"I love you," Vaggie said.
"I love you, too," Charlie replied. "I'll be there as soon as I can."
Click!
Charlie ended the call with Vaggie and ran to her balcony. She knew there was no time to lose. Vaggie's group didn't stand a chance against Alastor. She had to get there as soon as she could and to do that she needed Niffty's maps.
Charlie jumped off the balcony and spread her wings to slow down her fall. Once she landed in front of the hotel's front doors, Charlie dashed in through the lobby and headed straight to the bar.
Husk stood there with Fat Nuggets whining for food on top of the counter. He had been reluctantly taking turns with Niffty babysitting the pig since his owner disappeared.
"Okay! Okay! Here, you go!" Husk groaned annoyedly sliding a bowl of cherries to the hungry pig who voraciously began eating as soon as the cherries were in front of him. "Now, leave me…What the hell, kid?!"
Charlie stopped in front of his bar, panting heavily, and asked, "Husk, do you know where Niffty is? I need to save Vaggie and I can't do that without the maps she gave Niffty! Please! I need to find her now!"
"Check the kitchen," Husk suggested. "I think she's in there cleaning the whole room from top to bottom."
Charlie hastily muttered a thanks before she dashed away to the kitchen.
As soon as Charlie was gone, Niffty popped out next to Husk from her hiding spot underneath the counter.
"You can't hide from her forever," Husk said without looking at the small cyclops.
"But Husk!" Niffty protested. "You don't know what Alastor would do if he found out I gave Charlie the maps in my pockets!"
Niffty patted her pockets in emphasis.
Husk looked at her for a moment, rolled his eyes, turned away to pour himself another drink, and said, "I know, and I don't care. He can do whatever he wants with me. I'm sick of always being at that bastard's beck and call."
"But Husk, aren't you scared?!" Niffty protested hopping on the counter in front of him. "Alastor's really scary when he gets mad!"
"I lost the ability to be scared years ago," Husk said, downing a shot immediately afterwards. "I ain't scared of any of Alastor's bullshit anymore."
"But Husk…" Niffty tried to protest again.
"Niffty, is that you?!" Charlie yelled from across the lobby.
Niffty hopped down to hide herself again, but it was too late. Charlie made a beeline straight for the bar.
"Eeeep," Niffty muttered meekly as Husk picked her up by the shirt and placed her back on the counter just as Charlie made it to the bar.
"There, you are," Charlie panted in relief. "Niffty, Vaggie told me that she gave you the maps going from Alastor's hat to downtown. I don't know what Alastor told you, but I need those maps now. Vaggie and Angel have escaped, and they need my help!"
Niffty trembled where she stood and whispered, "I…I just can't…"
"Niffty, please!" Charlie begged taking Niffty's hands in hers. "I can protect you from Alastor! Just give me the maps! Please!"
"But…" Niffty sputtered fearfully. "But…I just can't…I can't disobey Alastor."
Husk rolled his eyes again and said, "I can."
"But Husk!" Niffty protested.
But once again, it was too late. Husk reached into Niffty's pockets, pulled out the maps, and handed them to Charlie.
Charlie eagerly snatched the maps, held them close to her chest, backed up towards the lobby's entrance without turning around, and said, "Thank you! Thank you both!"
"Whatever," Husk said with all the apathy and aloofness he could muster. "Try not to get hurt."
Charlie nodded her head, and without another word, she dashed through the lobby doors and out into the street, leaving Husk, Niffty, and Fat Nuggets alone in the hotel.
Niffty turned to Husk and cried, "Husk?! Do you realize what you've just done?! Alastor's gonna…"
"No, he won't, Niffy," Husk replied, turning away to clean out his shot glass. "I was the one who gave the princess the maps, not you. Alastor won't do a damn thing."
"But Husk!" Niffty hopped in front of Husk's face and protested again.
"But nothing, Niffty," Husk replied without looking at her. "If Alastor decides to get bent out of shape over this, he can go after me."
Niffty looked towards the lobby and worried about the demoness who just departed.
"I hope Charlie is okay," Niffty said sadly.
Husk looked in the direction of the doors and also began to feel something undesirable, so he went back to cleaning his shot glass and muttered, "She'll be fine."