaga xoxo GG: Justin will be in the next chapter :) Thanks for reviewing!
CrazyForYouLS1: You are a smart cookie. Thanks for reviewing!
Burn Out Brighter: I hope this chapter answered some of your questions, and we'll find out where Justin is next chapter for sure! Thanks for reviewing!
DaColombianSmurf: Alex would kill Justin if he decided to just up and leave! Haha! Thanks for reviewing!
Silverphoenix: You'll definitely have to keep reading to find out ;) Thanks for reviewing!
Not Just a Nerd: Glad you enjoyed the last chapter! Thanks for reviewing, buddy!
Xmiichellet: So much drama! Haha! And if you are having trouble understanding anything about the story, don't hesitate to ask. :) Thanks for reviewing!
Ryuen: You'll just have to see if you're theory is correct in the next chapter! :) Thanks for reviewing!
Clareandeliforever: Well we get to see the main stalker next chapter. Haha! Thanks for reviewing!
Baku babe: The whole thing with the dog will be explained next chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
Sorrowsown: In a way Rocky kinda does…she just doesn't know it completely yet…Don't give up on their outing out though ;) Thanks for reviewing!
1405Smiley0514: You'll find out everything about the dog next chapter! And you're little rant wasn't confusing at all XD Makes sense! Thanks for reviewing!
Deamon Dawg: No, Mason is Mason and sadly not Justin in disguise, though that would have been cleaver. Haha! Thanks for reviewing!
Nerinia: You will find out next chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
WishFlower: We will find out where Justin is next chapter, as well as everything about the dog! Thanks for reviewing!
Dontcallmesweetie: Your review had to be one of the longest reviews I've received to date! XD I love it :) And more, if not all, of the questions will be answered next chapter! Thanks for reviewing!