Chapter Seven:

Narrow Escape

FRODO'S POV

A second after Frodo approached the edge of the sidewalk, Dave rushed towards him, forcing Frodo to topple over his own feet and fall forwards towards the road. As a car horn honked loudly at the hobbit, Frodo's arm was thrust backwards by Dave, forcing Frodo to return to the sidewalk. Just as Frodo tried to explain what he just saw a moment ago, a black limousine pulled up along the curb. Frodo and Dave faced a nearby window as it was pulled down to reveal a black-and-white haired woman sitting on the backseat. Next to the woman was Frodo's enclosed basket.

Cruella turned to Frodo as she told him in a cheerful tone, "How ironic, Mr. Baggins! We seem to meet again, but I am already one step ahead." She cackled wickedly.

Upon hearing high-pitched voices coming from inside the basket, Dave announced, "Is Alvin, Simon, and Theodore in that basket?"

"Why yes, Mr. Seville. How observant," said Cruella mockingly. To the two, she replied, "Are you two planning for a long trip out of this country, without missing your little... rats?"

Dave fought back with his words, "They're called chipmunks. They are not rats."

Frodo muttered loudly to him, "That's Cruella DeVil, and the basket belongs to me…"

"I know this is Cruella, Frodo," snapped Dave, using his normal voice. Turning to Cruella, Dave added, "This hobbit already told me you had taken my chipmunks. I would like them back."

"Well, that's out of the question," said Cruella in a modest, wicked tone. She then added, "Good luck with your excursion, but you'll never find my warehouse." She cackled evilly as she raised the window.

Frodo and Dave watched the limousine as it sped out of parking lot. Before Frodo could return to Dave's car, the man whistled to a yellow taxi, which came over to the curb. Dave paid the taxi driver almost too generouslly, while letting the driver know ahead of time to follow the limousine. The taxi driver, once he saw Frodo's fans now chasing after him, sped down the road, a few seconds after Dave and Frodo closed the cab doors and buckled their seat belts.

o-o-o-o-o

Frodo was quickly thrust into another dream: as he walked down a dirt path covered with gold leaves, while tall trees stood on either side of the road, Frodo looked ahead and spotted Silverlow glowing bright gold, amidst the dark shadows of the trees. After following the horse down the path for at least what felt like a mile or two, Frodo came across a rock face where a stone fountain was embedded against its wall. Silverlow gestured the hobbit towards the fountain with his head, before trotting back into the shadowy part of the forest. Frodo returned his gaze to the fountain, seconds before he approached. The moment he stood directly over the basin, Frodo clasped his hands against its edge and peered down at the crystal-blue water. As he continued staring at the water, a flash of light hit him square on the face, forcing him to let go of the basin and fall backwards. Darkness surrounded him in a few, brisk moments…

Frodo was roused awake by the sound of a car horn. As soon as the taxi driver parked in an empty space, Dave stepped out of the taxi first with Frodo quickly following him. After the taxi sped off, Frodo watched Dave as he walked briskly across the road, towards the opposing sidewalk. Once he saw no other cars speeding down the road, Frodo ran across the road to where Dave was waiting. A moment after Frodo joined the man, Dave pointed out the limousine, noticing the license plate had the name "De Vil" painted in black.

As he faced what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse, Frodo asked in concern, "Do you think the chipmunks are inside that tall shack?"

Dave, at once, corrected him, "It's called a warehouse, Frodo. Why? Do you think that maybe the chipmunks are –" He was cut off, right as Frodo approached a side door.

Just as Frodo tried a few times to turn the silver doorknob, Dave moved the hobbit out of the way in a polite manner. To their surprise, the door was unlocked and turned with ease. Realizing this was already a good sign, Dave led Frodo inside the dark warehouse. They had just made it past the door and entered the dark place when the two heard three familiar, high-pitched voices. Frodo didn't second guess who the voices belonged to, since he automatically found out they came from Alvin, Simon, and Theodore.

In relief and excitement, all three chipmunks cried out to them, "Frodo – Dave!"

Frodo moved out of the way before the chipmunks ambushed Dave. At once, the chipmunk trio apologized to Dave, before they explained all the adventures they had in London with Cruella DeVil, as well as how they figured out she wasn't friendly. As Dave and the chipmunks started walking back to the open side door, Frodo glanced one way before turning fully round to find Silverlow staring at him. The look on dust horse's face showed Frodo his worst fears were about to come true. Just before the hobbit followed after the horse, Silverlow vanished into a mist of gold dust. Frodo quickly hid himself behind a stack of oil barrels, before watching in horror as Alvin, Simon, and Theodore were placed forcefully inside an carrier, which was slammed shut by Jasper. He then watched Dave being shoved inside a broom closet by Horace, who placed a chair underneath the brass doorknob.

Once the chipmunks freed themselves of the carrier, Frodo slipped away into the shadows of the warehouse, seconds before Horace found him. Frodo then hastily dodged past Jasper, while the three chipmunks caused havoc on the workers by messing up their sewing, as well as blinding Jasper and Horace with various lit lamps. These diversions worked long enough for Frodo to reach the broom closet in time to calm Dave down from the other side of the closed door. As Frodo attempted to move the chair away from the doorknob, he was caught by Jasper's strong grip. Frodo struggled to break free of his grasp, but found no means of escaping the henchman. The hobbit was able to look up at one of the top glass windows in time to see Alvin, Simon, and Theodore make their own escape. Frodo turned at once to Cruella as she stood before him, but she barely paid any attention to the hobbit as she spoke with Jasper and Horace, in a melancholic voice:

"Keep Mr. Seville locked in the broom closet, Horace. Wait until after I send word that Mr. Baggins here has been taken care of, Horace. In the meantime, Jasper, bring the Halfling to the old manor in Suffolk, England. I'll meet you there, after I finish with some affairs and errands."

"Yes Miss DeVil," said Jasper and Horace at the same time.

The next thing Frodo remembered was darkness…

ALVIN, SIMON, AND THEODORE'S POV

Before the three chipmunks reached the cement ground, Alvin and Theodore whirled around as Simon made his way back up to the window, which they used to leave the warehouse. The moment Alvin and Theodore caught up to the Simon, Theodore saw a familiar figure from somewhere down below, inside the warehouse.

In excitement, Theodore clapped his paws as he told his brothers, "Ooh, look fellas! It's Frodo! We're going home, just as he said!"

"Theodore, we just escaped. I don't think he's freed Dave yet from that woman," said Simon sympathetically.

Theodore protested politely, "Maybe he has, Simon."

Leaning in a ways to get a closer look, Alvin told his two brothers, "No, Frodo's been captured by that Badun and DeVil. Now we should…" He yelped out in fright as his paw slipped off the window sill. Luckily, his two brothers grabbed Alvin by the tail and dragged him back over the sill, before Horace realized what was making the high-pitched scream. In relief, Alvin admitted to Simon and Theodore, "Well, at least he didn't catch me."

Angrily, Simon muttered lowly, "You're lucky none of us were skinned, Alvin."

"But… how are we supposed to rescue Dave and Frodo?" asked Theodore, right as Alvin and Simon shushed him.

The three chipmunks soon witnessed Cruella and Jasper dragging Frodo, while he was still unconscious, into a book with glowing gold dust. The second Frodo fell into the book, Alvin and Theodore were shocked, but Simon deciphered in low mutters what they just saw. The three chipmunks spoke briefly to each other, shortly before Cruella and Jasper fled through the book, vanishing moments later. Despite Theodore's worries, Simon whistled at a nearby hawk that had a few bird friends.

Alvin tried to stop Simon, but his brother was already talking to the hawk. In confusion, Alvin asked his brother, "Simon, what are you doing? We should… save Frodo and Dave."

"Yeah Simon, it's a hawk. It might eat us alive," said Theodore timidly.

Simon rushed back to his brothers, telling them at once in low mutters, "You guys, I have a plan. These birds will work for us, along with their friends from Great Britain, as long as we keep on their good side."

"What side is good?" asked Theodore, as Alvin shushed him loudly.

Turning to Simon, Alvin asked him in regret, "Alright brainiac, tell us your plan."

Simon gathered his two brothers quickly around in a tight circle, telling them about Plans A and B, which would not only rescue Frodo and Dave from Cruella, Jasper, and Horace, but the chipmunks Cruella had captured. After they figured out their first plan, as well as their back-up plans, the chipmunk trio split up. It was nearing payback time for all animals, which not only disliked the woman but figured Cruella was about to receive her comeuppance.