Timothy.C.:We have a special treat for you today. This chapter was done by none other then Hillsy21! Its one of my favourites in the whole story, so read and enjoy!

Hypnotism of All Things

The tension in the air was positively nerve-wracking. It was so silent; you could hear a pin dropping from at least a mile away...and that's just an understatement. Nobody seemed to want to talk; all eyes were too busy watching me. Everybody was just staring. It was as if I was an alien from Venus or something. I was feeling so self-conscious...I really should've not been feeling a thing at all. I was supposed to let go of all emotions...just let myself float away on the clouds of nothingness...But that was hard when everybody around me refused to blink. Why, oh, why didn't they leave me alone for at least five minutes?

"Just relax," soothed Chelsea in a dreamy voice. She had me lying back on a couch while a pocket watch swung back and forth in a slow rhythm in her hand. I watched it intently. It was going back and forth...and back and forth. I couldn't take my eyes off it, but that didn't stop my mind from putting up a fight. It was failing horribly. "Just relax...let the watch take you away from this time...let it take you away from your body...let it take you away...let it take you away..." Chelsea repeated, her dreamy voice refusing to quit.

I found myself beginning to drift off. All the pain in my mind and body was floating away, making me light headed. But not nauseous light headed...just peaceful light headed. I just felt so at peace with the world somehow. Like no harm would come to me and in turn, I wouldn't harm it. I couldn't bring myself to move an inch of my body; it just laid there with no need to move. The people around the couch observing the scene were disappearing into darkness...just fading away.

"You're getting tired...very tired," Chelsea continued, "All you want to do is close your eyes and dream the rest of your life away...you want to sleep...you want to sleep." I closed my eyes and let my head roll to the side. The soft material making me even more relaxed as it brushed against my cheek gently. I gave a small smile as I thought about who it reminded me of... "What do you want to do Alvin? More than anything in the world...what do you want to do?"

"I want to sleep...I want to sleep more than anything in the world." I answered involuntarily. My sub-conscious was now in complete control, but I had no desire to fight it. Life had never felt so calm as it did at that moment. I took a deep breath.

"Very good Alvin, that's exactly what you want to do. Now go to sleep, just fall away. There's nothing more to worry about...nothing at all to worry about." So I did. I fell asleep feeling so comfortable and relaxed, excited about where my dreams wanted to take me...perhaps back to the hot water springs in the Northern Territory...Anyone want to come with me? But hold on...I wasn't going to dreamland at all...It was just pitch black. I couldn't see a thing. Where did everything go? Suddenly, Chelsea's voice called out to me. It sounded very clear, but distant...

"Now Alvin, listen. You are under my control...You are under my spell...Now, what I want you to do is tell the truth with every question I ask of you...You will remember everything that happened after you fell off the ridge...Do you understand?"

"Yes...Yes, I understand."

"Very good...Now, when I count to three, I want you to wake up... But you will wake up six years ago when you regained consciousness after your fall...You will tell me everything that happened...Okay...three...two...one."

My eyes opened immediately, but I was no longer in the living room. I was no longer with my family, feeling at peace with the world...No...I was feeling sad, cold and in pure agony. There was nothing but thick forest to stare at in the darkness. The night sky was peeking through the treetops above dauntingly ...Half of my body was broken and I wanted nothing else but to be in my dad's arms again. I was scared and crying. I just wanted to go home...

"Alvin! Can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can hear you..."

"Where are you right now?"

"I'm in the forest at the bottom of the ridge."

"Are you okay?"

"No...my head hurts...my whole body hurts...Where's Daddy? I'm scared...I don't like being alone...I-I don't like it here...Where is he? Its cold...It's dark...I wanna go home...I want Daddy to take me home...He can make me feel better...Where's Daddy? I wanna cry... I know that crying is making my head hurt even more, but still I'm crying anyway...Daddy...Death...Anybody...just come take me away..."

"Is anybody coming for you? Will anybody come for you?"

"Yes, two people have found me...two chipmunks have seen me lying here...They heard me crying for Daddy..."

"Really? Who are they? What do they look like?"

"It's too dark to see them properly...But one has glasses...He is the taller chipmunk...The other is a Chipette...She is shorter and a bit rounder than the male...The male has just picked me up... My head is pounding hard...They...They both tell me that I'm gonna be okay now...They are telling me to calm down because I'm safe now...They're gonna take care of me...They tell me that they will try to find Daddy as soon as I heal...But now I have to go with them...I'm trying to put up a fight, but my body hurts too much...I feel..."

"What do you feel?"

"I feel myself falling asleep...I can't stay awake anymore...It just hurts too much...I'm passing out..." The scene in front of me fades away into nothingness entirely...I wake up the next morning in a tree house quite different from my own...The sun is shining brightly in my eyes and I can no longer keep them closed..The pain isn't as bad as it was, but it still bothers me...

"What happened the next morning, Alvin?"

"The pain hasn't gone away...But, it's just throbbing dully now...I can't move a muscle. I'm just so tired...I'm still scared...The Chipette has seen me awake and has come over to me...She is holding one of her sons...He has blue eyes just like she does...She tells me to rest and reminds me that I'm safe now...She calls the big chipmunk who was feeding the other son...he looks just like her, but with his dads green eyes...He gives me some medicine and some breakfast before I fall asleep again..."

"Those two sons of the couple who took you in...Who are they exactly?"

"I'm not sure...They haven't told me yet...But they are scared of me, just don't want to come near because I'm a stranger...The smaller one keeps trying to talk to me, but the taller one pulls him away...He doesn't like me...He keeps telling the small one to just ignore me...That I'm bad news...I want to tell them that I'm nice, but every time I try to say something...The mother will hush me and give me more medicine and before I know it, I've slept right into the next day..."

"So, when do you finally learn their names?"

"When I have the strength to sit up at least, is when they finally talk to me...It makes me nervous when the taller chipmunk comes over to me...I can tell that he is nervous too, as he asks me what my name is...I tell them that it is Alvin...He introduces himself as Simon and his little brother as Theodore...He makes it quite clear that I'm not welcome and that as soon as I can walk, I'm out of the door."

"What does Theodore say to you?"

"He doesn't say much, but he is being nicer to me than Simon...He asks me if I'm hungry and brings me extra things to eat...I've got a soft spot for him already even though I haven't known him for long...He's looking at me right now...He's making me smile because he has berry juice all over his face...Ha ha! It's everywhere! He's noticed it too and is laughing with Simon...The father as smiling because we aren't fighting... Theodore is always experimenting with different types of food and how he can make tasty recipes...He lets me try them sometimes."

"What are the parents like?"

"They're both friendly and really smart...The father likes to ask me about life at the top of the ridge...I tell him everything...In return, he tells me about how he has been trying to find my dad...but no luck. The mother likes to talk to me whenever she comes home from foraging...She teaches me about all kinds of medicines she has discovered...Like the one she is giving me. Simon likes to listen in to our conversations. He doesn't say much to me, but I can tell that he is very intelligent for his age...Whenever the parents are outside, I ask him all sorts of questions about stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

"Just random questions about the forest; if he was interested about adventuring out of it...He tells the stories that his dad told him about life outside the forest...He says that it's not safe to go near the humans...It's best to stay where we are all safe...He is also interested in science. He is nearly always trying something new...I tell him that I like music and like to listen to my dad sing all sorts of folk songs...He tells me that he prefers science and that music is a stupid waste of time..."

"So, how did you convince them to start singing? Is that how you all ended up bonding?"

"It was after their parents ran off. Before they left, they told me that my dad had died from the eagle attack-"

"You must've been devastated!"

"I was...very much. I couldn't believe that Dad was dead. He had always seemed so strong, way too tough to just die...I was so shocked and all I wanted to do was hug him at least one more time. I cried for days on end...I couldn't sleep or eat for a long time. And even though I was able to walk around again, I refused to move from the corner. As I talked, all the sadness and grief I had felt during that time came flooding back in a tidal wave of sorrow...I felt myself begin to cry as I talked on. A hand had clutched on to mine. I didn't find out until later that it was Brittany's. I guess I was far too deep in my subconscious to know any better.

"That's when I really started to bond with the boys. With their parents now gone, they were both nice and kind enough to comfort me. They seemed to know exactly how I felt and were careful about what they said around me. It was as if I was injured again. Theodore would make sure that I kept eating, even when I didn't have an appetite for it. Simon would keep me talking about all sorts of things until I didn't even know what I was crying about in the first place...It would start all over again the next morning, but they kept going for a whole month...I guess that when I felt alright again, I felt that I owed them for everything they had done and not rejecting me..."

"And that's when you started pretending to be their brother?"

"Well...I wouldn't call it pretending...It was more like helping them by becoming their big brother. Theodore and Simon were both very capable on their own, but they had their faults... Like Simon with his eyesight. A few times, I had to stop him from falling off the tree or into the river nearby. He was smart alright, but a bit of a klutz at the best of times. Theodore could've very easily have coped on his little lonesome if it weren't for his lack of self-confidence andbravery...That's what led to us singing together."

"Well, what happened to get you three started?"

"Oh, well one night there was a huge thunder storm going on outside the tree-house. The thunder was so loud-I'm not exaggerating, I swear on my life-The thunder was so loud that one of the thickest and oldest oak trees cracked in half after the thunder rumbled...It shook the ground madly and our tree felt as if it was going to topple over...It was so terrifying...The hail was shooting at the ground like bullets along with the rain...The wind was very forceful and the lightning constantly filled the sky was a deafening crack! It was truly a sight to behold..." I could hear the storm raging in my ears and a cold chill iced every vertebrae of my spine...

"Simon, Theodore and I were huddled together in the corner, just trying to keep each other both calm and warm...With each lightning crack came a yelp or whimper from Theo and Simon was shaking nearly harder than the thunder. I wasn't any better, shivering and nearly on the verge of tears. I wanted my dad to jump out from nowhere and protect me. He always seemed to know how to make me feel better in any situation...His words came back to me over and over...If you're scared or feeling blue; raise your voice and sing, that's all you do! You'll be back on your feet and feeling better; ready to rise, in the face of-whatever!"

"That's a very wise philosophy your dad lived by wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was. It certainly worked for us that night. I came up with a good song to sing. They were a little bit confused at first, but soon they got the gesture and joined in-"

"And how did that song go?"

"There's a dark and a troubled side of life,
There's a bright and a sunny side too.
Though we meet with the darkness' of strife,
The sunny side we also may view.

Keep on the sunny side,
Always on the sunny side.
Keep on the sunny side of life.
It will help us every day.
It will brighten up our way.
If we keep on the sunny side of life.

Though the storm and it's fury breaks today,
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear.
The clouds and storm will in time pass away,
And the sun again will shine bright and clear.

(break)

Let us treat with a song of hope each day,
Though the moment be cloudy or clear.
Let us trust in our Savior old ways,
He will keep everyone in His care.

Keep on the sunny side;
Always on the sunny side.
Keep on the sunny side of life.
It will help us every day,
It will brighten up our way.
If we keep on the sunny side of life."

"Ooh, that's a good little song! So, did it cheer you up?"

"Oh, yes! The thunderstorm kept starting and stopping all night, but that song let us be strong. We even managed to get a bit of sleep as well before it stopped for good. We had been friends when it started, but by the time it ended, we were real brothers. I felt so much more comfortable around them and vice-versa. I was quite amazed about just how good we sounded together as a trio and wanted to teach them everything that Dad taught me about music."

"I bet Simon didn't think it was such a waste of time after that!"

"Nope, he admitted that it was actually quite fun after all. Theodore had thoroughly enjoyed the experience and wanted to learn one song a day. So, we did and we've been singing ever since. I can't imagine my life turning out anyway else..."

"So what was it like to tell the truth to the boys you had called your brothers?"

Immediately, the emotions that I felt nearly two months ago came flooding back. Again, I started to choke up as I spoke: "Terrible beyond imagination. After all this time, after all that bonding...after all we had been through together...To tell them that they had been living a lie the whole time was devastating beyond belief...Just the shock on their faces left me for dead...It became even worse when Simon started his rage-filled interrogating on me...I just wanted to die when I saw my happy family fall apart in front of my eyes...And I felt disgusted with myself for what I had done to Theodore as well...and Dave...and the Chipettes...

"Out of all the Chipettes, I felt so guilty for lying to Brittany. She's so amazing and oh-so beautiful...It just broke my heart. You have no idea how lucky I felt when she turned out to be actually supporting me...and to learn at the springs that she loved me back was so brilliant and special...I love her so much...and I love my brothers related or not-"

"Alvin, listen to me. Fall asleep and listen...I'm going to bring you back to reality now...When I count to three and snap my fingers, you'll wake up...One...Two...Three...Snap!

My eyes shot open and I sat upright, breathing heavily. My mind was racing and I no longer felt relaxed. A mixture of many emotions flowed through me. I felt unnaturally hot and sick to the stomach and my heart rate had risen dangerously high. I felt as though I could throw up at any moment, it was so bad. Everything around me eventually came back into focus. Everybody was still watching me, but now they looked deeply concerned and worried. As if I might go into a rage at them.

I stared around at everyone in turn. Chelsea had taken away the pocket watch and was watching me in a guilty manner. Brittany was clutching my hand tightly and the fur around her blue eyes was tearing stained. Jeanette and Ellie were not much different and Dave looked quite intense. Dad, Simon and Theodore were all looking at me with both guilt and understanding about the situation.

All I could manage was, "I'm so sorry-I love you guys!"- Before bursting into tears out of both depression and exhaustion. Within milli-seconds, Dad, Si, Theo and Britt had all attacked me with a huge bear hug and held me tightly as I cried. All of them were encouraging me to settle down, but my tears didn't want to cease. All I could do is sit there and be consoled by the warmth and love that the four chipmunks were bringing me...

Dave's POV

Half an hour later, I was sitting in a room full of talking animals fully asleep. Everyone had decided to take a nap to catch up on lost slumber time over the past few weeks. Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor were all huddled together on the couch next to me, all three holding on to each other in a sister cuddle. Simon and Theodore had slid over on either side of the girls and held on to their girlfriend in their sleep. Chelsea was fast asleep at my feet, her long powerful legs curled over each other, while her tail stuck out.

Alvin was fully curled up in a ball and whimpering slightly, he looked absolutely drained. After the psychological strain of remembering something that happened when he was only a baby, he seemed a bit ill. When he had stopped crying, he looked so weak and shaken...I'm not surprised that he passed out after vomiting roughly.

Both Alvin's were on my lap; both the same looking, same size, same shape, both sounding the same when they snore, but one was going a bit grey. There was hardly any difference between them; they were more like twin brothers than father and son. Senior was sleeping slightly curled up against his sons back, as if ready to pounce on anyone who tries to hurt him. I guess he just didn't want to lose him again.

It was going to be interesting, having two male role models for Alvin to look up to for advice. I could tell that he had become quite close to his real dad in such a short time, but I hoped that he wouldn't forget that I too have great advice about growing up and being a man. Si and Theo would definitely accept him into the family. With him being so much like their 'brother', why wouldn't they? Don't get me wrong, I like the guy. But...I can't help to feel paranoid about living with two chipmunks that together, could very easily start the apocalypse!