Just a warning, this chapter gets extremely dark. Read with caution!

Chapter 16:Piece

Helga slowly opened the door to the backroom of the beeper store. She slowly stuck her head inside to see Bob and Curly talking over a folded out white table. The same one they had used when Olga had come home over a month ago.

They were across the room in the back right corner and facing away from the door. Bob was talking in a very low voice and Curly was just nodding along to whatever Bob was saying. She could barely hear what they were talking about.

The room was almost totally dark. The only light that was turned on was single hanging light above where Bob and Curly were talking. Thankfully however, the single light created enough light in the room for Helga to see where she needed to go.

'Gotta get a little closer.' Helga thought to herself as she looked around the room for anything she could hide behind. The backroom was covered with boxes of old beepers and other electronics around the room. There were plenty of places for her to hide.

Helga slowly crept open the door and crouched low to floor. She quickly rushed inside and silently shut the door behind her. Bob hadn't even looked up to notice anything moving yet. He was still looking Curly up and down like he didn't quite trust him yet.

Helga quickly sprinted to a large box just a few feet away from the door. She quickly sat still and tried to lower her own heavy breathing so she could hear what they were saying. She could hear Bob's full voice, but it sounded muffled. She couldn't quite understand what he was saying yet.

Helga silently peeked around the left corner of the boxes, trying to see her next place to hide. The next box was about eight feet away. It was a good hiding spot with two very tall boxes that would cover her whole view of Bob and Curly. However, it would also get her uncomfortably closer to the pair.

'Well, here goes nothing.' Helga thought as she suddenly sprinted in a crouch towards the boxes. As she sprinted, she could feel her heart starting to beat rapidly in her chest. Thank God the room was dark, or Bob would have noticed her for good.

Finally, she made it across the room without a sound, however, when she stopped at the boxes, she came in a little hotter than she would've liked. This resulted in her accidently hitting the box with her shoulder, causing it to rock back and forth for a minute. This caused a small shuffling sound to echo across the room. Bob didn't take much notice, but Curly instantly looked towards the sound.

'Shit!' Helga thought to herself as she clung as close as she could to the box, still trying to remain unseen.

Helga was still out of their view, but she could plainly hear curly speak now." Did you hear that?" Bob just rolled his eyes and looked annoyed at the boy." Ah for crying out loud. Don't be so jumpy! It was probably just a mouse or something, they get in here all the time!"

Curly didn't look at Bob. He stared at the box for a few more seconds before he reluctantly looked over at Bob again." Sorry man." He said in a low voice." In my line of work, you can't be too careful."

Helga felt herself let out a huge sigh of relief instantly.' Looks like I'm still a little sneaky. Looks like stalking Arnold all those years really did pay off!' She grinned to herself as she peeked over the boxes to hear what they were saying.

"So you got what I need?" Bob said silently as he looked at Curly with a blank look on his face. Curly just simply nodded and pulled out a small brown paper sack from his front pocket." Here you go." Curly said in almost whisper as he slowly laid the bag down on the table.

He slid the bag across the table towards Bob. Bob quickly grabbed the bag and opened it up. He peeked inside and a large smile came across his face. Curly just continued to look at Bob with a straight face and both of his hands placed inside his front hoodie pocket.

Meanwhile, Helga was struggling to comprehend what was going on right in front of her." What could be in that bag?! What the hell is going on here?!' Helga thought to herself. She watched as Bob slowly reached down in the bag. What he pulled out of the bag made her eyes widen.

Big Bob Pataki stood there holding a snub nose revolver in his hand." Just what I asked for." Bob said as he slowly reached in his pocket with his free right hand and pulled out a small roll of cash. He handed it to Curly and he instantly started counting it.

While Curly was counting, Bob popped open the revolving cylinder to see if the gun was loaded." Hey, you shorted me." Curly said as he looked up and scowled at the large man.

Bob instantly sent him a scowl back. Before he spoke, he used his free hand again to grab the can of "Bud Light" on the table and take a small sip." Well, criminy, can't you see that we're broke here! You'll get the rest of your money when you come here next week to collect!"

Helga was still in shock from seeing the gun in Bob's hands. However, that still didn't stop her mind from instantly going several different places.' Collect what?! Money?! Why is Bob giving his money away like that?! What the hell is going on here?!'

A large grin suddenly came across Curly's face." And that brings me to my next point." He said quietly as he stuffed the money in his back pocket with his left hand. He quietly reached in his front pocket and pulled out a small plastic bag this time.

Helga couldn't see what was in it really good, so she waited for Bob and Curly to hopefully explain more.

"It should have everything in it that you need." Curly said as he slid the bag towards Bob." But remember our deal."

"Yeah yeah yeah." Bob said in an annoyed yet still quiet voice as he picked up the bag." Don't tell anyone about this or else. And when you come back next week, we both split the pay."

Curly just smiled ear to ear at the sound of that." Just think about it." Curly said quietly as he suddenly placed both hands on the table in front of him." Nobody is ever going to suspect there being a drug empire at Big Bob's Beepers! This is going to make my business go off with out a doubt!"

Helga immediately felt like she was going to faint. Her heart began to race, and she felt her skin get hot around her ears.' WAIT WHAT?! Bob is so damn desperate for money that he is going to deal drugs for Curly?!'

Helga immediately felt her head start to spin as she quietly looked around the room. She quietly started shuffling back towards the door.

Bob rolled his eyes as he looked back at Curly." And that means that you can't tell anyone either kid!" Bob spat at the boy." I can't let anyone know that the Pataki family business is going downhill!"

Curly just smiled his wide ear to ear smile once again." Don't worry Bob." He said in a very low and deep voice." My clients know to keep quiet or else. No one is going to know about-" WHAM

Curly and Bob instantly shot their attention to the left side of the room. A box had been knocked over. Bob immediately flicked the lights on with the light switch to his right.

The lights lit up the room with a great bright light. Their attention was immediately brought to the back door that was swinging shut as the lights came on.

"Someone was listening to us!" Curly said as he looked at Bob in fear.

A scowl came across Bob's lips as he let out a deep sigh." It was that girl." He said in a very low voice.

…

"Stop!" Arnold yelled as he angrily ran out the door of the high school. The hooded stranger just ignored him and continued to sprint out onto the sidewalk headed towards P.S.118.

Arnold was just a few feet behind the stranger, but they were still very fast. Maybe even a little faster than he was. However, Arnold couldn't give up now. Not when there was this much at stake. This could potentially be the person who spray painted Helga's locker. He couldn't let them get away.

The stranger quickly rounded a block and Arnold almost tripped over his own feet when he rounded the corner himself." Keep going!" A deep voice suddenly said from behind him. Arnold quickly glanced behind himself to see Sammy trailing a few feet behind him.

Well, if Arnold wasn't convinced earlier at the school, he definitely was convinced now. Sammy was trying to help him at the school and now he was trying to help him catch the potential spray painter.

' Alright, now I believe the guy. There's no way this dude would go through all this trouble to help me if he was the one who did it!' Arnold thought as he suddenly rounded another block, still trying to keep up with the hooded stranger.

However, as Arnold rounded the block, the stranger was suddenly gone. Almost like he disappeared into thin air. Arnold quickly halted in his tracks to look out into the dark street in front of him.

Sammy suddenly rounded the corner as well, almost running into Arnold. He quickly halted to a stop as well and looked out into the street.

Sammy suddenly looked to his right to see a dark alleyway." Arnold look!" Sammy yelled as he pointed towards the alley way.

Arnold quickly took notice and ran into it blindly. He ran for a few seconds in the darkness, still trying to look around and see if the stranger was hiding when suddenly WHAM!

Arnold felt himself run into the chain link fence and fly backwards a few feet. His back slammed into the pavement beneath him and he let out a low groan in pain.

"You alright man?!" Sammy suddenly asked in voice full of stress as he reached out his right hand for Arnold to grab.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Arnold said in a voice full of disappointment as he reached up to grab Sammy's hand. Sammy quickly pulled him up and Arnold silently started to dust off his clothes.

"Guess the son of a bitch climbed the fence." Sammy said in a calmer voice as he pulled his phone out and turned on the phone flashlight.

Arnold rubbed his right cheek which was burning with pain as he looked up at the fence with Sammy. The fence was about 7 feet tall and there was no sign of the stranger on the other side.

"Damn." Arnold muttered in disappointment." Guess he got away."

He let out a deep sigh as Sammy suddenly spoke up." I'm sorry Arnold. We tried our best but-"Sammy suddenly stopped talking when he noticed something on the ground.

"A-Arnold." Sammy said in a shaky voice now." What is that?"

Arnold looked up from the ground he was staring at to see Sammy pointing at a small picture on the ground. A confused look came across Arnold's face as he slowly approached the picture. However, his look of confusion slowly turned to shock as he leaned down to pick it up off the ground.

It was a picture of Helga. She looked to be walking home from school by herself. She was dressed in her normal black long sleeve paired with jeans. She had her pink earbuds in her ears and she was staring out into the street in front of her. The picture was taken from across the street, but it was still zoomed in to where her body made out most of the picture.

"What the hell." Sammy said in a shocked whisper as he looked at the picture from over Arnold's right shoulder.

Arnold could feel his blood starting to boil as he quickly turned the picture over. What he found on the back was enough to snap him out of his anger and back into shock.

"ONE WEEK" was written on the back in very large red letters." What the hell does that mean?!" Sammy said in a much louder, but still distressed voice.

Arnold felt his eyes widen once again. He almost dropped the picture that was in his hands.' What does this mean?! One week until what?! Boy this guy sure does have some nerve…'

Arnold however decided to let his anger go now. His mind was WAY too tired to be enduring this much stress. He just simply sighed again and slipped the picture in his right back pocket of his jeans.

"Look Sammy." Arnold said in a low voice as he turned to look at him." I'm gonna go Helga's place and let her know about this. We need to figure out what this means."

"You sure?" Sammy asked in an unsure tone as he clicked off the light on his cellphone." I mean this seems pretty serious if you ask me. Do you really wanna put her through all of this stress?"

Arnold just shook his head and looked at the ground." No, I don't wanna put her through this stress, but she really needs to know. I don't wanna keep any secrets from her. Especially one like this!"

Sammy just reluctantly sighed and looked down at the ground as well." Alright, you do you. I'll support it."

Arnold looked up and nodded at the teen." Thanks man." He said in a sympathetic voice." Well, I better get going then. It's getting late and I don't wanna make her parents upset."

"Wait." Sammy said as Arnold started walking off. Arnold had only taken about three steps, but he turned around to listen.

"What do you think that little message means?" Sammy asked quietly.

Arnold just shrugged his shoulder." I don't know man, but if that guy lays a hand on Helga, then just know it won't be good for him!"

…

Helga frantically ran into her family's living space." Mom!" She called out into the dark living room.

She quickly found that the living room was empty, and Miriam had not returned yet.' Shit! Where's Miriam when you need her?!'

Helga quickly rolled her eyes to herself as she started to pace around the living room.' Okay, you can still get through this Helga ole girl. Just act natural. Act like you had no part in this! You know Bob's stupid. He'll believe you!'

Suddenly she heard the backroom to the store bust open."OLGA!" She heard her father yell at the top of his lungs.

"Shit!" She whispered to herself as she looked across the living room. She was looking for any place she could get and 'act natural.'

"That's it the couch!" She whispered to herself as she could hear two sets of footprints approaching her fast. She quickly dove for the couch and sat down. Frantically, she laid down and rested her head, pretending like she had been asleep.

Big Bob Pataki suddenly threw open the sheets to the living space. Helga had to force herself to stop shaking in fear.

"Little Lady!" Bob yelled and Helga suddenly threw her body up. She rubbed her eyes and put a pretend scowl on her face.

"Yes dad." Helga said trying to put on her best sarcastic voice." Criminy, can't you see that I'm sleeping in here?!"

Bob just scowled at her and started walking over to the couch." Your lying." He said angrily through his teeth. Helga just scowled back at him

"No, I'm not dad. I came in here to watch some T.V. before bed and I fell asleep on the couch. That's not big deal, right?" Helga said still trying to keep her voice from cracking in fear.

Bob just continued to scowl at her. That's when Helga noticed Curly still standing at the edge of the living space. A huge smile covered his whole face." Well Helga dear." He said in a very calm voice." If you came in here to watch some T.V. like you said, then why is the T.V. still turned off?"

Helga eyes instantly went wide as she suddenly noticed that the T.V. was turned off. Her body froze as she felt fear slowly overtake her. She could feel herself starting to shake as suddenly Bob grabbed her by the throat. Bob slowly raised her whole body up with one arm. She slowly felt her windpipe start to close up.

She quickly kicked at Bob, but it did nothing to him. He just continued to stare at her with rage in his eyes. He suddenly turned around and threw Helga like a football across the living space.

Helga felt rays of pain fly through her back as she landed on Bob's makeshift cardboard coffee table. She instantly crushed it with her weight alone and rolled over onto her side.

Her ears were ringing from all of the shock and pain. She laid there, not wanting to move a muscle. That's when she heard Bob's footsteps approaching her once again.

Helga opened her eyes to see Bob standing directly over her." Come here you little bitch!" He yelled at her as went to grab her neck again.

However, he was met with her foot in his face." Ow you little shit!" Bob yelled angrily as he recoiled backwards and grabbed his nose in pain.

Helga frantically kicked in front of her, trying her best to scoot backwards. Bob released his nose and Helga could clearly see blood leaking from it now. She continued to back up until she hit the back wall.

"By the time I'm done with you." Bob said in a low voice as he glared at Helga now." You're going to wish you never would have done that."

Helga's eyes widened once again as she quickly stood up from the wall. She frantically looked for anything to defend herself with. That's when she suddenly noticed the small shiny kitchen knife laying on the piano to her right.

She frantically reached for it with her right hand. Once she secured the black handle of the knife in her hand, she looked back at Bob with a face full of fear and waved it at him.

Bob stopped and looked at her, a scowl still across his lips." Little lady, you put that down this instant!"

Helga frantically shook her head no. That's when Curly suddenly stepped in beside Bob. He slowly reached down in his front hooded pocket and pulled out a small, shiny, and black gun.

Helga almost collapsed in the floor in fear as she heard Curly cock the gun with his thumb." I believe the man said drop the weapon." Curly said in a sly smile as he pointed the pistol with one hand right at Helga.

Helga just stood there in defeat. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. Any other time, she would have held them back. Showing that she was too tough for tears. However, in this moment in time, she was vulnerable. She was weak and defenseless. With nothing else to do, she simply just dropped her hands at her sides. The kitchen knife slowly slipped out of her fingers.

Before she had time to react, a powerful punch hit smashed into her left cheek, making her fly sideways into the Piano. The piano didn't fall over or break, however. Instead, she recoiled off of the piano and fell onto her right side on the floor at Bob's feet.

She could feel blood pouring from her nose. She looked up at Bob to see three versions of him reaching down for her through her blurry vision. But she didn't fight it. She had accepted defeat. Bob was way too strong to fight off and Curly had a gun pointed right at her.

Bob slowly wrapped his strong right hand around Helga's neck again." When I am done with you." He spat at her as he got right in her face." You will never try anything like this again! You are nothing like your sister Olga. And you never will be!"

Helga could feel her mind herself starting to struggle for air. This kicked her defense systems back up as she gripped at Bob's arm, still trying to lift it off her. However, Bob was way too strong.

"And." Bob continued, still talking through angrily his teeth." You are a failure to the Pataki name. I don't even know why I call you my daughter. You little piece of-"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Bob suddenly sat up and released his grip on Helga. Helga started coughing violently as she sat up and backed up frantically, pushing herself against the wall once again.

Curly and Bob both took their attention off of her as the peeled back the sheet on the window above the couch." Someone's here!" Curly said as he peered through the window, trying to get a look at who they were.

"No shit sherlock." Bob said in an annoyed tone as he also peered out of the window." Here, I'll take care of this. Just keep an eye on the girl."

Curly turned and nodded at Bob. Bob nodded back at him and slowly walked out of the living space. Curly quickly turned his attention back to Helga. He slowly walked over to her and pointed his gun right at her.

Helga looked up at him with tears still running down her face. Her nose and left cheek were still blinding her in pain as she looked at Curly through her blurry vision. Despite this however, she could still see Curly beam a huge grin at her." Don't worry Helga dear. I won't shoot you. That is if you don't do anything stupid!"

Helga just glared back up at him. Although she was scared out of her mind, she put a scowl on her face." Screw you." She said quietly.

…

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Criminy, I'm comin' already!" Bob yelled angrily as he approached the door.

He opened the door and looked confused at who was standing there. "Jesus kid what do you want. The store is closed!"

"Hey Mr. Pataki." Arnold said calmly." I'm Arnold. Arnold Shortman. And I was wondering if I could speak to your daughter Helga really quick."

Authors note: Holy crap what a chapter! And I'm just going to give a little warning, next chapter is going to be a WILD ride. So, thank you everyone for all the support. I love each and every one of you! I'm hoping to get the next chapter up as fast as possible so I don't leave you guys reeling off of this cliffhanger for TOO long. But we'll just have to see what happens. Thank you once again, and keep those great reviews coming! See ya on the flip side football heads!